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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-01 Planning Board Minutes DRAFT Approved by Planning Board on _� btl PLANNING BOARD MEETING NOTES October 1,2002 , 4 ill r„ i ATTENDANCE: 1 John Simons X Felipe Schwarz X Alberto Angles X George White X Richard Nardella 8:30 STAFF PRESENT: Kathy McKenna X DISCUSSION ITEMS: Began at 7:00 p.m. IV. 1895 Great Pond Rd-Yameen-Modification to WSP Continued from 9/10/02 Item removed from the agenda by the builder. 1. Brooks Pharmacy-Site Plan Waiver-ATM Continued from 9/10/02 Applicant's attorney Mark Johnson handed out revised photo simulations of the improved facade of the building. There were three issues as the Planning Board saw it: exemption from site plan review, waiver from site plan review, and the visual aesthetics of the proposed structure. Fleet was not agreeable to changing the facade color from champagne to white to match the existing Brooks building. The item was tabled to later in the meeting so that Mr. Nardella could speak to the issue. It. Walnut Ridge Determination of Compliance/Site Opening Bond Release Gerry-Lynn Darcy spoke on behalf of the developer and discussed the meetings she had had with the residents of Cricket Lane. She stated that her intention was to plant 22 Pear trees for street trees. Diana Headrick, 144 Cricket Lane, expressed the residents' concern with what was being proposed by the developer. The issues were: where to plant street trees, how many and what kind. There was also a brief discussion on plantings on individual lots. The Board requested the Developer provide lot by lot plan of plantings that would represent what each homeowner wanted. The plan should also overlay the as-built plan so that existing drainage structures, utilities, and topography could be shown. The Street Trees should be American Sycamore as originally approved by the Board. Mr. Simons Planning Board Minutes October 1, 2002 Page 1 of 5 DRAFT Approved by Planning Board on stated that the developer would have to physically meet with each resident about the trees. If there were issues of physical obsticals they should negotiate. Another resident spoke out and objected to the length and type of first meeting that was initiatied by the Developer. Discussion deferred to October 15, 2002. All other discussion items deferred to after the public hearings. VIII. Wallace Street Bond Release Item premature, removed from agenda. PUBLIC HEARINGS (7:30): Called to order at 7.35 p.m. I. Omnia' aman t I 1 High Street Wireless and Site Plan Special Permit Paul Gascoigne presented the project for the Applicant. The installation is on an existing smokestack and is designed to mitigate exisiting gaps in coverage. Waivers were discussed. The applicant presented the noise data submitted with the application which was on sheet Z-2. It stated that the noise would be 39dbs in an open field and in this case the equipment would be housed inside the structure. Mr. White asked for photos from other towns where arrays were placed on existing smokestacks. In response to Mr. White's comment regarding co-location the applicant stated that this facility was not designed for co-location but that another carrier could locate on the same existing smokestack. Cindy, 45 Alva Street (?), spoke with great concern about the harmful health effects to residents of wireless facilities. She was concerned that she did not have notice of this installation sooner. Other abutters spoke about the dangers of living within the are of radiation that results from wireless facilities and challenged the Board to support there by denying this application. Mr. Simmons stated that the ZBA had already granted a setback variance and that these concerns would have been better directed to that Board. The resident's stated their intention to appeal the ZBA decision. The Planner stated that Federal law prohibited local land use boards from using RF Emissions to deny a facility and that this facility was under the Federal limits. Mark Johnson stated that there was a recent case that may have extended the role of local land use Boards. The Board agreed to have the RF reports reviewed by a Town consultant for compliance with Federal standards. Deferred to October 15, 2002. Planning Board Minutes October 1, 2002 Page 2 of 5 DRAFT Approved by Planning Board on CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS I. Lawrence Airport West Side Hanger (Continued from 9/10/02) Mr. Nardella moved to approve the site plan special permit as amended this evening. All in favor, motion carries. Site Plan Special Permit Approved. II. Chatterjee/55 South Bradford Watershed Special Permit Continued from 9110/02) Planner stated that VHB had no further concerns with the proposal. The public hearing was closed. Mr. Nardella moved to approve the watershed special permit as amended this evening. Mr. Schwarz seconds. All in favor, motion carries. Watershed Special Permit Approved. IV. Wallace/ Seville Street Definitive Subdivision (Continued from 9/10/022_ Deferred to October 15,2002 at applicant's request. V. NE Power- Site Plan Special Permit (Continued from 9/10/02) The Planning Board discussed the fact that the plan had not been reviewed by a Town consultant. The applicant stated that DPW had no comments and that the plan has not been forwarded to the consultant by the Planning Department for a month. The Board decided to approve conditioned upon a satisfactory review by the outside consultant. Mr. Nardella moved to approve the site plan special permit for the electric substation as amended. All in favor, motion carries. Site Plan Special Permit Approved. Mr. Nardella moved to approve the Lot/Slope special permit for the electric substation as amended. All in favor, motion carries. Lot/Slope Special Permit Approved. VI. 10 Commerce Way, Car Wash Facility, Site Plan Special Permit Planning Board Minutes October 1, 2002 Page 3 of 5 DRAFT Approved by PIanning Board on E Deferred at the Applicant's request. Applicant is currently in front of the Natural Heritage Committee. Deferred to October 15, 2002. VII. Carter Farm/Bradford Street Definitive Subdivision; Watershed Special Permit;Planned Residential Special Permit, (Continued from 9/10/02) The applicant presented argument in support of the placement of the parking areas for the soccer fields. The Board had few problems with the placement at this point. The applicant has submitted revisions and responses to engineering continents to VHB. The Board deferred to November 12, 2002 to ensure enough time for VHB comments to return. Deferred to November 12, 2002. DISCUSSION ITEMS (Continued): III. Chatham Crossing - Lot releases for Lots 5 &6(Continued from 9/10/02) Planner discussed recommendations regarding the process of ensuring the subdivision is built to plan. Applicant's representative spoke in favor of the reasonableness of the recommendations and stated that an as-built was already in progress by a different engineer. The engineer was in attendance. Mr. Schwarz asked for a list of what is different from the approved plan and why changes were made. The Planner stated that the drainage was not constructed to plan. From the files it appears that there was a recommendation from J. Rand but no approval from the Planning Board or Mass Highway. Joanne Brown, 157 Berkeley, spoke about the mold and dampness she has been experiencing in her basement and she urged the Board and the applicant to follow- up on her problems. She stated that the subdivision plan required the developer to hire an engineer to review drainage in the field. The Planning Board instructed the applicant to look at subsurface drainage issues as well as surface run-off. Bob Demeris, 155 Berkeley, stated his concerns about dampness in his back yard and inadequate screening from the new houses behind him and the headlights from the traffic on the new road. Mr. Schwarz questioned whether there were interim as-builts submitted to the building department. He also asked the applicant to supply copies of the construction plans. Mr. Simons stated that he first step is to ascertain all the facts. The Board discussed the timing of the review and requested that the as-builts be done well in advance of the next meeting so that VHB and Town Engineer could review them. Planner explained that it would be difficult to have a review done so quickly. Deferred to October 15, 2002 Planning Board Minutes October 1, 2002 Page 4of5 DRAFT Approved by Planning Board on V. Rezoning PrelimiM Discussion—Turnpike Street Patrick Larkin i VI. Rezoning Preliminary Discussion-642 Turnpike Street Items were taken up together. The landowners discussed the location of their property using a tax map and abutting business and industrial uses. Mr. Simons said that their requests for rezoning could be further discussed for the 2003 Town Meeting. Mr. Simons will contact the individuals for further discussion. VII. Rezoning PrelimmM Discussion-1451 Os_--good Street Deferred to October 15, 2002 by citizen. I. Brooks Pharmacy-Site Plan Waiver-ATM Discussion on site plan waiver with the full board commenced. Mr. White moved to waive Site Plan review, seconded by Mr. Schwarz. All in favor. Board waives site plan special permit requirements. PLANNING BOARD BUSINESS 1. Execute Town Planner Authorization To Sim Signed by the Board Mr. White updated the Board on the work of the newly formed Commission on Housing. Mr. Simons instructed the Planner to speak with the Community Development Director about ensuring that all moneys collected from Wheelabrator are spent toward improving the public health and not deposited into the general coffers. The Board unanimously ELECTED Mr. Schwarz as the Board's Associate Member to the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission. II. Placement of steel rod bounds Cambell Forest Subdivision The Planner asked the Board if they felt there was any problem allowing the developer to place steel rods instead of granite bounds in the conservation non-disturb areas-of this subdivsion. The Board has no objection. Adjourment at 10:45 p.m. Planning Board Minutes October 1, 2002 Page 5 of 5