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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.10.2013A Town of North Andover 110re ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Iwo ff.'s T Albert P Manzi III,Esq. Chairman o; �° m; �c, Associate Member Ellen P.McIntyre, Vice-Chairman a. , Michael P. Liporto Richard J. Byers,Esq. Clerk * Deney Morganthal D. Paul Koch Jr. Esq. tea# „u„, ,r Doug Ludgin Allan Cuscia �-�"°'" w�* R Zoning Enforcement Officer s�+cwu Gerald A. Brown DRAFT MINUTES Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 7:30 PM Town Hall 120 Main Street,North Andover,Massachusetts Members present: Ellen McIntyre,Richard Byers D. Paul Koch Jr.,Esq., and Allan Cuscia Associate Members Michael Liporto and Deney Morganthal McIntyre called this special meeting to order at 7:50 Acceptance of Minutes for October 22 & November 12,2013 Byers made the motion to approve the Minutes Koch second the motion. Those voting in favor to approve the minutes; McIntyre, Byers, Koch, Cuscia,Liporto and Morganthal North Andover Holdings,LLC 16 Berry Street/Riding Academy Preserve, North Andover, MA (Map 106.1), Parcel 0032). M.G.L. Chapter 40B, Section 21 for a Comprehensive Permit McIntyre spoke of the new plans that the Board received and also what topics would be discussed at tonight's meeting, such as Lighting, Landscaping, Stormwater, Waivers, Architectural Plans and Security. McIntyre called Eric Loth, project manager for the project to come to the podium. Loth stated that he and his team will go through all the new plans and discuss them with the Board. McIntyre was concerned that she did not see anything from any of the peer reviewers. Byers also felt that we should have peer reviews based on the new plans that had been submitted. Loth responded that he thought Eggleston is working on a review. Cal Goldsmith, from GPR walked up to the podium and stated that they had submitted a detailed comprehensive permit. Goldsmith went through each of the pages of the newly submitted plans and gave the Board an overview and spoke on a variety of topics to the Board. Goldsmith spoke of the general notes on the plan along with the listing of waivers. He also spoke of the existing as well as the additions to the new plans. He also touched on water and sewage connections,parking, and driveways as well the underground parking and the various curbings and gradings that will be used. Goldsmith also spoke of the conservation restrictions, wetlands, drainage, infiltration systems, stormwater management, and treating stormwater. Page 1 of 5 December 10, 2013 Town of North Andover ZONING BOARD OFAPPEALS 00RT#1 Albert P.Manzi III,Esq. Chairman - Associate Member Ellen P.McIntyre,Vice-Chairman 00 Michael P.Liporto Richard J. Byers,Esq. Clerk Deney Morganthal D. PaulIfoch Jr. Esq. Dong Ludgin Allan Cuscia Ac Zoning Enforcement Officer Gerald A. Brown Then Goldsmith pointed out on the plan where the trail would be and also the fenced in areas. Goldsmith pointed out on the plan where the maintenance building would be located and where the snow would be stored. He also spoke that when the snow storage went over capacity, it would be hauled or trucked away. Goldsmith also touched on runoff, erosion control and catch basins. Goldsmith also mentioned to the board the handicap assessable areas. Goldsmith spoke of procedures for catching fill on the site. Goldsmith also spoke of the various signs that will be used such as traffic signs, main entrance and exit signs, and handicap signs; he then talked of fire hydrants and fire hydrant connectors. Byers asked of the different curbing used and why they had different material and grades used for curbing. What dictates what type of curbing and grading that is used? Goldsmith responded back and talked of the various granite surfaces and grades used. Different curbing and grades are used for low and high traffic areas. He spoke of the curbings used around sidewalks and that they need to be more durable. They use a different type of curbing and grades in a less trafficked area as opposed to high volume traffic areas. Goldsmith stated that granite curbing is expensive. Goldsmith spoke of the pipes,basins,the control and the flow of water, and also spoke of infiltration beds. McIntyre asked if they will be meeting with Conservation. Goldsmith responded yes. McIntyre asked the Board if they had any questions. McIntyre asked of the open space. Goldsmith read off of page C-21 to answer McIntyre's question. Goldsmith pointed to the area of open space on the plan and stated that it is about 4-5 acres. Koch and Byres expressed their concern with open space and asked if they had plans of future development in that area. Koch spoke of them restricting that open space to Loth. Atty. Regnante stated if they developed that area they will need to go to MassHousing and the State, before they went to the ZBA, since that would be considered a major modification. Byers questioned if they could put a commercial building on the open space. Regnante responded they could. Chris Huntress, the landscape architect for the project, walked over to the podium. Huntress spoke of the new landscape plans that were submitted to the Board such as Streetscape and Buffer Plantings Plans, Page 2 of 5 December 10,2013 Town of North Andover ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 0oRT#1 Alherl P.Manzi III,Esq. Chairman Associate Member Ellen P.McIntyre, Vice-Chairman 0 Michael P.Liporto Richard J Byers,Esq. Clerk Deney Morganthal D. Paul Koch Jr.Esq. Doug Ludgin Allan Cuscia Zoning Enforcement Officer S US Gerald A. Brown Common House Landscape Plan and a Lighting Layout plan. Huntress went over each of the plans and stated some of what the Board sees has remained similar with minor changes to the original plans and some have not changed. Huntress spoke of some of the plantings that are intended for the project and the buffers. Huntress stated the reduction in this project resulted in the amount of lights used and have been reduced from 51 to 35. Huntress also spoke of the kind of lights used. Huntress stated that they will still use 3 double head fixtures and pointed out on the plans their locations that will be at the center islands. Huntress talked of the locations of the destination lighting and entranceway lighting. McIntyre questioned if there was a guarantee on these lights. Huntress said typically the guarantees last about a year. McIntyre asked if they put in security cameras into the plan. Huntress responded they did not. McIntyre asked Loth of Security in the Development. Loth read a letter to the Board, sent from John O'Conner who was from the management company. O'Conner could not attend the meeting tonight, since he was attending a meeting in Randolph. Loth stated typically security cameras are not used in a project such as this. Loth read the letter to the Board and spoke of the type of possible security measures such as key pads, or access cards, and mail keys. Loth also spoke of certain methods of viewing guests to buzz them in. Access to the community room can only be by the residence only, and would be age restricted. McIntyre wanted something submitted formally regarding security. Loth stated that he will have something. McIntyre asked if they wanted to go over the architectural plans. David White, architect for the project walked up to the podium. White said the plans are basically the same from what you looked at last time, but now are coordinated with the civil engineering plans. The major change would be the club house. White stated that the style and material of each of the buildings and clubhouse will be all similar to each other. White spoke of handicap units and where they would be located. McIntyre asked how many handicap units are required. White responded 10. Byers questioned if the handicap units would be affordable. Regnante responded there is no requirement. Loth responded they could be. Page 3 of 5 December 10, 2013 Toivn of North Andover ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 00RT#1 Albert P.Manzi III,Esq. Chairman Associate Member Ellen P. McIntyre, Vice-Chairman Michael P. Liporto Richard J Byers,Esq. Clerk Deney Morganthal D. Paul Koch Jr. Esq. Doug Ludgin Allan Cuscia ""?Argo rb Zoning Enforcement Officer $ USE Gerald A. Brown McIntyre asked if they had any building or architectural questions. Byers asked of the colors used, White responded that they are not sure yet, buy everyone seems to be leaning towards similar colors shown on the plans. Regnante wanted to get back to the affordable handicap question, although there is not a set number hypothetically if all handicap applicants got picked for the lottery they would have to turn the rest of the units into handicap apartments. White &Loth stated that every unit can be or become adaptable to become handicap. McIntyre asked the Board where they want to go from here. McIntyre stated that Community Development Director, Curt Bellavance is planning an internal meeting with all the boards and departments in order to get feedback from the project before the next meeting. McIntyre stated that she would like to see comments from the Boards again plus VHB and Lisa Eggleston. Loth expressed his opinion and felt that we are going back-wards by getting feedback again. This new plan has less of an impact. Loth expressed to the Board that he thought that tonight would be the last meeting. Koch stated that he understood Loth's feelings but in order to achieve what we set up to accomplish, we need to get this finished,most of these will be minor tweaks. If you push the information to us and along with Bellavance getting through his information we can pull all this information together and this will get done, it will get finished. Cuscia again expressed his same concern to the applicant on the height of the 4 story buildings and thought all of the buildings should all go to 3 stories. In Cuscia's opinion he felt that this would make the project better. Cuscia felt that 168 units would make many of us on the Board happier and it would at least satisfy some of the abutters to some extent. He wanted to protect the integrity and preserving the investments of that part of the community. Cuscia stated numbers, height and safety are still his issues. Loth responded to Cuscia that this would not be feasible for them to go to 168 units. Loth told Cuscia that we have to agree to disagree. Page 4 of 5 December 10, 2013 Town of North Andover ZONING BOARD OFAPPEALS ttORTH Albert P.Manzi III,Esq. Chairman Associate Member Ellen P. McIntyre, Vice-Chairman 0 0 Michael P. Liporto Richard J. Byers, Esq. Clerk Deney Morganthal D. Paul Koch Jr. Esq. Dong Ludgin Allan Cuscia ATOP Zoning Enforcement Officer &S US Gerald A.Brown Atty. Barbara Huggins walked up to the podium and stated that she is representing the Berry Street Association. McIntyre stated to Huggins that since our attorney,Edith Netter is not in attendance at tonight's meeting she could not allow her to speak at tonight's meeting. Huggins understood and apologized to the Board. Regnante got up and requested a continuance from the Board, and also requested any comments be submitted timely and early enough, so his client's can review and also respond. McIntyre agreed with what Regnante said. Both The applicant and the Board threw out some dates, but in the end they both agreed upon Tuesday, January 28t"- Byers made a motion to continue till Tuesday, January 28th at 7:00pm, the location to be determined. Cuscia second the motion Those voting in favor to continue were; McIntyre, Byers, Koch, Cuscia, Liporto and Morganthal Adiourn Meetine Byers made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Koch second the motion Those voting in favor to adjourn were McIntyre, Byers, Koch, Cuscia, Liporto and Morganthal Adjournment: 9:18 Page 5 of 5 December W, 2013