TOWN OF PALMER
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
January 4, 2010, 7:00 pm,
Planning Office.
Chairman Michael Marciniec called the meeting of the Planning Board to order at
7:00 PM. Present were members Norman Czech, Diane France, James Haley, Jr., and Thomas Skowyra. Also present were Town Planner Linda Leduc and Principal Clerk Mary Watson recording the minutes.
M.Marciniec stated that three Planning Board members were elected in November and would therefore need to be sworn in as soon as possible with the Town Clerk.
7:00 PM-Special Permit and Site Plan Approval for Roger Woods to convert a residential use to a commercial use (office space) in the General Business district and a ground sign for the property located at 1415 Park Street, Palmer.
The clerk read the public hearing notice.
The applicant Roger Woods was present and stated that there would be no exterior changes to the house. The current fencing along the left side of the property would be removed and improvements would be made to the existing house such as new siding. The stone driveway would remain per Roger Woods.
Discussions were held regarding the proposed four parking spaces shown on the plan.
M.Marciniec asked if the applicant is required to mark a handicap space.
R.Woods stated that the stone driveway would remain; however he would demarcate the handicap spot in front of the space.
Discussions were held pertaining to the proposed sign and lighting.
R.Woods stated that there would be a light under the proposed sign and has provided sign designs for the file.
The exterior lighting is proposed for the existing pole located in the front of the building and would not cause a nuisance to the abutting property as stated by R.Woods.
T.Skowyra inquired about the ten-foot easement right of way as indicated on the plan prepared by Roger Woods.
R.Woods explained to the Board that in 1971 the Planning Board had approved three parcels however the deed does not show this being approved and the Assessors office only shows as one parcel. An abutter is the owner of the easement.
Margaret Ferry, whose property is located at 1397 Park Street, asked if the sign is going to be neon and why the business zone is now zoned commercial.
The applicant stated that he is not proposing a neon sign. The Board stated that the property is already in the General Business district and was previously a residential use.
Corinne Hulse, whose property is located at 1400 Park Street, was also present.
A motion was made by N.Czech to approve the Special Permit and Site Plan Approval for Roger Woods located at 1415 Park Street, Palmer. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
7:20 PM-Special Permit for R.B. Enterprises, Inc to remove earth materials for the property located off River Street, Thorndike.
The clerk read the public hearing notice.
Present were the applicant Ray Breton and Donald Frydryk of Sherman and Frydryk Land surveying and engineering.
Also present was John Furman of Vanasse, Hangen, Brustlin, Inc and representing the Planning Board.
M.Marciniec stated that comments dated December 30, 2009 from VHB entitled 2010 Special Permit Application R.B. Enterprises River Street, Palmer, MA were received on January 4, 2010.
A motion was made by N.Czech acknowledging receipt of the review comments for R.B. Enterprises, Inc. received January 4, 2010 and dated December 30, 2009 from VHB. T.Skowyra seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
The Board asked what cells the applicant would be operating in during 2010-2011.
D.Frydryk stated that the applicant would be working along the westerly side of cell one. The existing stockpile located in cell two would be used for closed out.
R.Breton stated that he is investigating the use of short paper fiber for closeout purposes.
M.Marciniec asked for an outline of cell one and stated that cell two would need to be stabilized.
D.Frydryk stated that the outline for cell one is indicated on the plan and cell two is used for storing the stockpile.
M.Marciniec stated that if cell two cannot be closed out and is an active area it should be part of the new permit.
The Board discussed with the applicant the cells and what is occurring in each.
R.Breton stated that he could closeout the area towards Gates Street by using the piles currently in that area along with restoration.
J.Haley stated that the Board should allow the areas to be active and therefore discuss these issues next year.
J.Furman asked if the applicant is hauling rock onto the site due to the fact that it was observed that the pile of rock is larger than in previous years.
R.Breton stated that he has received approval from the Board to allow crushing and has always had many piles of rock on the site, however has consolidated them all to crush and get rid of the larger stones.
Discussions were held regarding the acreage to be added to the new permit.
M.Marciniec stated to review what has been evaluated of how much material and what has been stabilized before next winter.
D.Frydryk stated that in2008, the first year of the three-year permit, waivers were granted and have rolled over to the 2009 permit.
L.Leduc stated that the Board could grant the waivers again for the new permit.
These waivers, as stated in the Planning Board Rules and Regulations, include:
Section 11.7.d- notation of abutting properties within 150’.
11.7.e- final grading of cells.
11.7.g- stormwater management of individual cells.
11.7.i- 1 boring or monitoring well per acre.
11.8.1.a.- noise study.
11.8.2.b.- 4-6’ high berm adjacent to buffer zone.
A motion was made by T.Skowyra to grant all the waivers as indicated above for the new permit. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
J.Furman indicated that VHB reviews include having all information pertaining to the Planning Boards Rules and Regulations submitted in the application.
The Board discussed future requirements of the applications and the possible increase of fees.
J.Furman stated that no quarterly reports have been required for the R.B. Enterprises, Inc in the past, however are required for other gravel pits. The Board should consider this as a requirement for the applicant.
M.Marciniec stated that this gravel pit existed prior to zoning. The Board has required quarterly reports in the past for other gravel pits if they had not been in compliance with the regulations.
J.Furman stated that in the previous permit it states that no work is allowed in cells two and three until cell one is closed and this would need to be re-written.
D.Frydryk stated that the wording should indicate that removal is allowed in cell one and the contours for cells two and three are for stockpiling.
L.Leduc asked D.Frydryk for a narrative reflecting the activity that would occur in the cells.
D.Frydryk will provide the new acreage for the Board and the applicant would give the fee reflecting the new amount.
A motion was made by J.Haley, Jr to issue the earth removal permit for R.B. Enterprises, Inc for the property located off River Street, Thorndike. N.Czech seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
Meeting Minutes of December 14, 2009-A motion was made by T.Skowyra to approve the minutes. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
JJC Quarterly Report-for the gravel operation located off Park Street, Palmer. Lee Lycott of Lycott Environmental submitted the report dated December 18, 2009.
A motion was made by D.France acknowledging receipt of the fourth quarterly report for JJC Materials, Inc. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
The Board discussed the quarterly reports that are received for all the gravel operations. A statement should indicate on the reports that the applicant is in compliance with all zoning and regulations.
Proposed Zone Change-for the property located at 1524 Park Street, Palmer. The applicant, Ruport Realty, LLC is proposing to change from the Rural Residential district to the Highway Business district.
This hearing will be held on February 1 at 7:00 p.m. with the Planning Board and on February 8 with the Town Council.
Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installation Ordinance-the draft was provided to the Board for review.
Re-Organization of the Board: discussions were held regarding the re-organization of the Board members.
M.Marciniec asked if anyone is interested in assigning the positions differently.
A motion was made by J.Haley, Jr., to have the positions of the Planning Board to remain as Michael Marciniec, Chairman, Norman Czech, Vice-Chairman and James Haley, Jr., Clerk. T.Skowyra seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
8:25 PM-A motion was made by J.Haley, Jr., to adjourn. D.France seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
James Haley, Jr., Clerk
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