Town of Carlisle
MASSACHUSETTS 01741
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Office of
PLANNING BOARD
66 Westford Street
Carlisle, Massachusetts 01741
Tel. (978) 369-9702
Fax (978) 369-4521
Minutes
August 1, 2011
Minutes 6/27/11
Bills
Budget
Senior Tax Worker Program FY2012
Associate Member Positions
Liaison Reports
Discussion of Planning Board initiatives and priorities for 2011-2012 term
Appointment of representative to Banta-Davis Master Plan Task Force
Endorsement of plans for amendment to Common Driveway Special Permit at 121 Skelton Road, to be known as “Elliott Farms,” to serve up to 6 lots (Map 1, Parcels 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 3, & 3B) (approved by Planning Board on 3/28/11)
Preliminary review of proposed Planning Board policy on noise control associated with land development construction
Report on research on the Town’s acceptance of easements associated with previously approved subdivision and Conservation Clusters (Planning Administrator)
Offer from Comprehensive Environmental, Inc., to prepare application for a MassWorks small towns infrastructure grant at no charge.
Chair David Freedman called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm in the Clark Room of Town Hall. Members Michael Epstein, Tom Lane, Marc Lamere, Nathan Brown, and Planning Administrator George Mansfield were present. Members Jonathan Stevens and Jeff Johnson were absent.
Gretchen Caywood (PB Administrative Assistant), canine visitor Scout Stone-Epstein (Spencer Brook Lane), and Mosquito reporter Alex Sayde were also in attendance.
Minutes
The PB reviewed the draft Minutes from 6/27/11, and a few revisions were suggested. Lamere moved to approve the Minutes as amended, Lane seconded and the motion was approved 5-0.
Appointment of representative to Banta-Davis Master Plan Task Force
Chair Freedman reported on the discussion of this item at the 6/28 BOS meeting, which he and Stevens attended. At that meeting, a draft Charter for the Task Force was read, and its membership composition was discussed. While the exact membership is TBD, the Task Force will likely contain 1 member each from BOS, Housing Trust, Planning Board, Housing Authority, RecCom, School Com, and 1 member from the public at large. Freedman reported that the group’s work would probably begin in September and they would have 5 months to make their report to the BOS, but will try to do so sooner particularly in case any action on the matter is required at TM. The purpose of the Task Force is to study the possible uses of the Banta Davis property with an emphasis on determining if it is an appropriate site
for affordable housing units, and if so, what the next steps would be. All past designated uses, current uses, as well as all master plans or development plans undertaken related to the property will be considered. At the meeting, Chair Freedman suggested that all abutters to the Banta Davis land be made aware of any scheduled meetings of the Task Force.
Chair Freedman noted that Stevens (not present this evening) had volunteered to be a member of this Task Force, and he confirmed that the PB is in agreement with this. Chair Freedman moved that the PB appoint Jonathan Stevens as PB representative to the Banta Davis Master Plan Task Force, Brown seconded, and the motion was approved 5-0.
Endorsement of plans for amendment to Common Driveway Special Permit at 121 Skelton Road, to be known as “Elliott Farms,” to serve up to 6 lots (Map 1, Parcels 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 3, & 3B) (approved by Planning Board on 3/28/11)
Pursuant to the PB decision of 3/28/11, the appeals period having passed for this Special Permit (without appeal), the PB endorsed the Mylars of the plans for this Special Permit, as prepared by Stamski and McNary, Inc, and dated October 4, 2010 last revised March 21, 2011.
Preliminary review of proposed Planning Board policy on noise control associated with land development construction
Chair Freedman had drafted a noise control policy, incorporating edits by Epstein and Planning Administrator Mansfield, which was provided to the PB for discussion this evening. PS consulting engineer Steven Ventresca (Nitsch Engineering) has provided his comments on the draft policy. Freedman explained that the BOH chose not to adopt a specific regulation concerning construction noise. Since Town Counsel has verified that the BOH does have the authority to address noise complaints, a bylaw may be unnecessary, Freedman had suggested to the BOH that the PB develop a policy concerning construction noise, as several of the PB’s Rules and Regulations refer to noise control via their requirement for a Construction Management Plan (CMP). In effect, whenever the CMP is invoked, as well as for
developments not requiring a CMP, the PB could utilize this noise control policy.
The PB reviewed the draft policy along with Ventresca’s suggested revisions. The policy will apply to construction activities pursuant to development approvals and permits under the purview of the PB. It will address construction noise of significant intensity and duration such that can be expected from various high impact equipment such as rock crushing and pile driving equipment. The PB discussed broadening the policy to include equipment involved in the on-site processing of trees, for example, and it was decided to keep the policy somewhat narrow, mainly pertaining to rock crushing or removal machinery for now, since this is the matter that has resulted in noise complaints regarding a current development project. Chair Freedman also pointed out that the overall goal is to foster a
cooperative effort with the developer, in the best interest of the abutters and the Town, and to have reliable advance information regarding work schedules on the project that are likely to produce noise.
The PB agreed that Chair Freedman, Vice Chair Epstein and Planning Administrator Mansfield could proceed with revising the draft policy per the discussion, which will then be circulated to the BOS, BOH, Building Commissioner, and abutters John Bakewell and Ginny Lamere for their comments. After all comments are received, the draft policy, revised as necessary, will be forwarded to Town Counsel for review. The policy will then be presented for comment at a public hearing at a future PB meeting.
Report on research on the Town’s acceptance of easements associated with previously approved subdivision and Conservation Clusters (Planning Administrator)
Planning Administrator Mansfield explained that he and Epstein will be speaking with Town Administrator Goddard regarding this matter, but that due to schedule conflicts this conversation will not occur until late August at the earliest.
Offer from Comprehensive Environmental, Inc., to prepare application for a MassWorks small towns infrastructure grant at no charge.
Planning Administrator Mansfield explained that this offer is for identifying, evaluating, and filing MassWorks grant applications for funding for infrastructure construction, reconstruction and/or expansion in the Town. This consulting firm has offered the assistance free of charge. Chair Freedman asked Mansfield to forward this information to the Town Administrator and to the Energy Task Force, and to the Fire Chief, the latter regarding potential fire cistern installations.
Liaison Reports
Brown reported on the status of the Highland building stabilization, noting that all is on schedule to finish the stabilization before school starts in September. He said that currently the window boxes are being painted, and the storm windows are being replaced with temporary Lexan (polycarbonate) ones. Whether to replace or restore the entire windows will depend on the final use that is determined for the building.
Discussion of Planning Board initiatives and priorities for 2011-2012 term
The PB reviewed its list of PB priorities covering the next few years. Concerning a second review/revision of the Subdivision Rules and Regulations, Chair Freedman asked Mansfield and Caywood to assemble all outstanding comments and suggested revisions of these Regulations. He asked Mansfield to check with the PB’s consulting engineer as to whether recent changes to the State’s Stormwater Management Regulations also necessitate changes to the PB Subdivision Regulations.
PB Meeting Schedule
On discussion, the PB decided to cancel their upcoming meeting scheduled for August 15th, and to consider meeting on August 29th instead, pending a poll of members’ schedules. It was agreed that if a quorum of members are available on August 29th , this will be kept as a possible meeting date should pressing business come through the PB office in the next few weeks.
At 9:00 pm, Brown moved and Lamere seconded the adjournment of the PB meeting. The motion was approved 5-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gretchen Caywood
Administrative Assistant
Carlisle Planning Board
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