Town of Raynham, MA - Planning Board Minutes April 8, 2004

The Raynham Planning Board meeting of April 8, 2004 opened at 6:30 p.m. with Daniel Andrade, Burke Fountain, Carl Carlson and John Canto present.~ Also present were Town Planner Richard McCarthy and John Schmid, Judith Nitsch Engineering (JNEI).

6:35 p.m. – Mario Susi and Sons, Inc.,/Raynham Corp. site plan for Gardner Street was presented for endorsement.~ After review, the plan was endorsed.

6:45 p.m. – Robert Newton was present on behalf of First Congregational Church site plan.~ He explained that the church was ready to proceed with the plan.~ Board members informed Mr. Newton that the plan must first be signed by the Town Clerk to attest that no appeals were taken.~ It was agreed that the Board will endorse the plan at the next meeting and will consider the matter of fee reduction as requested by letter dated February 25, 2004 from Rev. Tilbe.

April 5, 2004 was received from JNEI.~ It was noted that the building first floor elevation will be lowered; the sanitary sewer and water connections to the building will be revised, and several light poles will be relocated but the maximum footcandles as previously approved will not be exceeded.

After discussion, a motion was made to approve the modified plan entitled “Proposed Retail Development, Route 44, Raynham, MA, dated April 17, 2003, revised through April 8, 2004”; motion seconded; motion passed by unanimous vote.

7:20 p.m.~ General business:~ Correspondence dated April 7, 2004 was received from Randall Buckner, Town Administrator, requesting a recommendation on Forge River Parkway and Bellows Road and other roads as previously mentioned in a March 3, 2004 letter sent to the Board.~ After discussion, Board members agreed to forward the request to Highway Superintendent Roger Stolte for his opinion.~

Correspondence dated April 7, 2004 was received from Mr. Buckner forwarding four zoning change petitions for public hearings.~ After discussion, public hearings were scheduled for May 13, 2004, beginning at 7 p.m., to consider the requests for the ARC by-law; an amendment to Section 4.3 of the zoning by-laws; rezoning portion of Orchard Street at Rte. 44 intersection from Residential A to Business; and rezoning Jaskolas property, Parcles 27 & 28, Robinson Street, from Residential A to Residential B.

7:45 p.m. – Public hearing for Aspen Hollow Estates was opened.~ Mr. Carlson read the hearing notice.~ Letter dated April 6, 2004 was received from Thomas Pozerski of Hayward-Boynton & Williams on behalf of the applicant requesting a continuation of the public hearing. Correspondence on Aspen Hollow was received from the Conservation Commission, dated April 14, 2004, and Roger Stolte, Highway Superintendent, dated March 25, 2004.~ No testimony was taken on the plan.~ The public hearing was continued to May 13, 2004, at 7:45 p.m.

8:00 p.m. – Forge Knoll subdivision public hearing opened.~ Dan Aguiar, Sitec Engineering, requested a continuance of the hearing.~ An extension of the Board’s time-to-act was granted to June 30, 2004.~ After discussion, the public hearing was continued to May 27, 2004, 7 p.m.

8:15 p.m. – Steeplechase Preserve Special Permit for subdivision phasing opened.~ Mr. Carlson read the hearing notice.~ Attorney Jack Jacobi was present along with applicant Ronald Turowetz, Dan Aguiar, Sitec Engineering, and Tom Armitage, Project Manager.~

A comment letter dated March 25, 2004 received from Roger Stolte was discussed.~ After discussion, it was agreed that Attorney Jacobi will contact Marc Antine to discuss issues raised in Mr. Stolte’s letter and Mr. Armitage will contact Mr. Stolte to discuss his concerns

The public hearing was closed at 8:40 p.m.~ A motion was made to~aprove a Special Permit to allow the issuance of more than seven building permits in any twelve month period at Steeplechase Preserve owned by Finch Farm LLC and Easecat, Inc.; motion seconded; motion passed by unanimous vote. The buildout schedule will be 13 lots from July 1, 2003 to July 1, 2004 and 14 lots from July 2, 2004 to July 2, 2005.

March 16, 2004 was received from Attorney David Gay, Taunton, MA, requesting a continuance of the hearing to April 22^nd.~ It was noted that the current time-to-act was extended by thirty days.~ After discussion, it was agreed to continue the hearing to May 27, 2004, 7:30 p.m. and that another extension of time-to-act will be needed.~ No testimony was taken at the hearing.

8:50 p.m. - Munro Electric site plan public hearing was reconvened.~ A letter dated April 8, 2004 was received from Peter Wolski, Field Engineering, Taunton,MA, requesting a continuance of the public hearing.~ After discussion, the hearing was continued to April 22, 2004, 8:45 p.m.

9:00 p.m. – Matthew Dowling, Corporate Environmental Advisors, Inc. (CEA), West Boylston, MA, appeared before the Board with a proposed modified plan for Hess Gas Station, Rte. 44 (formerly known as Gibbs Oil). A wooden shed will be constructed on the site to house components of the proposed vacuum enhanced total extraction system, all as described in a letter dated April 5, 2004 from CEA.

After discussion, motion was made to approve the minor site plan modification presented by Corporate Environmental Advisors, Inc., West Boylston, MA, plan entitled “Site Layout,” dated March 29,2004; motion seconded; motion passed by unanimous vote. Certificate of Action will be issued.

During general discussion, Board members discussed automobile dealerships allowing car carriers to unload on Route 44.~ There was discussion of what State law was on this matter.~ After discussion, it was agreed that Mr. McCarthy will draft a letter to the Board of Selectmen regarding this concern.~~~~