The Raynham Planning Board meeting of January 11, 2007 opened at 6:30 p.m. with Board members Daniel Andrade, Burke Fountain, John Canto and Chris Gallagher present. Also present were Town Planner Richard McCarthy, Adminstrative Assistant Maureen McKenney, and John Schmid of Nitsch Engineering.
6:30 p.m. - General Business: Minutes of December 14, 2006 were received. Mr. Fountain moved to waive the reading and accept the minutes as submitted; second by Mr. Gallagher; motion passed by unanimous vote (4).
6:32 p.m. - Finch Farm I and Steeplechase Subdivisions (located off Leonard Street): Letter was received from Thomas Armitage, Senior Project Manager, QBI Homes, Inc., regarding transfer of funds for snowplowinng at Finch Farm (Mr. Armitage was not present for the matter.) After discussion, Mr. Fountain motioned to approve the requested transfer of $15,000 from Steeplechase surety funds to be used for Finch Farm I snowplow account; second by Mr. Canto; motion passed by unanimous vote (4).
Letter dated January 4, 2007 was received from Thomas Armitage, Senior Project Manager, QBI Homes, Inc., requesting a reduction in the surety bonds for Steeplechase and Finch Farm I subdivisions. Mr. Fountain moved to approve the bond reduction request; second by Mr. Gallagher. During discussion, Mr. Schmid noted that he has not yet received as-built plans for the subdivision. Four votes opposed, motion failed to carry.
Letter dated December 26, 2006 was received from Randall Buckner, Town Administrator, regarding street acceptance for Rolling Brook subdivision (located off Locust Street). Mr. Schmid informed the Board he is still reviewing the as-built plan. The matter was tabled to the January 25, 2007 meeting. Mr. Gallagher noted the subdivision has septic systems and he questioned if there is anything in the subdivision regulations that require sewer be installed when available. Board members discussed the matter and agreed Mr. McCarthy should look into the matter. Mr. Schmid noted a pump station would be required in the subdivision if sewer is installed.
Letter dated January 9, 2007 was received from Central Dodge, Richard Catanese, Owner, requesting a reduction in the surety bond for Central Dodge site plan (Rte. 44). Mr. Schmid noted he had received the as-built plans today and that changes were made from the original plan so a minor modification to the approved plan may be needed. No action was taken and the matter was tabled to later date.
Mr. Fountain informed the Board that on occasion he has seen cars for the Toyota dealership being unloaded accross the road on Route 44 in the early mornings hours in the dark. Board members agreed this was a violation of the Certificate of Action for the Toyota site plan and a dangerous situation as well. After discussion, the Board instructed Mr. McCarthy to send a letter to the dealership to inform them they are in violation of the site plan and to ask them to correct the situation. Copy of the letter will be sent to the Board of Selectmen and the Mass. Highway Department as well. Mr. McCarthy will also send a separate letter to Mass. Highway regarding the need for no parking signs on Route 44.
Letter dated January 2, 2007 was received from Randall Buckner, Town Administrator, regarding adoption and mapping of North Raynham Water District Zone II for a new well on Broadway. No action was taken.
(Mr. Ellis arrived at 6:49 p.m.)
6:50 p.m. - Form A plan for land on North Main Street: Craig Martin, Ducharme & Dillis, Civil Design Group, Inc., Bolton, MA, presented a Form A plan for land on North Main Street owned by Lillian Hewitt Trust. Proper application and fees were submitted. Mr. Martin explained that three lots are being created from the parcel. Mr. McCarthy asked if applicant has contacted the Highway Department regarding the need for utility stubs for the lots. Mr. Martin stated he put that information in his report to his client.
After review, Mr. Fountain moved to accept the plan entitled "Plan of Land in Raynham, Massachusetts Dated November 7, 2006,” prepared for Bank of America, fka Shawmut Bank, Boston, MA, as an Approval Not Required Plan; second by Mr. Gallagher; motion passed by unanimous vote (5). Mr. Gallagher signed the plan.
7:00 p.m. - Form A plan for land on Hall Street: Attorney Andrew Schwartz, Brockton, MA, presented a Form A plan for land on Hall Street owned by Assunta Finnigan. Proper application and fee were submitted. After review of the plan, Mr. Fountain moved to accept the plan entitled "Plan of Land In Raynham, Massachusetts Owned By Assunta Finnigan," dated August 18, 1999, last revised November 10, 1999, drawn by Hayward-Boynton & Williams, as an Approval Not Required Plan; second by Mr. Ellis; motion passed by unanimous vote (5). Mr. Gallagher signed the plan.
7:10 p.m. - Olson's Greenhouse, South Street West: Owner Matt Piscatelli appeared before the Board to request an abbreviated site plan process for changes to an existing 1138 square foot building on Olson’s Greenhouse site. Mr. Piscatelli explained an existing building on site will be converted to office space. During discussion, it was noted that the by-laws were recently changed making site plan approval not necessary for buildings less than 1200 square feet. After discussion, Board members agreed the changes to the parking area at this site necessitate site plan approval. Mr. Ellis motioned to approve the request for abbreviated site plan approval; second by Mr. Fountain; motion passed by unanimous vote (5).
7:15 p.m. - Public hearing for proposed changes to Planning Board Fee Schedule was opened. Mr. Gallagher read the hearing notice. Mr. Andrade asked if anyone was present with questions or to discuss the matter. No one responded. Mr. McCarthy explained that the proposed changes to the fee schedule compliment the abbreviated site plan approval process. Board members agreed the proposed changes were good.
George Bumila asked the Board for clarification of the fee schedule. Mr. Ellis explained the $500 review fee required will only be used if project review is needed for an abbreviated site plan.
Mr. Fountain moved to accept the amendments as read; second by Mr. Gallagher; motion passed by unanimous vote (5).
7:28 p.m. - Shaw's/Route 44 Shopping Plaza/ Cedars, LLC, site plan: The public hearing was opened. Mr. Gallagher read the hearing notice. Tom Pozerski, P.E., Hayward-Boynton & Williams was present, along with Sean McGonigle of Cedars, LLC, and Chris Hall from applicant’s architectural firm.
Mr. Pozerski presented the proposed site plan and explained that a new FedEx/Kinkos building is planned. Board members and Mr. Pozerski discussed the adjacent CVS drive-through window and the travel lane for the new building. Mr. Pozerski noted there will be curbing and signage to aid traffic flow. At Mr. Schmid’s request, Mr. Pozerski agreed to create a template to determine if traffic flow between the site and the drive-through will work. Sean McConigle noted CVS has seen the proposed plan.
Parking was discussed. Mr. Pozerski noted new spaces are being created so there will be enough spaces. During discussion, Mr. Ellis noted the new spaces should be created where needed not just located in areas where they are not needed just to be counted towards the total number of spaces. Mr. Pozerski noted that except for Shaw’s, the parking areas at the plaza are never full.
Mr. Canto noted the Board previously indicated they were not pleased with the building at this location. Sean McGonigle explained this location is closer to CVS than originally shown to Board. It was noted the power easement restricts location of the new building.
Mr. Andrade noted the proposed location is probably a good one. Mr. Fountain said he was concerned with traffic and feels the site is built out. He noted pedestrian safety at the plaza is not addressed. He stated that the Board previously suggested the building be located behind Shaw’s, and Mr. Pozerski explained that area is mapped as endangered species areas.
Waiver requests were discussed. Mr. Ellis stated there is need for FedEx/Kinkos but suggested it might be better located at Staples Plaza. During discussion, Mr. McGonigle explained that box trucks will be delivering and picking up at the site, not tractor-trailer trucks.
After discussion, Board members agreed they were not totally against the project but more user-friendly parking is needed, useable parking spaces are needed, pedestrian-safe walkways should be tied into the site and a Traffic Impact Statement and Development Statement are needed. The Board agreed the possibility for a special permit for parking reduction may be possible if proved necessary.
The Shaw’s Plaza/Cedars, LLC, public hearing was continued to March 8, 2007, 7 p.m., at the new Town Hall, South Main Street.
8:35 p.m. - Evergreen Estates (off White Street): Construction Cost Estimate, dated December 21, 2006, was received from Nitsch Engineering. Mr. McCarthy informed the Board that developer Steve Joyce could not be present tonight but Mr. Joyce gave his verbal okay for the new surety bond estimate from Nitsch Engineering. After discussion, the Board agreed the construction cost estimate was acceptable.
Aspen Hollow (off North Main Street): Construction Cost Estimate, dated December 21, 2006, was received from Nitsch Engineering. Mr. McCarthy informed the Board that developer Mark Perron will not be present tonight as scheduled and he would like to defer the matter for two weeks. The matter was tabled.
General Business: Letter dated December 6, 2006 was received from Attorney David Gay regarding Perpetual Access and Utility Easements for Roger's Lane easements. No action was taken.
Letter dated January 11, 2007 was received from Nitsch Engineering requesting an extension of the temporary occupancy permit for 95 Ryan Drive. Mr. McCarthy informed the Board there were no outstanding issues. Mr. Ellis moved to recommend the Building Commissioner extend the temporary occupancy permit for 95 Ryan Drive to February 22, 2007, as requested in the letter; second by Mr. Fountain; motion passed by unanimous vote.
Letter dated December 19, 2006 was received from Nitsch Engineering regarding Step By Step site plan (Paramount Drive). Board members discussed how much should be held as surety for the loaming and seeding. Mr. Schmid agreed to reconsider his estimate. Mr. Canto requested that Mr. Schmid measure the depth of the loaming to be sure it is sufficient. After discussion, Mr. Ellis moved to release the surety funds subject to new Nitsch Engineering letter; second by Mr. Gallagher; motion passed by unanimous vote (5).
Letter dated December 18, 2006, was received from Attorney P. Burke Fountain regarding the sale of land on North Main Street owned by Enos Williams Trust. No action was taken.
Mr. Fountain discussed a newspaper article about a favorable judgement for the Town of Hopkinton, which had spent money to fix roads in subdivisions and then sued to recover the money.
John Schmid updated the Board on the status of the Yukon Landscaping/South Street East site plan. He noted the engineer is having difficulty with the drainage. After discussion, Board members agreed a second building on the site may not be feasible and the applicant should provide a site plan showing only the front building. The Board agreed no foundation permit should be issued until after the new plan is provided.
After discussion, Board members agree to move the starting time for the meetings to 6 p.m. with general business to be conducted from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
There was no further business and the meeting ended at approximately 9 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Raynham Planning Board
Chris Gallagher, Clerk
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