The Raynham Planning Board meeting of Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Raynham Veterans’ Memorial Town Hall, was opened at 6:20 p.m. by Chairman Daniel Andrade.
Board members present: Daniel Andrade, John Canto, Henry Ellis and Chris Gallagher (6:35 p.m.)
Board members not present: Burke Fountain
Staff present: Town Planner Richard McCarthy, Administrative Assistant Maureen McKenney
6:21 p.m. - Plan of Land on Pine Street, was received from Carol Sullivan, Raynham, MA (Ms. Sullivan was not present.) Mr. McCarthy explained the plan is a Land Court plan. He noted he did a site visit and determined town water was not available. During discussion, it was noted there may not be legal frontage for the lots because of zoning changes enacted since the plan was drawn in 1993. After discussion, the Board agreed to send the plan to Town Counsel Marc Antine for his opinion on whether or not the property is grandfathered with zoning protection. The matter was tabled.
6:23 p.m. - Form A Plan for land on Campbell Court (located off Darrington Drive/Pleasant Street) was received from John Noblin. (Mr. Noblin was not present.) Mr. McCarthy noted there is a proposed zoning amendment for the upcoming Town Meeting, which, if passed will change the Water Resource Overlay Protection District map, which could benefit this property because the lots would need only to be 40,000 square feet instead of the 45,000 square feet required now in a water resource district. After brief discussion, the plan was tabled until after the Town Meeting. No action was taken.
6:26 p.m. - General Discussion: the Certificate of Action for the Value Place Hotel was discussed. Attorney David Gay was present and questioned why the wording on condition No. 13 said the condition of the police details did not expire when the traffic signals became operational. Mr. Ellis explained the condition was in place to allow the police chief to continue the details if he deems them necessary.
6:30 p.m. - Bristol County Savings Bank Special Permit (108 North Main Street) public hearing was opened: Mr. Ellis read the public hearing notice. The hearing was then adjourned to await the arrival of Board member Chris Gallagher.
6:35 p.m. - Bristol County Savings Bank Special Permit (BCSB) public hearing was reconvened. (Mr. Gallagher was present.) Attorney David Gay, Taunton, MA, appeared before the Board on behalf of BCSB, who had submitted an application for a special permit to allow an additional drive-through lane at the North Main Street branch of Bristol County Savings Bank. Present with Attorney Gay were Donald Smyth, Vice President, BCSB, and William Lewis, Vice-President, BCSB.
Attorney Gay explained that the Raynham Board of Appeals had granted a variance to allow construction of an addition to the North Main Street bank building, and the applicant was now before the Planning Board because the Building Commissioner determined a special permit is needed for the additional drive-through lane. During his discussion, Attorney Gay noted the adjacent stone building on the site will be razed to make way for the additional drive-through lane and parking area.
It was noted the plan had not been reviewed by Nitsch Engineering, and the Board felt it was not necessary now.
Mr. Canto discussed his concern with the proposed 24 foot width of the parking area. During review of the plan, it was noted there will be no net increase in traffic at the site because the existing ATM inside the bank will be moved outside to this new lane.
Conditions of approval were discussed. It was agreed the Board would reserve the right to require additional signage and striping in the parking area if determined to be needed.
Mr. Gallagher moved to approve the requested special permit based on the plan entitled “Special Permit/Variance Plan Bristol County Savings Bank #108 North Main Street Raynham, Massachusetts 02767,” prepared by Hayward-Boynton & Williams, dated March 17, 2008, with the conditions as discussed; second by Mr. Ellis; motion passed by unanimous vote. A Certificate of Action will be issued.
6:50 p.m. - Waiver of Frontage Plan, 293 Old Center Street, public hearing was opened. Applicants and property owners Norman and Diane Sturtevant, Raynham, MA, were present. Mr. Gallagher read the public hearing notice.
Attorney David Gay, Taunton, MA, was present as applicants’ representative. He explained the Sturtevants received a variance from the Board of Appeals in September 2007 that allowed their property to be split into two lots with less than the required lot area size. Attorney Gay noted the Sturtevants and their three children currently live in the existing house on Lot 1 as shown on the plan, and they hope to sell Lot 2 as a buildable lot. He noted the Sturtevants both have serious medical issues to deal with, and, as a result, they have had to sell their business so they are hoping to sell their second lot for income for themselves and their family. Attorney Gay noted the second lot will have town sewer.
During discussion, it was noted the main issue for the Planning Board to consider when approving the plan is whether or not the lot in question has adequate access.
Mr. Andrade asked if there were any comments or questions from anyone present. There were none.
Mr. Canto moved to approve the plan entitled “Waiver of Frontage Plan of Land #293 Old Center Street Raynham, Massachusetts Prepared For Norman & Dianne Sturtevant, III,” drawn by Arthur Borden Associates, Raynham, MA, dated October 9, 2004; second by Mr. Gallagher; motion passed three in favor, Mr. Ellis opposed.
6:58 p.m. - Campbell Court Subdivision (located off Darrington Drive/Pleasant Street): modification to the approved subdivision plan was presented. Todd Pilling, P. E., Pilling Engineering, was present along with developer/owner Frank Campbell. Review correspondence, dated April 15, 2008, was received from Nitsch Engineering. Mr. Pilling submitted written response comments to the Nitsch project review.
Mr. Pilling explained that all the changes made to the original approved subdivision plan are improvements. He discussed his response comments to the Nitsch review. Mr. Pilling noted there will be 16% less pavement now than the original plan had. He noted his response comments were not sent directly to John Schmid for his review.
Mr. Gallagher noted this plan of land has been in Land Court for several years so the eight year zoning expiration may not apply because the clock stops while in Land Court.
Mr. Pilling discussed the fact that soil testing had not been done. After discussion of each of Mr. Pilling’s response comment, the Board agreed Mr. Pilling should send his comments to John Schmid for his review. The Board agreed that no soil testing need be done.
No action was taken and the matter was tabled pending further review and comments from John Schmid.
Town Planner Update: Mr. McCarthy introduced Bridgewater State College senior Elizabeth Connors to the Board. Ms. Connors spent time as intern with Mr. McCarthy, and she worked on an affordable housing plan. Mr. McCarthy explained the Town of Raynham needs to have their housing plan updated to better meet the affordable housing/40B needs and that the housing plan must be adopted by the Planning Board and the Selectmen in order to be effective.
Ms. Connors discussed how she obtained data she had collected on affordable housing. During discussion, it was noted the number of elderly housing units on Mill Street apply towards the Town’s affordable housing numbers. There was discussion of the need for additional housing for the elderly.
The concept of 40R plans was briefly discussed.
There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Raynham Planning Board
Chris Gallagher, Clerk
|