BELLINGHAM
(508) 966-0991 ; FAX (508) 966-2317
PlanningBoard@bellinghamma.org
December 14, 2006 Meeting
Minutes
·
Present at the meeting:
Brian J. Sutherland (
Glenn C. Wojcik (
David Brown (DB)
Secretary
Thomas J. Guerin
(TJG),
Roland R. Laprade
(RRL),
Stephen Bartha (SB)
Other officials: Stacey J. Wetstein, (
Amy Cook, (AC),
Commission on Disabilities
Mary Chaves,
(MC) Coordinator
DB: Motion to sign minutes of
RRL: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
RRL: Motion to sign
vouchers.
DB: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
Woodbury Ridge Plan Signing
There was not
signing blocks or a consistent place to sign the plans so the Board decided not
to sign them until the signing blocks were placed on the plans.
Bellingham Commons II Definitive
Subdivision Plan Signing
High Ridge Estates update
Tim Jones appeared to give the Board an update on his meting
with the Conservation Commission.
Regarding the Boy Scout water line, George Holmes will coordinate with
the
Tim gave the Conservation Commission an as built on the
detention pond and is waiting for letter stating they are accepted and can be
fenced,
They’ve done 2300 feet of sidewalks and curbing; Phase II is
completed. He mentioned to the Board that he would be talking to Don DiMartino
to lowering the percentage held for security.
D&N Estates Definitive
Subdivision and Major Residential Special Permit
Bill Halsing of Land Planning Inc appeared with Laurent
Duhamel, the applicant. The Board has
finalized all the details with Graves Engineering, peer review engineers; there
is an agreement for an easement with the
One additional waiver was requested regarding the
4345-outtlet pipe from detention basin at different elevation.
RRL: Motion to grant
waivers requested.
DB: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
RRL: Motion to continue D&N Estates to
TJG: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
RRL: Motion to
continue D&N estates special permit for major residential subdivision.
DB: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
RRL: Motion to accept request for an extension for the decision
deadline for D&N Estates Definitive Subdivision to
TJG: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
RRL: Motion to accept an extension for the decision deadline
for D&N Estates Special Permit for major residential subdivision to
TJG: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
EMC
Definitive Subdivision
Peter Coppinger, David Streeter and Dan Feeney appeared to
discuss the roadway for the definitive subdivision.
SJW informed the Board that she had asked the Town’s safety
officer, Sgt. Lee Rolls, for his comments concerning the roadway design from a
safety standpoint. Sgt Rolls suggested
another option for the roadway. Rather
than abandon a portion of Maple Street, he suggested that Maple Street stay
open to through traffic and only subdivision traffic and High Street traffic
use the new roadway. Sgt. Rolls said
that if the residents had no objection that High Street be made a one-way from
Maple Street to the bridge because the road is so narrow there. He also suggested a horseshoe, which would create
a true “T” intersection of Stonehedge Road, Maple Street and the subdivision
access road with a traffic signal. He asked that the northerly entrance be put
back further to help with the safety issue of the curve in the roadway and
mentioned that another signal would optimize the area in terms of safety. The Board commented that the traffic
signalization was not in their jurisdiction and there was no way to know right
away if the Commonwealth would allow the installation of signals there. Dan Feeney of Beals and Thomas also stated
that EMC does not own the frontage that Sgt. Rolls was referring to at the
suggested northerly access so the road to could extend that far.
The Board discussed the problems of large turning vehicles
and the size and approach angles of the roadway as well. Dan Feeney suggested that they would need to
look into the feasibility of striping another lane for turns into the
industrial park because of the limitations of space and the requirements of the
scenic road bylaw. The proponent agreed
to see if the recommended changes would be possible given the roadway width,
their frontage of Maple Street and road design standards.
BJS opened discussion up to the floor.
Peter Gabriel, Maple Street, commented that truck traffic is
best away from the homes and does not want to see the street widened.
Steven Kohler, Stonehedge Road, likes horseshoe plan, but
does not feel that a T-junction would be safer.
Andy Sarno, 59 High St, doesn’t feel High St should be
closed.
Jim Dunlea wanted to comment to Sgt Rolls and defended his
subdivision plan. He stated that his concern was mainly for the residents of
Maple Street who would have to deal with the noise and the backs of industrial
buildings, as the new development would most likely face their buildings
towards the subdivision roadway.
Doug Porter of Stonhedge Road said he worries about school
bus stops and the truck traffic with the design proposed by Sgt Rolls. Currently the school bus stop is at the
intersection of Stonehedge and Maple Street and with trucks stopping at traffic
lights there would be an increase in diesel fumes. TJG asked Sgt. Rolls who dictated the school
bus stops and Sgt. Rolls replied that the police do and that if necessary, they
could be moved.
Paul Silvestre, High St, stated his-concern that High Street
needs to be widened to be safe.
Chris Meehan, Maple Street, asked about the 2 traffic light
configuration. The Board replied that
that falls under the jurisdiction of Mass Highway Department.
Steven Kohler expressed concern about Mr. Meehan’s home and
light from traffic on the subdivision roadway.
Krista Falko, High St, is concerned about school busses
driving through an industrial park, a sentiment shared by Sgt. Rolls.
Brian Hall, 34 High St, suggested that the board had
purposely eliminated High Street from consideration in a traffic study and
asked that. Jim Dunlea read from a scoping letter of June 2006, which stated
that the North Main Street and High Street intersection would not be counted at
this time. BJS replied that a scoping session is required by the bylaws, but
that a traffic study was never requested by the Board because the project has
not been defined as yet. At the time of
the scooping session it was determined that High Street would not be considered
as an egress to the private subdivision roadway so the intersection of High
Street and North Main Street was not looked at but the High Street and Maple
Street and High and subdivision roadway were part of the scope.
Ann Meehan, Maple Street, expressed her concern for her
safety upon entering and exiting her property.
Donna Gardner, High Street resident, liked the idea of
making High Street one-way from Old Maple to the bridge and asked about
process. BJS advised her that this would
be under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen and that the residents
could appeal to them for any changes in the roadway.
The Board discussed different scenarios taking into
consideration all of the input they have received thus far. TJG still like the preferred alternative, but
was open to suggestions for purposes of safety.
The Board discussed the need to provide EMC with direction
in the subdivision design. After hearing
from Sgt. Rolls, they first discussed a plan that keeps the existing Maple
Street with a T-junction at Stonehedge Road and entrance and exits to a private
subdivision roadway on either end of the subdivision. RRL asked EMC to investigate the feasibility
of widening Maple Street to provide a turning lane into the subdivision along
with the installation of a traffic light at a “T-intersection” with Stonehedge
Road and moving the northerly entrance further north. The intersection should
also be wide enough to accommodate the turning of large trucks.
The Board reviewed the safety issues regarding the High
Street and Maple Street intersection in combination of the two industrial
roadway entrances. Sgt. Rolls stated that it would not be safe to have three
roadways in that span of Maple Street.
The Board decided that the roadway from the intersection of High Street
and the subdivision roadway to Maple Street be closed off and maintained as a
walking path. RRL asked if was legal to merge traffic from a public way on to a
private way. It was determined that it was not and that the subdivision roadway
would have to remain public.
RRL Motion to direct EMC to prepare plans using the roadway
configuration as discussed. Plans should demonstrate a T-junction at Stonehedge
Road and two entrance/exit points on Maple Street to be shifted further
north...Subdivision roadway to be public road;
DB: Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
RRL: Motion to continue Subdivision to January 25, 2006 at
7:15 PM.
DB: Second/
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
Lakeview Estates discussion
Endre Holosi, of Benchmark Engineering, represented the applicant. He presented the latest version of the plan
for the Board’s review. They have
revised the plan to 60 duplexes. There
will we sixty 2-bedroom and sixty 3-bedroom units
The original submission had less than 10 acres of open
space. This submission has approximately 34 acres of open space with 26 acres
dry land. The storm water management
system was reviewed briefly. Mr. Holosi
stated that the units are moved away from wetlands creating less of an
environmental impact
They have not changed the list of mitigation offered with
the 164 units.
BJS commented that the plan of Nov 9 had been modified based
upon the comments given by BJS at the time of the Zoning hearing.
RRL stated that he was opposed to the 40B process as a whole
and felt it provided no benefit to the Town.
TJG asked if the project would be phased. Mr. Holosi stated that it would with the
first phase to be the lower section by Silver Lake Road.
SJW asked about façade and architectural features as well as
the placement of the buildings. Mr.
Holosi responded that a package had been provided with the floor plans and
styles of the proposed units.
Donna Johnson15 Lakeview Avenue asked how close the
buildings would be to the lot lines
Muriel Cyr, Short Street, asked if there would be any sidewalks
installed in th4e existing neighborhoods.
Endre Holosi has planned to drive through the area with Sgt.
Lee Rolls, police safety officer and Lee will point out the safety concern
areas
Kathy Rigosa, Easy St, doesn’t think a sidewalk would be an
asset due to lack of available parking spaces.
John Haines asked if the houses would be sold or rented. He
was told they would be sold.
Planners Report
SJW asked that the Board approve an increase for the
coordinator position to keep up with the step appropriate to union peers. No other increases were in the budget
RRL: Motion to accept fiscal year 2008 budget as presented,
TJG Second.
Vote: 5-0, Approved.
RRL: Motion to adjourn
TJG: Second
Vote: 5-0, Approved
Minutes
Accepted on: _______________________
______________________________________
(date) (prepared
by: Mary Chaves)
__________________________________________ ______________________________________
Roland
R. Laprade Brian
J. Sutherland
__________________________________________ ______________________________________
David
Brown Glenn
Wojcik
__________________________________________
Thomas
J. Guerin