Planning Board, September 29, 2015
PLANNING BOARD
September 29, 2015
1130 Main Street, Holden Senior Center
Members Present: William Ritter, David Lindberg, Scott Carlson, Otto Lies, Tina Stratis
Members Absent: John Michalak and Jeff Head
Staff Present: Pam Harding, Town Planner; Liz Fotos, Recording Secretary
Patricia Davidson, Town Counsel
7:03PM Meeting Called to order W. Ritter
Motion by W. Ritter seconded by D. Lindberg it was, UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSIO N, PURSUANT TO M.G.L. c.30a, Section 21 (a)(3), TO DISCUSS STRATEGY WITH RESPECT TO LITIGATION, SPECIFICALLY THE GREENSTONE PROPERTIES APPEAL OF THE WACHUSETT VALLEY ESTATE SUBDIVISON DENIAL AS THE CHAIR FINDS THAT AN OPEN MEETING MAY HAVE A DETRIMENTAIL EFFECT ON THE BOARDS LITIGATING POSITION. (Carlson: yes; Lies: yes; Ritter: yes; Lindberg: yes; Stratis: yes).
The Board unanimously voted to adjourn executive session and return to the regular session meeting at 8:11PM by roll call vote.
P. Harding and S. Carlson opened the doors and removed the signs from them.
DISCUSSION OF CMRPC- PDA REPORT
P. Harding stated that she had a draft of the PDA report that was completed in respect to the Oriol Healthcare Facility. She stated that they had met with Eric Smith and that he would be presenting the information to the Planning Board at the October 13, 2015 meeting.
W. Ritter asked if Oriol was invited to the meeting. P. Harding confirmed that that were.
W. Ritter asked if EDC was invited to the meeting. P. Harding replied that she could send it as a courtesy to them.
W. Ritter asked if there was a need for the abutters to be there. P. Harding replied that it was a recommendation on transportation funding sources and zoning criteria.
D. Lindberg asked if they gave a sense as to how things were going. P. Harding replied that they did not.
D. Lindberg asked if there were still empty spaces; P. Harding replied that the second floor was still empty.
P. Harding stated that at the meeting they would speak about model village bylaws and they were going to ask the Boards opinion on the open space bylaw as well.
W. Ritter asked if they wanted input on the cluster subdivision. P. Harding replied that they wanted some general information.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
July 21, 2015 O. Lies suggested the duplication be removed from page 2. P. Harding stated she would review.
Meeting Minutes will be reviewed and approved at the next Planning Board meeting.
MISC.
P .Harding told the Board that Greenwood Estates was submitted with 86 lots and that the public hearing was scheduled for the first meting in November.
S. Carlson asked about obtaining a report regarding the amount of permits that were pulled. He asked how many were permitted.
W. Ritter stated that in a rolling 12 month period over two years, 200 permits were permitted.
P. Harding stated that the town had maybe 80 a year.
W. Ritter asked if there was any update on staffing changes. P. Harding replied there was not.
O. Lies stated that there was a Senate Bill on Chapter 61A land and the intent of the bill was to extend the time of the review process from 90 to 120 or 180 days. He stated that the CMRPC supported this change and that if this goes through the right of first refusal time line will be extended. O. Lies stated that he thought this would be of interest to the Board as 61A land is something that comes up for Planning Board agendas.
O. Lies stated there was another funding opportunity coming up and that it was approved by the Baker Administration. He stated it was called ‘Complete Streets Project’ and that while the information had not yet been sent out by the DOT; towns can identify certain streets in town and use the funds to make improvements; install sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. O. Lies stated that there was a $4 Million budget and that while it would probably go through the DPW it is something that the Planning Board could be a part of.
O. Lies also stated that there were some funds available for community bike racks. He asked if there was a bike rack in front of Town Hall.
P. Harding stated that she did not think there was.
O. Lies stated that these funds were for bike rack installation.
O. Lies brought up zoning reform and a new bill that had been proposed regarding sustainable communities.
O. Lies stated that CMRPC has a new Executive Director, Janet Pierce and she is doing meetings with Planning Boards regionally. He stated that there was a meeting planned later this year that would include Holden, Rutland, Princeton, and Paxton.
O. Lies stated that P. Harding had sent an email a few weeks ago about Citizens Planners form and that there were some interesting things planned for that. He stated that the Board should look to see if anyone was interested in attending.
W. Ritter asked if there were any problems on the subdivision on Salisbury Street. P. Harding stated that they paved it today (September 29, 2015) and that it was going well. She stated that the pump station would be activated Friday (October 2, 2015) and that they had requested to be placed on the Planning Board Agenda for October 13, 2015.
W. Ritter asked if they would be far enough long to be on the agenda. P. Harding replied that they would be done after paving.
Motion by S. Carlson, seconded by T. Stratis, it was UNANIMOSULY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 REGULAR SESSION PLANNING BOARD MEETING AT 8:29PM.
The September 29, 2015 Planning Board meeting minutes were approved on October 13, 2015.
APPROVED: _________________