A proposal for a new bylaw to would ban the sale of nip bottles in Marion was originally based on a fall Town Meeting, but Marion decided against holding a special Town Meeting so the matter will now go to Spring Town Meeting during the board’s public meeting on Monday night at the Police Station.
“Having spent years cleaning up the side of the road around here, the single-most item I pick up around here is nips thrown out of cars,” said Planning Board Chairman Norm Hills.
On Monday, the board reviewed some of the proposed bylaw changes crafted by the Codification Committee, a subcommittee of the Planning Board. In some cases, members took a fine-tooth comb to correct punctuation.
“Eventually, the Planning Board’s going to have to have a hearing on this stuff. We don’t have to have (the board’s comments) tonight,” said Hills.
Other bylaws reviewed simple proposals such as requiring dog owners to clean up after their pets while on the beach, along with a tricky definition of terms where it concerns residential zoning.
As recommended by Marion Building Commissioner Bob Grillo, a bylaw change will better define the conversion of two dwelling units. Planning Board member Eileen Marum suggested, for continuity’s sake, calling the addition an accessory dwelling unit (as opposed to an apartment.) Hills acknowledged Marum’s point, noting that Section 11 of the town’s bylaws includes the definition “a dwelling unit.”
More was discussed, and Hills told the membership he has already started another list of proposed fixes in the bylaws.
The proposed village-style, smart-growth district that has been in the works in Marion for more than a year will be discussed at the Planning Board’s next meeting. Hills recommended members spend some time digesting the proposal.
Uncle Jon’s Coffees cafe, situated between its 354 Front Street address and Spring Street on the opposite side in Marion, will be getting a blue railing outside after a minor change without site-plan was approved by the board.
Representing property owner Mike Sudofsky was Lou Kruger, the Facilities coordinator for Sky Development Ltd at the adjacent building that houses Abington Bank.
Kruger brought samples of the railing to show the Planning Board members and explained that the bumper area would still be there, along with two accessible cutouts, one slightly east of the front door and the other at the side door.
Taking note of 8 and 4-foot cutouts, board member Alanna Nelson asked about handicap accessibility. Kruger responded that both sides are open from the sidewalk. Hills and Marum feel that a 4-foot opening is sufficient.
As for the timing of the railing, Kruger believed it to be an afterthought. “We thought about concrete planters. There were trees there before, we’ll get some vegetation back in there to make it aesthetically pleasing,” he said.
Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee agreed with Marum’s opinion that the addition is minor in nature and does not require site-plan review. The board, on this night including Hills, Marum, Jon Henry and Tucker Burr, voted unanimously to approve Sudofsky’s plan for fencing around the patio area as a minor change.
In requested comments to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding Steve Sprague’s proposal for a partial second-floor at 43 Spring Street, Hills suggested that the plan, which he said looks like an accessory apartment above the garage, should need a special permit from the ZBA. The board officially recommended the applicant verify the existing approved accessory dwelling and offered no recommendation with respect to the deck.
The board briefly discussed the ZBA’s approval of the Heron Cove Estates project on Wareham Street, which when issued its first building permit will put Marion over the state-required, 10% affordable-housing threshold.
Member Jon Henry asked the meeting to observe a moment of silence in honor of Julia “Jay” Deane Crowley, who passed away on October 17 at age 100. Along with several other areas of community involvement, including her role as a founding member of the Volunteers at Sippican Elementary School (VASE), Crowley served 23 years on the Marion Planning Board, following her 1988 election.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, November 21, at 7:00 pm at the Police Station, also accessible via Zoom.
Marion Planning Board
By Mick Colageo