Marion Planning Board member Andrew Daniel poked fun at the blemish on Gil Hilario’s 2020 record-seeking grant funding, but he did so in the context of a huge compliment during the board’s Zoom meeting on Monday night.
“It would have been nice to go five for five,” said Daniel, calling Hilario’s appointment to a full-time role as town planner, “an investment I was in favor of making,” and one that he said has been rewarding for the town.
Planning Board member Eileen Marum was equally gracious, thanking Hilario “for having the foresight” in grant applications that make Marion more compatible with climate change. “I think a lot of changes will be coming,” she said.
Referencing climate change on a regional basis, Planning Board member Norm Hills told the board members about a sea-level-rise study for Woods Hole that forecasts impact in the years 2030, 2050, and 2070.
Under Hilario’s guidance, the Town of Marion applied for five grants in 2020 and was awarded four, totaling $177,739. Marion was awarded $120,238 from the Green Communities Program, $27,750 for its Hazard Mitigation Plan, $14,751 for its work with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Self-Evaluation Plan, and $15,000 for its Community Compact Human Resources Review of Policies.
Although Marion did not receive the $10,000 it sought in grant funding for a net-zero feasibility study for the new Department of Public Works facility (being designed by Planning Board Chairman Will Saltonstall), Hilario said it was still a good decision to apply.
“It shows we’ve been active,” Hilario told the Planning Board. “They encouraged us to apply next year, and they’re really confident that we will get the grant next year.” Hilario anticipates the net-zero feasibility study to take place in the spring of 2021.
The ADA Self-Evaluation Plan is underway, as the Institute of Human Center of Design has surveyed a few buildings, according to Hilario, and mostly outdoor venues such as Silvershell Beach, the bandstand, Bicentennial Park, the grounds of Sippican Elementary School, Washburn Park, and the harbormaster’s building. Hilario said a questionnaire has been circulated to all departments and that responses are being tabulated.
“I’d say they are about halfway done. They plan to survey buildings next year,” said Hilario, who will work with a subcommittee on the self-evaluation.
Asked for comment by the Zoning Board of Appeals on two matters, the Planning Board opted to make no recommendations in either case.
Attorney Robert L. Perry had brought an Approval Not Required (ANR) application before the Planning Board several weeks ago on behalf of the Botelho and Allard Trust, owners of the lots at 61 and 63 Oakdale Avenue. They wish to divide the lot into separate properties.
Given a few different options to proceed, Perry applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
“In my opinion, it makes intuitive sense to allow them to split the ANR. They just want to draw this property line,” said Saltonstall of the Planning Board’s part.
Noting that she took a drive to the property and found it to be set back, Marum asked the board how a property division might impact the neighbors, namely, would it affect the neighbors’ property values?
Hills thinks a division will result in two more valuable lots.
Saltonstall said the result would be two non-conforming lots, but a new situation would allow the owners to sell the houses.
“The applicant will have to prove that they met the criteria for a special permit,” said Saltonstall. “Once they get over the zoning issue, there is legal precedence in the state for them to apply for an ANR. I don’t think we can stop them.” A Marion bylaw, said Saltonstall, could pose complications.
The Planning Board had intended to consult with Town Counsel Jon Witten, but Perry’s decision to apply to the ZBA rendered such an expense moot. “We may still want a town counsel interpretation when [Perry] comes back to us,” said Saltonstall. “We didn’t want to waste money with town counsel until [Perry] comes back to us.”
According to Saltonstall, the Planning Board has to sign off on an ANR. The board voted to make no recommendations to the ZBA.
In the other case, Kevin Walsh proposed a small residential deck slightly outside the setback at 12 Richardson Road.
Marion Planning Board
By Mick Colageo