The April 20 meeting of the Marion Planning Board could have been a long night’s journey into day. It was, however, a rather short meeting with all cases except one continued.
The case being opened and acted upon was the public hearing for the Proposed Bylaw Codification. The board members unanimously voted to send the bylaws along to the May 10 Town Meeting. The warrant will contain changes to Section 7 Community Preservation Committee, Section 109 Animal Control, Section 218 Water Main Installation, Section 230-5.3 Multifamily Residential Housing, and Section 230-8.1 Flood Hazard District.
A request from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Planning Board’s comments to a case they will be hearing on April 21 was discussed. At the ZBA’s request the Planning Board reviewed plans for a new residential construction project planned for 8 Kabeyun Road. While comments were forthcoming such as those shared by member Norm Hills regarding the lack of elevation details on the plan and his overall impression that what was submitted for review was a “poor presentation,” ultimately the board decided to make no formal comments at all.
The continued public hearing for a Special Permit and Major Site Plan Review for property located on Spring and Mill Street was reopened. Petitioner Sherman Briggs said he now understood that waivers to subdivision bylaws could be requested. He also offered to give the town’s peer-review consultant Beals and Thomas a tour of the site, along with one or two Planning Board members. Briggs also inquired what will happen if the currently seated board ends up with two new members after the local elections take place. Town Planner Gil Hilario said he would discuss the matter with the town administrator and possibly town counsel.
Planning Board Chairman Will Saltonstall noted the applicant’s team had not had sufficient time prior to Tuesday’s meeting to review comments from Beals and Thomas, comments that primarily dealt with stormwater and associated drainage systems. He also said that the planned height of retaining walls may be impactful. The filing was continued until May 3 at 7:15 pm.
Also continued was a Definitive Subdivision Plan for County Road filed by Todd Zell. The case will be reopened on May 3 at 7:05 pm.
Continued until May 3 at 7:20 pm was the continued public hearing for a Special Permit for Proposed Zoning Change to Residence E (currently listed as Residence D), for property located on Bournhurst Road and represented by Patricia McArdle, Esq.
Saltonstall said that it appears the applicant may be pulling back from the original plan to have the Zoning Bylaw change brought before the May 10 Town Meeting. He said the applicant has reached out to the Board of Selectmen on the matter of a sewer connection for the property. The hearing was continued until May 3 at 7:20 pm.
Earlier in the meeting, the board members discussed a request from Luis Bettencourt for property located at 450 Wareham Street, Dunkin’ Donuts. Saltonstall told the members that a letter requesting minor alterations to the building color and number of signs had been received. He said that the Dunkin’ corporation was going through a “rebranding” process and thus the changes were requested.
Hills pointed to the bylaws that govern the number and types of signs on places of business. He said that there are currently two, which is permissible, but that Bettencourt was seeking to add two more. “They want to put signs on the side of the building, and the drawings are inconsistent, it’s a mess,” said Hills. All other Planning Board members in attendance agreed.
Member Andrew Daniel added that trash barrels, which were originally part of the agreement, were no longer visible and that he had taken some 25 photographs of trash on the grounds of the business.
Hills asked that the original Planning Board decision be circulated to the members to refresh their memory of what was approved before any further consideration of the request.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, May 3, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Planning Board
By Marilou Newell