Scheduled:
7:00 PM Continuation of Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the Zoning By-Law to Modify the Process for Granting Special Permits A2
8:00 PM Application for Definitive Subdivision Approval,
730 Main Street (Two Lot Subdivision)
Unscheduled
Form A 5 Pond Park Road
Central Meeting Room South
Present: Planning Board Members Susan Murphy, Clerk, Paul Healey, Sarah Corey, and Tod McGrath. Also present was Planner Katharine Lacy.
Ms. Murphy opened the public meeting at 7:10 P.M. at the Hingham Town Hall.
RE: Continuation of Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the Zoning By-Law to Modify the Process for Granting Special Permits A2
Ms. Murphy started the hearing with an overview of the history of Special Permits in Hingham. The Board went on to discuss the various Special Permits issued over the past five years, and how they compared with the Planning Board recommendations. Discussion focused on the portions of the Zoning By-Law describing the discretionary nature of Special Permits, the approval criteria, and the mandate set forth in the By-Law to weigh each application against its potential impacts and demands on Town Services.
Ian Ratner, 103 Fort Hill Street, commented that he felt that the Planning Board brought a wider perspective than the ZBA in terms of looking at Town-wide impacts of individual projects.
Mary Powers, 1 King Philip Path, concurred. Ms. Powers went on to express concern that recent decisions effectively shortchanged the Town by costing more than would be covered by proposed mitigation.
The hearing was continued to Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 7:00 PM.
Application for Definitive Subdivision Approval, 730 Main Street
This project, proposed by local developer Thomas J. Hastings, would entail the creation of a subdivision roadway, and creation of two house lots on the property now known as 730 Main Street. An existing house would be located on one of the lots, and a new house would be constructed on the new lot. The application was submitted to the Hingham Town Clerk on January 17, 2006. According to the Subdivision Rules and Regulations the Board, the Board must render its final decision within 135 days, or by May 30, 2006.
The Board received notice on Monday February 7, 2006 at 11:47 via fax and email that the applicant was requesting a continuation of the hearing to March 27, 2006. Several abutters appeared at the hearing, including Attorney Jon Davis, though the Planning Office had notified as many people as possible that a continuation was likely.
Board members agreed, in principal, to the request, but expressed concern that their overall review time would effectively be reduced by 30 days if the hearing did not get started. Though the project appears to be very straightforward, abutters have indicated extreme concern, and there has been no engineering review as of yet, which could reveal issues. Board members asked Ms. Lacy to contact Mr. Issadore, Attorney for the applicant, and request a commitment to grant an extension to the 135-day review period if needed. If the applicant would not agree to this condition, the Board requested that the applicant appear before the Board next Monday, March 6, 2006 at 8:00 PM.
Old/New Business
Form A 5 Pond Park Road
This Form A, submitted by South Shore Industrial Park Trust for tenant Airgas East, would result in the transfer of 357 square feet from the property at 3 Pond Park Road to the property at 5 Pond Park Road. Mr. Sam Drew of Coler and Colantonio presented the Form A to the Board on behalf of the applicant. The purpose of the land transaction is to rectify a rear setback
violation identified by the Building Commissioner at the time a loading dock was put on to the back of the Building at 5 Pond Park.
It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously, by those present to endorse the Form A entitled "Approval Not Required Plan of Land, 3 Pond Park Road, Hingham, MA 02043", dated February 27, 2006, prepared by Coler and Colantonio, Norwell, MA, for applicant Airgas East, Inc., Salem, NH for owner and applicant, South Shore Industrial Park Trust, Boston, MA.
Minutes
It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED, to approve the minutes of February 13, 2006.
Ms. Murphy reminded the Board members that they were to meet on Wednesday, March 1, 2006.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Katharine Lacy
Town Planner