Wednesday, February 25, 2004

7:00 p.m.

Members Present: Chairman Harold Congdon, Vice Chairman Bill Selig, Clerk Fred Bishop, Ron Christ, and Ed Ciaraldi.

Also Present: Town Planner Lisa Pearson, secretary Katrina O’Leary

Chairman Congdon opens the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

1. New Business

a. Lisa Tarney, 7 Elm St. re: Site Plan 72-74 Elm Street

Ms. Tarney feels that the construction vehicles entering 72-74 Elm Street are too close to her fence. Her children play behind that fence. Selig doesn't feel it will be a problem to ask the owner to place concrete barriers or boulders as extra protection. He assures Ms. Tarney that he will talk to the owner.

b. Preliminary Site Plan - Georgieanna Svenson - 14 Elm Street

The applicant explains that the first floor will have commercial rental space, there will be a 1-bedroom apartment, and the second floor will have office space. Christ does not like the plan - there are not street shown or locus plan. The applicant explains that it is just a preliminary plan. Chairman Congdon tells the applicant to file a complete site plan review application.

c. Don Levesque

Don Levesque, Salisbury DPW director, updates the board on the status of the flapper valve off Mudnock Road. He explains that the town has contacted Rep Baddour and Senator Costello's office. Annie from Costello's office has been trying to get the key players involved in the flapper gate together. There was a bit of a standoff between the MBTA and the Army Corp of Engineers regarding responsibility. He states that the town manager has listed this gate in the town's capital improvement plan. The Board thanks Mr. Levesque for the update.

d. Gary Jaffarian, Waterways License Application - License Notification - Request for Comments

Jim Babbin, Millenium Engineering, stands up to represent Jaffarian. He isn't quite sure why Jaffarian is on the agenda again. Chairman Congdon would rather not hear an explanation from the planner and secretary as to why it is on the agenda. General discussion takes place with the board trying to understand why this item is on the agenda. Congdon calls on L. Pearson to speak. The town planner explains that, as it states in the board's staff report, since the last meeting, the board has received a request for comments from the Planning Board. This is the Board's chance to comment on the Waterways License Application. Chairman Congdon desires to take no action.

7:30 p.m. Chairman Congdon opens the Public Hearings.

a. 115-121 Bridge Street - Wayne Downs

Jim Babbin, Millenium Engineering, asks to continue the meeting because they didn't have time to address the comments. The Board discusses firing their engineer because of his late comments. Babbin talks about originally thinking to shift their building site over a bit, but Conservation Commission wants them to reshape the building. Chairman Congdon sees a member of the Conservation Commission in the audience so asks her why the Commission asks for crushed stone in parking lots so often. Ms. Alexandra explains that the state regulations request the use of impervious materials for parking lots as opposed to pervious materials as much as possible. Christ explains that the town's conservation bylaws overrule the states. Babbin states that they will be paving the area and providing vortek tank and grease and oil separators. Babbin feels Serwatka did a good job providing his information in time.

Selig motions to continue the Public Hearing. Bishop seconds the motion. Congdon, Selig, Christ, and Bishop vote in favor. Ciaraldi abstains from voting due to a conflict of interest. Vote is unanimously affirmative. Motion passes.

b. 82-84 Bridge Street - Brian and Joanne Short

Brian Knowles, Apple Associates, explains that his applicant have to include crushed stone in their parking area because their space is limited. The owner will be storing trucks, and it will be a maintenance garage. He will not be providing handicap parking because there will be no public access to the site. Congdon feels that requiring crushed stone so close to the wetlands is ridiculous. Bishop asks question about oil/grease separators.

Christ motions to accept the plan as presented and disregard the engineer's comment due to the fact that they were late. Selig seconds the motion for comment. Christ feels that their engineer lives too far away, they should use someone closer. Vote on the motion: Christ in favor. Ciaraldi, Selig and Bishop opposed. Motion fails.

Ciaraldi does agree with Christ, be feels they should notify their engineer and tell him what the problems are first and let him respond.

Selig motions to continue to the next regular meeting. Bishop seconds. Selig, Bishop, Ciaraldi are in favor. Christ is opposed. Motion passes.

New Business (continued)

e. Draft Community Development Plan - Jerry Klima - BC Rezoning

Jerry Klima introduces the other members of the Community Development Plan committee that are in attendance. He mentions that they have had over 20 meetings with over 120 people in attendance. Klima has over 70 people on an email list also. He gives out copies of the draft to the members. On 4/19 they will have another large public meeting. They are developing a five-year visionary plan. They need feedback from the Planning Board. Christ feels they don't need to offer feedback, they will just vote it down in town meeting. Klima hopes they will offer feedback to use as a guideline in the future. Ciaraldi says there is room for improvement in the plan. He feels that carts shouldn't have to pay rent. Congdon feels that the plan is going to cost something. Klima states that the plan is just an idea. Congdon wants to see the whole beach turned upside down and turned into an amusement park. Joanne Peralts stands up and states that the plan is very general, it is a collaborative effort between all residents. this is not the final draft she says. Overall, they need a plan first. Klima is happy to attend other Planning Board meetings. Ciaraldi feels there is a lot of good in the plan too. Ron Laffely brings up a pertinent point - he had had a call from a big developer to possibly rezone an entire area on the beach for redevelopment. Klima states that their priority would be to do this plan first. Klima says that some residents feel that you have to impose affordable housing issues town wide, not just on the beach. Klima mentions that the draft pinpoints certain area for over 55 housing. General discussion on industrial growth takes place. Selig feels that Salisbury could advertise on the internet for industry. Joanne Peralts feels that the Planning Board has made good points, she wants to know if Mr. Christ in particular is against Master Plans in general, or specific parts of this master plan draft. She hopes that if the Board takes a look at the plan, they don't vote it down at town meeting because of small parts of it. Bishop would like to see more in terms of commercial development. Selig feels maybe there should be a subcommittee to work on economic development. Joann Usdahidez agrees that the town needs economic development, for that we need grants, and for grants we need a master plan. Congdon thinks a candidate from each board should be on the economic development committee. Ron Laffely doesn't understand how the Community Development Plan will be used as a tool. What the boards need is directions for how to use the Plan as a tool. Discussion ends.

f. Tim Mulcahey

Mr. Mulcahey shows a landscape plan for 11 Railroad Avenue. The Board does not feel it needs planning board approval. The Board asks him to be on their next agenda so that they can formally waive the Site Plan Review requirements.

The chairman calls a 10-minute recess.

The chair calls the meeting back to order.

The Board signs past approval letters.

4. Correspondence

Mr. Bishop reads through correspondence. He reads letter from the Building Inspector to a commercial owner telling he needs to go through Site Plan Review. Bishop reads a letter from the town manager stating that only paid employees will be provided with office space. Bishop states that back in the 80's his family donated two tables to be used by the Planning Board. They are now in the health department, and he wants them back. Selig refers to a letter from the town manager telling the Board that they should not have any contact with the public regarding Planning Board issues, without the rest of the Board. He feels this is wrong, that board members should be able to deal with the public personally.

Ciaraldi agrees that they do need a place to look at plans. They used to have a place to look at plan in town hall, and then it got political. Bishop asks the board members what they can do about it. Congdon suggest asking the appointing authority for space. Bishop will work on a letter to the selectmen with assistance from Selig.

Bishop brings up the litigation of Wayne Harrison vs. Planning Board. The Board feels that they do not need to go into executive session. Bishop reads that the Superior Court has dismissed the litigation.

Bishop wants all trash in the planning office to be shredded before it goes in the trash.

5. Adjournment

Ciaraldi motions to adjourn. Bishop seconds the motion. Vote is unanimously affirmative. Motion passes.

Meeting is adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Approved:________________________________Date:_____________________