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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

SCITUATE PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES
October 14, 2010

Members Present: Mr. William Limbacher, Chairman, Mr. Daniel Monger, Vice Chairman, Mr. Robert Vogel, Dr. Nico Afanasenko, Mr. Eric Mercer and Mr. Richard Taylor

Members Absent: None

Others Present: Ms. Laura Harbottle, Town Planner

See Sign-in List for names of others present at this meeting.

Location of meeting: Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall

Mr. Limbacher called the meeting to order at 7:30PM. He announced the meeting was being audio recorded and asked if there were any other recordings being taken. There were none.

Documents
• 10/14/10 Planning Board Agenda

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Mr. Vogel moved to accept the agenda. Mr. Monger seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor.

Presentation by James Freas, AICP, Regional Planner with Metropolitan Area Planning Council: Update of FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan

Documents
• Updated FEMA Map provided by Mr. Freas
• Slide Show presented by Mr. Freas

Mr. James Freas, MAPC, addressed the Board explaining that the purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is to look at long-range strategies for reducing and preventing loss of life, injuries or property damage during natural hazard events. Mr. Freas presented a slide show on Hazard Mitigation to the Board.

Mr. Limbacher asked the Board for questions or comments. Dr. Afanasenko asked whether residential or town infrastructure was given the priority for protection. Mr. Freas replied that the town decides priority. Ms. Harbottle said that they don’t have to be weighed against each other because FEMA has enough resources to handle both residential and town infrastructure.

Dr. Afanasenko suggested the town concentrate on improvements to seawalls and asked if they qualified for grants. Mr. Freas responded that FEMA has moved away from funding on seawalls because it is hard to prove if damage is from a storm event or lack of maintenance. Dr. Afanasenko said he would also like to see a strategy for Cole Parkway and the harbor district where flooding occurs. He said he would also like to see protection of water resources, which could be contaminated by flooding. He is also concerned about maintenance to the public ramps to the waterway to avoid issues with pulling boats out of the water in case of a storm event.

Mr. Monger said he is concerned with overhead power lines down near the beach areas and feels that is dangerous. He would like to see the lines put underground in these areas and ongoing trimming of trees throughout town to avoid downed lines. Mr. Monger said he would like to see maintenance on the storm water drainage infrastructure.

Mr. Limbacher asked the public for questions or comments. Mr. David Ball asked when the 2005 plan expires. Mr. Freas said it goes back to the month the plan was adopted but he believes the Scituate plan has already expired. Mr. Ball asked if the plan being expired meant the town is not eligible to submit an application for FEMA grants by the 12/3/10 deadline. Mr. Freas said he believes it would be unlikely for the town to get the grants with the deadline of 12/3/10. There is another grant round with a March deadline. Both of these deadlines require the Hazard Mitigation Plan be completed. Ms. Harbottle said she thinks there may be some leeway if the town is working on the plan. Mr. Freas added that MEMA is working hard on that issue for many towns that are behind schedule.

Mr. Ball said he would like the Board and Mr. Freas to be aware of the following points:

• 1-2 years ago Scituate was designated as a storm ready community
• All 10 beach associations in town have formed a coalition. Ms. Harbottle has a contact list
• Mr. Jim Bailey was responsible for getting a community emergency response team in place that has about 50 members trained to respond to various disasters
• He and Mr. Kalishes, Conservation Agent, have been working with the National Weather Service and they have selected Scituate and Saco, ME to come up with computer generated forecasts that would define expected storm heights
• Mr. Jim Bailey is also responsible for getting a seawall committee in place who meet every month and have about 10-12 members
• His beach association has an email system so that everyone in the neighborhood would be notified of an upcoming storm event. Other beach associations are looking to implement the same system.

Mr. Limbacher thanked Mr. Ball for his comments and Mr. Freas for the presentation.

Discussion/Vote: Recommendation on Town Meeting Adoption of Stretch Code

Documents
• Draft copy of the Stretch Code Article for Special Town Meeting

Ms. Harbottle said adoption of the Stretch Code is a step towards making Scituate a Green Community. She said she feels the workshop on the Stretch Code was very informative. Mr. Neil Duggan, Building Inspector, said he supports the adoption of the Stretch Code. He said it does not affect minor improvements to homes. The major impact would be on new homes with an increased cost of approximately 1%. He said that in 2012 there would be a new energy code that would be similar to the Stretch Code anyway. By adopting the Stretch Code now it would qualify the town for much needed grants to improve efficiency in town buildings.

The Board discussed the possibility of an additional burden on the town for inspections, long-term impacts on keeping a house compliant and savings versus the cost for homeowners and builders. They also discussed the proposed language of the bylaw.

MOTION: Mr. Monger moved the Planning Board recommend adoption of the Stretch Code at Special Town Meeting. Dr. Afanasenko seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Public Hearing – Proposed Amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to allow Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations in the Commercial zoning district

Documents
• Memo from William Limbacher to Town departments regarding the Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations bylaw along with an attached copy of the amendment
• Draft copy of the Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations Article for Special Town Meeting

Mr. Limbacher opened the public hearing and asked the public for questions or comments. There were none. He asked the Board for comments. The Board discussed limiting the installations to the commercial zoning district and the use of the landfill for recreation space.

MOTION: Mr. Mercer moved the Planning Board recommend the Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations Bylaw at Special Town Meeting. Mr. Monger seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Town Planner Report

Ms. Harbottle told the Board any articles the Board is interested in for 2011 Annual Town Meeting would have to be discussed soon so notice can be given to reserve space on the warrant.

Ms. Harbottle said the Town Administrator has passed out her format on how Capital Improvements would be considered and conformance to the Master Plan is part of the process.

Old Business, New Business, Correspondence, Administrative Items, Updates

Mr. Limbacher told the Board there is an article that will come before Town Meeting to eliminate CPC. Mr. Limbacher asked the Board if they would like to discuss the article and make a recommendation on the article. The Board agreed they would like to discuss the article. Mr. Limbacher asked Ms. Harbottle to placed it on the agenda for an upcoming meeting and invite Mr. John Bulman, CPC, to attend.

Public Hearing – Proposed Amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to allow Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations in the Commercial zoning district (cont.)

Mr. Paul Barrett, 14 Michael Ave. entered the meeting and asked to be heard regarding the proposed amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to allow Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations in the Commercial zoning district. He had been waiting in the hallway and was not aware it was being discussed. The Board agreed to reopen the public hearing.

MOTION: Dr. Afanasenko moved to reopen the public hearing on proposed amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to allow Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations in the Commercial zoning district. Mr. Monger seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Mr. Barrett said he has experience with clean energy and solar. He said he has some concerns with the language of the bylaw. Mr. Barrett proceeded to explain his concerns to the Board stating that he feels the wording needs to be more restrictive in certain places specifically addressing net metering. The Board replied that the concerns Mr. Barrett has would be covered in the RFP. Ms. Harbottle added that there would also be a site plan review that would address some of his concerns. Mr. Barrett asked why the town was interested in this type of bylaw. He said that solar takes up so much space that he wonders if there is not better use for this space. The Board responded that it is part of becoming a Green Community. Mr. Barrett thanked the Board and said he had no other concerns.

MOTION: Mr. Mercer moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Vogel seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

MOTION: Mr. Monger moved to reinstate the earlier vote as is. Mr. Mercer seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Old Business, New Business, Correspondence, Administrative Items, Updates (cont.)

Accounting

Documents
• PO #11002190

MOTION: Dr. Afanasenko moved to approve the following purchase order. Mr. Monger seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor.

American Planning Association - $415.00

MOTION: Motion to adjourn duly moved by Mr. Vogel seconded by Dr. Afanasenko and voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:58PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Maureen Galvin
Secretary
Planning Board

Dr. Afanasenko, Clerk

Date Approved: