Planning Board Public Hearing

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Judge Welsh Hearing Room, Town Hall

260 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657

 

Members Present: Ellen Battaglini, Joe DeMartino, Howard Burchman and

Marianne Clements

 

Staff Present: Maxine Notaro, Permit Coordinator, David Gardner, And Assistant Town Manager

 

Howard Burchman, Vice Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

 

Site Visits

Ellen Battaglini, Joe DeMartino, Howard Burchman, Marianne Clements were present at the site visit at 51R Harry Kemp Way.

 

Pending Cases

Ellen Battaglini, Howard Burchman, Marianne Clements were present at the 6:30 p.m. site visit at 5 and 7 Georges Path. 

 

Both applications are under same ownership, therefore, would be considered together.  Joe DeMartino recused himself from both of these cases.

 

Case #2008-11 Site Plan Review  

Application Alan Cabral of Felco, Inc. on behalf of Kathleen Meads under Article 2, Section 2320 of the Zoning Bylaws for High Elevation Protection District A. The applicant seeks approval for a proposed two-family dwelling with driveway and septic system at the property located at 5 George’s Path, Provincetown, MA (Res3 Zone).

 

Alan Cabral of Felco, Inc. submitted photos of the existing property.  The location of the buildings will not be set at the highest point on the property.  The two properties will share one common drive in order to save the existing trees.  Lot #5 will have one building with two units and there will be a small retaining wall approximately 3’ to 4’ in height.

 

Case #2008-12 Site Plan Review

Application Alan Cabral of Felco, Inc. on behalf of Kathleen Meads under Article 2, Section 2320 of the Zoning Bylaws for High Elevation Protection District A. The applicant seeks approval for the construction of a two-family dwelling with driveway and septic system at the property located at 7 George’s Path, Provincetown, MA (Res3 Zone).

 

Alan Cabral of Felco, Inc. said a small wall of approximately 2’ would be installed for a level area due to the construction of the septic system.  Plantings are proposed to conceal the wall.  The installation of utilities will be underground and the driveways will be of pervious materials.  The excavation will be minimal and there will be no cutting or filling of driveways.  Both projects will have minimal impact on the property and to the surrounding properties.

 

Motion:  Move to approve Case 2008-11 and 2008-12 Site Plan Review as submitted.

Moved:  Ellen Battaglini                     Second:  Marianne Clements                        Vote: 3:0:0

 

Case #2008-13 Site Plan Review

Application by William N. Rogers, II, P.E. P.L.S. on behalf of Olga Opsahl & Kenneth C. Weiss under Article 2, Section 2320 of the Zoning Bylaws for High Elevation Protection District A. The applicants seek approval to remove an existing shed and to construct three proposed duplex buildings, one per lot with Title 5 septic system and appurtenances at the property located at 51R, 55 and 57 Harry Kemp Way, Provincetown, MA (ResB Zone).

 

Attorney Jay Murphy, Jr. and William N. Rogers made presentations.

 

Attorney Murphy said the proposed design is well suited for the property and will be visible from Harry Kemp Way.  The height will not be visible from other areas of town.  Mr. Weiss will place screening to provide privacy for the adjacent buildings and the grade is at 12%, which is the requirement for minor roads. 

 

Bill Rogers the Zoning Bylaws Article 4 – Special Regulations, Section 4163 Design Standards states as follows:

2.      Curb radii at street intersections shall not be less than twenty-five feet. 

Applicants are requesting twelve-feet. To have twenty-five feet (12˝ feet on each side) would double the entrance area onto the property and that is too much.  A 12’ radius is what was used on the other side of Harry Kemp Way.  This is a driveway and not a road.  The twenty-five feet is required when doing a subdivision.

 

There will be site distance over the walls, no blind drives.  The Zoning Board of Appeals requires walls to be four-feet or less so as to not constitute a structure.

 

Applicants request a waiver from the curb radii at street intersections.

Motion to waive the curb radii requirement.

Moved:  Joe DeMartino                      Second:  Ellen Battaglini        Vote: 4:0:0

 

Curb cut approval by the Board of Selectmen is required. 

Motion:  Move to approve Case 2008-13 Site Plan Review as submitted.

Moved:  Joe DeMartino                      Second:  Ellen Battaglini        Vote: 4:0:0

 

Ellen Battaglini, Joe DeMartino, Howard Burchman, Marianne Clements

 

Approval Not Required Pre-Application

William N. Rogers, II on behalf of Mary B. Martinez to combine parcel 1 with 24 Winthrop Street to form lot 1 at the property located at 24 & 26 Winthrop Street. This is a relocation of a lot line and will lessen the non-conformances to the property maintaining the right-of-way.

 

No one from the board expressed concern of the proposal.

 

Property Easement for 34 Standish Street

Discussion on property easements between the Town of Provincetown and the property owner for property located at 34 Standish Street, Provincetown, MA

 

David Guertin, Director DPW presented the request to the Planning Board.  Moe Van Derreck, property owner is represented by Lester J. Murphy, Jr. Esq. 

 

The property in question is located at the corners of Standish Street and Cemetery Road as well as Cemetery Road and Alden Street.  The paved street encroaches on the property at both street corners. 

 

The action would perhaps require a Variance to further reduce the lot area intensifying a previous existing nonconformance for the parcel.  The property currently contains three residential units.    The action may ultimately require Board of Selectmen approval as well as Town Meeting approval.

 

An Easement would be granted by the owner to the town giving the Town use of the area of the paved road, with the Town assuming all the liability for the area.  The intent is to have the property owner indemnified.

 

The question arose as to the property being considered as a taking and the answer was that the town has no intention or appetite for such.  Also, Attorney Murphy said it has not been used in its present condition for the twenty years as of yet.

 

Mr. Burchman asked what prompted this. 

 

Moe VanDereck, property owner explained, the town, when paving the road a few years ago, paved over the corner portion of his property on Standish Street and Cemetery Road and the section in front of his property on Cemetery Road and Alden Street.  He is now looking to rectify the problem. 

 

No members of the Planning Board expressed concern regarding the request moving forward.   Town Counsel will determine the appropriate process from here.

 

Attorney Murphy said it would probably be done through an 81X.

 

Regional Land Use Vision Map Project

Heather McElroy, Environmental Planner with the Cape Cod Commission gave a presentation and an overview of the Regional Land Use Map for Cape Cod.

 

The Commission has undertaken this project throughout the Cape.  The project is a result of a recommendation made by the 21st Century Task Force planning process.  The map is being developed using information about sensitive resources, local planning knowledge, and existing patterns of development to identify discrete area that require additional planning or where significant change may not be appropriate.  The goal, through identifying appropriate growth areas, planning implementing necessary infrastructure improvements and making appropriate regulatory changes, is to create incentives which direct growth and reinvestment to areas where it can be accommodates, and away from areas that require increased protections for ecological, historical, or other reasons.

 

There’s opportunity to customize DRI Thresholds.  Mandatory referrals, to name a few, would be projects requiring 10,000 square feet of commercial floor space, the developing of thirty or more acres of land and, the development of thirty or more housing units.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the appropriate areas depicted on the map.  (See attached map)

The Commission has relied on the knowledge and recommendations of local planning staff and boards to identify areas in each community that should be mapped for increased growth and economic activity, and areas where additional development should be discouraged. Up to five broad land use categories have been identified on the Regional Land Use Vision Map. These include:  Economic Centers, Villages, Industrial and Service Trade Areas, Resource Protection Areas, and Other areas. Descriptions of these categories are available in the attached document. In order to provide a unified approach envisioned by the Task Force, the Commission has established a “basic” resource protection area applicable to all towns, which includes wellhead protection areas, areas vulnerable to flood damage in a significant storm event, historic districts, and the Cape Cod National Seashore. An Economic Center could overlay one of these basic resource protection areas.

In addition to creating a growth policy vision for Cape Cod, the Regional Land Use Vision Map guides the application of new, flexible Development of Regional Impact (DRI) thresholds. Upon completion of a public forum and endorsement of the town’s draft map by the planning board, the town’s draft map will be incorporated into a Regional Land Use Vision Map and adopted with the update of the Barnstable County Regional Policy Plan (RPP) by the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates.  Following adoption of the RPP, DRIs are eligible for Minimum Performance Standards pertaining to Economic Centers to create some initial incentives for investment in these areas. In addition, the Commission is proposing a flexible framework for DRI thresholds to the Assembly of Delegates that will allow towns to customize DRI thresholds to address local planning goals for these mapped areas.

Following endorsement of the Regional Land Use Vision Map, a town’s board of selectmen (or the town manager in Barnstable) may apply for changes to DRI thresholds based on the mapped areas. Strategic changes to DRI thresholds in Economic Centers, Industrial and Service Trade Areas and in Resource Protection Areas are intended to direct growth and reinvestment to appropriate areas, and away from sensitive ones. Modification of DRI thresholds is at the town’s initiative; thresholds will remain as they are currently until such time as a town seeks a change.

Towns seeking changes to DRI thresholds will be required to have a design and infrastructure plan adopted by town meeting to address anticipated growth in Economic Centers and Industrial and Service Trade areas, and may adopt a local impact fee system to provide infrastructure funding. In addition, the Commission may require lower DRI thresholds for Resource Protection Areas as part of the town’s request for higher thresholds in some mapped areas.  The Commission will hold a public hearing on any proposed DRI threshold changes. Upon approval by the Commission, the revised DRI thresholds for the town will be activated on the Regional Land Use Vision Map.

 

One area the board members would like to be considered as an Economic Center would be the Conwell Street GC area.

 

Discussion on Zoning Bylaws will be coordinated with Martha Hevenor at a future meeting.

 

Motion:  Move to approve minutes of the May 21, 2008 meeting as amended.

Moved:  Joe DeMartino                      Second:  Marianne Clements                        Vote: 4:0:0

 

Motion:  Move to appoint Howard Burchman as Chair.

Moved:  Joe DeMartino                      Second:  Marianne Clements                        Vote: 4:0:0

 

Motion:  Move to appoint Joe DeMartino as Vice Chair.

Moved:  Howard Burchman              Second:  Marianne Clements                        Vote: 4:0:0

Town-Wide Goals

Motion:  Move to approve Planning Board Goals for FY2009 as discussed and submit to Board of Selectmen.

Moved:  Joe DeMartino                      Second:  Howard Burchman             Vote: 4:0:0

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:19 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

David Gardner

Maxine Notaro