1996-08-06 William Delaney
James A. Manzi ~t~.T~ Joanne Dunn
Vice Chairman Ellen K. Flannery
Richard Dinkin Salvatore Modugno
D. Stephen Papa
Planning Director Barry Sullivan
Tina P. Cassidy John Thomson
Minutes
Beverly Planning Board
Special Meeting
August 6, 1996
Members present: Chairman James Manzi, Batty Sullivan, Joanne Dunn, Salvatore Moduguo,
Bill Delaney and Ellen Flannery. Also Present was Assistant Planning Director Debbie Hurlburr.
Manzi calls meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Delaney: Motion to recess for public hearing, seconded by Sullivan. All members in favor.
Motion carries.
· Public Hearing: Chapel Hill Definitive Subdivision Plan/Request to modify approved
subdivision plan/T Ford Company
Hurlburr reads legal notice for a request to modify subdivision plans. Hurlburr indicates that T
Ford Company is specifically looking to modify the width of paved area from 32' to 26', install
sidewalks on one side only, and change vertical granite curbing to sloped granite curbing.
Tim Ford of T Ford Company explains that this is a modification to the subdivision plan. Ford
explains that he did not intend on coming back before the Board for any modifications; however,
the neighbors urged him to do so. Ford indicates that he believes that this is a good suggestion
from the neighbors. Ford adds that other similar sized subdivisions have the same pavement
width.
Hurlburt reads letter from Commissioner of Public Works George Zambouras (see file).
Manzi opens the meeting to the public.
Rick Weyerhauser of 47 Grover Street spoke in favor of this modification. Weyerhauser states
that it was his initiative to ask the developer to pursue this modification request. Weyerhauser
adds that there is a great deal of new development occurring on this roadway, and he thought that
it would be more aesthetically pleasing to see a reduced roadway with more greenery.
City Hall 191 Cabot Street Beverly, Massachusetts 01915 (508) 921-6000 Fax (508) 922-0285
Minutes of the Planning Board
August 6, 1996 Special Meeting
Page two
Tim O'Connell of 9 Patti Road of Centerville states that he has lived here for twenty five years
and that he is against this modification. O'Connell states that the Board originally passed this
subdivision according to certain specifications and he believes that a sidewalk on only one side
is a safety concern. O'Connell adds that in the winter on his street no snow shoveling occurs
which is a big safety issue. O'Connell states that a narrow roadway coming out into Grover
Street is a big problem and that if the Board grants this modification that it will change the
neighborhood.
Margaret Desjardins of 47 Grover Sla'eet states that she believes that became there is only to be
seven houses in this subdivision that this wouldn't be a great safety issue. Desjardius adds that
Worthington Green is a smaller mad. Desjardins states that she is in favor of this modification
request.
Emile Bellott of 4 York Terrace states that this proposal abuts his property and he is concerned
with the safety issue. Bellott states that he believes that with a narrow entrance way into Ford
property there vdll be many accidents or near misses. Bellow adds that he is against the
modification and the original plan should be retained to the specifications of the City's
Subdivision Regulations.
An abutmr at 2 Independence Circle states that he is in favor of this proposal. He believes that
the width of the roadway as it is planned now will look like a parIcing lot.
Dennis Solomon of 6 York Terrace states that he is a direct abutter and that he was confused
about the notification. Hurlhurt clarified that legal notice and indicated that although the Board
discussed this issue at its last meeting it was due to a request from the applicant seeking a minor
modification; however the Board, in fact, deemed it a major modification therefore a public
hearing was necessary.
Solomon states that he submitted a petition at the original meetings on the subdivision plan and
he has re-read that petition. Additionally, Solomon submits a new petition with twenty-one
signatures in opposition of this modification.
Diane Pomante of 36 Grover Street states that she has signed the petition against the modification
because she has questions regarding safety for buses and fire apparatus, and how this reduction
will affect these users.
Ford indicates that you can navigate within that area of roadway because the cul-de-sac is huge.
Ford also indicates that it has cost him nearly $2,000 to come to this point and he thought it was
worth a look, but he reiterated that it was not his intention to ask for any waivers, his neighbors
initiated discussion regarding this whole issue.
O'Connell states that the Board should take note of the DPW Director's comments.
Minutes of the Planning Board
August 6, 1996 Special Meeting
Page three
Desjardins states that she initiated this issue and it all came about when there was a site walk.
Desjardins adds that she talked to City Planner Tins Cassidy regarding this issue of a narrow
roadway and that she suggested that Desjardins bring it up to the developer. Desjardins stated
that she talked to Cassidy who indicated that the request had merit.
Ford states that he has calculated the diameter of Chape[ Hill cul-.de-sac and it is eighty feet
wide.
Delaney states that the Board will look at the safety issue in its' discussion.
Manzi ash if there is anyone else interested in speaking at this time. There being none the
public hearing was closed at 7:40 p.m.
1. Discussion/Decision: Chapel Hill Definitive Subdivision Plan request for modification
/ T Ford Company
Delaney asks how the roadway reduction would look in the enlrance way to Chapel Hill. Ford
states that the roadway will decrease by six feet and the corners would stay the same.
Delaney adds that he is disinclined to deal affirmatively on the sidewalk waiver, and that he
doesn't think that the granite curb has much to do with anything. Delaney adds that the question
the Board should focus on is whether the width of the roadway is ample enough so that safety
is not jeopardized. Delaney states that there are two issues; one issue is the access flow for
emergency vehicles and the safety issue within Chapel Hill, and the other issue is the safety issue
regarding traffic exiting from Chapel Hill onto G-rover Street. Delaney states that he does not
think that the site distances are poor here.
Delaney adds that the concem of the Commissioner is that of perhaps setting a precedent and that
there is a need to differentiate one subdivision from others.
Sullivan states that he agrees with Delaney and that to him curbing is a non-issue. Sullivan adds
that he would like to see sidewalks on both sides and that he is sensitive to the neighbors
concerns. Sullivan adds that he feels that the sidewalks need to stay but that reducing the
roadway from 32' to 26' to him is not a major issue.
Delaney asks whether there will be any change in the drainage pattern. Ford states that it would
be slightly reduced.
Delaney: Motion to deny the request for a modification to change from vertical granite
curbing to sloped granite curbing, seconded by Sullivan. All members in favor.
Motion carries.
Minutes of the Planning Board
August 6, 1996 Special Meeting
page four
Delaney: Motion to deny the request for a modification to allow for a sidewalk on one side
of Chapel Hill only, seconded by Sullivan. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Delaney: Motion to grant the request for a modification to allow for a reduction of paved
roadway width from 32' to 26' within Chapel Hill contingent upon Fire
Department review and approval, seconded by Sullivan. All members in favor.
Motion carries.
Delaney: Motion to recess for five minutes, seconded by Flannery. All members in favor.
Motion carries.
2. Morllan's Island Subdivision: Request for bond reduction/Dennis & Karen L'Italien
Httrlburt states that a letter has been submitted from Dennis & Karen L'Italien requesting a
reduction in the td-partite agreement from $144,475.00 to $95,350.00 (see file). Hurlhurt reads
letter from Zambouras indicating that a reduction of the td-partite agreement to $95,350.00 is
adequate to complete project (see file).
Delaney: Motion to approve the reduction of the tri-partite agreement for Dennis & Karen
L'Italien from $144,475.00 to $95,350.00, seconded by Flsnnery. All members
in favor. Motion carries.
3. Adiournment
F!annery: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Dunn. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Meeting was adjoumed at 8:15 p.m.