2005-12-29
CITY OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Planning Board
TOPIC: Special Meeting
DATE: December 29, 2005
PLACE: Council Chambers, Beverly City Hall
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson, Richard Dinkin, John Thomson,
Donald Walter, Charles Harris, Ellen Flannery,
Joanne Dunn, Jason Silva
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT Eve Geller-Duffy
OTHERS PRESENT: Leah Zambernardi, Assistant Planning Director
RECORDER: Leah Zambernardi
Dinkin calls the special meeting of the Beverly Planning Board to order.
Subdivision Approval Not Required Plans (SANR’s)
1. 675R Hale Street – 675 Hale Street Realty Trust, Caleb Loring III, Trustee
James Monahan of Landvest speaks on behalf of the applicant. He states that the
proposal is to create one additional building lot of 90,716 s.f. with frontage on Haven
Avenue. He states that Haven Avenue is a private way that pr-exists the subdivision
control law and that it is sufficient for passage.
Thomson asks about the condition of the roadway. Monahan states that it is about 10-feet
wide. Thomson asks if it is used by other lots for frontage. He notes that the Board can’t
really say no if other ANR lots have been created on this way.
Monahan states he is not aware of any. Zambernardi states she is not aware of any in the
past 3 years or so but that she could check the ANR records in the Planning Department.
She notes this could take some time because plans for these lots are sometimes filed
under Hale Street without an address.
Thomson states that 10 feet is very narrow. The Board accepting such a plan would set a
precedent for 10-foot wide driveways to be used as frontage. He asks whether the Board
should allow more lots on a substandard way. Thomson also notes that they can’t
condition approval of an ANR. He asks about the applicant’s ability to improve the way.
Monahan states that the range of width out to Hale Street is from 9-feet to 12-feet. He
states that it is a fairly long road down to his client’s lot and he questions whether his
client would be willing to improve the whole length. He states that perhaps some
turnoffs would be more sufficient.
Planning Board Special Meeting Minutes
December 29, 2005
Page 2
Dinkin states that he cannot in good conscience look at something that was built to be a
driveway and then consider it a street.
Monahan asks whether some improvements to the road would make such a situation
acceptable. Thomson states that would be a definitive subdivision filing with waivers.
Dinkin states that with the current roadway standards, this road is too substandard for the
proposed use. He states another solution might be to go ahead and improve that part of
the road which constitutes frontage for the proposed lot and then come back with another
ANR. Walter states that would not solve the problem of an insufficient road in total. He
states it would only be a piecemeal fix.
Dinkin asks Monahan if he would prefer that the Board vote on this plan or if he would
prefer to withdraw the plan. Monahan states he would like to request to withdraw the
plan without prejudice.
Flannery: Moves to allow the applicant to withdraw without prejudice the request for
endorsement of the ANR. Seconded by Harris. All members are in favor.
Motion carries.
2. 675R Hale Street – Windover Development
Mr. Kevin Dalton of Glovsky & Glovsky speaks on behalf of Windover Development.
He states this plan is to create a new building lot of 90,673 s.f. with frontage on both
Haven Avenue and Larcom Avenue. He states the frontage is the same road that was the
subject of the last ANR. He states that the way was in existence prior to subdivision
control. He states that he has not been down to the area himself. Zambernardi states she
went there the day prior and observed that the road was paved and that it varied in width
from 9 feet to 12 feet.
Thomson states he does not see any difference in this plan and the one the Board just
commented on. After some discussion, Dalton requests that the Board take a vote on the
matter.
Thomson: Moves to deny endorsement of the plan as one not requiring approval
under the subdivision control law due to the inadequacy of the way serving the proposed
use.
New or Other Business
Zambernardi reads an email dated December 29, 2005 from Planning Director Tina
Cassidy related to a request by Bill Sheehan for the Planning Board to hold a site visit
and an informal discussion at their January meeting to discuss the potential development
of a lot off Rear Corning Street.
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Planning Board Special Meeting Minutes
December 29, 2005
Page 3
Members agree to make time on their January 24, 2006 meeting agenda for an informal
discussion. They opt not to make a site visit at this time but would welcome photographs
of the site and roadway.
Approval of Minutes
Zambernardi states that the minutes of September 21, 2005 and December 20, 2005 are
ready for members to review and approve. She states that the October 18, 2005 minutes
are not ready.
Thomson: Moves to table approval of the meeting minutes to the next meeting of the
Board. Seconded by Flannery. All members are in favor. Motion carries.
Silva: Moves to adjourn. Seconded by Walter. All members are in favor. Motion
carries.
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