Planning Board Minutes 1 18 2017CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Board:
Date:
Location:
Members Present
Members Absent:
Others Present:
Recorder:
Planning Board Meeting
January 18, 2017
Beverly City Hall, City Council Chambers
Chair John Thomson, Vice -Chair Ellen Hutchinson, Ellen
Flannery, David Mack, James Matz, Wayne Miller, Ned Barrett
Michael Rotondo, Catherine Barrett
Assistant Planning Director Darlene Wynne
Mary Alice Cookson
Chairperson John Thomson calls the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Subdivision Approval Not Recluired Plans
Wynne says there are no ANRs to review.
Miller arrives at 7:07.
Approval of Minutes
The Board discusses the Regular Meeting minutes of September 20, November 15 and December
20. Wynne says she received edits for typos and such from Ellen Flannery. James Matz noted
minor edits, as well, and was instructed by Thomson to send them via email.
Flannery wanted to correct a "misspeak." A bond was recorded in the minutes as "an annual
bond." Thomson asks that it be amended to read: "S10,000 bond to be renewed annually."
Hutchinson: Motion to approve the September 20, November 15 and December 20, 2016
minutes, as amended with minor typographical edits noted by Flannery and Matz.
Mack seconds the motion. The motion passes (7 -0).
Open Space Residential Design Site Plan (OSRD) & Definitive Plan — Greening Way
(Formerly 122 Cross Lane) — Performance Bond, Lot Release, Developer's Disclosure
Agreement, and Temporary Waiver of Condition Request — Benco, LLC.
Thomas Alexander of 1 School Street, Beverly, says the property owner has a couple of lots in
the above -named subdivision under agreement. Condition 1 and Condition 2 of the Board's
September 22, 2016 decision require that the developer convey Open Space to the City of
Beverly and that they have a $3,000 endowment to the City prior to any transfer of the lots to
purchasers.
Beverly Planning Board Minutes
January 18, 2017
Alexander says he has provided a deed to the City for the Open Space, which is currently being
reviewed by the Legal Department. He notes he has also provided the Board with a Tri- Partite
Agreement, Developer's Disclosure Agreement, and an amount for a Performance Bond has
been approved by the City Engineer.
Alexander says it is their intention to go forward with the plan and they are requesting that the
Board modify its decision so that the conveyance of the land to the City and the offering of the
endowment occur prior to the release of the performance bond that they are also requesting be
established as part of this approval.
Hutchinson: Motion to amend Condition 1 by deleting the sentence: "Such conveyance shall
occur prior to the transfer of lots to new buyers" and then adding the language:
"Said open space shall be conveyed to the City of Beverly prior to the release of
the Performance Bond." Flannery seconds the motion. The motion passes (7 -0).
Hutchinson: Motion to amend Condition 2 such that the sentence that reads "The endowment
shall be submitted to the City prior to the transfer of lots to new buyers" be cut
and the following language be added: "Said endowment shall be submitted to
the City prior to the release of the Performance Bond." Mack seconds the motion.
The motion passes (7 -0).
Wynne suggests that the Board should vote on whether to accept the Developer's Disclosure
Agreement, which is what notifies the owners that the commitment to finish the subdivision
roadway and utility connections is the developer's and not the City's.
Hutchinson: Motion that the Developer's Disclosure Agreement be accepted and that it be
recorded at the Essex South Registry of Deeds at the expense of the applicant.
Flannery seconds the motion. The motion passes unanimously (7 -0).
Miller asks to whom the Open Space land will be conveyed. Wynne responds that it will go to
the Conservation Commission. Miller then asks who has responsibility for the signage. The City,
Wynne says.
Thomson signs the Tri- Partite Agreement document, which original Alexander will return to the
Planning Board after recording.
Election of Officers for 2017 — Chairperson and Vice - Chairperson
Thomson steps aside from the Chairperson role. Hutchinson asks for nominations for
Chairperson.
Mack: Motion to nominate John Thomson as Chairperson. N. Barrett seconds the
motion. With no discussion, the motion carries (6 -0 -1, Thomson abstains).
Thomson asks for nominations for Vice - Chairperson.
Page 2 of 5
Beverly Planning Board Minutes
January 18, 2017
Mack: Motion to nominate Hutchinson as Vice- Chairperson. Flannery seconds the
motion. The motion carries (6 -0-1, Hutchinson abstains).
Proposed Bass River Zoning Amendment — Planninst Director Aaron Clausen
Clausen gives an overview of the plan to create the Bass River Neighborhood District, an overlay
district that sits on top of the underlying zoning. He says his purpose is to discuss the broader
elements and that he will be giving the same presentation tomorrow evening, January 19, to the
public. He details the plan and supplies a list of the various commercial uses that are possible in
the district. After his presentation, Thomson asks the Board for comments and questions.
Miller asks whether the list of commercial uses is a complete list. Clausen answers no and gives
a more complete list.
Thomson asks if within the existing zoning, there are heavy industrial uses. Clausen says the
scale of the lots doesn't really allow for that.
Miller notes that healthcare facilities weren't mentioned. Clausen says medical labs or offices
might go there but probably not hospitals.
Thomson asks about fast food restaurants. Clausen responds that any restaurant in this district
can't include drive -thrus per the zoning.
Hutchinson asks about heights of the buildings and the setbacks. Clausen explains that the
heights must not be greater than the setback from the Bass River high water mark and that the
maximum height of the buildings would be 60 feet. He notes that parking needs to be screened
from public ways.
Miller thought the bicycle parking requirement seemed excessive. Clausen explains that bike
parking would be indoors in the form of bicycle lockers or racks for hanging or sliding a bike
into a spot.
Matz says his concern is resiliency planning. Clausen says the resiliency study hasn't produced
recommendations at this point. He notes that much of the site is located in the flood plain. He
adds that residential occupied space can't be built below the flood elevation; it must be above it
but that the parking could be below grade.
Miller notes that in other places in the country, projects like this are required to use renewable
sources. Clausen says there is a site plan element to take advantage of solar energy and
incorporate green building techniques but no stipulation for it.
The only member of the public in attendance, Ron Costa, a former Ward 2 City Councilor,
provides some history of the area. He discusses the fact the Bass River is contaminated and
relays past challenges that prevented previous renovation plans from moving forward.
Clausen says Bourne, an engineering consulting firth, was hired to look at dredging the Bass
River so the area will be acceptable for recreational activities. The City has received approval for
Page 3 of 5
Beverly Planning Board Minutes
January 18, 2017
Phase I of the dredging and close to being permitted for Phase 11. He notes that we have been
approved to dump some of the dredge into the ocean. He acknowledges, however, there is a
portion at National Grid that does need to be cleaned up that won't be dumped but will be
transported and stored; it is the responsibility of National Grid. Clausen notes that the Army
Corps of Engineers (ALOE) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are supportive
of the plans and the next step is to get funding. He adds there is also work being done to
encourage Mass DOT to advance plans to replace the Hall Whitaker Bridge.
Clausen states that National Grid will most likely stay where it is, particularly the generator, but
perhaps their parking lots and offices could be moved.
Costa asks if there will be a time limit to the overlay. Clausen says no; they can't have a time
limit unless it is applied to a planning process.
Costa notes the amount of apartments that will be in the district. Clausen says they anticipate
there could be 400 -500 dwelling units there.
Thomson thanks Clausen for sharing this information.
New or Other Business
Wynne notes that there will be a Joint Public Hearing on February 6 in the Council Chamber to
discuss a proposed zoning amendment for the Trask Lane area. Clausen notes that they have
submitted a revised amendment to the zoning. Wynne will confirm the time of the meeting and
notify the Board members.
Matz updates his colleagues about his work on the Community Preservation Committee. He says
they had a well- attended public hearing in December to initiate the next funding round. He noted
that January 23, 2017 is the deadline for pre - applications, which will be reviewed early in this
year. He notes that the CPC reviews projects that have been submitted and would welcome
projects in open space or housing, which are less frequently submitted.
Thomson asks if the Committee is still seeing proposals from the City's Housing Authority.
Matz says no. Matz mentions they will continue to look at the preservation of historic records
with the City Clerk and mentions a project in which the City will be loaning some of its records
to The Smithsonian.
Wynne informs the Board that the City Council has moved to establish the Affordable Housing
Trust Fund. She notes that the Mayor will be moving to fall the new board, which will participate
in a training and adopt a set of guiding principles. She notes that the AFHT will have the benefit
of all the money contributed as payment in lieu as per the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
Wynne notes the CPC could elect to automatically transfer their affordable housing funds to the
AFHT, as well. Thomson notes that 10% of the CPA allocation has to be set aside for affordable
housing.
Page 4 of 5
Beverly Planning Board Minutes
January 18, 2017
Matz discusses how well the Dane Street Beach Playground project turned out and other parks -
and rec plans and says he hopes to see applications for the funds that have been set aside for such
projects.
Wynne reminds the Board about the Coastal Resiliency Plan, if anyone is interested. She notes
the first workshop will be on January 31, 2017 at the Senior Center.
Matz asks about repaving of streets. Clausen says that every year that is a part of the capital
planning that is fixed the previous year.
Adjournment
N. Barrett: Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 p.m. Hutchinson seconds the motion. The
Board votes to adjourn the meeting (6 -0). Mack, who left the meeting (at 8:35) is
absent for this vote.
Page 5 of 5