Okay, we're live now. Uh, good evening. My name is Art Spru. I'm chair of the planning board. This is the town of Chana Planning Board hybrid meeting March 9th, 2026 and it's 5:00 pm. Please note this meeting is being
recorded and will be available shortly there hereafter for scheduled and on demand viewing on any smartphone or tablet device. If anyone else is recording the meeting, including the use of AI note-taking apps, please notify the chair.
I don't see anybody. Pursuant to the governor's Healey's March 28th, 2025 signing of chapter 2 of the acts of 2025 extending certain COVID 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency suspending certain provisions of the
open meeting law general law chapter 30A section 20 until June 30th, 2027. This meeting of the Chattam Planning Board is being conducted in person and via remote participation. Every effort will be made to ensure that
the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the order. A reminder that persons who would like like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by calling the phone number 5089454410 conference ID 64330528
hashtag or join the meeting online via remote uh via Microsoft teams through the link and the posted agenda. While this is a live broadcast simo simoc cast on Chattam TV Xfinity channel 1072,
despite our best efforts, we may not be able to provide for real time access. We will post a record of this meeting on the town's website as soon as possible. I'll begin with a roll call vote. Uh Warren Chain >> present. Um >> Bob Worhfter >> present. Uh
>> Frank Shear >> present. >> Bob Dubis >> present. Uh Charlene Greenh Hall >> present. >> Um I think Katherine Katherine is absent and Art Sprew I am present.
Uh let's begin with uh the minutes from uh February 9th. Do I have any comments? Uh Frank, >> just one very small comment on the page number three on the next to the last paragraph. The
paragraph beginning the board discussed four lines for the bottom. The line beginning for up to which will provide more light. I would delete more and insert warmer. Okay.
Any other comments? All right. Do I have a a motion to approve the minutes from uh February 9th? >> Uh Warren Chain so moved. >> And a second. >> Uh Frank Sher, I'll second. >> Okay, we'll do a roll call vote. Warren
Jane, >> approve. >> Bob Worsher, >> approve. >> Frank Sheer, >> approve. >> Uh Bob Dubis, >> abstain. >> Uh Charlene Greenhall, >> approve. >> And Artsboro, abstain, too.
All right. Uh, next item on the agenda. Oh, before I go there, uh, is there any anyone on the board who needs to recuse himself from any item on the agenda? Uh, Bob, >> the town transfer station.
>> Yes. And I also will be uh recusing myself from the town transfer station. Uh, that's the next item on the agenda. 97 uh Sam Ryder Road site plan approval and our vice chair will chair this meeting and Bob and I will recuse
ourselves. >> Good evening all. Um this as Art said is a continuation of site plan approval for 97 Sam Rider Road. It is a continuation from February uh 9th, 2026.
And do we have the applicant or his or her representative here to explain? And by the way, thank you so much for uh really taking into into account the discussion that we had. You've made a lot of changes for the positive. So, thank you.
>> So, we do have the >> the DP dire DPW director here in person and then we also have the um engineer who was on remote in case you can't see him. Okay. So if if Rob's there um if he wants to
say anything, feel free to jump in, Rob. Otherwise, I can get started on my ends running through the changes. >> Yeah, thanks Nick. I was just going to kick off. You know, we really tried to take uh the comments that were made at the previous meeting seriously and try to incorporate as many of those as we
could, but uh I won't I won't keep Nick from doing the presentation. >> Thank you, Rob. All right, I will share my screen and run through the changes. I just want to start off by saying thank you to the
board. The comments we received on February 9th were very helpful. Um, I'm just going to do a quick run through of those and then I can open it up to any additional questions from the board. So, this is the revised site layout plan
that was submitted. I'll start off on the east side of the site at the entrance and work my way west. So, one of the first changes we made was relocating the proposed license plate reader system camera pole closer to the facility entrance. Uh, this way we can
ensure that we capture all vehicles entering and exiting the facility as vehicles drive into the facility. Um, one comment that we wanted to address was allowing access to the swap shop earlier on as opposed to having folks drive all the way through the recycling
area in order to access the swap shop. So, we've added signage right as the uh users drive into the facility, which will direct swap shop only users to use the left lane. We've added a left turn arrow here as well as
signage in the median that will direct folks to stop and then take a left-hand turn into the new swap shop area. We've also added a stop sign and a stop bar for traffic that's exiting the facility
traveling east to facilitate that safe lefthand turn. The swap shop area itself has been increased quite a bit. We now have 17 parking spaces, including one ADA compliant parking space. There's plenty
of room for any cars that want to drive in and just do a quick drop off. And we've expanded the operational space as well. So, we've added 800 square ft of grass exterior storage space. Um, and then we've increased this uh operational
space here to allow room for a dumpster as well as a second swap shop shed to copy the existing conditions as there are two sheds out there right now. Our signage plan also shows do not enter signs at the entrance to the swap shop
to pre prevent folks from accidentally driving out the wrong way. So, they'll be directed to drive out on the right side here. As we move west, another change we made was reducing the employee parking area. Uh this was a cost-saving measure and
the DBW also uh anticipates transfer station users to continue using the existing employee parking area which is north of the tipping building. There's plenty of spaces up there right now. Um but these additional six spots will still provide convenient parking as
needed. As another cost-saving measure, we're proposing to remove the shade tree that was initially post proposed here as part of our initial application. Moving west, we have added a call out for a dumpster on one of the landscaped
areas up by the tipping building. This location can be changed by transfer station staff as needed. Um, there's plenty of landscaped areas around here for that dumpster to be placed. Now going down to the residential dropoff area in the southwest side of
the site. So one of the first changes you'll notice is that we've added in angular parking on both the east and the west side. As I mentioned during the February 9th hearing. If the town wants to remove the
strip parking in the future, there'll be plenty of space to remove it and add in uh two pulling lanes if needed. The angular parking has two ADA compliant parking spaces on either side.
Each ADA compliant space has a ADA access aisle which lines up with our proposed curb cuts. The parking spaces also have a concrete wheel stop at the front of each one. On the west side of the recycling area,
we added in a additional pedestrian safety feature based on a comment from the board. We've bumped out the proposed concrete sidewalk which connects into a crosswalk here. And the co crosswalk will allow safe pedestrian passage to
this southwest side of the site where we have proposed sheds and bins for waste oil, charitable redemptions, food waste, universal waste, paint, and then bins for clothing and book donations. So once
pedestrians cross over this crosswalk, there will be a it's it's roughly 6 to 7 feet wide pedestrian walking area which is protected from vehicle traffic by a proposed wooden vehicle guardrail.
That guardrail will have periodic brakes as needed so that this drive lane here can continue to be used. So, if for example, somebody just has a bag of clothing that they want to donate, they could pull up, park their car, jump through that little break in the
guardrail, drop off their their items, hop back in their car, and be on their way. We also had some some extra space down on this south side here. So, we added in three parallel parking spaces as well.
We've beefed up the uh signage here for pedestrian safety purposes, which is shown on our signage plan, which I can jump to. Now, as I work my way over there, uh we made some minor updates to the grading and drainage sheets. Um the
the real main updates that we made were over at the swap shop area in order to increase the size of this area without encroaching on the wood waste disposal area which is below the composting um space here. We've cut into an existing
slope. So we show the grading for cutting into that slope. Based on what we've seen for subsurface conditions elsewhere on the site, um we anticipate this being relatively high quality sand and gravel fill that provided it meets
geotechnical requirements for the project would be reused as fill for this embankment over here. Um the drainage has largely remained the same. One small tweak that we made to the drainage plan was removing a
leeching catch basin which was initially proposed in a low point right here. That's now going to be pavement that will be sloped to the southwest. Um so runoff will either be collected in a leeching catch base on the north side of the swap shop area or it will sheet
or it will follow existing drainage patterns down into the detention basin. Then getting into our signage plan. Um, as I mentioned at the start, we improved the signage up in this part of the site
here to direct folks into the swap shop area. We modified this proposed sign here, as I mentioned, indicating to use the left lane as folks enter the facility if they'd like to use the swap shop. And then we added in in the median sign
here, swap shop to the left. And then the propo proposed, excuse me, pedestrian signage at the recycling area. We're we're proposing two permanent signs on either side of the crosswalk, which will be slow pedestrian crossing
signs. These will be placed on either side to make it very clear that there's a crosswalk ahead. But we're also proposing right in the middle of the crosswalk, I'm sure you've all seen something similar. Um, it's a it's a ballast mounted sign. Um, this
this image wasn't in the submission. I just copied it in for uh just to show folks an example of what this note here is referring to. Um, these these signs really help slow down uh vehicle traffic around crosswalks.
It's an actual physical sign that sits there. It's ballast mounted so it's easy to remove for snow, you know, snow removal activities and then can be placed back in the middle of the crosswalk. And then the final updates that we made to the submission, we're just updating our vehicle movement plans. Um there
really were no major changes here. We just wanted to show that uh there are no issues associated with this this modified layout. So we have vehicle movement plans for a typical refuge truck. the largest ladder truck that the
Chattam Fire Department has as well as a passenger vehicle movement plan uh which also shows this lefthand turn into the proposed swap shop area. So that sums up the changes that we had. So I could open it up to uh any questions from the
board. >> Thank you, Nick. Uh do any of the board members have any questions? as I can't see you. Um >> uh this is Warren. I have a couple of questions. >> Go ahead, Warren.
>> All right. Um not sure who to whom to direct this. Um, but it isn't expressly stated, but I assume that when you have the license plate reader system in place that someone who
is not eligible to utilize the facility will be stopped by somebody who is in the shed by the scale and has to turn around. Correct. >> That's correct. whether they actually are able to physically stop them or call
on the radio for assistance to have somebody else within the facility be able to respond. >> But it's the it would be the um the shed by the scale which is where there would be a person who would be made aware by an alarm or something if someone is not
eligible to be driving in. >> Correct. There's a there's a screen that monitors the license plate numbers and it gives them all kinds of information. >> Um question. How would a person who is not eligible to use the swap shop be turned
around since they wouldn't ever get to the shed by the scale? >> Well, again, that that plate would come into the scale house. We'd be able to determine whether they're an eligible user and then we can go and follow through with the swap shop. >> Okay. >> Make sure that they are not.
>> That's that's excellent. Um, another question that first a very auditory comment. I can't believe the amount of positive changes that were made on such a short time frame being responsive to virtually every comment I heard made by
the board. Um, I mean, it's really wonderful. Um, my comments, given that I'm not a uh a builder, uh, were mostly focused on the swap shop and everything that I mentioned has certainly been been brought into this
plan. However, I'm also aware that I don't even know who operates the swap shop and um I'm hoping that uh the town or you had receive some input from the people who operate it as to whether
um the current plan is better or worse than what they had and whether it meets any significant wants that they may have um offered up if given the opportunity. Was there any input from the operators?
>> Not from this latest plan. Um the DPW determines what space uh is usable for them. I'm sure if we built them a warehouse, they would be more than accommodating, but we need to strike a balance with the amount of materials that they take in. We have to discard a
lot of materials. Um people bring in things that they may not want to pay >> uh a transfer station fee. So they use it almost as a dumping ground and we have to we have to vet that. So it's a manageable size for us to manage. >> No, I'm well well aware of that. It it's
the old days when there was nobody there and nobody abused the u uh the swap shop and left their trash there. Those are behind us. I understand that. But I'm it just given that what is there in the new
plan is essentially replicating what's already being used space-wise pretty much. And I'm I was just curious to make sure that the people who operate the swap shop were happy or unhappy and we
had some input as to what they might have said they'd like to have or talking about issues. It's very comforting to hear that it's not going to be the people in the swap shop who are going to be there to police who is allowed to
drop drive in there. Um because I don't think they want to do that the volunteers and I don't think they're necessarily equipped to do it either. Um but those are my only questions and other than to say gee I think everything that is uh with respect to the recycling
area is um is a dramatic improvement and um and totally endorse it. Thank you. >> Uh Bob, do you have any questions? >> Yeah, I just I I want to echo that this is really amazingly well done uh
response. The only additional I'd like the uh parking the the pedestrian strip. I might suggest a sleeping policeman be put in just before it to slow people down because people
are not expecting to have pedestrians walking across that spot. So, this would be a way to slow them down before they got there. But other than that, I don't know what we call sleeping. I learned that in Jamaica and I always called it that.
>> Frank, do you have anything? >> Uh, only to uh second what's been said earlier about the uh update to the to to the plan. It's it's it's very very good. Thank you. >> Um, and I echo everything everybody else just said. Uh, Christine, did you have
anything that you wanted to share with your with the board regarding this? >> No, I do not. Okay. Do we have anybody in the audience or online who would like to ask any questions or make comments?
>> I am not seeing any hands and I'm not seeing anybody taking any interest in the um >> Okay. Uh based on that um just uh in the staff report that Christine did and and great staff report. I thank you so very
much. Um there are uh five proposed conditions. Um the first is just the the actual site plan itself and the set of plans um outlining each of those. The second is a certification by licensed professional
that all site work is completed in compliance etc. Number three, all exterior lighting shall be downward casting and shall be designed so as not to illuminate areas off the property. boy, if that happens, that's really bright. Um, four, an asbuilt plans
required to be submitted. And five, a complete set of the planning, uh, set of plans to the planning board for inclusion in the, uh, property file at the necessary time. So based on that, um, I would entertain a motion to approve the site plan application with
the conditions I just outlined for the proposal for the town own transfer station redevelopment project because the application meets the necessary requirements and criteria for approval pursuant to the protective zoning bylaw with the conditions as previously
previously stated. >> So moved. >> Do I do I hear a second? >> I second. Okay, roll call vote. Uh, Warren >> approve. >> Bob, >> approve. >> Frank, >> approve.
>> Charlene, approve. You have four votes in favor, none opposed. Therefore, this site plan approval is approved. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. And now I will turn it back to Art who will make his way back up to the front
of the room and I will sign off as the acting chair. Thanks gentlemen and lady. Okay. The uh next item on agenda is a discussion item 79 Forest Beach Road. Do I have someone from the applicant?
Uh if you could come up and uh introduce yourself and um tell us uh what you're thinking. Uh, good afternoon. Bill Riley on behalf of Eastwood Companies and Dave Clark is here as the surveyor
engineer if you have any questions for him. So the um the reason we're here is that we would prefer to access
uh what I would call the southern lot here uh from Forest Beach Road rather than Bobby's Lane. uh the combination of Bobby's Lane and Kitty's Lane is uh
less than ideal and the uh Forest Beach Road can certainly handle the traffic that's required. Um and the you know this would be just a single
entrance off of Forest Beach Road for the two lots. Uh so we're reducing uh access points. So the the u >> it's the one he gave me today.
>> It's the one he gave me today. >> Excuse me. They need you to go up and if you're going to speak, you need to go up to the uh microphone and introduce yourself. >> All right. Well, this is >> the one in your hand is right. >> The one in your hand is right, but it's not the one that's being shown.
>> Oh, we'll ignore that one. >> Okay. Well, that's fine. >> We gave you one, right? Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, we're good. But >> we would like to >> The public doesn't even looking at the I wasn't looking there. I was looking here. So, apologize. >> Thank you, Bob. The plan that is up
there is the plan that was approved by the planning board in 2025 and it was recorded. So that is what is at the registry of deeds right now. >> Right. >> We also have a copy of the plan we can share. >> We do have the other plan that that
they're propo that they proposed as part of their building permit application and Annie is going to put that one up now instead. But again, thank you so much. That is not the subdivision that has been approved at this point. That's a fullsize Charlene, isn't it?
>> Yeah. If I move back, I can't see because I have bif focals. >> There you go. >> Okay, there you go. >> So, that is the plan that I took off of the um building permit application page.
>> Right. And that's and that's what we passed out this afternoon as well. So the the um the road covenant that was approved with the plan required the construction of Pierce Path and we prefer not to have to
construct it um because we think the better access uh is off of Forest Beach Road and so you know so that's the purpose of our discussion tonight. >> Okay. Um so
this has been before the board uh this site uh goes back to 2022. >> 2022 that is correct. >> Yeah. So um we've had multiple uh approaches that were done by by the
previous owner and and the previous um engineer. Uh the one of the things that they were trying to do is provide an access off of Forest Beach Road. Well, right now there is no access for any
property uh off of there. So, we went through a long process of well, we're going to have to put a way in there and all of that. And it was just a very difficult process to do. Um
we uh we did take they did propose something like this before, but it it was essentially what we looked at as a board back in 2022 is it's a panhandle lot.
That's your I'm not sure which lot number it is, but it's the one that's furthest to the north. That's a panhandle lot. >> And you're Yeah. And you're trying to Pardon me. >> Lot five. It's lot five. Yeah. And you're trying to put a panhandle lot off
of a panhandle lot. And if you take a look at a bylaws, the bylaws do not allow that. And so the board was against that before. And and from what I know right now, we can see what the board likes to do, but uh that's we're not
interested. And again, since it's it's actually in the bylaw, it's not even in our rules and regulations that you're not allowed to do that. So the applicant revised the plan and he came up with this approach that was approved and it's been registered
uh I think it was in in uh November of uh 2025. So that is what finally the arrangement that was made and is approved. So if you're going to do something, you'd have to amend that that subdivision plan
>> that has been filed. >> Not David Clark, for the record. >> Yeah. >> Um so we're not proposing to change the subdivision. >> Okay. >> Um we understand the bylaw, there's no provision in the bylaw to have a panhandle off a panhandle. That's not what we're proposing.
>> We're proposing to have a driveway off of Forest Beach Road provide access to this lot. the lot will still acrue its frontage from um >> Pierce's Pierce path. >> So, we're not proposing to do away with
Pierce Pierce Path. What we're proposing is is not to construct the road. Which road are you talking about? >> Pierce path. >> Well, that was a big reason why we had pushed for resolving the issues in here.
and we want Pierce path to be uh be fixed and resolved as part of this. So that was a big big push back by our board back then. Um it's uh it's something that does have to be resolved.
There's flooding there. There needs to have some resolution there and improvements. And so that was what was finally agreed to by the a previous applicant and what the board agreed to. >> Yes. So I don't know if that's that's I
don't think that's ever going to go away from uh the long deliberations that we had even last year. >> But to improve Bobby's lane. >> Mhm. Yeah. Oh, I think that, you know,
that seems to me to be an appropriate job for the municipality. It was part of the approval of the subdivision. Okay. So, that was I mean, we can we can we can see what some of the other board members have to say, but
I'm just trying to give you a background of what we deliberated on and discussed with the previous applicant and what we uh resolved to do. And a big issue was to get the flooding and all of that addressed on Bobby's Lane,
>> which is not caused by the applicant. >> Uh they wanted to have uh a buildable lot there. they were creating this. That was the resolution that was agreed to by by both parties. >> Well, our position is we required to
construct uh Pierce path and improve Bobby's lane. It would never be used by the applicant. >> Mhm. >> Because they will they will put a driveway in off of off of uh of off of Forest Beach Road as access to this lot.
>> And we rejected that approach. Well, we don't need your permission to create a driveway. >> Well, one of the things that we didn't um uh we found real challenging off of u four-speed road is there's a parcel a
and then there is an easement supposedly an easement there but there was no record in registry associated with it. So, it's a real challenge of even having a driveway because the current driveway isn't even on the the uh parcel a property.
>> Correct. >> So, it's not even an accessible piece for lot five. There was a lot of challenges to resolve that whole issue. Uh building an improvement for the driveway. Uh couldn't come to a resolution with the previous applicant.
>> All right. But what we're saying is our preferred access is off of Forest Beach Road. If we're required if the if the planning board's not going to budge and require Pierce Path to be constructed in Bobby's Lane to be improved,
>> most likely it won't be used by the applicant. They will take access off of Forest Beach Road. >> Well, uh again, that was something that was rejected by this board. um there needed to be improvements that had to be done at Forest Beach Road that we went
down this pathway multiple times and essentially the applicant and and our board couldn't come to a resolution on it. So therefore, they abandon the approach, >> right? Understand that. But if Pierce Path is constructed,
>> Bobby's Lane is improved, um, we get released from the covenant from the planning board, um, the house gets built, the applicant can put a driveway in from Forest Beach Road.
They have a right to do that. It's their property. They have frontage on Forest Beach Road. 20 ft of frontage. They can put a driveway in. >> Lot six. Lot six doesn't have frontage off of Forest Beach Road. >> It doesn't need frontage off of Forest
Beach Road to have a driveway. >> May I say something? >> Yeah, please. >> Um there were in the file there were some concerns with the the status of Forest Beach Road. >> Speak up. Christine, could you >> I I said the um in the files there was
an issue with regard to Forest Beach Road. So unless you're going to bring that up to up to regulation, we we have to start somewhere. So that wasn't going to be brought up. So that was one of the reasons why this came about. And then so technically
the the the first lot there with the smaller house has a driveway off of a off of Forest Beach Road. Forest Beach Road does not meet the the requirements, like I said. So then you're going to have a driveway off of a driveway >> and that's what we can't have happen.
That is according to >> you have control over that. >> They don't have an opportunity to to wave the the regulation with regard to the panhandle. >> No, we understand that. We're not proposing two panhandles.
>> The frontage for lot 4 is going to be Pierce Path. >> Yeah, I see what I see what you're saying there. But again, Forest Beach Road itself is not up to the standards that it needs to be at to have anything come off of there. I I guess some of the you know, you could come back with
another option of of of getting for that portion of Forest Beach up to where it needs to be. >> Well, what's then coming off of there? Nobody's, you know, the problem is the prior applicant apparently uh
I don't know what his motivation was, but what are the deficiencies on Forest Beach Road? >> There there's site distance related issues. There's lots of um obstructions uh and that access. um we wanted a
significant number of improvements for that to happen and the applicant decided that they didn't want to go there. All I can tell you is that's what was never it was rejected what you proposed before. You can file again with us, but um I'm
I'm not sure you're going to get anything different, but uh this has been going around for like now it's going on four years now with this this site. Did any of the other board members like to uh comment on this any further? I mean >> around here.
>> I think you think you're doing a pretty good job. >> My name is Bill Marsh and I'm the owner of the property and I'm looking for a pointer right here. >> Uh yes, Charlene, you have a comment. >> You do this. You do this. >> Okay. >> Uh if if they want to make these
changes, they need to come back with a modification or amendment of the plan. Um I think you spoke very clearly what our concerns have been in the past, right? >> Uh Mr. Chairman, and I think most of us still have those. Yeah. >> Um so if they do want to do this, they
need to come they need to file the ne the proper plan and bring it before this board properly, not just as a informal discussion. >> Yep. Yep. >> Uh can I start again? I didn't know Christine was talking. >> Um yeah, Christine is remote. She's our
vice chair. I'm Christine. I'm Christine. That is Charlene vice >> chair Charlene. >> So, >> uh, go ahead, Mr. Marsh. >> Um, I'm I'd just like to approach this from the same way I approached it when the land came up for sale. And that is
what I think is just some basic common sense. So, how does that thing go? >> Push the button. >> So, this lot was brought to me by a broker as a buildable lot. the lot on Bobby's Lane and I became enthused about
building a house there. um the deal kind of fell apart and then somebody else had it under and then that fell apart and then I started to um think about uh then I didn't realize it at the time but this house also was for
sale at the same time and I did not know or was I familiar with any of the procedure that you're talking about art that went on for four years and David knew a little bit about it having been a local engineer um but we we were not a
part of and didn't didn't really have any uh defined knowledge about it. So, when I my rekindled my interest in buying this lot as a buildable lot and then this this lot here came up for sale and we've been looking for um a lot or a
a situ a situation a pro p prospective situation that would be good for my son John who now has a family with two little twin girls and they live in in a area that I'm not happy about. I think it's unsafe. So, I realized that this might be for sale. So I offered to buy
this and this together. Now as I started to look at the lot on Bobby's um there is and walk it there there's a 24 foot elevation difference between this part of this lot and the rear part of this
lot. The fronts that gained through your approval gained its frontage uh on Bob on Bobby's lane and back it backs up to the town tennis court right here. But there's a 20 foot 24 foot change in elevation from 40 feet down to 16 feet.
So I thought, gee, it's going to be really difficult to access it off of Bobby's and kind of climbing up a hill here. So, I thought, gee, wouldn't it be good if we could get an access over this e there's an existing easement here and get an access across this easement and
then construct a driveway down to Bobby's lane such that the front of the house would face the driveway and the rear of the house could be a a walk out situation um when we show or show in a pool, that kind of thing. And as I started to look into it, the
requirements to improve this Pierce's path or whatever it's called are really ownorous and very very expensive. Somewhere around 150 to $200,000. So I thought, gee, maybe if we could get access to a house site here with this
driveway, wouldn't that be a better plan for building a house here and working with this house? So that's that's really the reason we're here is to see if there would be any enthusiasm on the part of the board to approach this whole thing
with some common sense and do that if I'm hearing for the first time and I I used to play tennis on this Kitty's Lane. We used to call it Kitty's Lane Tennis Court, Town Court. And I don't ever remember a flooding drainage situation here. But in fact, if there
is, we would be happy to pay for and install whatever David says it be appropriate for drainage in this area to solve this. But we would like to get some kind of modification waiver. I'm not sure what David and Bill as the
legal guys on this thing would say, but we'd like to get a waiver of the construction of this thing and approach this house from this direction. I think Charlene said we'd need to f to file a modification or some kind of a plan for your consideration. If you if you're you
I can see you you've run out of patience with the the long time that it took to get to wherever it is these days. But I was hoping you might be able to see the common sense in this and and that we might be go able to go forward with that if if we could have an informal vote tonight that says you don't want to
consider it. Fine. We'll figure out something else to do with this property. But that we're here today to in an informal basis to see what you folks think. >> Thank you. >> Right. So I guess the the thing for your consideration really is I mean Art mentioned that there's a drainage
problem down where the Pierce's path would be >> and the uh and because of the impracticality of having a the house being you know 20
feet above the road uh having any sort of decent access off of uh Bobby's lane uh that you know we would take care of the drainage problem. We can do that. Uh
they're at the intersection of Peter's Path, you know, Kitty's and and uh Bobby's Lane. Uh but you know the access from Bobby Lane is so impractical
that it would simply never ever be used. And so the uh you know forcing the construction of that way that's never going to be used means it it's just going to
crumble up in a number of years. be, you know, just pieces of asphalt laying on the ground because if you don't use a way, as I'm sure you're aware, the asphalt won't stay together.
So, uh, forcing an impractical access to the property that's never going to be used where the house is 20 ft above the street. Uh, you know, it doesn't doesn't I don't see
that maintaining your position confers any benefit on the situation. your concern, what you started out with, is there's a drainage problem there at Pierce's path.
So, we can solve the drainage problem, uh, but you can't solve the 20 ft of grade change. And so, there's never going to be an access to a single family house
up that hill. So I think that you know I'd ask you to reconsider uh we weren't part of the original application. The the previous applicant was not a real estate developer. I you know I know he was an engineer but
you know he was not a real estate developer. Didn't see the impracticality of the agreement he reached with you. You know, so now we have experienced people who know how to develop real estate and they say because of the
difference in grade, you know, that access is simply never going to be used. And so, you know, I I guess, you know, forcing the construction of that is never going to be used when we can we can solve the drainage problem without constructing
the way. I I think I I summed it up and Charlene summed summed it up also. If you want to propose something different than what was approved and what has been registered, then you're going to have to file a modification for that and submit
it before our board understand that. But I guess it seems like it's a practical thing. But we I I can take a straw pull from the from the board, but we voted against this this board voted against this several times and we would not accept this approach previously. Okay.
So, this was the resolution of it that the applicant proposed. It was accepted by the board and it was voted and now it's been recorded at the registry of deeds as of November of last year. >> Mr. Chair, you do have the vice chair Charlene. Oh, Charlene. Yes. Go ahead,
Charlene. >> You just reiterated what I was going to say. This board right now cannot wave any construction of anything that was proposed and approved and f and and recorded on a previous plan. Um, the only way to do that is for a
modification of the plan. If you can come back and show a different reason why it should have access the way you're proposing and you can convince the board that it's not a panhandle and that there is safe adequate out to Forest Beach
Road um for all the properties involved, then you have the opportunity to do that as a modification of this previously approved plan. That's the only way we can do it. We c this board cannot act tonight on on what you're asking for.
Right, wrong, or indifferent. The the board just cannot. It's an approved plan with approved construction and the only way to do that is with an revised plan, notification to the abutters, and a public hearing.
>> I agree. I've just, you know, the reason why the bill wanted an informal discussion was to talk about uh the impracticality of accessing a single family residence
up that steep hill. And so, you know, I understand that we we have to come back with a plan and that's and that's the goal. We in fact, Bill's staff told him, let's just prepare a plan. But he thought, well, rather than
just show up with a plan, we wanted to come in and let you know what our thought process is, you know, so that we're all at least understanding, you know, where the property owner is coming from. >> Your your approaches that you're you're
you're offering or suggesting here has been under consideration by this board. It dates back to 2022. It was rejected. It was flatout rejected. So, uh, that's what I can tell you is is where we are. There's history with these two parcels.
All right. It's it's just where you are. >> Sounds like >> you need to go through the process if you want to modify it and I'm not sure it's going to be favorable. >> All right. We're happy to propose um a modification plan as we're talking about as far as the recording at the registry
and all that kind of thing. I'm not a lawyer. This guy is, right? But it's my understanding you can expunge things and do a modification. And I think if you guys could could see at least see the common sense in this application and this thought that I have, then you might be able to get there. Maybe you can't. I
don't know. But but we would like to try. >> So your other option is you can start with a preliminary plan, a preliminary application to the the planning the planning board. >> Sure. >> So that you don't have to give the full level of detail. >> Right. >> All right. Thank you very much. Thank
you for your time. Bill, I'd like to give you a little talk. >> We looked at >> this bill or that bill. And it's not even the first of the month. >> Even both of you. Now, >> the there's easements going into the first house on the right from uh
>> Forest Peach. >> Or Beach, right? >> Okay. There's easements going over there and easements the easements go right up to the person's half half through their yard. This easement was given to the back house which was one whole lot for
them only so that they could go through there. They were neighbors and stuff and they let the guy put the house on there. They did all their things. Now, in order to make that a viable road, it doesn't work cuz they split the lot. The access
to that lot is down off of Bobby's Lane. And you can't tell me that if there's a 25 ft drop that you can't get a driveway in there because if you go around this here in Chadam, Howardage, anywhere around, you'll see that people drive up
and down lots. What this guy should have done and and make it a little easier on him is he took the big lot, which is the empty lot, and put it on with the little house so he could put a brand new house on there. and instead of leaving the the little house with a little lot, he would
have had more room to to work with. So that's if you own both lots, I would take and make the little house lot smaller and use put the bigger one where you want to build a house. That's why we we voted it for it and then we had to
vote against it. I mean, it's pretty simple. that. Well, Bobby, that's good advice, but to be to be clear on the easement thing, you know, we own this piece right here. I think it's called parcel A or something. >> Parcel A. Yeah, it's 20 ft wide. >> Not wide enough.
>> It's a small small driveway. It's for one house. You got to >> Well, no. That house that's here is the the the way you get to this small house here, this bungalow style house, is you come in over this driveway >> and over his yard. >> Over his yard. >> And over his yard. But if we can
relocate the driveway here along this strip here, there's plenty of room for that. >> There's not enough room. >> Well, there is. >> What do you How much room do you want? >> 12 ft. >> Oh, yeah. >> You know, we could go 12 feet right along here easily.
>> Oh, it doesn't it doesn't work. If you Now you're trying to re Now you're trying to take a panhandle lot and make it and make it a uh another panhandle lot. and and the town wanted to put an 8 inch water man through that those two lots
and down to Bobby's lane. >> That was on the first >> and there there's an >> 8 inch water man discussion is a whole another place to go. >> That was on that was on the original plan. Well, the water company told me that when we if we could do a pressure,
there's a 2-in line here that services multiple houses. And water company said, "If you can show us that there's good water pressure to serve this house in this short distance, that'll be okay. But if if it's not okay, then they want an 8 in main on Bobby's, and then you
got to get everybody to say okay to that and switch everybody's service over." They also wanted to come from uh Forest Beach with a with a uh another two inch main to to connect them. >> And we have the we have the plan right here that shows it.
>> Yeah. Well, what we'd like to do um unless >> Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry. Point of order. >> Yes. Go ahead, Sharon. >> We're getting into we're getting into things that would be discussed at the time of either a preliminary plan or a modification of the plan. hang
>> I I think we've we've given guidance to the um you know the applicant not that there's an application but for the informal discussion what needs to happen. >> Yeah I I I think Charlene is right I I think you should go back recaucus see
what you want to do and come back with a formal plan. So we should do a modification. Art >> modification you can come forward with a preliminary and we can re we can review and address the preliminary and see if we can support it. >> Okay, that's what we'll do. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you.
>> Where does this go up here? Stay here, Bill. >> Yep. Okay. Uh, next we have a public hearing. >> Uh, this will be a public hearing for Mass General Laws, Chapter 48, Section 5, adoption of the change of zoning
ordinance bylaw for the accessory dwelling unit. Um, normally our clerk will read this. He's got a horse voice today. So, I'll read the legal notice. In accordance with the provisions of the mass general laws chapter 48 section 5,
the Chattam Planning Board will hold a hybrid public hearing on Monday, March 9th at 5:00 p.m. at the town office annex large meeting room 261 George Ryder Road and via uh Microsoft Teams to
take public comments on the following proposed amendments to the protective zoning bylaw. um to see if the town will vote to amend the town of Chadam protective zoning bylaws with respect to accessory dwelling units as follows. by replacing
the definition of dwelling unit accessory ADU and section two of the zoning bylaws with the following. Dwelling unit accessory ADU is is an attached or detached dwelling unit that is accessory to the principal dwelling
and is otherwise defined in accordance with the provisions of general law chapter 48 section 1A and 760 CMR71. uh as may be amended and as further defined in section 7B19
and by replacing section 7B19 of the zoning bylaws entire entirety with the sexy dwelling unit bylaw and to amend the table of use regulations attached to the zoning bylaws so as to conform to the uh foregoing amendments
pursuant to Governor Healey's March 28th, 2025 signing of chapter 2, of the acts of 2025 extending certain COVID 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency suspending certain provisions of the open meeting laws
chapter 30A section 20 until June 30th 2027. This meeting of the chatam planning board is being conducted in person and via remote participation. I guess we have to repeat this again. Um, every effort would be made to ensure
that the public can uh adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by calling the phone number 508-9454410
conference ID 64330-528 hashtag or join the meeting online via Microsoft Teams posted agenda. While this is a live broadcast and Simocast on Chadam TV exhinity channel 1072,
despite our best efforts, we may not be able to provide real-time access. We will post a record of the meeting on the town's website as soon as possible. Any person interested in wishing to be heard on this zony proposal may call the following tele uh
teleconference number to join the hearing. Calling number is uh 1508-945-4410. Conference ID is 6430528. Hashtag full text of the proposed protective zoning bylaw amendment can be
found on the town's website. It's uh okay. Um I'd like to just walk through the process of our procedures for the public hearing. first read read in the legal
notice. Next, there's a presentation. It's going to be by the applicant and Christine will be doing that presentation. The board will go through have comments and questions associated with the application first. Then there's a public statements in
favor of the application. Uh next step will be the chair reads any correspondence. Then after that there'll be public statements opposing the application, any rebuttal, board comments and then finally the hearing will be closed and
the board will deliberate. Um after the hearing closes, uh audience participation is not permitted during deliberations. So um Christine, if you could walk us through um >> this bylaw. I'm over here tonight just
to practice what I'm going to be giving to the select board and the finance committee next week. Um so we'd like to start by just telling you what an accessory dwelling unit is. Um basically it's a self-contained unit exclusive of sleeping housing sanitary facilities on
the same law as a principal dwelling. The um actual application goes on to say that it's subject to or otherwise applicable dimensional and parking requirements and that retains a separate entrance either. Sorry,
my notes don't go that far down. um either directly from the outside or through an entry hall or corridor shared with the principal dwelling sufficient to meet the requirements of the building and fire code for safety egress. Adus may be attached, detached, or internal
to the principal dwelling unit. Um Chadam has had ADUs in the bylaw since 2019. Um, and you also had done an amendment in 2022. Um, that being said, the Chadam's bylaw
um was overruled basically by the state approved bylaw of this past February, February, I'm sorry, not this past February, February of 2025. So, you are now working under the state approved um
ADU regulations. Um the state became involved in this through the affordable homes act which was passed in 2024. Two of the main components of the um of the affordable homes act were ultimately um
the seasonal communities bylaw and then the ADU bylaw. Now, they are two separate bylaws and what it's important to note here is seasonal communities. You accepted the the designation last year at town meeting um and we will be bringing a couple of items forward with
regard to that for next town meeting next year which have to be done. But in the meantime, we can start with this ADU piece to get the ADU bylaw to meet the requirements of the state but also have in it what needs to have happen for for Chattam.
Um, basically this this slide just kind of shows you some of the things that are, you know, that need to happen. The reason we're doing ADUs is because there is a need for housing and in a place like Cadam, one of those things is workforce housing. We, right, we need things for the people who live here. We
need yearround housing in particular. Um, as I said to you in the previous previous slide, um, they are can be detached. So they can be like a separate unit like we see here. They can be attached, you know, on top of a garage. Uh that type of thing, but then they can
also be interior to the um to the primary structure. Now, that's something different. That's not something that you didn't have that before in your previous BWA. You didn't have that and you didn't have um the detached. So it's a little bit different now. And we have to have those requirements as
part of the state. Um, the purpose of the bylaw, like I was just saying to you, is to provide a range of housing types, right? We want we want housing for all incomes, whether it's older people, whether it's, you know, young young people that are just getting out of college or just getting out of high
school and need to move on. We also, you know, need for different family types. Families are not the same as they used to be. So, we need to do it for that. So, we're we're trying to do it to accommodate a lot of different things. Um, one of the main purposes of an ADU bylaw also is, you know, affordability,
right? We want things that are economically efficient, but we also want things that are energy efficient as well. So, this gives you an opportunity to do some of those things. Um, the common buzzwords that they use with regard to this are diversity. You know,
we want a diversity of population. We want, you know, young adults and older adults. We don't want to necessarily have all just over 55 in one area and all young people, you know, in another area. We kind of want to mix it up. So, that's what's going on here. What
happens is um there's a process when you do an ADU. Somebody needs to come in and they need to understand what it is. So, part of this of this presentation here tonight is to give the general public an idea of of what goes into it. So, they need to learn about the process. This is an option, right? Then they need to
plan. They need to work with an engineer. They need to work with a a developer. They need to, you know, come in to the office of community development, go over it. Then they need to go through the permitting process, right? And ultimately then they need to build. So then they need to go to the building department and then eventually
they would move into such a such a place. Um we are proposing in in this we have to have it in accordance with the state regulations. We have to have it in any place where there is single family residential allowed. So that is our um
residential districts but then it also is the um small business and the general business districts in this particular case um in accordance with the the state guidance again. So the EOHLC is the executive office of housing and
livable communities um it has to maintain a separate entrance. So, it can't be like I have something which would be considered in my house to be an ADU, but it's not really an ADU because it doesn't have a separate entrance, right? So, it needs to have a separate entrance. It could be through a card or
or something like that like I said to you, but it needs to be there needs to be a a definition because you're not going to always be with somebody who um maybe is part of your family or you know, so you're going to want some sep separate
nature for both of you. um it can be up to one half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling or the 900 square feet. So the n that is in accordance with the state regulations and why that is important is because we don't want ADUs that are larger or that look out of
proportion to the proposed the existing dwelling that is on site. So you have to go with whichever is less and then again that's to meet you know it helps also with the character of the town. It also must meet a lot of the local regulations. I mean and those regulations can't be um you know absurd
or or completely out of control you know it has to we have to work with the building code we have to work with the title five things those type of things um so this is a breakdown another way of looking at it we can impose as a municipality of Chattam we can impose
reasonable restrictions related to site plan review title five dimensional setbacks um which include bulk and height requirements and short-term rentals. So that those things are important to us. What we cannot do is owner occupy owner occupancy. We can't
mandate that they all be like a family relationship. We can't make that determination because families are not the same as they've always been in the past. Um we can't require um special permit, right? They have to be allowed by right um or the use of the
rental, right? We can't decide. We also can't require more than one parking space for an ADU. um or require that any ADU which is in 0.5 miles of a commuter commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal
or bus station to have any parking space. So that is important because when I look up um on the at the state website the the definition of the bus station, it's any place where they embark. So any place where somebody gets on would not
have to have if they're within 0.5 miles of wherever the bus stops are, they don't have to have a parking space associated with it because we're trying to encourage mass transit. Um the um I mean this kind of reiterates some of
the things I've already saying I've said. Um, I would say the second bullet down, there is no limit on the number of ADUs that can be built, permitted, constructed, or leased. Um, so that's something I haven't said before. Um, and then there can be no limit on the number
of bedrooms or people within a bedroom. Um, that kind of comes into play though by board of health and building commissioner requirements. Um, the other thing that's new here is there's no minimum lot size required for ADUs. If the if the principal dwelling
already exists on a property, then they can have an ADU. Um, these are basically some more of the same things that I've already said in the previous ones. Um, I would say the third bullet here is an ADU can be in
common or single ownership and it cannot be subject to use or occupancy. And then ADUs do not count in density calculations for some of the things that we do with regard to housing. Um
over the next couple of weeks, we have the public hearing here tonight. We will be before Art and myself will be before the finance committee and the select board on next Tuesday. Um the warrant for the um town meeting will close on
the 24th and then we will be at town meeting presenting on uh May 5th. What I have given you tonight is the proposed bylaw and um I gave you an amendment at the start of the meeting and one of the things that had happened, the reason
that you received this amended and it'll be up on the town website tomorrow um is because late this afternoon we worked with town council. a few members of community development had been sitting in on a um on a presentation with regard
to the state and the the executive office that I had spoke to earlier and um it was mentioned there that Eastam had gotten some um language approved which would be maybe of interest to you on the planning board. They approached
it as a seasonal community who required more yearround housing. So, what we have done um which is different from the actual bylaw that you had in your packet earlier is we've added under section C, it had it had said before that ADUs may
not be used for short-term rentals and that was it. We've now added in order to address the town's need for year-round housing, an ADU shall be actively rented and/or leased on a year-round basis until such time as an ADU no longer
meets the definition of acceler accessory dwelling unit as defined in section two of this protective bylaw. So that that is one of the things that aren't read at the beginning um what the definition is. And then it goes on to say, "A one-year waiver may be granted
for ADUs that are unable to be rented due to a need for repairs or unforeseen circumstances. So again, that is a change from what everybody has seen up until recently. Um, you don't have to accept this change. I know that there
had been a lot of questions and a lot of concerns by the board about short-term rentals and about having more year round. This was the best that we could come up with it. Like I said, it was a last minute thing. Town council did want me to point out to you that um that upon
challenge, if somebody were to challenge this proposed language in the bylaw, um it is possible that the bylaw could be overturned by the attorney general's office. The language that we took came in part from the um like I said Eastam's
bylaw that they did get approved by the attorney general's office. I don't know that theirs has been challenged as of yet to see how it plays out, but that is something you could keep in mind. So, you could decide whether or not you're comfortable with just the way we had it
initially or whether you want to add this language in. Um, pretty much what I would say to you is at the beginning of the bylaw, you know, when we talk about in in um section two of the of the bylaw, um we
talk about what the um the definition is, that definition came from the state definition. when we look at the purpose of the by of the actual ADU bylaw. So, it's section 19 of of um section 7B of
your bylaw as it stands now. That's where the old one was. Um the purpose has basically remained the same. The language is pretty much almost identical. Town council helped us with all of this. the definitions that you're looking at in section B of that of that
um accessory unit dwelling unit bylaw, those came from the model bylaw that we had received from the state. And again, town council has reviewed all of this um and his only caveat is about this piece that we've added tonight. Then we go into the use the use schedule, which the
use schedule and the um and the dimensional requirements. Those are pretty much like the the meat and potatoes of the bylaw. If nothing else, um, ADUs are matter are allowed by a matter of right, as I said to you before, in the um, residential and then
the small business and the general business donating districts. Um, one of the determinations that you had made earlier on is that only one ADU is a matter is allowed by matter of right on any lot. So, we've kept that the
same. We did not add in a piece about um special permitting for additional ADUs, any of that thing. We also did not add in anything with regard to um site plan review. That was something that your old bylaw did not do. So, we felt it
important to keep it the same or you felt it important to keep it the same. Um the board of health uh the board of health must have documented to the building commissioner that either sewer connection or available sewer disposal
will be satisfactory provided in accordance with the provisions of title 5 and the local board of health regulations including provisions for appropriate reserve are on site. the principal dwelling unit and the accessory dwelling
unit meet all wastewater requirements combined for the bedrooms and the wastewater flow. So that will control the number of bedrooms and a thing like I had said to you before um the ADU does not have the minimum uh does not have minimum acreage for buildable upland um
because it is just it's got to do with the lot period. Um and then ADUs shall remain in common or single ownership with the principal dwelling unit. That was something else that you had felt important. Um
those are pretty much the biggest things here. Um I know it's it's a lot. You've been through it many many times. So, I would just say as you're making your determination tonight on what you want to send forward to the select board, you
um particularly look at the one thing that I pointed out. >> Okay. Um next portion is uh the board questions and comments. Uh the only one I want to
um to throw in early on here is uh there was two parts to um the state law on this. One was the ADU piece and the other one was uh seasonal community piece. Um the ADU state law that was passed that applies
to all 351 cities and towns. So that's cart blange. seasonal communities has to do with whether our our particular community here in Shannon if we voted for it in our case we did but the two uh don't don't overlap at all. So this
applies to all towns and and and cities and that's why it was important for us to address this and get that into this year's um uh Maytown meeting. So with that um any other board questions, comments? Uh Warren, I'll start with
you. >> Christine, just a quick question. Was it East Ham you said that had the AG give an okay to this wording? >> Which town was it that got the A? >> I'm sorry. It was East Ham and they had gotten the approval from the attorney general's office. >> Do you know when they do you know how
long it took after they passed it uh before the AGed? >> That I do not know. They passed it LA they passed it last year. Um, it usually takes a while to go through the a through the attorney general's office because they're reviewing everybody's at
roughly the same at the same time. Um, >> okay. Thank you. Nothing no other questions. I'm in I'm certainly in favor of the of the change. >> Um, Bob Bob worship. >> I'm okay. >> Uh, Frank Shear. >> Yeah. The only comment I have is I'm I'm
in favor of the additional language. >> Um, Bob Dubis, >> I'm okay with the way it is. uh as presented. >> Okay. Uh Charlene, do you have any comments or questions? >> I I agree. I'm I'm comfortable with the additional uh wording that uh Christine
provided for us from East Ham. And also just kind of educational thing. Uh once a a zoning bylaw sent to the attorney general's um they have 90 days to um either approve approve of changes or totally say no, you can't do this by
law. Um, sometimes they go beyond that 90 days, but generally it is it is up to 90 days that the AG's office has to review um any proposed zoning amendments. >> Oh, one other thing. I think it's also
important that if for some reason the town meeting decides no, they don't want to approve this, well, we're we are then mandated to do what it says in the state regulation
with no really local control as to um as as Christine said, bulk setbacks, you know, that kind of thing. We lose that control. So it is important that we do have something in place to replace what
we already have on the books that is consistent with what the state is requiring but also has Chadam's little tweaks that we feel are necessary to make this a better bylaw. >> Thank you. U Christine, I mean Charlene,
you summed up my points perfectly. Um, I do agree with the additional language that we have in here. >> Just one more. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> Just I'm pretty sure our existing bylaw allows detached and in in unit uh
>> we we did we added that in the 2022 uh >> Oh, I'm sorry. I did I say it incorrectly? I might have said it. >> I just want to make sure we present it to everyone else. >> Yeah, we did u add that as an amendment. >> Required a special permit, didn't it? Uh it it could have. Yeah.
>> I think detach required a special permit whereas now it would not. >> It it's as of right. Yes. >> So your existing bylaw which has gone by the wayside at this point. Like I must say you know again it is the state right now. So you allowed some things by right and then some things by special by
special permit for one family. You only allowed 10 ADUs per year. >> Period. Now there is no limit on the number that it can be built, the number that can be uh permitted, leased etc. There is no limit. We don't have any control over that. Um
>> okay. Um now next step in the process is public uh statements in favor of the application. Uh does anyone on would like to come up and speak to this in support? Don't see any hands.
Uh Nick, >> I I am on the phone. Sorry, I'm on the phone, but I'm not in person. >> Okay. Well, thank you for speaking. Protocol is Yes. Could you give your uh your name, please? So, for the record. >> Yes. My name is Betsy Noir.
>> Okay. Betsy, please uh make your comments. >> Okay. So, I believe that I was the first person to go through once the state law went in place to build an ADU on my property in Chadam. uh for my
88-year-old mother and it I'm I've had a lot of support but it has been a very arduous and very very expensive process to date. Uh, you know, I have nothing but good things to say
about my, you know, designer, the site planner, legal, um, my lawyer. Uh, the ZBA was very helpful, health department. Uh, it has taken me nine months,
uh, to actually get approvals in order to make this happen. And again, extremely costly and frankly for most people cost prohibitive to be able to get to this point. I do have a building
permit in uh today waiting for it to be approved. Uh we had to go back to zoning and ended up with a guest house because of your current bylaws. uh because of various issues between lot
size coverage uh mostly setbacks frankly and I just hope the town does the right thing because we do need more housing and we need to make it easy and we need to also make sure that it is not cost prohibitive.
>> Thank you. I I think you I think you're correct that that many of these uh uh updates here in this bylaw uh hopefully will resolve many of the things that you experienced. >> I see somebody's hand was up in uh is
there anyone else who wants to speak in favor of this? No. Okay. Uh you do uh you have to come up and speak and give your name. >> Yes. We need uh need you to use the
microphone so we get you on the record and just introduce yourself please. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. I just was wondering if >> No. Could you introduce yourself first, sir? >> Pardon me. >> Introduce your you provide your name, please. >> Oh, I'm uh my name is Edward Mil Mackey.
>> Yeah. and I live on 30 Perch Pond Road in Chadam. >> Okay, thank you very much. Okay, your comment, please. >> Um, can I now can I say what I want? >> Oh, yeah, absolutely. >> We just want to know who you are first, that's all.
>> This is like back in high school. Um, if it goes through the all the paces and and there's no stops and it goes to the town me town meeting and that can be can it be voted voted down in the town?
>> It could be voted down in town meeting, but then it would revert back to state law and we would have none of the provisions that we're proposing here and suggesting uh for our town to include. >> Okay. So,
if it passes the last step, that's it. >> Well, uh, if it passes the last step, it would be 90 days review to at the attorney general's office after Mtown meeting. >> Okay. >> And can the attorney general turn it down?
>> It's it's very possible depending on uh what they how they review the language. But again, that's why we have uh review done by our town council and we do check in with other towns too on how they've see if they've had theirs approved. >> All right. Thanks.
>> Thank you. All right. Uh moving on. Uh any correspondence, Christine? I don't believe we have >> there was no correspondence for the public hearing. >> Are any public statements opposing the application? Uh I don't see any hands raised.
None. Uh, no rebuttals. Any other board comments? No. If none, we can then I have a motion to close this public hearing. >> I move we close the public hearing. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> All right, we'll take a roll call vote.
Uh, Warren Shane. >> Warren Shane, approve. >> Bob Worsha, >> approve. >> Frank Shear, >> approve. >> Bob Dubis, >> Bob Dubis, approve. >> Charlene, >> approve. >> On Arts Brew, I approve. Okay. Uh,
I think based on what I heard, there was mostly support for the added language that was highlighted here in yellow. Uh, if the board has any other comments or anything you want to deliberate on before we take a formal vote on this?
No. Um, Charlene, do you want to make a motion for our >> Sure. Mr. Chairman, I move that we um forward these back to the board of selectmen with the amendment as highlighted this evening and recommend
these zoning amendments uh to the town meeting for a positive vote >> and a second. >> I'll second it. >> All right, we'll do a roll call vote. Warren Jane, >> approve. Bob Worer, >> approve. Frank Shear,
>> approve. Bob Dubis, >> approve. Charlene Grihall >> approve >> and Artsboro I approve. All right. >> So what will happen now is I have a letter prepared that I will have Art sign on behalf of the planning board and
who was here um and then I will be sending that to the um select board office tomorrow along with the agenda report that is required and the revised um bylaw based on the decision that was made this evening. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Uh, one other thing. Um, I'm proposing that next meeting, it's the what, uh, what's the date on our next meeting? >> 23rd. >> The 23rd of March to use the 4:00 time slot for our working session. Again,
what we've it's been bumped twice now because of weather. Hopefully, we can get a workshop session on the seasonal community piece. Gloria Gloria has updated her um memo on this. It'll be very helpful for us to explore this and
see how we can move forward with things. There's going to be certain things that we're going to have to uh we should be adopting in this coming year for Maytown meeting in 2027. And so it'll be important for us to flush that out as part of this uh and understand what are
the some of those and Gloria will walk us through all of that. Um, so the 23rd is now be at 4 o'clock instead of 5. >> 4 o'clock will be a workshop session and then regular business at 5. >> Sounds good. >> All right. If there is anything else,
uh, do I have a motion to adjourn? So, >> chairman, I move that we adjourn the meeting. >> Second. >> And uh, Warren, are you >> second? >> Okay, we'll do a roll call vote. Warren, >> approve. >> Uh, Bob, >> approve. Frank, >> approve. Bob,
>> approve. >> And Charlene, are you still there? >> Approve. >> Okay. And Artsboro, I approve. And the time is >> 6:30. Okay. Hard to see. >> Thanks everybody.