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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=hHxxMy-HsII

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Good evening and welcome to the 21st meeting for the Milton Planning Board of Fiscal year 2026. Um, at this time I would like to now call the meeting to order and begin by um, introducing the members of the board and our staff. Um, if you'd like to see

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>> Hal Munger, member >> Cheryl Tagayas, secretary >> and Meredith Hall serving as chair um, this evening. Unfortunately, uh, Sean is um, out of the country and um, Maggie is not feeling well, so she will not be here this evening. Um, but we do have

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with us our staff, Avante. >> Yeah, Avante. Grady, assistant planning director. >> Liz Manning, planning director. Great. Thank you. Um, now moving on to um we'll begin uh by um our first administrative

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items um we have two sets of meeting minutes um that we had deferred from our previous meeting. But unfortunately, you weren't here in March. So um which were March 12th and the 26th and we don't have a quorum here to vote on those. So, I'm going to uh defer those the meeting

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minutes from March or have a motion to defer the minutes um if you um wish to um agree the 12th and the 26th that we move the voting of those to our next meeting. >> I'll make the motion. >> Second.

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>> Did I second it? Okay. Second. >> All in favor? Hi. Great. Um and then the um future meeting dates we have uh currently scheduled our our regular scheduled meeting for June 11th and June 23rd

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um would be the next um meeting dates and we can now go to staff update. Um Wendy and Liz. >> Yeah, >> I can start. Um yeah, I'll just provide a brief update on the open space plan.

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Um we had our pop-up event on May 16th which was successful. We had 35 participants for that. So um yeah, that was great. There was um that was a collaboration with MAPC in terms of

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language access. So we had poster boards translated into patient creole um Chinese and Spanish. So, it was great to get that perspective from that part of town. They provide various interesting

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um pieces of feedback. Um such as like several clients feeling that the [clears throat] Northwest section lacks adequate outdoor recreational facilities. Um some felt that there wasn't much programming for teenagers in Milton in

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general. Um, some expressed that they had to get into their card to get to the closest open space and wreck facility. Um, some expressed having more materials translated on the town's website. Um, and also having multigenerational

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activities to do at sites. So, several participants shared those thoughts. So, yeah, it was just nice to hear back from the community and to have that um just be something that we can integrate into this plan moving forward. So >> that's excellent.

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>> Will you share that um with the board that document you're meeting from or >> Yeah. Yep. And um yeah, looking to get this posted on the project website too, but I will share with the board. >> That's great. >> Yeah. Thank thanks a

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lot a lot of hard work went into getting those materials translated on such a such a um you know an expedited basis and a lot of followup and so excellent work. >> Yes. And I was really impressed when I saw the the the amount of feedback that

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they were that that Craig was able to to receive in such a short period of time. So it was ve very worthwhile event. Um okay, so I've got four items here. Um shared shared supporting housing office. Um currently working with the folks at

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Centure following on following up on the 936 Brush Hill Road project, 703 Randolph B and 440 Grandad. those would be sort of like the three um projects that are closest to closest to occupancy. So um perfectly,

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you know, perfectly honest, still kind of working through exactly what the um you know, types of supportive activities they're they're going to be, you know, providing for us moving forward. I put together a pretty detailed spreadsheet last week for them, you know, kind of

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like with my expectations of how they were going to support the town and in in monitoring these projects and following following up and and what have you. Um haven't connected yet with um our consultant there, but happy to share that with you folks if you want if you

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want to sort of see what I'm thinking in terms of support. Not 100% certain what our budget is for that. So my support my support needs might exceed, you know, what people are thinking in terms of budget, but but you know, we'll kind of we'll we'll we'll figure that piece out

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as we move forward, but there's just so many projects in play and they're all in different stages of development and they're all different types of models and so there's just there's just a lot there. Um, so housing production plan, I think I know Cheryl has been in the loop on this

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one because we're going to have a um kickoff meeting next week, June 3rd. That uh advisory committee has been is is in place. It consists of um Winston Daily and u Megan Nolan on the select

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board and um two members of the affordable housing trust. Um I'm going to get their names wrong. I should have written them down. um Warren Lizio and Eric Hopensson. Thank you. [laughter] Thank you, Cheryl. Uh and

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obviously Cheryl and Sean. So that meeting will take place next uh Wednesday and then we will be discussing um you know scope and budget scope and schedule and and um you know sort of introductory types of types of topics

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next Wednesday. So Sean will not be back. I don't >> Yes, I did. I Yeah, I knew that. I I felt like it was um >> you felt when everybody could be there. >> She's on a pretty tight schedule. I was really balancing.

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>> I know. We want to get this done. So, yeah. >> Right. You know, so that was that was a balancing act with that one. Um he >> can fill in Yeah. Phil Sean. You can Yeah. >> And and and and this initial meeting is is sort of laying the groundwork for for you know, kind of what the process is

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going to look like. and and so I I think we I think we can we can get him caught up um without too too much trouble. Um second it third third item why I can't speak. Third item is the

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letter that you have in your folder um which is which is um on the agenda as well um for the for the library parking form that was held back in March and in the board's comments on that. And I also printed out a copy when when we come to

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that agenda item. Maggie had submitted something today asking for additional language in that letter. So, I think we're going to defer that just for anyone watching who might be looking for that item because we don't have Maggie sick today and >> okay, you know, Sean's not here and

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Cheryl, you know, is on that task force, so um she was going to recuse herself. So, I think it's better just to defer it. >> Got it. Okay, sounds good. Um, and so my final item was was just a just a sort of an update for everybody that Carolyn Murray from KP Law will be

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at our meeting, our next meeting, June 11th, to discuss the recontification uh process and potential zoning articles for Balltown meeting. And I don't have an exact date, but my understanding is the end of June is the target for

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submitting articles. >> End of June. >> End of July. I thought it was July 7th. [clears throat] >> All right. Well, I will I will I will I will I will circle back on that. I think I [laughter] will I will circle back on

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that week of July 7th. Okay. All right. >> Maybe I maybe I was building in an extra week >> probably. And um okay [clears throat] so so just just you know kind of just to kind of frame that because obviously

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we'll need to be you know conducting out of hearings and and etc. So, you know, just having that have that date in mind just and and I know you you probably talking to Carol in advance. Um, but it might be

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nice if she has an idea of the articles that we're we're looking to get in. Obviously, um the MBTA just cleaning up that language would be very straightforward, but maybe um looking at I know H you've offered to, you know, look at what some of the other towns are

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doing for short-term rentals um Airbnbs and um and maybe we she has some that she could come or send us in advance of the meeting that we could review. You know, I know different towns are going through different experiences with Airbnbs and short-term. Um, Middletown,

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Middleton, Rhode Island, somebody just told me just repealed their Airbnb um law and anyone who has them is grandfathered, but they've been having issues. So, they've now repealed. So, >> it's Rhode Island, it's not Massachusetts, but it's um,

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>> you know, it's an example of some towns, you know, it didn't get implemented the proper way and they didn't have regulations. um had trouble. So, >> okay, >> Carolyn may have been hearing about those community, you know, some communities um in the area that she

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could maybe provide some things to. >> Yeah, my goal was to have I know there's a lot of discussion at the last meeting about um different different zoning topics. So, my goal was to have that sort of rolled up to Carolyn.

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>> Yeah. um and um sharing with her as well the the research that you did on the various towns which I we we uploaded already to the folder for for our next meeting. So that's there if anybody wants to take a look at it. It's available. Um but yeah, that was the

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intent. The intent was sort of like a combination of the codification and process itself. I received that contract today. So that that funding um is encumbered. So, so we're, you know, we've zeroed out our our plan studies

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budget for fiscal 26. So, that that money is encumbered. Um, and so yeah, so that so the intent was to have sort of like half was that piece and reviewing that piece with everybody and sort of what's in that contract, how it's going to work, and then the other piece was to

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talk about what can happen like what's what makes sense for law. Right. So can you also ask her to look at the pre-existing non-conforming businesses?

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>> Um some have exist under variance and some exist under special permit through the zoning board of appeal. Mhm. >> And uh my understanding is anytime they want to change

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uh some aspect of their operation, they have to go back >> so to that body. So they all go to the ZBA. Now >> they come to the planning board if site plan review is triggered, >> but otherwise they don't come to us.

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>> And a lot of uh businesses fall into that category. So I know I had asked you for a list which you provided and Ellen Bishop is working on mapping for those. >> Um but just to understand

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first of all how the process works now. So if we're going to try and make it better, we we need to see where the problems are, right? But we saw it firsthand with Milton Marketplace and the restaurant because there was a lot of confusion about their permits. And

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then we also experienced it firsthand with 440 granted out >> when they came they had to go to the ZBA and they had to come to us and then which do they go to first right >> ZBA wants to hear from planning board planning board wants to know what the variances are going to get granted >> right

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>> and so how can >> uh we make that process better >> is so we need to really understand the process well and since it doesn't come to us maybe Michael White also should be consulted because the applications first

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go to him I believe and then he decides where they go. Mhm. >> Um, now doesn't the new site plan doesn't the new cycling bylaw say if you need to go to the zoning board, you don't have to come to the local

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>> but um >> or no the issue is the businesses always [clears throat] have to go to the ZBA. >> Okay, >> that's a discretionary process. None of those are as of right for businesses

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>> and it's makes it more risky for a business. So I think when we're trying to make we talked about trying to make it a little bit more business user friendly the town >> approvals more user friendly. >> Yeah. >> I think first we need to start with sort

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of almost like an audit of how things work out where the problems are how to fix it. >> Yes. Yeah. agree >> because they're tricky because they're also most often, you know, in residential single family resial is everywhere. So, it's Yeah. So, it's

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tricky on on how you do that and saw that with >> with Tambass Street, too. You know, neighbors do want to be involved with that process. So, >> find how you find that balance. I agree. >> I I had a couple questions before public comment. Um the next meeting the 23rd

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the nor the normal date would be the 25th. Is that the 23rd where we're going to meet >> the 23rd and the 25th? We're meeting that week. Apologies I had that >> right and that needs to be posted. So yes, so we're going to post that. So that is that's the meeting where we're going to attend and join the select on

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the 23rd. And then >> um I think because of the tight timeline I don't want to cancel our Tony our meeting on the 25th. So I apologize that we're meeting twice weekly but um I think it'll be a brief meeting with SLboard you know our time board and then we'll have our regular schedule on the

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25th. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um thank you. And then the um shared supportive housing office uh from my own u uh knowledge and maybe the people that are joining it haven't been part of it before. Is that where the the process where the Milton is sharing resources

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with other towns in the area to uh work? Can you explain that a little bit more? >> Absolutely. Um, so my understanding is this sort of was birthed out of like the trick group with MVPC's trick sub region.

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>> Uh, and I think there are maybe six communities still participating in this in this sort of um combined contract with with the centure. Asenture is actually the new firm. The original firm was cancer um advisory which I think was a smaller firm more local smaller firm

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but they were acquired by centure in the last year. Um so exactly to to help smaller communities ex expand their bandwidth in in terms of you know monitoring these monitoring affordable housing you know staying a

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breast of you know the requirements and regulations with comprehensive permits. Um something that just went out recently are the annual reertifications for the home ownership units. >> Right. So um just those types of tasks

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and they're helping us right now you know as a specific example helping us work with the folks at 440 grand a to get their you know the documentation together for their state approvals for their affordable units to ensure that they will get counted on the subsidized

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housing inventory. Um, I know enough to figure some of that stuff out and probably do an okay job at it, but it's time consuming and it's really an area of expertise. So, I'm like super grateful to have have them available. >> Great.

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>> So, it frees you up to do other things that you that >> they have more knowledge of to be able to do. >> Exactly. Yeah. Great. >> Yeah. So, >> okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. And then uh one last thing, we touched on the housing production plan and the committee meeting of that. Any update on the master plan committee?

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Um >> so I think we're waiting. I know that there was an email I was CCD on to u to Liz to see if she's made her appointments. >> I mean I I don't know if she's done that yet. Did she respond to you? >> She hasn't responded to me.

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>> We have to wait for Liz. Why can't we make our >> We don't. And at some point I think we just should. I just thought we might want to round out with, you know, what see who's been selected, you know, who's available. I haven't seen any of the applications yet, so I don't know who's on. Um, but do you have you receive

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those? I have I have Lynn Lynn's been been copying home from Miss Lew's office has been copying me on applications as they come in and so yeah I mean there's I think the last time I checked I want to say there might have been six or seven applicants still available um

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after the select board had made their had made there. So yeah I think yeah I think we can certainly go ahead. Is there is there like a pecking order? Does it have to go select board moderator plan or could we >> No, it doesn't have to. I just we had

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just thought I when Liv and I spoke that I would give her discretion to to select and she wanted to interview people. So, I think that might be why it's taken her so long. But um I don't I mean I think hopefully they filled out their applications with the qualifications so we can

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>> not have everyone be an architect or everyone be a real estate person. [laughter] Not everyone real I should say realtor everyone whatever realtor yeah it could be whatever lawyers you know um but there's certain things that you you know you hope that it would be

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>> understood. Okay. Um yeah, so I think we can definitely um Sean will be back on the 20 there's meeting on the 25th. So we can tenatively play on that. But it sounds like there's >> there's plenty of there's enough people.

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So um so that's good. And um anything else or anything else did you have? >> So I did have one other thing. Um we talked about a few different things. short-term, long term as setting

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priorities for the year. I would like to come back to that. Um, we talked about some of the shorter term things, but I do think >> um, we shouldn't let too much time pass without thinking about the spring because it'll be upon us before we know

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it, too. >> So, can we get that back on the agenda as well? >> Yeah. And actually Liz, I think had had a conversation with Nick on having sort of a um some sort of matrix so that we

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can have it just sort of, you know, what these are, you know, short-term, long term, sort of have a ranking of what we've discussed and sort of have things that we can check off, you know, once we've accomplished those, you know, what's moving down on a list of priorities and long term. I just thought

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it would be helpful for the meeting on the 23rd with the select board. Yes, >> it might it just may be helpful for you folks in general, but um and and then you know areas of you know areas of convergence because I I I think I saw I I think he's got something like that and

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we chatted about it. Um and and his recommendation was you know it's really nice too because sometimes you can just sort of check things off and sort of get a sense of like okay you know those 10 things and now four of them are done and yeah three more things got added but you know progress is being made. I think

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it's helpful to have that tangible. >> Exactly. >> Tangible. So, so I will work I will work on that. That's kind of like it's a lot of these things are sort of interconnected because like [sighs] you know clearly a lot of these conversations are going to be happening with the housing professional

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right and we're going to be having conversations with API. >> So I think that's actually important too if we note in that matrix >> where there's already work being done like things I think maybe the economic

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development plan we're going to talk about scope of work because previously it did not include the previous non-conforming which I think is an issue >> but um you know the certainly the open space plan um the housing production plan etc. Um, I also think if you could

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put the summary together of where we've already committed our dollars, our financial resources, >> and and what we have left, so that that'll factor into what we can realistically accomplish. >> Um, >> especially if we want to go deep with the application, you know, depending on

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how deep we're going to go with that. >> Well, and whether there's any other source of funds to assist with that because it's, you know, it'll help the the building department, for example. uh it'll help the planning department. So can some funds come from other sources

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besides penny board funds which is really for studies and for for zoning initiatives but it's a you know it's a pretty big portion of the budget our budget so >> I think that'll be helpful >> because I think a lot of the board

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members are are new new member the new ones so I think it will be a great meeting just to um I know this said, I get asked all the time like what is the thing we're working on? And so this way they can they can have a reference. Okay, this is this is a focus right now. This is what um

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this is what our staff is working on right now. So I I think um so just um so stop if that's everything Liz you're okay great so now we can move

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to item number three which is our public comment um if there's anyone here from the public who wishes to speak or online you can raise your hand um and we'll be happy to have you join Yes. Yes. Welcome. You can Yes, you can come

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right up and we're fully miked in this room, so you don't need to hold the mic. >> I know you don't have to hold up a microphone. It's nice. >> Excellent. Hi, my name is Jessica McDaniel and I'm here on um tonight on behalf of Connect Milton. Um I'm one of

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the eight members of the steering committee here in town and some of my fellow committee members are here in the audience as well. We're here because at the April 23rd meeting of this board, incorrect statements were made about us, specifically the nature of our

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activities and our funding sources. Unfortunately, some of that misinformation has since filtered into the community. So, we wanted to introduce ourselves to clear up any confusion for members of the board, for town staff, and for our business. So

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before I address and the specific points of clarification, I'd like to tell you a little bit about our organization and what we do. We founded Connect Milton in 2023 to help connect community members to each other, to local resources, and

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to civic opportunities, and in turn build a more inclusive and engaged community. While the members of our committee come from different backgrounds, some of us grew up here. I'm Glover, class of 85. While [laughter] others moved here as adults,

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we have shared experiences of not knowing how something works or wanting to become more engaged in the community and not knowing where to start. So, some examples of how we are working toward that goal. We host a robust set of FAQs

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on our website addressing a wide range of topics that residents frequently ask. Everything from what precinct am I in and where do I vote to whether Milton allows tickets and sports signups information and information about early

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education opportunities in the public schools. We crowdsource these questions and answers from connecting with Milton residents at community events. We also host voting and election information on our website. For the last two town elections, we created a comprehensive

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listing of all townwide candidates web pages, as well as an overview of how town government works and what these positions do. We send out a regular newsletter highlighting local community events, upcoming elections, and our own events such as community cornhole, an

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event we started this past February to get neighbors out of their houses and engage with others even in the dead of winter. We've organized three informational events around civic engagement, including town government 101, town finances 101, and town

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committees 101. These sessions are open to everyone and have involved town staff as well as elected officials. They've been recorded by Milton Access TV and videos are available on our website. And finally, for the past few years, we've been delivering welcome bags to new

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residents of Milton. These welcome bags There we got some contain information about the town and small promotional items or coupons and gift cards from local business sponsors. We invite current Milton residents to help us deliver the bags to new residents and

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invite new residents to a new to Milton social to help foster some initial connections in their new home. To date, we've welcomed 616 new households to Milton. And we hope that that will just will be just a start in ensuring

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residents feel better connected and invited to engage in their community. Regarding our funding sources, we are all volunteers, but our activities incur costs. Because establishing oneself as an independent nonprofit is not only

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complicated but costly, we chose to find a fiscal sponsor. A fiscal a fiscal sponsor is an established 501c3 nonprofit organization that extends its legal and taxexempt status to smaller uninorporated projects and provides

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administrative and financial management support. It's a common mechanism for small grassroots efforts like ours to manage donations. Social Good, a nonprofit based in California, is our fiscal sponsor. All of this is explained on our website in detail. To be very

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clear, social good does not fund us. In fact, they charge us a percentage of our revenue for the administrative and financial support that they provide. We are funded entirely by donations and the sponsorship fees that local businesses

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pay to include their items in our local bags. And regarding the statement that connect Milton has a political focus, all of our activities, information, and events, including those focused on civic engagement, are freely open to anyone

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who lives in Milton. We do not endorse political candidates, nor do we screen or poll residents for their political affiliations or political beliefs. As an organization that promotes civic engagement, it

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shouldn't be surprising that many of us are also members of either elected or appointed bodies in town because we already recognize the importance of civic engagement and can speak to that experience. As an organization, however,

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we are nonpartisan and we are confident that our activities, events, and the information we share with the community support that claim. Thank you for your time and for the opportunities. We hope this clears up any misconceptions about our

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organization and we hope that we can find opportunities to work together in the future. >> Thank you. Appreciate your comfort. >> We have some I just want to leave this here. There's a copy for the staff and all the members if you could see that a copy.

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>> Absolutely. >> There's three items that go into um our bets. Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your work. >> You signed up for your newsletter. >> So good. >> During during our talk, [laughter]

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>> I'm really quick. I I I did I did the cost benefit Right on my head. >> Anyone else here for citizens speak or online? >> Good evening. >> Deborah Felton

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meeting member. >> [snorts] >> Um I am here because I listened to the last meeting um where you spoke about um ambians and I was encouraged that um you are I'm

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hopeful that you won't put together a regulation for ambum Um I think and you know it's just an estimate kind of putting in different addresses and looking around not only

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Airbnb but also the vacation rentals. >> We probably have about at least 30 Airbnbs people that the town really gets to know but >> um there are a lot of towns now that are

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regulating Airbnbs. Belmont, Lexington, Somerville, Salem, Boston, great far in the islands, Boston. Um, and they all address it differently. Um, but there are so there are choices

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that the planning board could make. Um, I think this is important for the town to adopt our own rule, licensing, zoning, occupancy permits, occupancy caps, um, and safety. And a lot of towns use

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the building department, the fire department, and department for inspections. Um, and of course, we can um, charge a local your local tax. So there is I'm sure it'll be a small amount of revenue,

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but more importantly, it's really to protect the neighborhoods. And so what's happening is that this housing is going to short-term rentals when it could be housing for people who want to rent. Um,

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and there are definitely safety concerns. Um, in my neighborhood fire pit in one of the Airbnbs, I thought my house was burning down. I'm not what they were burning that night, but it really um it it was off-putting to say

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the least. So, um I would really encourage the planning board to look at this. >> Um uh also I was in contact and have permission to use John Cohane's name. He's a precinct town meeting member,

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precinct 7. He lives on Antworp and um I know in their neighborhood they're very concerned about any Airbnb that seems to be a party house. Um and there's no regulation. >> So, um that's a little research that

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I've done. Plan the planners want I can send you what I have. >> Definitely. Um, and just on Rhode Island on Middleton, the reason they have rescended their law is because there are so many Airbnbs that they don't want

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anymore. >> So, if one pops up that it hasn't been grandfathered in, then it will be shut down. >> Wow. >> So, they heard about that, too. >> Huh? >> I said you've heard about that. >> Yes, I did. Um, so you know, many cities

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and towns are regulating them. I'm sure there'll be more um now that it's so popular. >> So, thank you very much. And um just since I did watch your entire May 14th

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meeting, um I really encourage you to um try to work with the developer on the on near the food mark. I know you had mentioned that at the last meeting >> that there was a developer who was looking and then went away and you haven't heard from them, but we've been

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putting up with that that neighborhood is >> I know >> that's been in disrepair like that for way too long. >> I hope we can be a little proactive in that. And as to the condo conversion, I think we really do need to lower the

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acreage requirement. Um, so that because who knows what's going to come up for sale and it certainly on Route 138, that big mansion could have been condos if there wasn't that um construction. And

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there are certainly other lovely homes in town that may sell at some point. and I'd rather see a condo conversion than, you know, any other housing. So, thank you for your work. >> Thanks.

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>> Okay. Anyone else? Anyone online? Are we seeing I'm not seeing any. Let me just double check. I did not see any the last time I looked. No hands. Two attendees with no hands. Okay. Um, so thank you all for coming

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tonight. um speaking. Uh we can now move to our site plan review for um an ADU located at 1210A Randolph Avenue. Welcome. >> Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. Uh my name is Jim Chen. I'm

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the architect at JCBT Architect. We're located in Quincy. Um so tonight we're um seeking approval for site plan site plan review for this project at 1210 Randolph A. uh Randolph uh 1210 Randolph

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a um is a is a u conforming lot which is in residential be zoning district um with 20,000 square feet uh is in conformance and the current um structure there is a single family um meets all

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the zoning setbacks and the owner here tonight um nonchan u we want to propose a a detach ad singlestory detach ADU at the back of the lot. Um so so the primary structure

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in the front single family will be will remain untouched and the original structure is about 2,900 square ft itself. Um the the reason for this proposal is to

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um have their grandparents uh live separately um [clears throat] independently uh so originally I started the project last year both my grandparents were doing well and my grand passed away a couple

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weeks ago but now it's even more important because my grandmother's alone >> uh so we're taking turns and originally It was supposed to be like a happy thing. Bring them here. As they get older, we can take shifts.

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So there's a made a lot of sense and parents age too. And it just it just made a lot of sense when people can sleep, right? So that we can take turns. It doesn't give kids. >> Um so you know that's that's basically

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entire innovation by Helox approved. So ready to go whenever >> since we're talking about the site plan review tonight. Um >> let me know if you want a different if you want a different just let me know. Okay.

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>> So the some of the improvement that we're going to um make on the on the site is that in the front there's a currently a uh three car parking. Uh it's only one foot set back from the dividing neighbor. So we're going to push it back uh in compliance and

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minimum three feet. Um and then we're going to propose a 5t walkway to the back of the house where that uh sort of general uh patio currently sits and connect that from that patio connected

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to the new ADU. The ADU is uh 896 square feet. I think uh it might be a me typo on the memo. That's 876. >> I I Yeah, I I was coming up with a different measurement, but it's either way it's it's within the it's within the requirements.

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>> It's still within the requirement. >> Yeah. >> And um and we meet all the setback requirements um for for the new ADU. Um there's a currently it's 10 ft u easement, drainage easement. I think

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it's serving as backup with the property in the back, but we're not we're not touching any of that. Set it back 18.4 feet away from that property. And then another 30 31 ft from the back. So well within the zoning

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setbacks. Um and then with the proposed walkway, we plant some uh privacy planting probably some out by ease along the path. um added some lightings

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um to to to improve the site. >> And in terms of utilities, um we're not connecting directly onto Randolph app. So we're not doing any kind of street open. We're connecting back into the existing structure. Um the engineering

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department did review that uh the the incoming uh water and the sewer need to be 10 ft apart by the by [snorts] the code compliance. So we will do that and all the utilities and um such as water sewer and and electrical are coming in

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underground into the uh the new ADU. So the a little bit about the ADU ADU is in in um in line with the existing structure. Um original structure is a base range. So this is a single story

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range. I think the architectural language is very in line with >> Would you like me to pull up the um the elevations of view? >> Yeah. That's the house, right? >> This is the original uh the primary house. Yeah.

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>> So, is that it right there? >> Yep. That's the um the four elevations of the ADU >> and slightly raised up um it's it's in the doesn't have a basement. It has a crawl space >> and a additional storage at the ad

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space. >> I'm open up for any questions. >> Cheryl or Hal, do you want to go first? You know, >> can we have Liz run through her memo? Because I think that since this is our first one uh under our new bylaw, I think the process that we established

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will be nice. people can see it. >> That was great. I just want to thank Liz for doing that. >> So, thank you. I think it's, you know, for the presentation um and for your package and then Liz, if you could run through >> Sure. >> your review. >> Absolutely. Thank you.

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>> Okay. So, I I included this memo. I I believe you folks were were copied on it as well. um for the board, a three-page memo, and we have a list, a detailed list of all the plans that we're we're considering here this evening. So, all of the dates and the last revised dates and what have

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you. Um so, we we reviewed this under um the the zoning for accessory dwelling units and um the application was received on April 28th. there's a requirement to have you folks in front of the board no less than 30 days and

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today was day 30. So, we were we were we were doing our best on that one. Um I wanted to go back and see what day you guys actually applied and perodized, but it was it was probably early April or >> March >> sometime in March.

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>> Yeah. So, so we so we're going to strive to to to be faster. Uh but you know once we get this process down I think that that'll be that that can happen. Um so a little bit of the delay was you know sort of in in terms of the plans and and

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the the level of you know engineering required on these plans you know some of the requirements for grading and drainage and and etc. Um so I had a conversation with the building commissioner about that. he was confident that he he he had the information he needed to make the zoning

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determinations about the ADU um and that um that the the detail that was provided was sufficient. So I so you know that's how we that's how we're proceeding. Um and so you know and this just a just a note here that our our site plan

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approval is um is limited and that the building commissioner you know issues the ultimate perm. So, so that's so that's that first that first section of the memo. Um, so and the background is stuff we've already discussed, you know, in terms of the the um it's in the

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residence B zone. Discussion about the drainage easement was is important. The town engineers memo dated May 19th um outlines the um the limitations of the drainage easement in terms of what can happen in the easement. um you know one

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specifically no no tree plantings um this description of the of the ADU itself as as was already mentioned the crawl space the unfinished attic space for storage the ingress and egress um so I think um you know I guess I

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guess if I had to sort of summarize I probably would just like a little bit more information I I guess I had three things you know that that I kind of wanted a little bit more information on one was um the the getting in and out of that

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parking area looks like it's going to be really tight to sort of like make that swing to be able to kind of drive straight out onto Randolph A. >> I just drive right on my grass. >> Oh, [laughter] in the morning you're just more about sleeping in one minute later. [laughter]

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It's easier to come out just I just go on the grass [clears throat] but most of the time like I come home first like I rotate my my car ahead so it's like already aimed to exit >> to to Yeah. So you're backing it it's your own house so you come up with a rule you just live with it. >> Yeah. [laughter] Okay. And then usually

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my my idea gets beatled. Have no say. [laughter] >> So So that that that especially with the addition of the third space that just might be something to consider that you might need a little bit more a little bit more elbow room in that in that in that driveway area.

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>> I I think they currently park in three spaces there. >> Yeah, we can actually park four, >> but four to be organized. So three you don't have to really Yeah. Okay. Good. Okay. Good. >> Good stuff. Um and then in terms of any

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sort of like excavation, have you do you have any sense on that? You know, as you're as you're excavating for the foundation, do you have any sense on sort of, you know, kind of the quantity or the process or? >> Yes. So, we we um contact date save and

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there's no utility behind that excavated. >> Okay. Um there might be minor ledge u that we dig in. >> Okay. >> We would only find out when we start >> we need to get going and that would

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probably be drilled. >> Yes. But uh if I mean if if the if the ledge are big enough, we could just support onto the ledge, drill into it and pour the uh new foundation on top. >> Okay. Okay. So that's we won't need any plastic.

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>> Okay. Okay. So So all right. So that was that was that was a question on that. Um and um [sighs] let me discuss the lighting. So you know just want to make sure that it's that it's not you know spilling onto neighbors properties that it's down lit that it meets the dark sky

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standards. Um and um and and also to the just best practice for erosion control like because of that drain drainage easement. So, I'd like to ideally like to see the um catch basin and and and the um man holes for the drainage um you

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know with the with the you know sort of silk barriers and what have you just to just to make sure nothing gets into that drainage >> before we esavate we're going to have to surround the entire >> area erosion control. >> Perfect. Perfect. So, that was that's

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pretty much it for me. um that wasn't already covered in the applicant's presentation. >> So, Liz, um did you speak to Michael about those three um Michael White, building commissioner, about those three comments?

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Because I'm wondering how those get incorporated. Um is that something since he grants the permit? >> Yeah. >> Does he make that a condition of the permit? Um that those be I guess

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address >> required. I my my sense is that this will be a a decision that you folks will will endorse maybe at your next meeting. Um I'm suggesting that it gets recorded.

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I don't I don't know that there's really um a better way to ensure that this um requirement that it's one ADU per property is is can be can be enforced if if that if if these decisions are not

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reported. Um we can definitely that's that's I'm putting that out there for the boards to to to to think about. Um, and you know, if you want me to kind of, you know, get get some additional that that would be a typical requirement on a site plan approval would be to record

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the decision. Um, this is sort of a sort of a what mini site plan approval. >> So, it's [laughter] a little it's a little bit little bit of different. >> Yeah. >> Is that where you guys signed? >> Yeah. Okay. Well, the getting recorded means it's in the um registry of

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>> so if somebody wanted to look up down the road, they don't have to look in the building officials. >> Gotcha. >> You know, um database on a property to see if it had an ADU. >> Um it would be an official record that's

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recorded. Um, so are you suggesting then that the items that you noted you would like to have addressed between now and our next meeting so that um those are incorporated into site plan approval?

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Um, I don't I mean I my my if if the board would like to see a different, you know, a different layout for the parking area, then that might be something that needs to be that that needs to be addressed

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>> in like the fact that he's not expanding in service. I I I appreciate that. And if he makes it >> if he can make it work, which it sounds like he's doing right now easily. Um that was one of my questions is that I was hoping because a lot of times

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sometimes you know people do have extra you know apartment or space and they end up paving over their whole front yards you know I just and that's it's much better for you to have trees and gra you know >> impervious buffer >> and more of buffer too. Yeah. So I I

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wouldn't see that but you know I'm and it does sound like you're agree that you would be doing some protection for the >> correct and then that's one of the requirement by the building >> by the building department. So that's something that I don't think I guess um we necessarily need to

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>> but if there's other things that come up >> yeah I think I think that that's I mean that would probably be the only item that that I've flagged that would would you know would result in a change in in any type of a change in the plan. Um and then again my recommendation that there

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would there be a site plan decision reported against the property. So >> yeah, I'll go ahead. um you know this um site is obviously perfectly

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adequate to accommodate an ADU without a lot without impacts to adjacent properties which is one of the reasons the bylaw was basically proposed by the planning board and approved is that we were concerned about you know situations that might not

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be as suitable for it and how to best not pro prohibit people from doing them, proposing them and doing them, but finding a way that doesn't have adverse impacts. So, you really don't have I mean, it's per it's set back from the property lines. Uh 31 ft from the rear,

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35 and a half from one side and eight almost 18 and a half from the other side. I mean, those are um those are very generous setbacks generally speaking. And um that it's positioned to, you know, face the yard. So, it's

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kind of like a shared yard, but then it does have some private open space, I think, is a is a benefit. Um, that it has, you know, the walkway from the parking and the walkway from the existing patio, you know, it um for the

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purpose that you're you're speaking of, you know, um that intergenerational outdoor relationship is there, too. So, I mean, I I think Liz, thank you for your thorough review and in in my review of this. I think uh I I don't have

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concerns with the anything that's proposed. >> Yeah, I echo that that the uh review the memo that you put together is great and then also the uh director I mean the um engineering um memo was great and the little table which showed what's allowed

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and what they're so that's the plan going forward. That's awesome. Um I said two things. One about the easement. I see in the engineering report uh there's a uh comment about not allowing plantings on the easement.

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>> I do see though in the uh permit set that you're providing some arides to you know screen. How do we rectify those two those that those two conflicting >> statements or ideas? Yeah, I think I'd probably turn that to

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to you folks because I think you you you received the engineers memo and and and this this plan pre predates that memo. So, what do you what do you >> and and just to follow up on that is that a is that a um defined requirement

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or is that just a preference from the engineering department? It look like there's a kind of a warning that if you plant them and they need to come in the future, they can take them out without being able to put them back. >> Okay. >> So, it's kind of a risk assessment.

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>> I mean, we our neighbor is Vietnamese and they have similar age kids as us. >> So, they literally they just run around the back. So, that's great. >> For us, it's it's not a big deal. It's not screen. If you guys prefer the approvements with plant them,

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>> I think they're fine. I just wanted to point out that as long as you're comfortable knowing that it could be ripped out. Okay. So, those things are are up for negotiation. >> Okay. >> I I I I like them. >> I do too. >> I like them. If you want them, I just wanted to highlight that. >> It's not going to break my heart or

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something. If someone needs access, >> okay, >> but it'll take like a few years, right? >> And I think [clears throat] the same thing goes for the pavers, the pathway, right? Just knowing that >> they could be it could be removed if if Right. >> Okay. >> We when we bought the house like six

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years ago, we already know because we got to ask what is this? You see the the um >> the plan and it tells you this is the easing >> and you know it's cooler there in the summer. So my kid literally lies in the on top of >> Oh, it's cooler.

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>> It's cooler because the near the cover everything but it's like a it's a >> strange it's got the lattice, right? You can see the co air kind of shape under. >> So he he likes to lie down there. [laughter] >> In the beginning I was a little nervous cuz you're thinking like my kids going

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to fall in [laughter] >> but after a while you're like you know you step on it you're like okay. >> So we're we're aware that the east exists. >> Gotcha. Okay. And then I just have one more question. Um I don't know if it's within our purview. I don't think it has

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any bearing on uh my opinion of this but have you guys considered or are you providing separate meters for this the service going there? >> We prefer to have separate meters if possible. I think I think GCC >> I'm just asking because

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>> pull I'm not sure if the DBW would allow a separate meter for a single >> property. That's really up to them. Okay. >> I think if they allow it, they'll be happy to have a separate meter. I'm just thinking um I believe when you guys were discussing at some point standalone

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structures that was a discussion point and I don't remember what how it ended up. I'm just thinking for their sake >> in the future have a temporary address and once it's finalized address >> right yeah >> and then then I can call the utility company and say do you do a separate

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meter or system on my own house >> either way I'm paying the bill so I guess it makes a difference for me I think it does make it slightly different if you want a separate meter it needs to tie onto the street um on on >> whereas right now you just tie it into

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your lives, >> whatever it was that you're experts. >> Yeah. We we weren't allowed to regulate that. >> Sure. >> In our in our article. So, because we discussed that, do we want >> because we didn't want to encourage people to have to put a whole new water

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line in a whole new, you know, whatever gas line, you know, we wanted them to be able to connect. Um, but we >> and the state required Yeah. The state said that >> the state said no. Okay. You can't require it. You can't require it. But they could in their own

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just something to think about if this is a situation now. You don't know what the situation will be in the future. Just trying to >> be smart. >> Okay. >> So, the only question um I had is in the back here um is there no vegetation? Is

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it just lawn area? It's all lawn right now. So, it's not you you're not having to take down trees. >> No trees. >> No. No trees. It looks like the property on the other side has some trees kind of along your back edge. >> Yeah, there's a pretty tall evergreen. >> Good. Because I that would be something that it sounds like you have a great

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relationship with your neighbors, but you might want to >> just the ones to the left and right of me because the one behind me would were too far away to chat. >> Yeah. >> Blocked by the trees. >> So, I don't know how they feel like if if they would want a tree to sort of block the the house. The house is very attractive, but I didn't know if they

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would like to see some extra plantings around. >> And then if you on Google Google map, there's a lot of planting actually on the person behind >> there are larger trees. So there is a buffer for that. That's because that was one of the things that we were considering. And again, you have really

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nice setbacks. So um and for your own, you know, your grandmother's privacy, you know, if she wanted to have some trees, you might want to consider planting something back there. But um but I think your your building is very attractive and I I think um it's it fits

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nicely onto this site. So >> I'm just going to pick up on something I see in your um memo list is the radon. >> Yes. >> Um and given you said there might be led to rock there. uh when this fil was passed at town meeting that was a

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request of a town meeting member to include an encouragement of rad on testing and incorporation of of um mitigation if necessary. So I I did see that and just wanted to highlight that for you. Yeah. Partly is because um well

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the type of construction this is is um it's it's on a it's not on a slat. So it's a crawl space which has ventilation cross ventilation inside. So even if there's radon it'll be vented. >> Yeah.

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>> I put I put the system in my house >> but we have little kids so we do have a lot of ledging too. So >> that's great. Okay. So, um, Liz, you you thought that we couldn't take care of this tonight? >> Well, I would I was you would definitely

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vote tonight, but then I will I will put it put a decision document together for you and then bring it back for you next at your next meeting. >> Yeah, because I don't think there's anything else that we would need to request and wait for. >> Um, I agree. >> So, uh,

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>> I would entertain a motion to >> Yeah. to approve the site plan approval. U for I just want to get the address for the accessory dwelling unit at 1210 Randolph Avenue and 1210A Rand Avenue.

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>> Y >> [clears throat] >> um I think that's it. We don't have to make it subject to anything correct. No, I didn't I didn't Yep. You guys discussed my comments and Yep. As long as everyone's comfortable, then I think we're good.

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>> Okay, second that. >> Second. All um all in favor >> I >> congratulations. This is >> first one exciting. >> It's very well done. You did a very nice job. Thank you. [laughter] >> This is the first one. >> Yeah.

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>> Very great. >> It's a very very new bylaw. >> You're welcome. [clears throat] >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good luck. >> That's great. Um And so the only other

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item we had on our agenda um we're actually going to defer because we don't have um we're missing we wouldn't have a quorum tonight to to be able to vote um because Cheryl is going to recuse herself on number five. So, I'm just gonna um not record, but abstain from

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>> abstain from um >> so we can put that on for >> before we can can um you and Liz >> um again I Liz said on June 11th Carolyn um >> what's Carolyn's last name?

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>> Murray. >> Murray council is going to be there. Um but what else will be on that agenda? >> So well rec obviously recodification Um, and what we're trying to get to for the fall is um, the timeline for

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reconification, I should say, the layout because she might not even think it's reasonable for fall. I I don't know. >> Oh, a the ADU rules and regulations. >> Okay. >> So, she reviewed reviewed a subsequent set >> and so that shouldn't be a big deal.

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That I mean, we're already handing them out so they they seem like they're working. So, I think I hopefully that won't be >> little tweaks to that, but we'll have to take a vote on those, too. >> Okay. >> Um, >> and then she may be able to comment on

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short-term. I had asked whether it's possible in Massachusetts to prohibit because Sean had asked about that last time and I thought we need to be able to answer that question. Yeah. because um >> you know as if we if we're to bring something to me I think that's

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definitely something people are going to ask about. >> So I wanted to get an answer from town council about that >> if possible. Um and then >> [clears throat] >> um because I think legally we can prohibit

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anything that's less than 30 days but we're not and that's what we ran into um that I think it's um I'm because I've I've I've heard that we can't. But so I don't know. I don't I don't know the answer. Um

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>> and I don't either. >> And I just feel like um some people might want to prohibit, some people might want to regulate, >> right? >> And I think a lot of people probably don't realize >> that there's 30 plus or minus and that

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they are pro causing some problems for some neighbors and there's no mechanism for really regul for enforcing health issues. >> Yeah. So I I do think um if she could advise us about that that would be helpful. >> Absolutely.

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>> And then did we hear just again because of that sort of clean up on the MBTA communities. Did we hear back from HLC that they accepted u the >> I heard I got a I got a

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>> we're very busy I got a I got a warm response. We're very busy with the towns that still need to be brought into compliance and we're working through things as essentially working through things as fast as we can. So, that was

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sort of a non-answer answer. Um, and so I took that as no, they haven't they haven't even reviewed reviewed it yet, but I'll I'll I'll dig dig a little harder than that. I I still haven't connected with Adam Kletz from MAPC, the the the folks that did the did the

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study. because they may have a direct line to get get it. >> Yeah, it would be fasttracked. >> They absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. They might be able to get I mean he he I emailed him and he called me >> and then I called him back and we missed him. We missed him. We missed. So my

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sense is this probably something he wants to discuss with me. You know what I mean? So anyway, I'll I'll I'll we'll I'll I'll connect with them >> because my feeling is without that then an applicant could say you're only allowed to do 10% because you don't have

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your >> your on the 15%. >> And you know, we all really wanted to see the 15%, huh? Everybody wanted to see it. So >> I think we should have it prepped and ready. >> Yeah. >> Um >> and it's an easy I think it's an easy

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>> Yeah. because it's just removing some of that sort of caveat language that was put in there. >> Okay. And then um >> Okay. So, that's what you anticipate for June 11th. >> Yes. So, we can get that. >> Okay. >> And and get those focused for for all.

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>> Um and then on the June 23rd with the select board, I'm just kind of be able to think ahead a little bit on this agenda. [clears throat] um that's going to be the scope of the economic development study and maybe where fun is coming from for that for

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the with the select but that's the focus of our discussion or with other >> I don't you know I bumped into Winston today just briefly and we're going to try to connect before because Nick had suggested just having sort of an agenda of what what we want to discuss

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>> and when I spoke to Winston he was um more of we just want to hear what what the planning board's working on. Are there things that we, you know, could work together on and how can communication be um well because one of the things I was um you know thinking

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about during um the last few months and right now I know the school building committee is looking at lab bareet for a school, >> but if that doesn't end up going forward as a school, the property is going to go on the market in the fall. I just have

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um the property zone single family. It's assessed at over 13 million. Are there is there going to be somebody who buys it just to build three single families, which is what you can build on there um with the current zoning? So, I

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don't know if they've been thinking about it, but it is something to talk to them about perhaps. So I think I watched I did watch their meeting last week and they are >> looking at it either for a school and that's they're sort of going in a parallel path looking at the school

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>> or would they want to acquire it for you know and looking at other purposes to sort of control what will happen you know on that site. Um I think it's preliminary to look at zoning there. Um but um but we should be in communication and >> I just think we ought to be in

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communication about it because >> and I think we should maybe make a recommendation. I would I was going to ask if if this board would like to discuss um >> I think we should think about if we could do a quick planning

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around it. You know, other communities when they have a a school closure, like a college or something like that, they [snorts] do a planning effort that leads to something that can be an RFP. So, if the town buys it and they don't need it for a school, they can write an RFP

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>> and they can do the zoning that coincides with what the what's in the RFP. If if the town wants to keep it, it's a lot of money, you know, got to go to town meeting or you're going to have to get an override. So um there's a lot of things to think about and we you know we

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may be a part of what needs to >> happen as in terms of zoning. >> So I just think it's when we're talking about collaboration I I'm not suggesting that I have a particular recommendation but I do think >> we should be in conversation with the select point. >> I agree and I think we should be

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definitely proactive on it. Um [clears throat] >> so many lost opportunities. >> Yeah. Yeah. And um and I think it is a fabulous opportunity. I did watch the school committee meeting when um John Ken and I don't want to it's not on our agenda um but was speaking on the

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leadership team was very excited about it and I look at ways and this is part of our conversation with the board is how do we bring our town together on things that have been divided issues and I think the Lamb's Woods land swap was you know for the school I think there

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were people who were really torn that really wanted to keep that conservation land but they also wanted to support a You know what could be better than a win-win is if the school could the overflow could be housed sooner rather

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than waiting um and do it at a you know a far less expense to the town and preserve the open space and and I I just think that would just really be unifying for us to come around supporting um that that's my personal opinion but I you

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know there's they're doing their due diligence and they brought an architect in whether will work or not. But um I think it could be sort of a flagship just a really incredible um site as a sort of a entryway into the Milton public school system to have prek and

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kindergarten come together from all over town. I think it could be exciting but that is not our you know our school committee. >> It's a school committee issue. Um but it is but it is you know land use and and I think we should be yeah having that

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conversation and I know the schools are are working hard and it's being discussed you know whether we would have control of that um and um yeah so and because you know housing production plan but when

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previously we had to identify sites that could have the potential you know for housing and you know, if this, like I said, they're doing their due diligence and it's their decision about recommending this for school. So, I'm not making any judgments about whether it's good for school or

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not, >> but it might be something that gets suggested in the housing production plan, >> you know, as an opportunity place because there aren't that many places as we know. But this is where um

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having a discussion about these things >> and um >> between boards. between boards and early is beneficial. >> I think on the 11th maybe we put this as an agenda item to discuss things that we would that we would like to you know that we would like to share. I mean

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obviously it was great that we had our last meeting and we were able to go through our goals prioritize so we can talk about the things that that we're working on. Um, I think Liz has said she was she would be able to come on the 23rd because I think it's also I don't

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think um I don't think residents realize how much our staff is doing and the building department and overseeing what is in the pipeline currently and all the 40B projects that have to be monitored. We have the memory care project which is

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going to be um happening coming on soon. You know, I think it's it's sort of a a time right now where we can sort of m, you know, stay on top of the projects that we already have approved and are that are in the works. But it's also a

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time that the planning board can really do some housekeeping things that we've needed to clean up. I mean, our recotification, how long has that been? If we can tackle those things while simultaneously the staff is able to work on, you know, the oversight of in the building department with all of their

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applications. Um, I think it's good for us to have some for goals for um looking at future projects, but this may be a great time for us to to do housekeeping as well and clean up a lot of the and do some of the zoning articles that we've

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been talking about for a long time. So >> I don't disagree with that but I do think we have to be mindful that >> changes [snorts] are going to continue to come like a lab closing and you remember um when the Carbury property as it was known was going on the market

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there was a lot of >> um concern what would happen with that land acreage and um you know it was the developer who bought that worked with the town to develop zoning right but not every developer is going to do that and

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so the outcome could be elective. >> So no, I >> I I I just think yeah, >> we just have to be prepared and and um and I think you know residents should hear that we're thinking about things and we're aware of things and ready to

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act. >> Absolutely. But I I absolutely agree about the housekeeping and the and addressing things that have been on the radar for a while that had to get back burned especially during the MBTA discussion which took so much of our time >> because we had COVID hit then MBTA then

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ADU you know we've >> it's been yeah and it's all good we're in a good place now but it's you know with the 40B with 840BS coming on all at once it's been a lot building dependent our staff and I think never mind CPC and

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other things that um that were staffing. >> Well, you know, the codification um should really help >> the the building department and I think getting established procedures and processes should help both planning and building. Um, so that uh it I think like

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having how however much time it took you to do this first one on the ads, I'm sure the second one will be faster and as applicants um we get kind of like a >> a one pager or whatever. You know how we talked about making it pretty clear for

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someone who's getting ready to do an application. They shouldn't have to come in and necessarily meet with you to figure it out. they should be able to get it from the website and then come in with what they think is fairly complete, >> right? >> So, [clears throat] um

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>> there's, you know, there's a lot of interest in work at the state level on ADUs to help homeowners um understand the process. >> You know, MH MHP, Mass Housing Partnership is working with HLC on

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having consultants who do that. So, >> and then the other thing just on the June 11th um is the non-conforming businesses. >> Yeah. >> And I don't know if that's something Carolyn could she could advise us. >> I was I was going to ask if if you

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wanted me to sort of >> she's she's going to be talking about the recontification sort of overall, but do you want me to focus her more on like the short-term rentals like kind of in the short in the short term? Like as far as if if we fall if we

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could get that something to happen. >> We'll just It sounds like you want to have a conversation ideally do you want to have a more in-depth conversation on the 11th because that sort of like that te's it up even even further if there's a potential for an article for the fall. I

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don't know. I'm just I'm just asking for >> Well, I guess I'm Did you get any sense from her about the timeline for the codification? because the codification um if we if there was any chance for it in the fall, I wouldn't want to detract

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from that. >> You'd rather do codification before >> short term? Well, I'm just thinking it's been >> four years that we've been asking for the funding and >> I mean I I feel I feel like she I feel

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like she sort of the way the way it's laid out is >> is it's spread out over >> it's spread out over three meetings potentially spread out over three meetings right so I guess it depends on you know what's the first what's the

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first batch right of changes So, right. What's the first, you know, it's not going to be sort of a full repeal and replace? No. What's the first batch? Is the first batch the use table and the dimensional table and a bunch of housekeeping things? Is that the first batch and the second batch is

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substantive changes like short-term rentals is the third? I don't I don't know. Do you see you know what I mean? Like I I just don't know because I I feel like some of that conversation has to has to happen. >> Has she started the audit yet? So, I think that we literally got the contract

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today. I saw the contract today. So, um and and she's coming on the 11th. So, I that to me would probably be the >> I kind of doubt the codification will be done by the phone like I said before. So, if we can at least get a timeline realistic timeline from her and even if it's options

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>> of if you will do it this way, you know, we can get it done in this timeline. If you do it that way, you know, a different timeline. You weren't at the meeting where we she had given us the scope. Did you see her the >> I didn't watch the the >> the scope of work and we we approved

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funding for phase one and phase two >> and then I think we were going to assess the needs for phase three >> as I recall. >> Um so the question is can she get phase one done? you know.

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>> So, what I would suggest is maybe on the um short-term rental how you you've done some work it sounds like that we haven't seen yet. I reviewed a few bylaws myself. Um and it occurred to me like, you know, we can look at things like

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does the homeowner have to be on site for rental? Is it for all the time that they're on site? I mean, just what are the criteria? Because it's not writing it. It's like what do we want to control? And if you read through a several examples, >> they're all pretty consistent. >> They're all consistent in some of the

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things. So, I think if we just >> could do that kind of work >> on the 11th um >> because Caroline will need that guidance from us like what >> what is it that we're hearing from residents that is >> we don't want the the parties we don't want the commercial rentals. We don't

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want ADUs being rented out. We don't want affordable units being >> we want some some way for the town to regulate it and to be able to enforce it. >> I I mean you so you looked at a few by no means am I an expert >> but I'll play one tonight. It seemed like they were all very consistent. They

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were all three or four pages. They were there similar language. Half of it was definitions. It seems it seems like >> it could be something that >> could be achieved for the fall. >> And we could I know I've heard you guys say this before. You could always come back and tweak it if it's not working

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out the way we intended it in terms of >> individual language within there. But to get that on the fall time would be a great I think >> response to comments like this and comments would bring from community members. >> Yeah. So >> it seems doable to me.

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>> It seems >> Yeah. So in terms of whether she could prioritize, I guess those if she can address both of those like if we gave her um the we we need to agree on the things the

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framework for the >> and we're not going to have a chance to talk about it until the same meeting she's coming to. Right. So I guess the question is then the 25th would we be able to say here you know here is

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>> but if she but if she came with >> a model bylaw okay >> right that says this is the >> whome whomever produces this but right broad outline this is this is what a majority of communities >> in the area similar to Milton are doing >> y

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>> here you go we could review that over those two weeks and then come back on the 25th have to be able to have >> maybe specific responses and >> yeah I that sounds good >> that sounds >> okay >> sounds good [clears throat] that sounds great >> okay >> and then we're not going to get

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non-conforming businesses I don't think for the fall but if she could talk to us about what she's learned by trying to look at the variances and special permit just so we can kind of understand what what we should be doing >> then we can start to get a realistic

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um >> framework. If she says, "Well, you should zone it for business," >> then we have to talk about it. I don't know if that's the solution or not, but it might be part of it. >> In some cases, it might be that. In other cases, it might be something else, right?

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>> Because one of the things we talked about in East Milton Square was uh we did an overlay, but we didn't change the underlying zoning. And the underlying zoning has a lot of things that are business uses for decades that are in residential.

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>> So that's something, you know, to talk about. The parking requirements we know are a challenge. >> So that's something to talk about. But >> so those are good will be a little different than the ones that are kind of off on Randle Fab or something else, right? So what's recommended for a fix

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for let's say East Mountain Square is definitely going to be different than other places. Right. Makes sense. >> Yeah. All right. Good. >> That'll be good. Um so, um if that is um unless there's

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anything else, Liz, um I forgot one little thing which is actually good news. The fellow >> Oh, um yes, the kelp fellow. Um someone has been chosen for that. So um yeah

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they'll be >> for the administrative position. Uh oh no this is for um this is in relation to um >> climate what's it ke you know climate >> probably energy leader training maybe something

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along the lines >> something along the lines of that but I know um >> Kai the municipal energy manager will be supervising a fellow but >> they'll be um kind of working with us remotely three hours a week um in the

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planning department. So, um yeah, definitely interested, you know, assuming they get grant funding for the climate action plan that they can provide additional support on that. >> Um but yeah, just provide just support to our department. So, so that'll be great. Yeah,

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>> use all the support we can get. >> Yeah, [laughter] absolutely. >> I forgot I meant I meant to I meant to put that in the report. I forgot. >> So, that's good news. That's good news. So, something on that front. >> Energy and environment portfolio. Exactly.

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>> All right. So, I would entertain a motion to adjourn. >> Oh gosh. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> I >> Thank you.

