Speaker 1: I will call the meeting of the Natick Planning Board to order at 7 0 2 and I will start it with my recitation. This meeting is being recorded and it's being broadcast on Natick Pegasus. To comment or ask a question, use your, if you're, if you're following from home to comment or ask a question, use your raise your hand function. If you're on phone, press star nine. An individual wishing to speak during public speak or during a public hearing must display their first and last name on their screen before their microphone can be unmuted.
To make changes in your name as it appears on the screen in Zoom, click on participants to open the participants menu. Hover your cursor over your entry and click on more. Then click on rename and type in your first and last name. So next we move on to public speak. Any individual may raise an issue that's not included on the agenda and it will be taken under advisement by the board. There'll be no opportunity for debate during this portion of the meeting. Any individual addressing the board during the section of the agenda shall be limited to five minutes. Is there anyone who wishes to say anything in public speak?
Do we have anyone? I don't see any hands on. No hands on the screen. Okay. Then we will then move forward on planning board committee representative positions. And this is a kind of call for volunteers. The planning board can make a recommendation for one seat to the Affordable housing trust fund. Typically, or more often than not, it's a member of this board that would, that would take that position. Right now I think folks are kind of filled up to the gills
with other commitments, including other commitments with the board. So we were seeking someone who might be interested in taking that role. If you are one of those people and you are interested, if you go to the town of Natick website, if you look under board, board and committee volunteer information, you can file an online application. You link a link for apply is in the affordable Housing Trust page. So we hope to get some applications online
that we can look at and have an, an interview we will recommend to the select board. Ultimately, the select board makes the call. So I invite you and if you know someone who is interested in affordable housing and has experience then we would, we would love to hear from them as a candidate. So thank you very much. Alright. Right. Moving on to a and r Appro, the approval not required for zero Rhode Island Avenue. Speaker 2: So tonight we have attorney Catherine Han
and then we have Robert Gemma of Metro West Engineering. This is kind of a collaborative a and RI guess in the fact that this is a parcel of land that the town is basically disposing of. Scrub Itab is looking to purchase a portion of the lot, which is why Zero Road Rhode Island Ave is being divided into two parts. Lot A and lot B where oops my gosh, sorry. Where one part is being acquired and the other part will be left at the town. But I will let attorney Gary Han and Mr. Gemma do a brief review and I think if Mr.
Gemma can share his screen with the plan, that would be great. If not, I can do it as well. Speaker 1: Thank you Attorney Garrahan and Speaker 3: Great. Okay, and good evening Madam Chair. Members of the board just for the record, Catherine Garrahan with Bow and Dewey and with me is Rob Gemma, Metro West Engineering. We wanted to share very briefly some background for context. You may recall that the owners of the Scrub UB property have been speaking with the town going on seven years now about a safety related project due to the dis discontinuance of Rhode Island Avenue
and how that discontinuance impacted vehicular traffic on Oak Street. The Rhode Island, you can see on the this plan, the ODI Rhode Island Avenue land is located in between the car wash land to the left, which is 1 72 Worcester Street and the Scrub Dub office location at 1 54 Worcester Street. The disposition of a portion of Rhode Island Avenue was approved by town meeting in 2022 and scrub UB was selected through an RFP process In 2023, scrub UB proposes no expansion to its use,
but a project design to connect its two parcels and improve safety and was selected to by the town to buy the property pending its due diligence. We are near the end of that due diligence process with permits being the last step before the purchase. Tonight the applicant is presenting the proposed a and r plan to merge the, it's approximately 7,274 square feet of land, the northern portion of Rhode Island Avenue from the town and that would be merged with the land
a scrub Atub affiliate owns at 1 54 Worcester Street in two weeks. The team will be back to you on a minor modification application for its proposal on, on this combined land. As a quick preview, the changes proposed include no addition of or changes to any structure or FAR change and no disturbance near car washing operations. The building Commissioner found no special permit was needed, that it's an existing use and changes focus on site circulation and queuing.
So it will be be before you for limited site plan review. We look forward to talking with you about that soon. And for now, I'll hand off to Rob on the a and r request for your endorsement. Speaker 1: Thank you Mr. Gemma. Speaker 4: Well, well thanks Catherine and Amanda, I think, I think Catherine pretty well summed it up. The Northerly portion on which you see on the screen on identified as lot A is 72 74 square feet of the Rhode Island Avenue public way, which was 40 feet wide. That'll be combined with the lot at 1 54 Oak Street
to com create a lot with 17,146 square feet. And then the lower portion, which is identified as lot B and it's 43 65 square feet that'll remain with the town of Natick that serves, you know, as a connection between the, the fire station, which is on the west side of the old Rhode Island, Rhode Island Ave, and Oak Street. So as far as the a and r goes, it's pretty simple. Happy to answer any questions though. Speaker 1: Yeah. So board members, any questions Peter? No,
Speaker 4: Not at this moment. Speaker 5: Okay, Speaker 1: Doug, Speaker 5: So who, who is the applicant here? This is Scrub Oub is the applicant? Speaker 4: Yes. Okay. Scrub Oub is the Speaker 5: Applicant and they'll be recording the plan once it's endorsed? Speaker 4: Yes. Speaker 3: Once the purchase, yes. As part of the purchase It would, it would record it right before the deed. Speaker 5: Okay. Yeah, no questions. Speaker 1: Thank you Alan? Speaker 6: I don't think so right now. Speaker 1: Okay. Amanda, is there anything that we're missing? Speaker 2: Nope, this is, Speaker 1: It's something we saw coming when
this came up at town meeting Speaker 2: And again this as attorney Garrahan had stated, this is not the site plan modification that would be coming up on the 21st. This is just the straight approval not required. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 6: Yeah, the sale of the land was already okay for, Speaker 1: In which case entertain a motion to endorse, Speaker 5: Make a motion to approve the a and r plan for zero Rhode Island Ave as presented. Seconded. Speaker 1: Alright, motion made and seconded. Further questions, comments, seeing none. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed?
And that is unanimous. Okay, thank you very much. Great, thank you. Ready? Do you have a four endorsement or, okay. Speaker 2: We usually have them. Wait Speaker 1: Owen, Speaker 2: Just so it in case 'cause milers are expensive. Yeah. And Speaker 1: They're coming back on. Speaker 2: They're coming back on Speaker 1: The 21st anyway. Speaker 4: Yeah, we'll we'll print up the mile hour and then drop it off with Amanda so you can sign it at, at leisurely. Speaker 1: So, alright. Thank you. Thank you. Now we're, we're on to our friends at Zero Tech Circle. The public Public hearing, continued public hearing for that and amend, I know that there were a number of questions
regarding lighting and the orientation and number of parking spaces and everything else. Thank you. Speaker 2: So zero Tech also known as 18 Tech 'cause it is comprised of two parcels of land. A decision has been drafted, which I just handed out. It's the same email or sorry, the same decision that was emailed and also provided in the project folder. With that being said, the applicant I am not seeing here tonight, nor am I seeing them online.
There were questions during the drafting of this project because the updated site plan had 23 new off street parking spaces being created in addition to the formalization of 10 parking spaces, which directly abut the building. With all that being said, the stormwater report, which was also updated, had varying numbers in it, but they did actually update it for us. So it does include the correct number in the two references. But they also originally had not
provided the requested infiltration system connection. So we were asking them to put a catch base in and associated piping, which would then go into the existing stormwater system. They had agreed to do that. They'd showed it on the plan, but the stormwater report had not been updated with that. The calculations had been done with it, but the narrative did not. They have updated that as well. I had the town engineer and the conservation agent look that over as well, just to make sure that it wasn't missing anything. So with those pieces, the other item was the pole heights and the details on the two new lights.
There are two new lights that are going in because at the last public hearing there was discussion on the incorrect light being installed for the installation, appropriate installation. So those in the decision would need to come down because those are not correct and that the two new pole lights would be coming up. It is also a condition in there that they would need to, prior to the installation of the light fixtures meet with the three abutting residential properties, which are called out in there as well to make sure that the lighting is one not aligned with any
of their windows or skylights. Two, that it is not causing glare into their private homes. But then also to make sure that there is open communication because we did find out during the public hearing that the screen of the building was going down, but it was actually the wall pack lights that were causing the, so we wanna make sure those communications are open. We would then have a one year review and what we would make sure we would do is notify those abutters within 300 feet of that meeting. So they can come in as well if they would like to.
So we did put those conditions in there. Also, they are looking to transplant transplanting is sometimes very difficult. It can go well, it can go not so great. So there's 13 trees that are being transplanted 'cause they're gonna be lost because of the location of the 23 parking spaces. So if those do not survive after a year, they do have to replace them. We did provide a calculation based on the number of trees that would be required for the replacement. They would have to work with the tree warden and the conservation agent to identify the tree species
that would be going in there. Also with the tree species and the relocation, it was requested that the trees be located behind the pole. So that added additional buffering between the light fixture and the residential property. So the light fixture will have a, it's called a house shield side shield. So it would be the light pole, the tree, and then the butters as well just to help screen that. And then, yeah, do Speaker 1: We wanna put in any sort of lighting review a year from now? Speaker 2: Did I think we did that? The one year
review in that? Yeah. Speaker 1: Yeah, it's in there. Okay. Speaker 2: I thought that that was something that we had talked about during the public hearing, but also it seemed pretty essential since this is at a, a taller grade and even Speaker 1: They Speaker 2: Have skylights it looks like from the aerials, so it seems like it would be a good idea. Speaker 1: So other than that, Speaker 2: Just some, a lot of it was standard boiler plate. And then also, oh, the only other thing we did not receive was details on snow removal or snow clearing. So I did put a lot of conditions in there because of that.
Because one, we don't want the snow being put into off street parking spaces. We don't want it to be going into the storm water features, but we also don't want it to be going up and over the side of the slope and causing runoff onto the abutting properties. So that would also be included in that one year review to make sure that those are being properly managed. Speaker 1: Okay. And the applicant was happy, happy with receptive, Speaker 2: They received a copy. I have not received any comments back, so, Speaker 5: So we don't, all, all we're doing is signing this, Speaker 2: Right? Speaker 5: Are we even doing that? Well I thought we, I thought we voted to approve last, last time. I think you
Speaker 2: Did. Yeah. Speaker 5: So we're just, well Speaker 1: With, yeah. With the conditions that we had, they've met or completed I think most of them. But there's, Speaker 2: You've got everything in there that you had asked for and then we even went a little bit beyond, which was making sure that the storm water catch basins were cleaned out on a yearly basis because that's standard practice. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 6: But right now this is put in what we wanted. They have not necessarily agreed with that. What it's, or I, you said that you, you've sent it to them. You didn't hear back.
Speaker 2: I did not hear back in all conditions since this is a kind of a modification of the previous decision are still in full force because this really did not amend anything of that original decision. Speaker 1: Okay. So, so yes, if anything, if anything comes up, we can address it If there's something that is Yep. Speaker 2: And the applicant did confirm though via email that they were gonna remove the shed of the shed located where 10 of those were gonna be and that's being removed. Speaker 1: Okay. Then I will entertain a motion
to sign the decision Speaker 6: A second. I'll make this. You want so moved? Speaker 5: Yeah. You're Speaker 6: You're so good at reading out exactly what has to Speaker 5: Be, I thought we're getting outta that practice, but that's fine. I'll, I'll move that we do that and we'll sign the decision as presented. Speaker 1: Alright. All those in favor? All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed? Very good. Motion Speaker 5: To close the hearing. Speaker 1: Okay. Second. Second. Okay. On the motion to close the public hearing. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, it was kind of weird
because the last time we had, we had approved but there were, there were conditions they had to have met. Yeah. Yeah. So I figured it was fair enough to make an exception this time to add phrase. Speaker 2: And I'll just update the signature sheet because it just had insert date, grant and all that stuff. And I'll print it and I'll bring it so you guys can sign it tonight. Okay. Speaker 1: Oh great. Thank you. Okay. So, and now we have the continued public hearing for 43 Cyprus Road, which I think is why a number of people are here tonight. We do, Speaker 2: Sorry, wrong computer.
We do have Rick Morrell here. He'll be coming over. He is part of the project team. Speaker 1: For for for the applicant? Yeah. Yeah, Speaker 2: He's the engineer. Speaker 1: Okay. And are, is there anyone else or just him right now? Just him. Okay. Speaker 5: Hi, good evening. Speaker 1: Hello. Welcome. How, how are you? Speaker 7: Good. I don't, I don't think you can see me, can you? Speaker 1: Not yet. Not yet. Speaker 7: Not sure how to make that work. All right, there we go. Speaker 1: All right. And right now we have a big screen where your face should be change, but we'll move that. Sorry, Speaker 2: I've changed Speaker 1: It.
That's okay. You were looking at the Okay. Plan Speaker 2: For the other project there. Speaker 1: There you go. And Amanda, is there anything in terms of background that you want to lead with or do you Yeah, Speaker 2: So this is a project that has been brought forward back in the fall of 2024 as a preliminary subdivision. They are within the six month, or sorry, seven months. They applied prior to the seven month expiration of that, which is a zoning protection allows them to do more formalization. It does decrease the length of time for review because they had the preliminary subdivision.
So I believe it's 90 days. So this would be the first conversation of that. However, staff and the applicant have been working and talking about a potential of an alternative design. And so it would be helpful if the planning board would designate one or two members to help as a working group to work to formalize that design. Speaker 1: I think that makes sense. Holding that just for a sec, is there anything I'm, I see a room full of people here thinking that, aside from
what has been in the, in the notices, is there any more information on the, the, the kind of scale or scope of the project that would be helpful? Speaker 2: I don't know. Rick, do you wanna mention talk about that? Speaker 7: Not really at this time it's been pretty high level. So we've been, we've, like you mentioned, we've been talking with other department heads, so we, we need to get a little more information before we can Speaker 1: Before you can just define, define what what, what the ask is going to be. Speaker 7: Exactly. Okay. Speaker 1: So for, Speaker 5: Did we open the hearing? When did we open the actual hearing
Speaker 1: At, at the last meeting? I think we opened immediate, continued it without Speaker 2: Testimony. Yeah, it was May 9th or April 9th. So Okay. Speaker 5: May, April 9th. I mean I for one would like to hear a presentation. It's been since the fall. I mean I Speaker 1: Think that at this point the concept is still taking shape or there or if there are changes in what they had originally planned to be presenting potential, Speaker 2: There's conversations of different options. Speaker 5: Can we just hear a high level what's being proposed for the benefit of the public? Just what is it being proposed? And I understood that there's gonna be changes to the design, it's fine.
But let's hear the overall why you're here. What's the latest? I wouldn't mind it. What's the latest and Speaker 1: Greatest state? I would, I would say it's probably or Speaker 5: That subdivision and just say what it's, Speaker 1: Well, but it, but it actually, it's not so much simply a, a thing in design. I think the entire concept may change that. That's part of what I believe the applicant is interested in discussing. Speaker 5: I'm not sure what that actually means. You're here for a subdivision. Well Speaker 8: The concept is gonna change from what Speaker 6: I think if we can. 'cause I know it's was a while ago that it was in front of us. Yeah. So I think just a little recap of what was discussed
Speaker 7: Before. Yeah, I can, I can give you a recap. So what we Yeah, that's all I'm asking. Yeah, what we originally planned was a, a four lot subdivision. Those, those houses were on septic systems. Then we were getting, working our way to do a, a definitive submission and get in front of you guys. And then the town reached out and said that they really wanted us to reconsider that option because there is a, a pretty good swath of land zone one. It's about 30,000 square feet of, of land
that is within 400 foot radius of the wellhead. So that required us to dial back and look at other options. So we've been, we've been, we've been going back and forth. We really don't have anything to present at this time on, on scale or you know, we're looking at potentially doing an open space residential development. So that's pretty much where we're at. And I hope that answers your question Speaker 6: Actually very helpful. Speaker 1: So I'll take questions from the public in just one sec. So in looking for two members of this board
to participate as a working group, is there, Speaker 8: We have a scheduled to this Pardon? Kind have a rough schedule for when we're going to meet next. When, when this to know a working group would have done something and we'd come back with it. Speaker 1: Yeah. This is unusual in that there they're not building on something that we've had conversations about. We're kind of starting the whole Speaker 8: Clock. Right. I appreciate that. I just wanted to have some Speaker 5: Idea. 90 day clock is ticking. Ticking. So where are we in that right now? Speaker 2: I've gotta do a calculation on that. But the expectation would be to have them come back with kind of more of like a general concept
of which way they were gonna go for May 21st. So we would be having the working group meeting before Speaker 1: Between now and May the 21st. Yeah. Speaker 5: And if we run into the 90 day, would there be a willingness to extend Speaker 2: That would be a question for the applicant? Speaker 7: Yes. Speaker 1: Okay. Okay. Speaker 5: I love subdivisions. I'll do that. Speaker 1: Alright, so Doug and for the other end, I am willing if I need to be, but if one of you would prefer to be the second I'm concerned about Speaker 8: Frankie, about my scheduling. Speaker 1: Okay. I've gonna be outta Speaker 9: Town for a while.
Speaker 1: Okay then Alan, Speaker 6: I could probably do it. We don't dates. This is gonna be just have a meeting or two during the day. Okay. I can do it. Pretty low impact. Speaker 1: Okay. Okay. Alright. So I know we've got, so we've got that squared away. It's a public hearing and we, the public is here. So I, if you have questions, comments, what I'll say, I'll call on you. I'm gonna ask that you either come up to this table and speak into a mic that's on or to the podium and speak to the mic that's on. Yep. And if you just give your name
and address as the starting point. Evan, Speaker 2: Actually sorry, just before you start, can you also notice if you're online to raise your hand? Speaker 1: Oh, that's true. Yes. If you are, if you are online and have questions or comments, then please go through the star nine. Green light is green. My name's Eric. Free form. Yes. On Speaker 10: 14 Speaker 9: Magnolia Road. I'm basically on the corner of Cypress and Magnolia. That parking is on Cypress itself. I think it's a small, Speaker 6: Oh, I don't think the mic is on. Speaker 1: Just hit. So it goes green button. Green light goes on.
Speaker 10: Eric free 14 Magnolia Road. Thank you. I'm in the corner of Cypress at Magnolia. My concern is the, it's a, it's a cypress is a small street. I actually measured it out and I emailed here. I actually physically measure out each, it is 13 and a half feet wide for most of its duration. It is a single car road. 25% of the time I am backing out and I have to stop and back myself 50 feet back into my driveway to let somebody pass by. So four lots increases the people who are just living on the street by 60%. 'cause there's only five houses currently accessing it. And it's also used as a cut through.
If you look here, you'll see that a lot of people cut through here to get out. 'cause there's only two entrances into the neighborhood. So daily I am having to back myself up and let somebody by. So to add four more houses onto a street that is already not approved, that is only 13 and a half feet wide and through most of its length seems to be a bit high. And I emailed this, if anybody wants a copy of 'em more than leave this here. I also was actually looking at the property when it was for sale and the real estate agent had mentioned that there was a clause in the deed that it couldn't be subdivided for 30 years.
This was communicated to me by the real estate agent. 'cause I was thinking about buying it in subdivided. I be honestly doing the same thing. And I found on the hall of records the guarantee from Alma Bassinets stating that it could not be subdivided for 30 years. And this is when she owned the property. So I don't know how valid this still is, Speaker 1: But, and is there a date on that? Speaker 10: This is 2021, I think 20, sorry. 2011. 2041 should be the date that the her 30 years expires. Okay. Speaker 9: And you guys can have a, this I downloaded it from the town rep from
Speaker 10: Middlesex County's Speaker 1: Whatever. Speaker 10: Yeah. Yeah. So I don't understand how they can subdivide it now. They were given the same information for the real estate agent that we were given. I found there were proof that it, the quick claim for the bassinet family, which was the last owner, had a stipulation that it couldn't be subdivided for 30 years. Speaker 1: And I know this is something that falls outside of our purview, but Amanda, you had said that you, you'd spoken with town council. Speaker 2: Yeah, so this has been a topic of conversation way back when we were looking at this for the fall preliminary subdivision. This was also brought up, also discussed based on this item.
It was my understanding based on feedback that we had received is that this would be at the applicant's, the applicant would be responsible for doing the due diligence on this deed restriction. And it would not be an item of the town since it is a private deed restriction. But there was question of its enforceability. Speaker 10: Yeah, I, Speaker 1: Okay, so, so it, we, we, we were left with, with something that says that it's not, not our responsibility Speaker 2: Kind of it would be, it was the applicant's a private, it's a private landowner matter. Speaker 10: But who's the other landowner?
The alma Bt I believe is passed. Speaker 2: So it it's still a private landowner matter. It is between the seller and the purchaser because it was not a conservation restriction and it was not a put on there by the town. Speaker 10: So I would preclude Speaker 8: Any further study by this board or it's resolved. Speaker 5: No. Yeah, I mean a private, a private deed restriction is a private deed restriction. We're not here to adjudicate what Speaker 8: The deed says. Not to know. No, not to adjudicate. But we don't have a legal, do we have a legal finding
that it is enforceable? Speaker 7: We, we supplied, we supplied our legal document. This has been vetted and it is, it can be subdivided. Speaker 10: Okay. So do, does that mean I have to go to the guarantor from the lawyer who si who facilitated that, the trustee and talk to them and have them try to enforce it? Is that my next Speaker 5: Step? Yeah, I would say if you have a dispute over that. Yeah. Because the, the planning board's role here is the subdivision of the land. It's simply does it meet the standards
of the town's subdivision rules and regs do each lot have, has adequate frontage comply with zoning. That's the only thing that we can look at here. If there's something private that you object to that's between you and the, the property owner, Speaker 10: Then I can, I guess I'll have to follow up and try and find the guarantee and speak to them and let them know that the, the agreement is not being enforced. I'll also leave this because this does affect the zoning because literally it's a one car street. Thank you. Thanks. Speaker 1: I could skip that. Yes. So others?
Yes sir. I'll try to do the sweep from left to right, if that makes sense. Hi, how are you? Speaker 11: So my name is Bob McCall. I live at 36 Cypress Road. Right? Just down the street from with this development, it's gonna take place. And I have similar types of questions, but I I guess in, in in general as, as you go through this process of you are approving this plan here, right? So question is, is has there been an impact study done in the area
around safety? Around the environment? As it was just pointed out, Cyprus Road, that piece of Cyprus Road right, is, is short people come down evergreen because the, the, the conditions of evergreen are deplorable for the town. It's embarrassment actually, but that's a whole different subject. But people swing down and come up Cyprus down Magnolia onto the other part of Cyprus Road quickly and they, and they speed and they drive at very fast speeds.
Right? And, and doing that. And so I would ask as part of the process here that there's some type of an impact study done around just basic safety. I have five grandchildren that live within a thousand feet of me on 36 Cypress Road. Right? I'm the owner of 23 Magnolia Road, which is right up at the top of that Cypress Point onto Magnolia. Right. So that's, that is a huge concern for me in seeing that this, I would suspect that this project is three, four years to, to finish it, right?
Between the construction, land, cutting tree, all the, all the activities that take place. There's gonna be major lodge trucks and things like that that are near in the area. Again, safety becomes a big concern for me. I've seen on zero Magnolia Road, which is three homes that are on on the construction, I've seen contractors, construction workers and so forth, speed out of the air at high rates. They actually knocked over, they actually knocked over his, his mailbox one day coming by. So there's not a real regard for, for safety.
So again, what what do we do from, from that perspective? I would, I would, I would suggest speed bumps of some sort to be able to slow people down from from, and again, it's, it's a small, small stretch of land. So, so that's, that's one of the, the areas of, of concern. The other impact here is, this is, last I knew this is four homes, three bedrooms, two occupants per bedroom. Right. So what what's that put? Yeah, that's six people per house times four houses 24.
So there's 24 additional automobiles potentially that of traffic just in that small area. Right? So we has that been thought through considered what, what, what impacts have, have been, have been done to kind to kinda look at that. The Speaker 1: One thing just, and sorry to interrupt, but one thing that's important is we opened the public hearing. This is really the first discussion we've had. It's not something that kind of is gonna get sewn up like that because there are lots of things to consider. So this is the kind of the start of the process as opposed
to the kind of pinnacle of the Speaker 11: Yeah. When, when I, when I went online and I looked through the plans, I didn't see mentions of the size of the homes. Somebody had told me they, they thought they were gonna be three bedroom homes. So I don't know if they're three bedrooms, four bedrooms, it, the plan doesn't say that. It just shows the size of the A house, right? The, I mean the, the, the lake is right there in the area. These are septic systems. So imagine there's leaching that's gonna take place 'cause they're closer to the waterways than, than than what's there presently. So I'm gonna imagine there's gonna be a certain
environmental impact. So again, what studies have been done to kind of, to take a look at that. Speaker 1: I know, I know that there, there are, there, there have been ex concerns expressed about the septic systems and about whether there are alternatives to that. Speaker 11: Okay, good. Thank you. And so, and then I thought I heard the gentleman just, just a minute ago talk about that they're rethinking the plan. So I don't know. We'll, I don't know what that is. It seems like nobody does at this point. But the question is, is is it gonna be a communication back to the abut is, so the,
the original hearing was taking place in April then it was postponed to today. But there's no communication if you don't, if you weren't somebody who went online and had interest in it, you didn't get any type of communication that this hearing tonight was gonna take place. Speaker 1: The only thing, and I would actually encourage people at the end of the first hearing, we would've said it's being to continue to x date. Right. And you, so that's today, Speaker 11: But the last hearing was canceled. Speaker 1: So, right. Was it canceled? We we continued it today. We what? We continued it today. Oh, okay.
All, we always continue it to a date certain. And if you miss it, go to Pegasus and watch the very end of that, of, of a hearing and when something's being continued. Those are, that's the last thing we do. Speaker 11: Okay. And then I I stand corrected there. Thank you. No, and Speaker 1: No, I, not a lot of people don't know that. Speaker 11: So that's, that's kind of it. I'm, I'm, again, impact around safety in, in the area is in the environment is, is a big piece for me. So, okay. Thank you. Alright. Speaker 1: Thank you sir. Speaker 12: Excuse me. Speaker 13: Good evening. My name is Eric Hall.
I live at 59 Evergreen Road. So I, I've heard the context of the planning board and kind of what your scope or remit is and responsibilities. So I think along those lines, given that we're a recent resident at a new property within the past couple years, our closing was delayed for several months related to environmental issues. As it turned back to the septic tank, there were considerations. Even I did a renovation maybe about a year ago to my basement whereby there was concern that we potentially could be adding a bedroom
and how that would impact the environment, which was not at all the intent or the scope of that. So it's difficult to fathom given the proximity and the distance we are from the lake and the environmental considerations that were presented to us as delays that you could put in a whole other subdivision with multiple homes. And I hear the plans are up in the air and one of the items that was I guess disclosed as a possibility today was open housing. Can somebody I guess articulate what that means? Speaker 1: Open, Speaker 13: Open housing, some type of model. Speaker 2: So the terms open space, residential. So through you Ms.
Chair, what happens is, is that instead of a conventional subdivision where the conventional subdivision just takes the land and divides it. And so what the board is doing is creating the lots and creating the road in a open space residential development or an open or OSRD. What they are doing is they would take the houses, cluster them together so they would not be on individual lots. But then you actually preserve a lot more of the open space to allow for the protection of open space. Speaker 1: So Speaker 13: It seems like, so what I think of that as like a duplex or a condominium or something like that.
Speaker 2: So you can do singles two, two family or townhouses. However, with our open space residential bylaw, you actually have to create smaller units. So only 25% of the total number of units can be over 2200 square feet. Speaker 13: Okay. Speaker 1: So, but that so, so open any open space projects simply mean by putting the, how the units closer, closer together, separate units. It means you get a lot more open space. And so it, it creates more of a, a of Speaker 13: A feeling.
No, I appreciate it. Yeah, just the terminology. I was like wait, what's that? Okay. So I appreciate that. But you know, there are other items but I think that's beyond the scope of, of this board. So I wanna respect that process and, and thank you for the opportunity. Yeah, Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you. And welcome to Natick. Speaker 13: What's that? Speaker 1: You were saying you guys, you just moved in a couple years ago? Yeah, Speaker 13: To this home, but we've lived in Natick for like over a Speaker 1: Decade now. Okay. Nevermind all that. Alright. And did you want to? Yes. Okay. Speaker 14: Hi, I am Julia Cowen and I am at 42 Evergreen Road. So a couple concerns.
I echo the same concerns that the neighbors have shared. One concern was obviously around the lake and DCR and the impact on that and what studies were being done. Another big concern is that Evergreen Road is a unapproved road by my understanding the plans look like, it says it's a private road. So I'm not sure if that's an error in the plans, but my understanding was there was a little bit of a difference. And you know, we have reached out to the town over the years about the conditions of Evergreen Road
and you know, I have a lot of concern that having a construction project of this size, the heavy machinery that's gonna go up and down the street probably for years is just gonna further deteriorate the road. And the residents on the street are going to be left with a situation which the town won't help us with. I'll also echo the concerns. There are often a lot of near misses on Evergreen Road with some of the streets that intersect off of it. There are no yield signs, there are no stop signs. And again, kind of big trucks coming through. There are a lot of kids in the neighborhood. It just seems that a project of this size is not appropriate
for the neighborhood. I also just didn't have this on my list, but when we're talking about open space residentials, are we now then talking that there might be more than three units? Like we were saying like three homes. Speaker 1: It's still an open quest. That's still an open question. Speaker 14: Okay, so then that would add more traffic or, okay. Speaker 1: Yes. Okay. Speaker 14: Alright. Oh, Speaker 1: The open space residential doesn't, doesn't, doesn't mean more necessarily more units. But what it does mean is the units
that are there are closer together and the unbuilt space is a little more, is more coherent. Speaker 14: Is there a zoning law for how many units can go into that space? Speaker 5: Yeah. As a calculation in the bylaw? Yes. Speaker 14: Yep. Do we know what that is? Speaker 5: Off of my head, I don't know. Okay. Speaker 14: Alright. Well thank you. Okay, Speaker 5: Thank you. But do I do have a question for Amanda or if you know, so the subdivision is proposed off Cypress Road right? Which is a private way. That's correct. Does the town maintain it? Do they plow? Do we know? No, Speaker 2: It is a private road. So is on the homeowners.
A majority of these roads in this area are actually private. Speaker 5: Okay. So the town does not maintain or plow? Speaker 9: No, they plow Speaker 5: The plow Speaker 9: And they come in and they fill the potholes four times a year. Speaker 5: Okay. And Speaker 15: We've been told by the town that it's an unapproved road, not a private road. Speaker 1: It's not a private road. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 16: Evergreen. I'm looking at the street listing, it's not, not town approved. Speaker 5: So Yeah. Yeah you can, I believe you can still subdivide off of a road that's maintained a private way that's maintained by the town. Yeah. Right. So because we did Speaker 2: It for zero magnolia. Yeah.
Speaker 5: So just trying to get to the bottom of that. Okay. Speaker 1: So, so continuing the, just let me just finish getting everybody the first time and the next jumping over. Anything, anyone? I'm rolling. Okay. Speaker 17: Hey, thank you for this opportunity. My name is Patty. Luke, my husband Andy Luke. We're at 63 Evergreen Road. Okay. Andy has been at that, at that at our house since 1972 and I've been at that location since 1985. So we've been there quite a while. So Andy's a town meeting member. I'm a retired teacher from Natick
and until last month I was on 25 years on the board of directors at the Natick Community Organic Farm. So we had deep, deep roots. Okay. Our concern of course begins with the, even the thought that this property was sold five years ago with the advertisement that it was going to, that you, it had a restriction on the deed and that people would not be able, the buyers would not be able to develop that land.
People made decisions not to buy the house, to buy the house, to buy a house, abutting it, being told that this was gonna remain open space, but it might not be part of your ability to help us with that problem. But I think that it colors the whole situation. When we came here last month, we were assembled and then told well we have to push it out and that we would not be told when in terms
of notification of the neighborhood that we had to, we now are responsible for following along this thread, which is what we are, we're happy to do. But it makes us a little questionable. We sit down this evening and we had plenty of time to study online what was available to us in terms of what was going to happen. We get here tonight and then all of a sudden we have a very nebulous what we're not quite sure what we want to, to present. Okay. We did not even have a physical, you know, presence here. So all of that makes the neighborhood very uncomfortable.
We do not necessarily, we do not feel that we are being appreciated and being done. This is not, does not feel like it is being done in good faith. Hmm. I'm not on the talking about the board. Thank you. Okay. We are very concerned about the issue of the drinking water in the town of Natick. We rely on five groundwater well locations. Okay. And Evergreen wells is a very important part of that primary water sources in the town. It doesn't take much septic runoff,
lawn chemicals right. To poison the fragile town wells. Remember back when the water, we had the issues with the Natick army labs, very big deal. It no matter what that they were would put there in terms of a construction, the acreages of trees that would come down would impact the, the natural life and nature. We have fox, Turkey, beaver in on the peninsula. Huge great horned owls, barred owls. Alright?
Many bunnies, occasionally a deer, it's a, it it's full of wildlife and they depend on, they of course they're there for the water because of the lake, but they depend on the, the trees and the, the coverage. You know, it is a, a coyote path to go from from constituent. They make their way down around the lake and then they keep on going out through Sherman. Okay. And the impact of having more people up against that, you know, the buffer between the, the the water
and the land I think is, would be a tragedy. Okay. This project, no matter what size it is, no matter what it's called, is gonna remove the habitat. When that happens, not only does the impact happen with the animals, but those of us that are there on living on Evergreen Road, Magnolia and Cyprus will have less of a buffer for, with the trees, for the sound coming off of the mass pike. In the wintertime, it's quite loud. Of course, now we get the, the leafing out
of the trees and it's better off. But it will have an impact, a big impact. As I said, Andy and I've been there for forever. We were there before the project of Cypress Point came in and it was huge. The, the, so it would impact our quiet enjoyment and perhaps, you know, the, our property values. I appreciate your giving us a chance to, to share our concerns and I would also appreciate your understanding when we say that we would like to be informed and we wanna be kept informed
and we want to feel that we are, we're being valued. Appreciate. Thank Speaker 1: You. I appreciate that. And I, and I will say kind of two things to that 0.1, one is that at when we finish a session of a hearing, even if somebody, nobody gave testimony and we just had to postpone, we always postpone to a date. Certain. If for whatever reason you didn't, you didn't catch the, that you can either watch it again on,
on Pegasus and say, when did they say that was? Or please call the office, call the community development office and say, can you tell me when the, the hearing is gonna be continued to because we're not trying, we're trying to get kind of input and participation. We're not trying to, I appreciate kind, I appreciate Tuck Speaker 17: It away. I appreciate was doing. Thank Speaker 1: You. Alright. Yes. Speaker 18: My name is Diana Mills and I'm at 73 Evergreen Road and I've been in Natick residence for 52 years and I just, I'm not gonna take up too much of your time 'cause I'm kind of reiterating everything that they've said,
you know, the woods there on Cyprus in that point, that area is definitely a buffer to the mass pike. I have similar consider, you know, concerns regarding the well and the lake itself, you know, and that's a small space, it three acres to put in that size of a development because there are a lot of concerns. The roadways are small. Just reiterating, I just wanted it my name to be on record too, that I'm not in favor of this.
You know, I mean, I think everybody here could understand if somebody wanted to build a new house, but an actual development in that area would be devastating to our area because I mean, it's, it's just, you know, it's a really nice area where we are and to take out and to clear all those woods. And if you look at what happened on the back side earlier in one of the other roadways, when they removed all those trees, I mean, you can hear everything Speaker 1: And, and I just as a slight digression Sure
we remember it painfully. Yeah. Those of us who were on the planning board at the time, because the owner cleared a scale that was nowhere near what was permitted. But the trouble ended up being, once you've taken it down, you're stuck. Yeah. But I, no, I remember that and I, I remember the, the roar of the pike that you got. Yeah. When all of that was clear Speaker 18: Cut. Yeah. And I am a direct abutter to this project, so it would directly affect me, my visual, the noise ratio and what she says about wildlife is true.
So I would like definitely for them to, you know, to take into consideration on, on how that's gonna affect as a whole. So thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Sorry, Speaker 19: Can you repeat your Speaker 18: Address? Sure. It's 73 Evergreen tax Bill is 69, mailing is 73. That would make sense. Yes. It's a piece of Yep. It's very confusing, but yes. Sorry. Yes. Yep. And it's Mills, M-I-L-L-S. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Yes, sir. Speaker 10: Eric Freight, again, 14 Magnolia Road, which is 16 for the town, believe it's 14.
I encourage you all to actually drive down Cypress, take a look at how the street, take a look at where they wanna do the subdivision, which is at the elbow. Take a look at where it's a small, quiet ish corner that is actually a cut through street, which is why it's so busy. But also look down at the, the walkway, the dirt road that takes you to the wells, which is used for recreation. All those woods to the left of the lake are all gonna go away. It's gonna be housing. So it doesn't just affect us, it affects anybody who also is using the lake for a recreational purpose as well. So I encourage you all to, you know, walk down there,
take a look on a day, see the beavers, see the coyotes at night, and, and go through Cypress and actually see what I have to deal with every day. And my family and my kids. I've also have kids who are of school age, so just encourage you to take a look. Speaker 1: No, thank you. Yes, Speaker 20: Hi, I am, I'm Keith Murdoch. I live at 14 Bayberry Road. So I'm a direct abutter to this proposed new project. It'll, it's essentially right next to my house
and right behind my house is Cypress. And I don't wanna reiterate what everybody else has said, but just to give a quick example of Cypress and traffic wise. So Cypress, as has been, as has been pointed out, is essentially a one car road. It's like 13 feet wide. So last summer, one day I was sitting outside, I have a pool, I was standing by my pool and all of a sudden I hear a crash. And this was the current owner of this land. Their daughter was driving out, driving out in Cypress and hit a tree. Again, because it's such a small road,
I think another car was coming, trying to come in, in, in the opposite direction in those November she hit the tree. So again, adding more traffic to this area is just potential disaster. In, in addition, as has been pointed out, the roads in this area, nothing better than horrific full of potholes. And there's the current, current development that's been pointed out at zero Magnolia. And already from that, from all the trucks that have been going up and down Magnolia, you can see the road is already buckling. And that was a pretty decent road to begin with. Now you want to bring in all these construction vehicles
into roads that are already small and compromised and I can't imagine what's gonna be the result. So that's all I wanna point out. Speaker 10: Tom just recently had a fix. There's two drainage grates break, Speaker 1: Sir, if you're gonna speak, I just need you to do that in mic. Speaker 10: I do wanna say that on Cypress, actually behind his house, there's two drainages on either side of the road. The town recently, within the last three years has had to go in and replace them. And actually the connector between the two, and this is supposedly a lightly traveled 13 foot wide road, but it's already buckling just with the traffic that we have now, where the DPW had to go in and fix
and reinforce the, it's a dry, well I think between the two grates. And those will be, if you look at my picture that I painted out, that's basically by their dry the mailbox for this address. Okay. So again, it's already not big, it's already overflowed, it's already more heavily traveled than it was probably intended for adding 60% more homes on top of the traffic that already has here. Just doesn't make sense. Speaker 1: Yeah, thank, thank you. And, and I know that, that the area around evergreen is like a couple of other areas in town
that really started as summer camps and had somebody envisioned what this is was likely to be, it would have probably come together very differently. And right now it is trying to figure out how to make the, the most practical decisions for suboptimal kind of roads and, and, and lot lines and everything else. And I realize that that is, it's it's it's a challenge all around. Yes. Speaker 11: We just one last point. Sorry. No, that's okay.
So you, you mentioned, no, no, I don't know your name so, but Speaker 16: I'm Allen. Yeah, we don't have that. Yes, Speaker 11: They're upstairs. So, but you mentioned that I think you, they're not town approved roads or they're not, and and the question to me has to be why you, you, not you guys, but the town approved that road though. These roads at one point in time in history, these roads were approved by the town. The lots, the building lots, the houses on these lots were one time approved by the town.
So how can we say that these roads, and they're not taken care of, cannot be a, a town approved roads if you've approved everything around it. Why isn't the road approved? I, I, I, I struggle with that. Speaker 16: So I can give a little bit of information and, and I might kind of nerd out a little bit here, but essentially Natick actually has a lot of roads that are not not approved. So the way, a lot of the way a lot of roads come into possession, I guess of the town are a lot of times you get subdivisions through the years and usually there's requirements.
Hey, if you're gonna build a subdivision, build a road, it has to be, you know, a certain thickness of, of gravel, how thick is the pavement gonna be, yada, yada, yada. And usually a lot of those standards are so that you have a good quality roadway that'll hold up and last for a while. And again, through the year, some developers do that, some don't do that. And if they, if they build it how it's supposed to be built, they then come forward with a town usually after, you know, they sold all the houses, say, Hey, do you want to take over the road? If the, if it was built up to standards, the town accepts it
and now the town is gonna be the one fixing it through the years, you know, plowing it, maintaining it. A lot of ones over the years weren't built the way they should be built. And it, the developers are kind of allowed to do that sometimes, especially, I mean, some of these go back quite a few years. If the developer would come back to the town later and say, Hey, you want to take over the road, the town, this road isn't built up to our standards, it's gonna cost us a lot of money to fix this, to make this into a condition that it's, it's supposed to be at. So those have never been approved whether
or not they were actually brought in front of the town and asked to be approved or not. That's kind of why they have that standing. So they tend to be grouped up in certain areas. We got an area here, there's area actually some areas I guess in that direction, near town hall, there, there's certain areas that you'll run into. A lot of 'em that, and a lot of 'em are in, in poor condition, the town. And I'm kind of speaking a little bit for the DPW, even though I have no relation with the DPW, they have been trying to get to a lot of those, build them up to a standard and then ultimately accept them.
It's very expensive. It's, it's a whole process because if roads are to a certain condition, it's a lot tougher to kind of bring 'em up to the standard that they should be at. So that's kind of a little bit of why we have so many, and Natick has a lot and that's kind of, maybe they all didn't come into the same process, but that's kind of the way a lot of 'em didn't Speaker 11: Happen. Yeah, I mean I would just, I would, and, and maybe this is not true, but I, I guess it's not true, but at, at a point in time, 1950, we built this particular road
and we built these houses on the road, but the road at the time would've been approved by the town. Maybe, Speaker 5: Maybe, maybe not, not necessarily. Speaker 1: I think the term, the term that tends to be used is accepted. And when you hear them talk about an accepted road, it more or less means you think of it as the town accepts that they'll take the condition of the road and take care of it. And so many of these roads have been around a long time, but the town never said, oh, by the way, we're gonna take care of it. And there was a, there's a stretch of Main Street that
in the last 10 years, may like two blocks of Main Street were not an accepted public road. Mm. It had, that has been corrected. But, so the, the term, it's not that something was, was approved per se, but that when the town accepts the road, it's more or less saying we're taking ownership for maintaining this road. Yeah. Speaker 16: Literally accepting responsibility for the Speaker 5: Road, just subdivision of land. Subdivision roads and subdivision regulations are a fairly recent creation, let's say since 1950s.
So anything built in the thirties, forties, even before that were just built. They were just, someone decided to pave the road and divide lots and go get a building permit for their, for their buildings. So 1913, my house was built. Yeah, mine's 1888. So, you know, and it depends on, on, you know, who owned the road privately at the time, did they want it to be accepted as a town way or not? Sometimes there are private ways that are, that are maintained by the, by the town. That's why I'm asking the question, what is the actual
town's involvement in, in plowing, maintaining the roadway? 'cause that does, that does matter in, in subdivision controls. So I mean the, Speaker 11: I mean the town plows, the roads, this, this hydrants. Speaker 1: But, but those are also things that are a matter of public safety. Yeah. So that like in a storm, police and fire have to be able to get through. So, so there's some, they, they, there are things that they do, but they don't comprehensively kind of own the responsibility for the road as a whole. Speaker 11: Okay. There's a lot of other roads in town that you're in. I know. Not alone, that's for sure.
I mean, I've been in the town for 40 something years, so it's this, I've lived here for over 30. So it's, Speaker 1: To, to Alan's point, I think that the DPW has in the last probably just about 10 years, really formalized and, and developed a, a strategy to kind of work their way through very, very long list of roads that they're trying to get up to Speaker 11: Stand. I mean, I, and nothing against the DPW, they, unfortunately, what they do is they a hole,
they fill it, it becomes a bump. Speaker 1: No, no, that's, that's when they do the patch. That's something that right now they do on, on accepted roads and that's just patching it. Agree. But what they're trying to do is get these, a cluster of roads every, every year there are certain roads. They'll say, okay, we're gonna bring this section of roads up to standard. Not just patching it, but actually Speaker 11: Reconstructing it. Yeah. We should have an override just for fixing roads. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Yes.
And, and then we probably anybody on the, I haven't seen any hands up, so yes. Speaker 14: I guess I had two quick questions, just not to harp on the road situation too much, but I guess one question is, is like Q was saying at one point the road is built, a developer's supposed to build it to a certain standard and get a permit. And like if I do construction on my house, I have to get a permit and then the town wants to come back and make sure that the work was done appropriately. So I feel like even though the road is unapproved, the town still needs to assume some responsibility for some work that was allowed
to be done at some point in time. And it does make me even more concerned about like a subdivision in the neighborhood. And if that doesn't go right, how is the town gonna respond to that? Hmm. So that was one cons one just follow up point. The other is when you said you were gonna start like a working group with the developer, I was wondering, and I don't know if others have the same thought, I've never done this before, but is that, is that typical? 'cause it almost kind of feels like the town wants the subdivision to happen and the goal is to help the developer meet zoning requirements. And I just wonder how much of
what we say here today is taken into consideration and kind of matters. Speaker 1: A what you say today does matter. And, and, and we, we do take it into consideration. The second is not, and I actually, I love working groups because it's, it's, it's a kind of a back and forth about brainstorming, well what could we do this? What is this? What's the problem here? Have we thought of this approach? The sort of thing that are, are, is hard to do at a meeting like this because we'd be here until midnight. And so, so it, it really is trying to
figure out if is there something that got missed? Is there an approach we might consider? We hear what you're, you are saying and trying to figure out how do we, how do we kind of make this as successful for as many people as we can? And we're trying to figure out what that middle ground looks like. What is the optimum solution that we can find? We don't, what I love is that we don't go in saying, oh, I know what we're gonna do. We go in with, with the, with asking and questions.
And if we do it this way, how can that, what will that affect? And so forth. Speaker 14: But we should also probably expect that, I mean, this would be beneficial to the town. It would generate probably four new houses of revenue and tax income for the town. Speaker 1: That's not the only thing that, that we have to take into consideration though. Okay. I I, I understand. I understand your point, but, and, and appreciative. But Speaker 5: If I just add on, I mean, working groups, nothing gets decided in a working group. In fact, we don't have a quorum of people in involved in that for that very reason. We can't do that. But I do, I want everybody
to understand what the planning board's role is in a subdivision. Okay. And I'm not, these are all great points, all great issues, very important to hear them. But when it comes down to it, applicants for subdivision are entitled to approval. If the plan conforms to the, to our rules and regs, which is the design of the roadway, the utilities, everything else is designed the way, it's, it's, we, we say it, it should be in the regulations and that the lots conform to zoning. We really don't have a choice. We have to approve that plan.
Okay. So the buildings, the, the houses that go on there are all subject to building permits, the septic systems and that, and that goes to the building. Inspector septic systems go to the board of health. We do not approve the houses, we don't approve the septic systems. We don't approve anything but the layout of the roadway and the lots. That's the only thing that the plaintiff board is charged with doing, hearing this. So, you know, you might be frustrated by that. Some of us might be as well, but that's really what we're here to do with a subdivision approval. So
Speaker 9: Would this end up going into the zoning board next after Speaker 5: This? No, it goes, if, if this, if this gets approved as a subdivision, the applicant goes and records it at the registry of deeds, builds the road and the lots are, are, are ready to be built on. Speaker 14: And do you guys take into consideration the surrounding roads, the cypress and Evergreen? Speaker 5: We we can take into account the adequacy of the ways serving the subdivision. Yes. Speaker 14: Because the only ways in and out to the subdivision are Cypress and Evergreen. Speaker 9: Because literally they, the road that they wanna build is their driveway today. Speaker 21: Thank Speaker 2: You.
Speaker 1: So we have, so, and well go ahead. Sorry, Speaker 5: One more thing. I, I'm a little puzzled too as to why they would come before this board tonight and say, we don't have a plan to talk about or you wanna change something. If that's the case, withdraw what you have and come back and, and resubmit something that you really want to want to do. I'm, I am personally not comfortable with this kind of situation and on a subdivision, but I will volunteer for the working group. But I don't think that's a way to do business here. Honestly. You have a plan if you wanna come forward with a plan, by the way, and present the plan.
Speaker 1: And it may be that in the end what they say is, okay, no, we're not gonna, we, we'll withdraw this and and submit something that's very different. Yep. That is entirely Speaker 5: Possible. But to the fair fairness of abutters, you know, you want to know what you're coming in for and not sit here and say, well, we don't really know what we're gonna do. We're gonna have a working group and then go away and come back again. So, Speaker 1: But this and, and true, and this is, this is unusual that it's happening that way. Quick Speaker 9: Question, if they withdraw and resubmit, will there be again new cards in the mail? Speaker 1: Yeah. If, if, if yes, if it is withdrawn
and resubmitted, they're required to send out the postcards. And if Speaker 2: It gets changed to an OSRD, Speaker 1: It yes. If, if, if it ends up not being a typical subdivision, but being something that requires a, a special permit, like the open space cluster, it's a, it's a special permit, then that would, that would be Reno. Speaker 5: Yeah. And I would just say in that, in that scenario, we would have discretion and we can condition lots of things with a special permit. That's a totally different thing. That's a zoning matter, not a subdivision control matter. So, Speaker 1: So, and, and I myself prefer the special permit
for that, for that reason. Speaker 9: This, when does the board of health get involved? Speaker 1: It will be in the planning. Speaker 5: The board of health is required to submit comments on a subdivision plan. Right. And then when it goes to the building for the permits themselves, for the buildings themselves, the houses, that's when they would get involved in. Speaker 9: But it would be after you've already approved the plan. Speaker 1: Well, actually in the Amanda, in the working, the kind of what the professional working group, when that reviews applications, there is representation from the board of health, right? Speaker 2: Yes. There's town engineer, director of health, building commissioner, conservation agent, fire department,
police department, CED, and sometimes the sustainability director. Speaker 1: Okay. Thank you. So, so this, he, the hearing will be continued to May 21st, which is two weeks from tonight. And again, if you did, don't write this down and you, you can't remember it, please reach out. We'll be happy to make sure that, that you have the, the, the date of the next meeting. Speaker 9: Do you want a motion for Speaker 2: That? Oh, actually, yeah. It is always helpful if we get like one or two people to serve as points of contact.
So if that's true, if things do get continued, we can email it to that one person or two people and they can get it out to everyone. Speaker 1: Share it with the neighborhood. Speaker 2: If we get like an email or two, that would be helpful. Speaker 1: So Speaker 9: You want it now? No enough. Speaker 5: Yeah. Give it to Amanda. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 2: You don't, don't say it out loud. Just come and Speaker 1: Action that. Speaker 2: Right. Write it and I will, I have Speaker 1: Andy's email. Andy I have your email. Okay, Speaker 9: Perfect. Thank you. So I sent an email to the zoning. So we can probably add as the other one, because I sent the two documents I submitted. I also emailed to your, Speaker 1: Is it just, or if you meet, if you email
to planning@nadickma.org. That goes to all of us. All of us here around the table. And Amanda, because Speaker 2: I don't know where zoning goes. Speaker 1: Probably does to zba. Oh, I'm guessing. Speaker 2: Wait, Speaker 9: I sent it to the wrong dunno. Speaker 5: So motion to continue to May I'm sorry. Yeah, may, May 21st. Yep. Speaker 1: Okay, second. Second. Okay. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed. We are continued to the 21st and work to do. So. Thank you guys. Thank, thank you for I say Peter
for showing up and for letting us here Speaker 9: With the seat in between. Yes. Thank you. I'm very confused about this. I'll talk. Speaker 1: So this is not the typical process. Alright, so the next order of business planning board business development. Why I couldn't think of the term development review team. I don't know, but development review team working group planning, board participation. Speaker 2: Yes. So at this time I would like to request that the planning board designate two members of the planning board to serve. Excuse me.
Speaker 1: Excuse me folks. Sorry. Could you just carry it out? Just right outside because we can't, we can't hear and we're still running a meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Thank Speaker 9: You. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 2: So we have another potential open space residential development coming in and so it would be requested. Oh perfect. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. To have a working group put together to help outline that as well. Speaker 5: Is that what this is this next item? Yeah. Speaker 1: So, and I don't wanna wanna jump in and say I'll do that.
There's somebody who's looking at that going, oh they really wanna do that. I also am aware that Andy is not here today in case that if we don't make the final decision you should appoint him and we could. Yes. Speaker 5: I thought he was going Speaker 2: And you can sub people out 'cause we did that, that one for two 16 Allen's subbed in for Speaker 5: Andy. So, so this is a request to have a plaintiff board participant in the DRT process, pre-application. Yes. Got Speaker 2: It. Yes please. Okay. Speaker 1: Yes. For Speaker 8: Just this one project for just, Speaker 2: Just this one project, just this, because it is a potential OSRD, Speaker 8: We have any idea about what that project is about?
Speaker 2: It's a potential OSRD project. Speaker 5: But when? When do you think it would come forward? Speaker 2: Sooner than later Speaker 5: In the next couple of months or? Yes. Okay. Speaker 2: Yeah. Speaker 1: So are you fine? Are you game? Yeah. Awesome. Thank you. Sure. Lemme know. Speaker 2: It's good. Text me. It'll be fun. I can get in next week. You Speaker 1: Know Speaker 5: I'm, I'm in New Orleans next week. Speaker 2: Oh I can do it the next week. Okay. Speaker 1: Alright, so next update on, oh the fall town meeting zoning initiatives. Yeah. Speaker 2: Awesome. We Speaker 1: Haven't even closed spring annual town meeting and we are making plans for the fall. Speaker 5: Oh my god. Fall Speaker 2: We have
to, we already have to start planning. I love this because we're gonna get ahead of this. Yep. Okay. So we're not gonna make any decisions tonight. And so I'm holding back on the update of the actual huge work plan that we had put together last fall. So it does look, I, let me just show it to you so you can re just a refresher of what it was. Speaker 1: Oh, the, the list of to-dos Speaker 2: And the list of to-dos. Yes. So great news. I have to say that last night at town meeting all of the zoning articles were approved. Oh. So we are moving forward on all of those items.
We did receive approval from the attorney general from everything that was submitted for the spring of 2024 town meetings. So we're now just waiting for the 2024 fall town meeting from the ag. But with that being said, town meeting has not closed yet. But what we have here is the big huge list of everything that we had thrown on the topics for zoning. With that being said, anything that's in the lighter gray, I just did that because those are things that we just approved. So I don't wanna take them off 'cause I actually wanna show like we're actually getting stuff done.
But with that being said, at the fall town meeting, it is expected that we would move forward with K of the use regulation schedule K, which was the manufacturing and industrial uses. We started it for the spring, decided to hold it back for the fall. The other two last items that we have on the use regulation schedule are G motor vehicle related sales and service uses. And then H transportation communications and utility uses H is more relative to the wire wireless communication facility. So that's gonna be much more regulated by federal at that point.
So that's what we would expect for the use regulation schedule for the fall of 2025. Just to continue that work. The floodplain districts that passed last night. So that's all taken care of. I don't know why that just froze. And then the indoor recreational overlay district, we did delete that last night. And the associated zoning map amendment in all of that, we now have to start thinking about, okay, we've got two major sections that we need to jump into. But it's like when do we start? And we're not making any decisions tonight. This is just a high level conversation
just so you can start thinking about it. We need to start looking at no numeral four B. That is the intensity regulation schedule. So that includes not just the intensity regulation schedule, but the three pages of footnotes. Footnotes. So we're gonna look to get rid of or not get rid of decrease incorporate Yes. Incorporate, figure out what we're doing with those. So that's one piece that we need to look at. The other item is that we do eventually need to start looking at no maneuver five D, which is the off street parking section. So those two are major undertakings
but also essential to being, getting work done. Moving right down on that, we do have one item with the attorney general approving. The 2024 was that we just have to update the definition for limited site plan review to make it aligned with statute. So we just have to do that. That's just housekeeping. Speaker 5: How So Speaker 2: The definition that we approved in the spring of 2024 for limited site plan review does not fully align with what they want to see based on case law.
Hmm. So we'll just take care of that. Everything else was approved. Okay. Yeah, everything else is great. So, and then what Speaker 5: Does that mean though, between now and then for that? Oh, Speaker 2: We would just use the state's limited site plan review or Dover accessory dwelling unit. We're gonna keep our eyes on that one just because things are changing. Hopefully no more changes quite yet. Moving right down. By Speaker 5: Changes you mean the regular, the state regulations? Yeah. Speaker 2: Yep. 'cause they did just put out on, I think it was May 2nd, a new FAQ.
Oh. But they did not, they've already updated the regulations now twice. Speaker 5: So new. So the new FAQs came out on Friday. Yeah, I didn't know that. Okay. Okay. Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the speci, I think they were relative to condos. And I forget, my head's blurring at this point. Two items that I would like the board to consider is we have no mineral five F, which is removal of earth products. It was put in place in 1974 Earth products. And when you read it, there's a question if it's even still
relevant to what we one currently practice. But two, we have the aquifer protection, district bylaw, we have the floodplain district bylaw, we have all these other bylaws. And I actually have not used no numeral thigh FI mean, and I haven't seen anyone refer to it either. What is an Speaker 22: Earth product? Speaker 2: So an earth product is basically if you have a quarry. Yeah. Or a gravel pit or you're removing soils. So we either look at it, update it, et cetera. Speaker 1: There was Speaker 2: A time, the other one is
Noman rule 5G flooding. So basically you are not permitted to build on any lot that is prone to flooding. That's what the section says. Speaker 1: And wouldn't this because we're by our flood plan Speaker 2: Floodplain. So it it, I can't, I haven't done the research of when it was put in place, but I think that we may not need this section anymore either because we have the FEMA floodplain districts, we have all these other, but even though you're not subject to flooding yesterday with the intensity of the storms coming, you're, and also with development things change.
So I was looking at those. Okay. So here's the other one that, this is the most important one that just wanted to get the board in front of. So on May 21st, we're gonna have a conversation about West Natick. Fran Lou Franchi will be here as requested. And so I did want to have a conversation, just a real quick one is looking for it at the fall town meeting form based code, we would update that and start in a public engagement process. So I just wanted to make sure that every, we're still on that track or anyone has any
other shifts. Speaker 1: I think it's, and I think it's good to get that started now Speaker 2: So we can get that started. And then the other one that I wanted to just ask and it, I don't know if this is a fall of 25 or if this would be a spring of 26. We did have just a short bit ago of someone come in during public speak talking about the Route nine basically from nine and 27 to the Wellesley municipal line about looking at that zoning because that zoning is very odd.
And the overlay district is, it's a highway corridor overlay district, which really focuses on residential. But then we've got these sections where residential is on Route nine, but we've got commercial uses on it and it's creating a little bit of chaos. So I didn't know what the board's thought was on, do we wanna do a fall or should we shoot for like a spring? We don't need an answer today. I just wanted to bring, bring that up. 'cause it did get brought up during public Speaker 5: Speech, just kind of tightening up uses and were you thinking what might go there? Speaker 2: Yeah, Speaker 5: What ification I think was the, well Speaker 6: I think when they came in, there's a a lot that are going,
there's a lot of business have gone outta business there. So Yeah, Speaker 2: It's Speaker 5: Really constrained by wetlands too around the town Forest where the town, yeah. That whole pod. Speaker 2: Yeah. Speaker 5: Party City and the, Speaker 6: Yeah. Party City is a decent sized latte. Yeah. You got the Asian Wendy and the, I mean that is so tiny. But Yeah. Speaker 2: But even when you go on the other side, as you're heading eastbound and you're heading up the hill, once you get past like Speedway, you have the, what was an auto place that's currently Gentle Movers? It's got the Speaker 1: Vehicles.
Oh it was, it was a gas station and repair shop. Yeah. And it hasn't been functional because you can't do anything with the lot because it's too shallow and the zoning Speaker 2: And the zoning's residential. Yeah. And then you've got some other uses along that area. So it, it's just Speaker 1: Be a lot more coherent. Speaker 2: Yeah. And like when you read the Highway Corridor overlay district, it really just says you can do residential but you can't do even multi-family residential. It's single family reside. Speaker 1: In fact, there are some incentives on residential. What's that? There are some, there's there's language in there
that like incentivizes residential. Speaker 2: Yeah. But it's single fam and two fam not. That's weird what Speaker 6: You would think. Not it's weird. Route nine. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 5: It was at one point. Speaker 1: Although what, although what they put out was townhouses. Speaker 2: Yeah. And we've seen quite a few of those. But they, a lot of 'em have the corner lots where they have their frontage Yes. On Route nine. But their main frontage is off of, yeah. One of the other, Speaker 1: Nobody wants to be facing Route nine. Speaker 2: So back out. That's just what I wanted to bring up to the board. Again, I just wanna get things started earlier rather than
later because there's just a lot and it's also nice to get everyone on board. So that's what we have Speaker 1: And I Nice kind of being prepared to wrap up Springtown meeting with the ambitious agenda for the fall. Yeah. But, and thank you. And I think and and I think good to start talking about West Natick now that we've got the rest of what we've done behind us. Yeah, I know that got, I had to get postponed. So Speaker 2: Yeah. Speaker 1: Alright, anything else?
Anybody want to, any points anyone wants to raise? And if not, Speaker 2: I do have like two quick things. Yes. Quick things. So as you may have, may not have seen today in your emails, we did actually receive platinum of mass buy already. So what we did was we elevated our status, which we were previously bronze and through actually the work of this board and town meeting and work with the private landowners, we were able to elevate our status, not just from bronze to silver or bronze to gold. We went right up to platinum.
So that is really good news that will put us on a mass bio ready list and hopefully get us seen other communities who have been successful in attracting labs and research and development our platinum as well. So you're in Framingham. So our direct of butter is platinum. You've got the whole like kind of route three corridor area up along. So you have Lexington, Burlington, that kind of whole spur. Speaker 1: Yep. Speaker 2: And then it goes up right up to I think Peabody. So you follow 1 28 right up they work. So we have that. Another thing is, is that
last Monday the community preservation committee voted the plan on. So we have that, the letter of interest will be going out very shortly. I just have to finish the citing and pointing everything in the right direction, which is hopefully gonna be done the end of this week. So we have that. We did get the, I think that's it. Yeah. Speaker 5: Case anyone is still listening or watching June 4th at six 30 at the Wilson Middle School is a mass DOT public meeting on the Route nine and Route 27 interchange
project in person. That's, so I June e encourage everybody Speaker 1: June 4th at Wilson, Speaker 5: Everybody to come to Wilson Middle School auditorium at, at six 30 on June 4th. See how much you love that project? Thank you Speaker 1: Sir. Anything Peter, anything for us? Nope. Alright. No Speaker 5: Motions from Peter? No. Speaker 1: Oh, come on. Somebody else could do. Alright. Oh, I, okay. Alan, Speaker 6: June 4th. So we actually have a planning board meeting that night. Mm. Speaker 1: That's, yeah. Wish think thinking about that Speaker 6: I actually might have to miss on the floor.
Speaker 1: Will that be significant enough that we might wanna change the date of our June meeting? That for the early meeting in June that we could talk, we can talk about it at 21st. The t Yeah. Yeah. Because we June, but we also wanna decide at that. Speaker 2: Yeah. We skip, I think we go to one meeting in July if I remember correctly. Yeah, Speaker 1: Yeah. Although the, the challenge with only having one meeting in July is that six 30 you're getting, you're getting everything ready for the fall town meeting. And that's a lot to get put together and weigh it on.
Just that one. The one July meeting. Yeah. So maybe we can be prepared if we need to, to have a second meeting As as we're as needed. So motion to adjourn. Motion adjourn. Second. I'll second. Second. And all those in favor say aye. Aye. We stand adjourned at eight 30.