Speaker 1: Meeting Wednesday, February 12. It is now about 7 0 5. First on the, oh, excuse me. This meeting is being recorded. This meeting is being broadcast on Pegasus. To comment or ask a question, use the raise your hand function. If you are on the 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 the screen before their microphone can be unmuted. To make changes in your name as it appears on the screen, zoom click participants.
To open the participant's menu. Hover your cursor over the entry and click on more. Click on rename and type in your first and last name. Okay, begin the meeting with public speak. Any individual may raise an issue that is not included on the agenda and it'll be taken under advisement by the board. There'll be no opportunity for debate during this portion of the meeting. This section of the agenda is limited to 15 minutes and any individual addressing the board during this section of the agenda shall be limited to five minutes. And there no one in the room.
But how about on online? We have too Speaker 2: Many mic here. Speaker 3: No hands raised. Speaker 1: No one. No one. Okay. So we'll gonna go on to town meeting public hearings, amend the zoning bylaws, body art establishment. Amanda, you fill us in where we are on that. Speaker 2: Absolutely. So we do have Mike Boudreaux here. He is the director of the health department, who also works directly with the Board of Health. The planning board at the last public hearing for this article did ask to have Mr. Boudreaux or someone from Health present here.
So he will be able to answer your questions, which was pretty much regarding body art establishments. As you can see, the document in the packet, or it should be in the packet, is an amended version where we kind of basically merged options one and option two, if you remember, option one was just amending the definition of body art and then also allowing body art establishments in the C two. 'cause it currently allow is allowed in the, sorry,
highway overlay, or sorry, the regional center overlay district, which is up where the Natick Mall is. And then also in the downtown mixed use. Option two was actually taking, Speaker 1: Bless Speaker 2: You, semi-permanent makeup to put it into personal services and which would then allow it to actually be in more places. What we are doing here under opposition that is presented in your packets is taking the definition and deleting it in its entirety, which is a definition for body art, replacing it with the board of health definition for body art.
So we are using the same definition. And then on the body art establishments, we would be allowing it in the C two, the CG industrial one and industrial two in addition to where it's allowed in the center, sorry, downtown excuse district. And so I don't know if you have any questions regarding how the Board of Health sees it, just 'cause it doesn't only have to go through planning or some type of like use review. It actually has to go through like a licensure through the Board of Health. So I don't know if Mike has an opportunity to
kinda give you some information on that. Speaker 1: Well, I think this is why we are delighted. Mr. Re is here. Speaker 4: Good evening. Speaker 1: I guess Mike, simple question, right at the bone, right at the outset is based on what we're considering here, what would your input be from Board of Health perspective? Speaker 4: Well, a, a, as you may be aware, when body art originally came to Natick or when it did become an issue, this was probably back in 1999. This was initially something that was banned in Massachusetts, but then a court overruled
and considered it, you know, free speech. So body art facilities came in all over the, all over the state. Where we are in Natick right now, we do have several people who are permitted as body art practitioners. And based on the type of work that they're doing, they are doing permanent makeup. So again, eyebrows, maybe lip extensions, you know, lip outlines, things of that nature. Right now in Natick we have had a full body art
or tattooist that was in the Route nine area where it was district. According to that. And I could assure you that, you know, should the board here consider zoning this for a bigger spread. 'cause it used to only be regulated to the golden triangle. They would have to go through a process with us to be permitted. Not only would the establishment need to get a permit, but the practitioners would have to get a permit. And a lot of this is outlined in our local regulations,
native Board of Health Chapter 21. Would you like me to elaborate further Please? Speaker 1: Or whatever you think would be helpful. Okay. For us to understand what it is we're dealing with. 'cause I think it's Sure. Fairly new. So Speaker 4: Obviously from the board of health or from a health perspective, some of the risks that we see are people who are not trained, creating some problems, you know, that could lead to infection using the proper materials We're dealing with biohazardous waste in the form of sharps containers.
There could be issues where somebody has a skin or a rash disease or could, you know, develop that. And again, the, the regulations are set up in a way to minimize, you know, that risk. I mean, unfortunately we can't 100% prevent anything from happening. But obviously the regulations are set in place to keep an eye on people's practices, keep an eye on how they're disposing of the waste, making sure that they are providing, providing written consent and knowledge of what the procedure will entail.
Aftercare instructions as to what that procedure will entail. So that's, you know, kind of a nutshell as to what we're looking at with the tattoo facility and its practices. But also when we're looking at the facility itself, you know, we want to make sure that it's a sectioned off area. It's not just done out in the open. It's more or less kept, you know, in a sectioned off area. Well ventilated with adequate lighting, having a hand sink available sharps or biohazard disposal containers with a
contract for removal. Making sure that, you know, again, practices that are taking place are done in an asep in an aseptic way where people are wearing gloves, universal precautions, not eating, drinking, making sure that everybody's in good health and the, and the like. Speaker 1: Okay, why don't we go out, start outside the, those were working with us remote tonight. Andy, see your hand up. I think you're muted.
Speaker 5: No, there I am unmuted. Yes. No, I think this is excellent. You know, from a, from a planning board perspective, I'm not terribly worried about the, the, the regulation side of it. 'cause it, it seems like this is quite well regulated, so that's excellent. I'm glad we're not charting any new territory from a zoning perspective, I think we just want to make sure that this is an even playing field because what we found out before this process, that there were people seeking these services in Natick, they were not allowed in Natick.
And they were, they were heading to local nearby communities who also have similar regulat regulations for safety, et cetera. So I'm, I'm gonna assume that the, that the playing field is quite even in terms of all of the regulations that go into this, all of the permitting, all of the expertise that these folks have to have as practitioners. My, my primary interest was to make sure that these services are available in Natick so people don't have to leave our town. So I guess it doesn't really seem
as if there's an option one, option two anymore. We've kind of morphed those and I'm, I'm just a big believer in allowing these, in as many areas as possible. They're well regulated. There are systems in place to make sure that these are inspected, et cetera. So I don't have any health concerns. I don't think there are any real taboo concerns anymore. I think a lot of these are, you know, very common cosmetic procedures. So I'm just, I'm just, I feel like we're in a place now where we can have these services in our town. We don't have to have people live in Natick, go elsewhere.
And hopefully more people outside of Natick will come here to get these services and, you know, will, will benefit by, you know, expanding our, our economic opportunities here. So from that standpoint, I feel like we're, this is in pretty good shape. So I'm, I I like everything I hear so far Speaker 4: And, and through the chair, may I just elaborate on something? Yes. So one thing we wanna, I wanna be clear with too, in terms of body art in the state of Massachusetts, unlike what we'd have to do for a cosmetic, for a cosmetology license, what we would have to do
for a massage license, those are all regulated by the state. The state has not had the mandate to take on body art. So it has basically been left up to local public health to develop regulations and enforce those regulations. Granted the way that we had their regulations initially set up, they were a, a standard document for everybody to use. So they are, they're pretty much the same playing field. To your point, I just wanted to make that clear, is that we,
we are the ones that would regulate the practices and if we had to add additional things, we would do so. Speaker 1: Alright, thank you. Glenn, anything, any input from your side? Speaker 6: No, I don't have anything. It's, it's being covered. Thank you. Thank Speaker 1: You Ellen. Speaker 7: No, just double checking something that, I'm pretty sure we all heard it this way. So in for where you guys deal with the permanent makeup microblading, it is really kind of the same category as the tattooing piercing stuff like that, right? Speaker 4: That is correct. There is really not a lot of di lot
of differentiation in terms of practices, background items used, inks used, you know, and facility practiced in. So our, our suggestion was to keep body art definition in kind of in line with what we are doing. Only because we didn't wanna set up kind of a dichotomy or, or, or, or the like, you know, with respect Speaker 7: Makes a lot of sense. And if this was, if more areas were to be zoned
to allow this, do you foresee any issues with that with your department? Speaker 4: It, it's always a little bit of a, a broadband issue. Again, you know, we're or a small department of three or four, three people who are out in the field a lot. We would deal with them obviously as they come in, you know, and give e each one the rigorous review regardless of where they were zoned or permitted to, you know, operate per your regulations. Speaker 1: That's it Doug. Speaker 8: So yeah, I don't have any questions for you Mr. Bore, but I have some for Amanda.
So I agree with Andy to kind of level the playing field here. So I want to make sure we're doing that. So I, I'm all, I'm okay with the definition. All good. But in the, in the table, in the use table. Yep. And I know we had this discussion last time around where, you know, a spa like Mundo right, is into place, right? In a certain district and they may want to add body art, right? So if I'm looking, so a spa is under personal service establishment? Correct. Okay. Speaker 2: F seven, Speaker 8: Right? F seven, then F nine, which is body art establishments.
Now we're gonna try to, I guess, calibrate the body art, body art establishments uses within those districts to the personal service establishment district. Is that what we're trying to achieve? Speaker 2: Yes and no. What we were trying to achieve was expanding the uses to areas where we would see those types of establishments going. So the reason why they were not in the P-C-D-P-C-D is predominantly all residential. That's the West Natick village. Okay. There's a teeny tiny area of commercial Okay. Down there. So that's why we did not look at that one.
The other area that we were not is the HM one Yes. A and B. 'cause this would have to be an accessory to an accessory because basically those are for the large corporate campuses to have other amenities. So you could expand it into there, but it could not be the only thing in that. And then the lc district, the only reason why we were not doing the lc district is because that's West Natick predominantly. And we were looking to rezone that. So it was just kind of like, so Speaker 8: Okay, Speaker 2: That's the only reason why we can put it as special permit at this time. And then later we just amend it,
which we just amend it. Right? Yeah, Speaker 8: No, I, I follow your logic. So, so if you look at in the DM where personal service establishments are by, right? Why would we make body art a special permit? Speaker 2: I did not amend it. That was what went through the previous town meeting. So we were just, Speaker 8: I mean, I guess what where I'm going is if it's by right, make it by. Right. Speaker 9: Well, but if it's, it's by right. Kind of a, Speaker 8: I mean, I'm saying personal service establishments are BuyRight. So why are we making, if, if, again, if you're gonna, if you have an, an existing spa
under the personal service establishment use category, why would we wanna make a special permit to add a new service such as body art within an already BuyRight use? That does not make sense to me. Speaker 9: Well, although this requires, from what I'm hearing from Mr. Boudreaux is that it, it requires a more careful permitting than simply saying, okay, fine, go ahead. Not from Speaker 8: A personal use could be somebody just cutting hair. Right? Not from a use perspective. I mean, I think from a regulation perspective, a health regulation perspective, sure.
But why would we as a board be so concerned about the addition of a body art service within an existing establishment? That's by Right. Why would we elevate that to a special permit? That does not make much sense to me. I mean, we can say we, we allow it in this town or we don't, but we are. So let's make it easy. I mean, why would we wanna do that? And, and correct me if I'm wrong, a special permit brings along site plan review Speaker 2: In some cases. Yeah. Sometimes it's just straight. Speaker 8: I really don't have an interest in seeing the body yard establishment site plan approval in
Speaker 9: This case. Would it require site plan review if there were not a change the exterior of the building? Speaker 2: Let me figure out what we Speaker 8: Wrote. Well, that would be different Speaker 2: If it's an existing establishment because we went through the site plan review process and there were certain things that were exempt. I just haven't memorized them all yet. So anything that's exempt from site plan review, Speaker 9: You know, it's exempt if it doesn't have any change, basically any change to the exterior. 'cause we had that with that vet. Okay. Speaker 8: Aside from the site plan review piece, well, why would we wanna spend time on this board? So let's say someone comes before us and says we want to, we want own a nail shop with massage.
Okay. Yeah. So that's a, that's a personal service establishment. It's by Right. In some districts, why would we care and have our time taken up with a special permit to add body art in an existing establishment? I, I, I don't have any interest in that. Speaker 2: Or it would be, it could be a standalone establishment. There's nothing requiring this. Speaker 8: What questions would we ask? Speaker 2: Well this, is Speaker 8: That be different of a nail spa or something? Like what, what kind of questions would we ask? Other than Speaker 2: Yeah. Impact. No, I understand. And it's uses that you want to attract. Do you make 'em as of right uses that you want to select
where they're gonna locate you, put 'em by a special permit if you don't want them, you put No, we can align those uses. There was really no thought into site plan review or as of right. Versus special permit. Because the board of health is gonna be the ones that are doing Yeah. All of the heavy lifting, honestly. Yeah. Which we're extremely grateful for. But, Speaker 8: So I would suggest that on in the dm, in the C two. Speaker 2: Okay. Speaker 8: And
cg that those be by right. Speaker 9: Dm, CG and C two. Speaker 8: Dm C two Speaker 9: And Speaker 8: Cg. Cg. Speaker 1: So DM currently they could do it by special apartment, right? Yes. So this would be a by, right? Yes, Speaker 2: That's correct. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 8: That's what I would recommend. Speaker 1: That would include the spas. Speaker 8: It would just align it, it would in some it would just align the bo the, the personal service establishment with with the Speaker 1: Body including, correct. Speaker 9: Well, and, and there, you know, there, there was a time when there was a stigma around
tattooing that is no longer the case and I doubt it will ever come to return to that. So treating it as any personal service that that would be fair. Assuming that town meeting agrees with us, Speaker 2: I can make those changes simple enough. It's kind of like on the flip side wise, personal service, a special permit, especially in the industrial zoning districts, when that is where some really cool Yeah. Personal service studios actually locate. So Speaker 8: Put them on your list. Speaker 2: I'll add that to the list. But yeah.
Speaker 1: Which ones were those again? Speaker 2: DM is DC two, cg, Speaker 9: CG and C two. Some Speaker 8: DM Speaker 1: CC Speaker 8: Two and cg. It would still be, you know, as we have this here, it would still be special permit in industrial one, industrial two Speaker 9: Because we're trying to save industrial one and two, the space in industrial one and two for heavier. That would make sense for commercial uses. Speaker 2: That's fine. Speaker 8: Okay. That's all I have. Alright, Speaker 1: Terry? No,
Speaker 9: I think we've talked through Speaker 1: I Speaker 2: And I'm sorry. Speaker 1: I'm curious, Mr. Boudreaux, would the inspection of these facilities, would that involve any, any additional inspectors? Or is it easy enough for one inspector to visit a a SPA and do two or three different functions within that spa? Speaker 4: It's possible. Really, the only things in a general spa that we would regulate on a local level would be if they had a tanning booth. You know, that's what's under a regulation.
We don't permit or regulate nail salons nor hair cutting, you know, or you know, cosmetic services short of it being permanent. But yes to, to answer your question, to boil it down, we could do multiple inspections on one facility. Speaker 1: Okay. Thank you. Well if we're gonna make some Yes and amen, Speaker 2: Just to follow up with that, just to align the body art establishments with the personal service establishments, wouldn't it make sense
to add an SP to exponent? Like for the HM I-H-M-I-A and HMIB and then also for the lc zoning district Speaker 9: Or HM one. Speaker 2: Hm one. Yeah. Okay. Because we already allow personal services by special permit and it has the, basically the EndNote in that as well. Speaker 9: No, I was just, you had said it. HMI inside. Speaker 2: Oh sorry, yes. In my Speaker 8: Head Yes. To answer your question, yes. Speaker 2: Okay. So we'll change, yeah, we'll add in the HMIA M1, BH M1. Yep. Hm one, sorry. Yes. One A and B.
And then the lc district, just because there are other places and we're not getting to that in its entirety at this time. So we'll put those Hm one Hm one B as special permits with the two lc will be by, right. Because that's what it is currently. And then we will still delete the footnote four, which is shown on the bottom there. Which basically I think kind of reiterates what the, it's in the regional center. We no longer need that because we're actually allowing it in all the district.
Speaker 9: Cool. Speaker 1: Okay. I had another just, Speaker 2: And there is a member of, of the public with their hand up, just so you're Speaker 1: Aware. Oh, does anybody else have the hand up? Speaker 2: A member of the public, but you usually go to the board. First Speaker 1: Question, if someone were to locate this particular body art function in a spa, is there any, when you say mechanical or HV a's you said, air air handling is something in, in the, something that you are looking at that you'll inspect for. And I'm just wondering if there's any unique air handling conditions that, for instance, a,
a positive pressure or negative pressure or so anything like that that Speaker 4: No, it's general ventilation. Me mechanical ventilation requirements. Nothing special. Speaker 1: Great. Thank you. Amanda, did you say there was Speaker 2: Yeah, there was. There's a member of the public. Matthew. Speaker 1: Matthew, can we have the full name? Matthew, can you put the entire name, your last name or first name if whichever is which missing Matthew. There they are. I don't, Speaker 2: I can, I can look up his last name 'cause I do know who Speaker 10: The hand has has gone down.
Speaker 5: I don't know. I think it's Matt. I think it's Matt Trager. Speaker 2: It is. Yep. Like Speaker 5: He also was said he was feeling under the weather. So let's give him half a break. Speaker 1: Should we, are you waiting for him or? Speaker 2: I can amend. I know who it, if you wanna have him unmute himself, I can amend it. Speaker 10: Oh hi. Can you hear me? Speaker 1: Oh, here he's on I think Speaker 2: And I'll Speaker 10: Oh hi. Hi, this is, this is Matt. I just sent a, a little, a little message on the notes. I'm just, I'm out with the flu today but I just really wanted to thank everyone for their time today. This was very informative. I actually chatted with the owner, Jessica Helen
of Gel and Beauty in, in Wellesley in, and she iterated everything that Michael Borow iterated as well. So it was just very informative tonight and I just wanna thank everyone for their time. Speaker 1: Very good. Thank you. Feel better. Speaker 10: Thank you. Thank you. I really appreciate it. Thank you everyone. Speaker 1: Alright. Speaker 10: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 1: To make these changes as you were Amanda, you were suggesting, is there anything we have to do as a formality here in the Speaker 2: Board? So yes, there's a few things which would be if you wanna vote your recommendation,
'cause this is a public hearing for the Springtown meeting. Also to put it on the warrant. 'cause the warrant closes on Thursday of next week, the 20th, Speaker 9: Which I'm happy to make a motion to recommend favorable a action to the subject matter concerning body art as discussed and as revised Speaker 1: As discussed and revised and Speaker 9: Revised Speaker 8: Second Speaker 1: Made and seconded. Any discussion And take a vote on it. Terry, Speaker 9: Evan Za. Speaker 1: Oh, I've gotta go Terry Evans. We've gotta go full name. Yeah.
Speaker 9: Evans. Speaker 1: I Evans I Doug? Speaker 8: Yes. Aye Speaker 1: Last name Landry. I don't know if I ever vote. Okay. Andy? Yes. Meyer. Aye. Glenn Speaker 6: Later. Aye. Speaker 1: Not in sin high. Thank you. Speaker 2: Alright, so the next one. Thank Speaker 8: You Mr. Madre. Speaker 2: Thank very Speaker 1: You're welcome very much. Yes. Yep. Speaker 2: So this one here. I did not expect Mr. Landry to be here today and I thought we were gonna have a more lengthy conversation on the youth regulation schedule at
that the 26th. So I apologize, I'm not ready for tonight. But with the warrant being closed on the 20th, if the board would agree to put this on the warrant, Speaker 9: I will, I will move that. We put the subject matter of amending zoning bylaws, use regulation schedule on the warrant. Speaker 8: Great. Second. Speaker 1: Second then seconded discussion hearing then Terry Evans. Speaker 9: Aye. Speaker 1: Doug Speaker 8: Landry.
Aye. Speaker 1: Alan? No. Oh, you can't, can't. I'm sorry. Glenn Speaker 6: Later. Aye. Speaker 1: Andy Meyer. Aye. And not an aye. Speaker 2: And that's with the planning board sponsoring both those articles because I think we had agreed to do that way back when we advertised it. So. Awesome. Thank you. Speaker 8: So we can vote on the motion? Speaker 9: No, we'll do that on the 26th. Speaker 8: That's I'm saying. Yeah, Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. This is just a little blur. Basically what appears in the legal ad is what goes in for the warrant. But I will send it to Ms. Evans just to do a double check. Double check to make sure we captured everything.
Speaker 8: Do we need to close the hearing for the body art piece? Yes, please. Speaker 9: So, okay. Motion to close the public hearing on body art. Second. Speaker 1: All those in favor? Speaker 9: Terry Evans. Aye. Speaker 8: Landry? Aye Speaker 1: I Speaker 6: Later. Aye Speaker 1: Mayor. Aye. Andy. Aye. Nots and aye. Speaker 2: And then you do need to continue the public hearing for the youth regulations regulation. Speaker 9: So moved second Speaker 1: To Speaker 2: February 26th. Speaker 9: Yep. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 6: Later. I Speaker 1: Later Andy Speaker 5: Meyer. Aye. Speaker 1: Doug Landry. Aye. Mountains and aye. That's February, what? 26th next, correct? Yes.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 1: The D. Okay. If, I believe the clerk has something to read for us on 49. Oh Speaker 8: Yes. I don't think we need to open the hearing. Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not really sure Speaker 8: If they've withdrawn. Speaker 1: Was it, Speaker 2: I've stamped it in with the clerk. The process has kind of started, but then I think if Speaker 9: We, I think if we open the public hearing, say they've withdrawn close the public hearing. Okay. Speaker 8: You gonna Speaker 1: Make me read this? Just, Speaker 8: You gotta make me Speaker 1: Read it. Alright. It's those dulce tones. We just, Speaker 8: Okay. Speaker 5: I, I'm not sure they've withdrawn. I I think we should open it and just see what the next steps are.
Speaker 2: No, they definitely withdrew. They Speaker 8: Have withdrawn Andy, sorry, there's a note here from Mr. Lavinsky withdrawing the application. Speaker 5: When was that dated? Speaker 8: It was dated five o'clock this evening. Speaker 1: That subsequent the email that we got earlier that they had just hadn't paid. Yeah. Now this is subsequent to that. So they're out. Speaker 2: Yeah. Okay. We've gone through a lot of review for it, Speaker 8: Shall I? Sure. Yes. So Natick planning board notice of public hearing for the property at 49 Elliot Street. Assessor map 63 lot 62 on Wednesday,
February 12th, 2025 at 7:00 PM the planning board would hold a hybrid meeting in the Edward H Lot meeting room located at 13 East Central Street, Natick, mass, and virtually via Zoom. To review the application of 49 dash 51 Elliot Street rt, the applicant, the applicant has submitted an application for site plan review under section six dash dd historic preservation section three a 0.2 A six three dash J and five dash DD special permit for use under section three dash a two modifications
and waivers under section three J dash eight and section five dash E and aquifer protection district section three dash a 0.5 of the nat zoning bylaws. The application proposes to utilize existing commercial space located to the rear of the bill of the existing structure for the three residential dwelling units. The project is located at 49 Elliot Street and is located within the commercial two C two and the aquifer protection district. A PD copy of the application can be reviewed in the community and economic development office. And on the website@wwwnama.gov 1 6 2
community do dash economic dash development. The virtual meeting link will be located on the post that agenda per order. Naac plaintiff board Peter Nason chair. Speaker 1: Alright, meeting is open to the, Speaker 8: So yeah, sorry Speaker 1: To the note. Speaker 8: So there is a note here from Mr. Lavinsky on behalf of the applicant. Hi Amanda and Dave, we are withdrawing PB 2 52. I guess that's the case number, right? Yep. 49 Elliot Street. Despite every effort on any of everyone's part, especially yours, this was not meant to be installation of the sprinkler system was too costly.
Thanks again for all your time and we live for another day. Thanks Steve. Speaker 1: So now there's no comment on that. Close them. I'll Speaker 9: Move to close the public hearing Speaker 8: Second Speaker 1: And Terry Evans. Speaker 9: Aye Speaker 8: Evans aye land Aye Speaker 1: That No second. Five. Five Glenn later. Aye Meyer Aye nots And aye that closed and we move on to planning board business potential 2025 spring annual town meeting zoning
articles. Yep. Speaker 2: Alright, so there are a few items that I did wanna bring your attention to. If you're in the planning board packet for tonight. If you go into and bear with me, I apologize, my mouse is not working, nor is my tracker pad. So if you go into 2025 town meeting, Which is in your packet, you'll see a series of folders and the one I would like to bring your attention to is the Floodplain District. This one I don't wanna discuss because we do have the opening public hearing for February 26th,
but at this time it does not have a sponsor. And with the warrant closing on the 20th, I didn't know if the planning board wanted to be the sponsor or we would be asking the conservation commission to be the sponsor of this. What this article is high level not getting into the details is a redo. So FEMA went and updated the maps. We have those. So that would be updating. In addition to that, we actually took the model bylaw, which is provided by the state and would be deleting the existing blood plain district bylaw and replacing it with the model bylaw with
a couple tweaks to make it unique to Natick because one of them is that we have to identify a flood plain manager, which is the point of contact. If FEMA had to contact the town, we would make that the town administrator. Oh. And they would designate that person. So that's what a lot of communities do because then if you have a person who's very strong in this type of work and they might be the conservation commission, but that person leaves and then the DPW town engineer is actually also like you can move it around.
It's not tied to that one position. So those are the things that we're, like I say, we are making it unique in that part. Speaker 9: It would make, it would make sense for it to be sponsored by con com because that's what they do. Yep. Speaker 2: I just didn't want to provide you an opportunity. 'cause the board does do so much work with the zoning bylaw and Speaker 9: Who knows how long FEMA will be around. Speaker 2: Yes. So that's why I just wanted to bring that one up to you. It is worked. You can see the draft, so you can see it is Speaker 8: Con com. Can they do this? Can they sponsor it? Are they, do they have a schedule that allows them to sponsor it? Speaker 2: I believe so. I think they're meeting T
Speaker 9: Tomorrow. Tomorrow usually. Usually week on Speaker 8: Thursdays. And is Claire Claire? Speaker 2: Yeah, Claire's actually taken the lead on this. Oh. But yeah. Okay. Like we've contributed to it, but, Speaker 8: And I just, I quickly looked at it. I, yeah, I mean I, it nothing's major in it. It updates it it, yeah. Speaker 2: And if worse comes to worse, not controversial conservation can't, we can have the town administrator also sponsor the article. So it was just, I didn't wanna provide Speaker 9: They have sponsored articles before. Yeah, Speaker 2: I'm just saying if their schedule doesn't line up. Yeah. In terms of that. I just didn't want to not let the planning board have an opportunity. So. So that's one.
The next one is a similar kind of article, accessory dwelling units. The planning board does not have any jurisdiction over these because they are a by buy right use. So most of it goes through the building department with some exceptions that go to the zoning board of appeals specifically for like section six findings of where they're located. So with that being said, as you're aware, this is a very new item that the state adopted back in August of 2024. Went into effect February 2nd, 2025. Natick went and we put the bylaw together.
We knew that we needed to watch what the state was doing. They came out with regulations. We did provide a letter of comment on those regulations that they provided. Probably took none of them. But our definition for gross floor area does not align with them. So we have to use the gross floor area definition as defined in the regulations. However, instead of keep changing the definition every time the regulations get changed, it would just refer to, I think it's like seven 60 CMR 71. Yeah. And just point them to that. The gross floor area definition would not change
for anything else. Only for the one principal, one family dwelling and the A DU. Speaker 8: What is in a nutshell, what is the difference between the Speaker 2: Yeah, so we actually count it from the exterior of the wall and the state's regulations for ADUs counts it from the interior of the wall. Then they also call out a list of items. So if it's an enclosed porch that gets excluded from the gross floor area. Those kind of items. So it is different because we haven't had enough time to formulate an entire
gross floor area definition. 'cause we might need to update the definition for the town. I don't want to make that change right now without having a lot more work on it. So this is a fix that we kind of have to do. So. So what is, what Speaker 9: Is the request? Speaker 2: The request is, does a planning board wanna sponsor this article or would this be also a town administrator article? Speaker 8: Fine with me. I mean, who the, when the A DU stuff went in last time, right? Speaker 2: Fall of 2024? Yes. Who, Speaker 8: Who sponsored that? Speaker 2: I believe it was the town administrator
because we were doing that at the very end. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 8: And Speaker 2: It's either way, yeah, Speaker 9: I mean it, it, it's, it's, it's weird because we don't have a, a very active role to play. However, it directly involves zoning. Yeah. Speaker 2: And again, it's kind of like the floodplain district. It Speaker 8: Yeah. I'm not a time meeting member anymore. But I would think it'd be a little more familiar and comfortable if Jamie gave the same present like him, right. 'cause hey, I was here last time and then this is what we gotta do to update it. So I would think he would. I agree. Speaker 2: And that's fine. I just, because the board does a lot of work, I didn't want you not to have the opportunity to.
Speaker 9: I like that opportunity thing. Speaker 2: Well 'cause the planning board is kind of instrumental in amending the bylaw. And so Speaker 9: It's just Well and this is so much kind kind of not, not the bylaw in some ways because it's a mandate statewide. Speaker 2: It is. So it is. But it's just, I don't want you not to have the opportunity. So the last one is, and this is kind of one that we briefly talked about previously, which was a larger scale. This would be section one general would be pulling in just basic language that we had
or would need in that section one to kind of prepare ourselves for moving things in the future. This one is not required for this town meeting. This is something that we need to do at some point. And I didn't know if the board wanted to start doing this work for the spring town meeting or we could start it in the fall. Speaker 9: In the fall at this point. Speaker 2: That sounds good. And so that's all I have. Unless someone has an item that they wanna have for the fall town or sorry, spring Speaker 8: Duty. No, not for the spring of question. Yeah. Are we dealing with the footnotes? When are we doing that piece? Speaker 2: So we would do that in the fall. Got it. Yeah. Okay.
Because we were almost done with the use regulation schedule. And so that actually helps eliminate a lot of those footnotes, which then keeps PLA things in their places. So then when we change those ones, we can actually fix it because to fix the footnotes of section NOAL four B, we have to actually look at the different sections that we weren't able to take out Speaker 8: Of. So it'll be, we'll have a cleaner slate to deal with. Yes. Speaker 2: Okay. Got it. Yeah, we've done a lot of the heavy lifting. 'cause the use regulation schedule
and site plan review, aquifer protection district, were the, the big ones honestly. Okay. And as of right now, I don't have an update on MBTA communities, so we're leaving it as is at this time or unless someone on the board wants to do something with it. But I don't have any insider knowledge. Oh. Speaker 1: Where do I? Great. Speaker 2: Okay. Awesome. So just to recap, planning board will be sponsoring and we'll be adding to the warrant section 3 26 1 height, which is basically up in the golden,
or sorry, the overlay districts. So it's a highway mixed use the regional center, the mall overlay district. So we voted that a while back. That public hearing is closed. We'll start drafting that. We, the motion, we also closed the public hearing for the elimination of the indoor recreation overlay district, which amends the map and the bylaw that was already previously voted. Then we will be having the planning board sponsor the body art establishments and then also the use regulation schedule.
And then I will have conservation or the town administrator do the floodplain district and then town administrator do the accessory dwelling unit. Speaker 9: Okay. So that's five for us. Four for us. Speaker 2: Kind of four because yeah, indoor recreation, even though it's a bylaw and a map, I count that as one. There's Speaker 9: 3 26 1 indoor recreation, body art and use regulation schedule. Speaker 2: And then the two others that are not planning board. Speaker 9: Yeah. Speaker 2: Yep. Great. So on the 26th we'll focus on the use regulation schedule, which would be our last item except
for we do have the public hearing for the over or floodplain district starting on the 26th. Speaker 8: Yes, I see that. Yep. Speaker 2: I did print out for everyone here and I can send it out the February 26th agenda, just so you are aware what's on that? Speaker 9: Cool. It's been so long since we've had a kennel. I just, I've, I've missed them Speaker 8: And just not to open up the 26th here, but the 79 speed street we all know has been, Speaker 2: Actually we cannot, there's been conversations where it may not be. So that's why I haven't changed it. Okay. Speaker 9: Okay. We haven't closed it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, there's been contact of some changes. Okay. Which is why I didn't change that. Okay. Speaker 1: Alright. Anything on the planning board committee assignments? Speaker 2: I, Speaker 9: There's an, there's a, an open space advisory committee meeting tomorrow night as I can say, as the representative to the open space advisory committee for the planning board. That's my assignment. That's my report. Speaker 8: Didn't Andy consistently bring up the fact we don't have a affordable house housing trust fund
Speaker 2: Committee? Yeah. We do need someone to join. Speaker 9: And when Patty Sierra stepped down, she had been acting as our sponsor. Our sponsor is our representative, but we really should. Yes. Not me. I got enough of these things and Oh, that's right because ICC, Speaker 2: Olivia and I do attend. I was not able to attend last night, but yeah, sorry. And then also the CPC. Oh, Speaker 9: I was just saying it's like I forgot. Yes, that's, we are in the middle of our, well we had the information session series of focus groups. I was able to attend one of the focus groups,
but could not make the one that's tonight and on another night just trying, they had one focus group on open space, one on historic preservation and one on Speaker 2: Affordable housing, affordable housing. But tonight's was the historic and it got merged with housing and open space and recreation because there wasn't as many people who wanted to join the historic. But there was quite a few people who wanted to participate in the others, but the other ones were full. So they opened this one up to everybody just so everyone could get their opportunity. Speaker 9: I think that was a great idea. Yeah. To, to take that, to take that opportunity to kind
of catch people who Yep. Couldn't participate elsewhere. So, and I will say that we, we are stole, there are elements of the proposal process that are all still very much in development. We are, we're ambitious about when we, when we think we can begin accepting applications. I I, I hope we can meet that ambition. But So you in the process of, I'd rather it's a solid process than that we rush through to get it this year. Speaker 8: And that's what you're dealing with now, laying out what the process will be. Yes.
Speaker 9: Yeah. Speaker 11: It's, Speaker 2: I don't have any committee reports right now. Everything's been just kind of merging together. And we do have the legislative breakfast breakfast coming up in March. I'll send that information to you. What, what is that about? Metro West Regional Collaborative. It's an MAPC. So the legislators get together and give an update on everything that's been happening this year. It's gonna be in Medway and I'll send you the information once the is Speaker 8: Due. Do they actually show up or is it their staff? Speaker 2: Yep. Yep. They do. Okay. The, we were nailing down the dates, time, location,
logistics on Monday of this week so they could get the everything else ready together. So I'll send that out. So you Speaker 8: Don't know when it is? No, Speaker 2: I think it's March 5th, but it could be the 15th. Honestly, like Speaker 11: The odds, Speaker 2: There are actually a, let's see here. Nope, that's actually the winter council meeting, so no, it's not that day. I will get you that information. Okay. Speaker 8: Those are public meetings obviously, right? Speaker 2: I was, what's that? Speaker 8: Those are public meetings.
Anyone can go to those. Yep. Yeah. Speaker 2: Yeah. We don't, I don't think they have required attendance. It's usually just come have breakfast. It's pretty good. Speaker 8: Okay. Speaker 2: It could be March 27th. I will send that to you before I start guessing because the fifth did remind me of something. But it's the winter council meeting, so it's different. Speaker 1: No, not yet. I would like to bring up an item as planning board business first. I'd apologize for the, my note in the email about five Auburn Street
I've read as the revised note that I guess went to the ZBA Matt, is that correct? It did go to the ZBA. Speaker 2: Yes. It went to the ZBA for their meeting on Monday the 10th of February. Speaker 1: Okay. Now that decision by the ZBA is, if I'm not mistaken, is deferred until March 10th. Speaker 2: Well, there's no decision. They continued the public hearing from February 10th to March 3rd for the purposes of reviewing the requested waivers.
'cause the waiver request was updated. They just didn't get enough time to do that. And then they were scheduled for the following meeting to be on March 31st. Alright. Speaker 1: My concern is this, having read the letter and actually had something to do with putting a couple of the comments in there. I don't believe that the REC, from my perspective, the recommendation is, or the letter is strong enough in terms of what I feel should be done. And what I wanted to do is discuss the letter
and the possibility of amending it, which I believe we can do if the board decides. But let me explain to you what my concern is, Speaker 6: Mr. Chair. Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 6: I I don't think this falls under planning board business. There were members of the public that were very interested in this topic and if we're gonna talk about it, it should have been called out as an agenda item. Speaker 1: No, I believe, I believe that it is planning board because the planning board is writing this recommendation to the ZBA. But that's not, Speaker 6: I, I'm not saying it's not our thing to do. I'm saying that it should be listed as an item on our agenda in order to comply
with the open meeting law. I, for one, do not wanna be held in violation of the open meeting law. Particularly not as I walk out the door, Speaker 9: Generally planning board business is used for administrative kind of tying up loose ends a little like going through what different committees are working on Speaker 1: And so forth. Then may I ask then if there's something that is, that I feel is quite important on this. I can't be at the meeting that the ZBA will be having on this, but I believe it is a critical, critical issue.
And I don't know how, if at all, it can be brought to the attention of the ZBA in no specific No, no, no. Nonspecific terms, Speaker 6: If I may. Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 6: I think the only option that we have available right now is for you to write a letter as a private citizen and provide it to the ZBA. So they will have your thoughts about, about whatever it is you wanna share your thoughts about. But I don't think that the planning board can change the letter that we wrote and voted and approved at this point without posting it
as an agenda item and allowing the public to have input on what we're gonna say to the ZBA. But you are certainly welcome to provide your input directly to the ZBA as a private citizen. Speaker 1: Well, I input, Speaker 5: I don't think we voted the letter. I think we had the meeting and Amanda summarized it and sent it, but I don't think we voted it. Speaker 1: I don't recall any vote on the Speaker 9: Email. Wait, no, what you just said was, okay, so I'm going to gather together the comments I have heard. I'm going to put them in a letter. Speaker 1: Put Speaker 9: It in a letter. We didn't vote on it, but you then provided us with that letter. Yeah, because I know I,
there are a couple points I made back to you Speaker 1: And I accepted those. Yeah, Speaker 5: It probably would've been better to have it as an, of course they had their meeting Monday and honestly we couldn't have let me know how many people know how much weight the ZBA gives it. You know, it's an advisory, it's a three page, you know, single spaced advisory letter. Any guesses as to how many ZBA members read it? I don't know. Maybe they all did. But you know, we, we, we had, we had two meetings with these folks, which is rare. We asked a lot of good questions. There's a lot of good information in that letter. And you know, it's disappointing that
what we sent doesn't necessarily include all of the views held by board members. So I, the, I know they've gotten a lot of letters from private individuals. That's not the same as getting a letter from the chair of the native planning board. Speaker 1: But I couldn't identify myself that way. If I hear correctly, I would have to be as a private citizen Speaker 9: In, in my individual capacity as a member, you could say in my Speaker 1: Individual capacity as a member of the plan. Alright, I will, I will do that. We'll, I'll take the motion to the last motion. Adjourn.
Motion to adur. Adjourn second. Aye. Evans Aye. Aye. Aye. Glen Aye. Thank you. Thank you.