As a preliminary matter, this is Woody Knight, chair of the Newbury Planning Board. Um, permit me to confirm that all members and persons anticipated on this agenda can hear me and that they are present. Um, planning board members, when I call your name,
please respond in the affirmative. Peter Pos, >> yes, sir. Larry Murphy >> here. >> Scott Kenta. >> Yes. >> And Steve Manian. >> Yes. >> And talent staff. Kristen Grubs, planning director.
>> Yes. >> And Satie Woodward, assistant planner. >> Here. >> Very good. We're all here tonight. Um, >> good evening. June 15, 2026 open meeting of the Newbury Playing Board is being
conducted remotely consistent with the chapter 2 of the acts of extends the governor's March 12, 2020 order suspend 20 until June 30th, 2027.
For this meeting, the new pling board is convening by video conference via Zoom as posted on the planning board's agenda, which can be found at the town's website. You may join us by going to http semicolonless
zoom. us and entering meeting ID number 832 71413056 and the passcode is 108790 or by calling in via telephone 1 19292056099 US then entering the meeting ID number
and passcode when prompted. Please note that this meeting is being recorded and that attendees are participating by video and our telephone conference. This meeting is also being broadcast live through local access cable channel 9 and
on Zoom and at newetv.wicksite.com/tnctv and the recording will be available on the new access YouTube channel. Meeting business ground rules. Before we turn to the first item on the agenda, permit me to cover some ground rules for effective and clear conduct of our
business to ensure that to ensure accurate meeting minutes. As chair, I'll introduce each speaker on the agenda. After speakers conclude their remarks, I'll go down the list of board members, inviting each by name to provide any
comment, questions, or motion. For all attendees, please remember to mute your audio when you're not speaking. On Zoom, use the mute button. On your telephone, use star six to toggle to mute and to unmute. There will be an opportunity for public comment and questions during the
public hearing. I'll see questions and comments from the members of the public through the Zoom raise hand function. video conference participants to raise your hand, hover over the bottom of the Zoom window below the photo gallery and click on the image of the hand interface.
Please ensure that your name is fully and correctly displayed on the participant list. For [clears throat] our telephone participants, to raise your hand in a Zoom meeting, hit star 9 on your telephone keypad. Each participant will be called on to provide his or her name and address and
then may ask their question or make a comment. Please do your best to keep your comments or questions to three minutes or less. Your hand will be lowered when you have been given the floor for your questions or comments. I will afford the applicant or their representative the opportunity to reply.
Should there be a written submittal of questions or concerns, they will be noted for the record. The applicant will be afforded the opportunity to speak if the issues raised have not yet been addressed. And finally, each vote taken in this meeting will be
conducted by roll call vote. All right. Uh, first item on the agenda this evening is meeting minutes. Has everyone had a chance to review meeting minutes for June 17, 2026? >> Yep. See a nod. Um, are there any edits
or corrections to the mains for June 17th? Uh, I just have one small [snorts] typo. Um, I made the motion to adjurnn and in the motion my last name is misspelled. A couple of the letters were transposed. So, if we could fix that,
I'm otherwise fine with it. >> Very good. Nice catch, Larry. So, with that said, does anyone else have any corrections? Hearing none. Um I would entertain a
motion to approve the June 17, 2026 meeting minutes as amended. >> So move. >> Thank you, Larry. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Steve. Roll call vote. Peter,
>> yes. >> Larry, >> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. >> Steve, >> yes. and I vote yes as well. That takes care of our meeting then. Next item on the agenda is liaison meeting reports.
Um we'll start with ZBA. That would be Larry. >> Uh they're having their regular monthly meeting tomorrow night. Two items on the agenda. Continued public hearing on a special permit for 129 Northern Boulevard and also to finalize the
decision on 15 Sunset Drive special permit. And that's all I have. Okay. Thank you, Larry. Uh, conservation commission, that would be myself. Um, I believe we met last Tuesday and
[clears throat] um there were a number of items on the agenda. The only thing I recall that pertained to us was um a letter from the conservation commission to the planning board that laid out um the results and actions taken for 34
central street. So we all received that letter and um it was noted for the record. Um MVPC Kristen, do you have anything from them? >> Um no, the both the planners monthly
meeting and the commissioners meetings are on a summer break. >> Very good. Thank you. Um, okay. Then moving on. Um, next item on the agenda is old business.
Um, we have KNR construction site plan. This is a request for release of escrow funds for site plan review project at 84 Boston Road. Assesses map R36 lot 23A.
The applicant Kevin Whitney, KN&R Construction Company LLC. Um Kristen, would you like to update us on that? >> Sure. So, the board um reviewed the asel plan and closed this project out, the
site plan project out at a previous meeting. So, this is just um the last administrative cleanup. We um have had money in the town's escrow fund to pay for peer review, for the engineering review, including review of the asbuilt
plan. So, we've paid the last bill to the town's peer review and now the applicant um receives the remaining funds back. So, this is a vote to return um the remaining dollars in the escrow fund to the applicant. And I believe
there's um $16627 um and the vote will read plus any interest that's accured at the time the money is being returned if that makes sense.
>> Okay, thank you Kristen. Any questions? Any questions or comments on this from the board hearing? None. Um, I would entertain a motion to release all remaining funds, including interest from the peerreview engineering escrow account for the KN&R
Construction site plan project to return the funds to Kevin Whitney KN&R Construction LLC and to close out the account. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Larry. Do I have a second? >> Absolutely.
>> Thank you, Pete. Roll call vote. Pete, >> yes. Larry, >> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. >> Steve, >> yes. >> And I vote yes as well. So that takes care of the old business KN&R close out
of West Groves. Um, next thing on the agenda is uh August meeting dates. We're meeting next week uh due to circumstances uh with 34
Central Street um hold that tonight due to conflicts in uh schedules with the lawyer with the attorney. So we're meeting with them on that is the 29th correct Kristen? >> Right. So two two weeks from tonight.
>> Yep. And then our next regularly scheduled meeting for the planning board would be August the first Wednesday in August. So that would put us have us lined up for three meetings in a row. So um Kristen, if you want to take over,
you sent out an email to the board. So you'd like to cover what the dates are. I don't have the dates in front of me. I apologize. So >> no, that's that's fine. Yeah, we just want to um talk this through uh in the case we need to continue the public
hearing with um a couple of the other projects. So yeah, as Woody said, uh the board's meeting two weeks from tonight um the last Wednesday in July. July has five Wednesdays um this month. So we
missed our first meeting, but we're catching up um and having two meetings in July. So, I guess I just want to check with the board. Um, [snorts] as Woody said, it seems it probably doesn't make sense to have back-to-back meetings
on July 29th and August 5th. So, I wanted to check if the board wanted to change the regular first Wednesday meeting, which would have been August 5th, to either the 12th or the 19th for
the August meeting. Is everyone available on either one of those dates? >> Available for either the 12th or the 19th. >> Pete? >> Yep. Um, what does the uh load look
like? >> Um, 34 central and continuence of 15 central. And then anything else that Kristen may have that pencled in?
>> I don't uh there aren't any other projects that I know of that are coming in in the near term. There are a few things um that are out there in terms of uh not a public hearing, but some other project stuff that I don't know which
when they'll come in yet. Okay. So was the thought that >> Kristen does does Sunset need to come in for final. Okay, >> they do need to close out. My
understanding is the engineers working on the asphelt plan. So >> okay, >> waiting to hear when that's ready to submit. the board needs to receive that and then have it in hand and reviewed by peer review before they're on the agenda.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. So that could be coming in. That's one of the ones. >> So is the thought at this point to have one meeting in August? >> It it is if that's okay with everyone on
the board. >> It probably would make sense, would he? You know, because if we have 34 next week week and if there's anything to do, nothing's going to happen by the 5th. So, landing on the 19th probably makes sense timewise and it gets 15 enough
time to button up whatever they need to button up. >> So, it sounds to me like we'll have a August meeting on the 19th. We do we have to vote on that, Kristen, or is that just all right the way it is?
Um, I don't think you need to vote on that. >> Um, we'll certainly, you know, make sure it's updated on the town website and on the calendar and um, every other place people generally look
>> the 19th would have been a a normal um, >> right >> meeting date. So, we're basically we're just skipping the 5th. >> Yep. Yep. Due to next week's meeting. So, >> all right. Sounds good. We'll meet next week, >> next Wednesday, and then we'll meet on
the 19th of August. >> Very good. >> Great. Thanks everybody. >> All right. Now, I have a 7:16. So, we'll start a public hearing this evening. [clears throat] Um, this is a public hearing. Definitive
subdivision application 15 Central Street. Assess map U1, lot 53 for a lot subdivision. applicant owner Michael Becker 15 Central Bfield LLC. Now I'd like to welcome Mike and Carissa
and are they here? I see Carissa. >> All right. Would you like to >> Oh, there's Mike. Hi, Mike. >> Good evening. Would you >> Would you one of you like to update us?
Give us some updates on the project. Uh we attended a meeting last week at the Bifill Water District Authority and uh they didn't have any uh significant changes for us. A couple of notes they wanted to add to the file that the
saddle saddle straps be stainless steel and that the uh water main taps be two foot of separation each. We noted those on the plan. Uh the uh the peer reviewer asked that we
give a spec on the retaining wall. Uh and we're intending to reuse the uh rock wall that's closest to the street as uh reuse that same rocks as a rock wall uh for the retaining wall. So,
no uh no no no specs on that as far as like brand or they're irregular and I think that's the about about it for uh outstanding items.
>> Thank you, Mike. Um Kristen, >> um do you have any updates that you'd like to speak to on on this project? Um yeah, I think Satie and I I'll both chime in a little bit just to update. Um
we've uh had some conversations since the last planning board meeting um regarding just reviewing all of the subdivision regulations with peer review um and and ourselves. And we've had some conversations with um Mike and Teresa
and your [snorts] um consultants about um just going through the waivers. And one of the waivers that's being requested is for no sidewalks. So, we just uh wanted to
make sure that the decision that the board is considering um includes uh sort of consideration of the regulation in the bylaw that talks about pedestrian and bike safety um as well as
traffic safety. So, I guess in general, this sort of category of considerations are either sidewalks on the new subdivision road or any off-site improvements to asssure that the um regulations are being met related to
safety. So, [snorts] as the board knows, you know, we've had this is we've been talking about this for a while. We had MVPC transportation team look at things. you know, the applicants been in front of the select board, so everybody's been
working together, which is great. I think the last thing we wanted to talk about tonight, um, and have had conversations with the applicant, and you you submitted a letter related to this, Mike, I don't know if you want to explain your letter, uh, to the meeting,
but >> it to the tree. >> Yeah, the sidewalk and the tree. Um so the discussion is whether there needs to be a sidewalk across the frontage of Central Street which would be a component of making the alignment of
Central [snorts] Street with Church Street um consistently uh well fixing the alignment, showing the engineering for the alignment and considering pedestrian and bike safety in addition to improving the safety of
the vehicles at that location. Uh so the letter that you're referring to is uh from our surveyor and uh I think perhaps the engineer but the the netn net is the the base of the tree which is a street tree. Uh the the one
closest to our driveway and closest to the street is ballpark, not a surveyor, but my recollection is about 2 ft and change above uh the street grade and approximately 7 ft away. Does that sound
right, Kristen? >> Um I think it's approximate, but I haven't done the measurements of that. So, uh, in order to put a sidewalk on top of that, sidewalk would probably be about, you know, 30 in up from the street. Not really feasible without
killing the tree. I definitely do not want to lose that tree. I'm trying to get any uh screening I can between the house and the street and the gas station. And that house is between kind of all that tree is between the house and kind of all
those things. So, I really don't want to lose that. Great. >> Um I I wondered if I Sorry, Woody. Just to um I know Sadi wrote up some
materials about the uh sort of recommendations that staff with MVPC are making. And I wanted to just if it makes sense now, give her an opportunity to talk about those recommendations in more detail than what I just mentioned.
Yeah. And that's fine. Um, did you have an aerial view of this that you could put up, Kristen? >> Yes. >> Go ahead. >> I will work on that. >> Okay. Yeah. Um, I mean, I think we we've communicated this with um you, Mike, and
Carissa over email. Um, and I believe the board has been sent this over email as well, but I'll just go through it quickly. Um, we all know, you know, um, MVPC's concept one is the preferred concept. That's the one that planning
staff recommends. Um, just teeing off the intersection. Um, in talks with, um, like within staff and DPW and, um, MVPC, uh, the sidewalk
along the frontage of Central Street is also recommended. uh as kind of a twofold um traffic calming treatment and also improving um pedestrian and bike mobility for the new
occupants of the duplex um and the the older house and also other um abutters and neighbors. um it would, you know, narrow the street so that people would slow down and it would also, you know, cause drivers to um
be more attentive when driving through or t turning onto Church Street. Um and in addition, um increasing pedestrian mobility would be um a crosswalk across um Central Street from the two from the new sidewalk to the sidewalk that exists
on the other side. Um and um possibly signage or um a flashing beacon would be a traffic calming treatment and um increased safety for pedestrians that you know there are pedestrians in this
area but it's not currently a safe um a safe area for for them and it would be you know it would improve the area to have these things and also you know um address the safety concerns that Abutters and planning board and staff
have. So those are those are the planning department planning staff recommendations for this for this intersection. >> Were you able to find that question? >> Yeah. Um can you see that? Is it big enough?
Are you seeing the shared screen? >> Yes, it looks good. >> Okay. >> So, this is this is our rough sketch, which is why um we need to if this is going to be considered, we need to have
this engineered, which is why um we had engineers look at it. But this sidewalk exists right now in front of the gas station um from the 95 um interchange. It comes in front of here and they have sort of, you know, the in the in and out
of the gas station and then it um this is I can zoom in a little bit. You can see here's the property line here um in blue and then the idea would be to continue the sidewalk. This is the tree,
the aerial of the tree that we're all talking about. There are some dead trees in here which you know we've talked about in the site visit as not the trees we're talking about and we're talking about this one right here >> and then >> sorry Kristen the the the
[clears throat] sidewalk that's in front of the gas station um that I mean you wouldn't need a sidewalk there because that is the intersection of the gas station eress and uh you know
out onto to uh central, right? I mean, is it just striping or >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. Thank you for clarifying that. >> Yep. >> All right. >> And that would be something not, you know, that we would work on with the
town and the gas station. >> Okay. So, the property line is here >> and there's the sidewalk ends at the curb of the parking lot >> for the gas station.
>> Theoretically, it ends kind of close to that tree. >> Yeah, >> it's paved. It's the same continuous pavement, but then it >> it slopes uphill dramatically and quickly. There's actually some shrubs in that spot now, which we're all right
with removing the shrubs, but we don't want to lose that that tree, which you can't really see well in this picture. I took some street shots of it if uh I'm going to share screen. >> Let's just go ahead Pete. I was just going to say
um we'll go through and Scott, thank you for your questions. We'll go through the board here. Pete, we'll start with you again. >> Thank you, Woody. Um, uh, you know, I I think I like this idea, and I'll tell you why. Um, I like the idea of the
crosswalk, and I like the idea of the two sidewalks connecting the crosswalk. And this does a couple things. One, you know, it does tee up that intersection that we spoke about, but, you know, it also will produce some traffic calming, which I am a huge favor of because no,
no one hits this doing 25. you know, people are still in a highway mode and they come tearing down the hill, they go past the old church and maybe when they get to the bottom of that hill where the stop sign is, they're starting to put on their brakes, but it's it's an area where people fly down. So, I think
having the sidewalk really does increase the safety capacity of this. And um not that I would ask the applicant to put a uh a flashing light or a crossing light here. Um, I think that would also be a nice additive to this area for the same reason because I think when people see
those sort of things, they they put on their radar screen they should be slow slowing down. Uh, so anything that we can do for calming the traffic, making it safe for people to to access and cross and walk. Um, I I think I'm I'm
comfortable with this. And was there an easement on the first part of this this part? Do I do I remember that right? >> Yeah. Yes. >> Speak of that as well. >> And where where's that easement? >> Uh that asphalt area between the law.
Yeah, right there. That's an easement for the benefit of the gas station. >> Okay. And is that [clears throat] paved right now? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the part of that is already paved. The the the piece in front of the
the gas station is paved. So, that's just striping there. there's no need for cost there. So, we're talking about from where the pavement ends uh distal or towards the intersection for for constructing a new a new uh area
of walking. Uh and and how does this tree factor into this thing, Kristen? Is the tree at risk or is there enough room there? >> Uh you mind if I share screen? >> Yes. >> Yeah. See?
Okay. See if you can >> the area view view is nice and um >> pictures like >> um I know we have we have a letter from Joe talking about this. I don't know if
Kristen you want me to read that or in >> um Sure. Yeah. While we're waiting for Mike to show the other photos. Is it working, Mike? The >> shar >> image from file. Yeah, having a little bit of a hard time with it. It'll only
let me get into my work photos from this profile. So, I'm trying to work around on that. >> All right. >> Okay. Well, Satie, why don't you talk? And meanwhile, I'm going to try to find Joe's um photo and share that.
>> Sounds good. Um, so, uh, Joe's letter, he said he received sheet five, uh, the 78 revision, um, and a water plan, also dated July 8th. Um,
his first comment says, "Relative to the off-site improvements to the Central Street and Church Street intersection, the plan offers little information. The engineer should provide a separate off-site improvements plan sheet depicting adequate information for the realignment of the intersection, including curbing, sidewalk, crosswalk,
signage, saw cut lines, etc. The engineer should also look at a proposed vertical granite curb approximately 2 ft off the fog line in Central Street with a 5-ft sidewalk and adequate handicap ramps. The sidewalk should the sidewalk location should allow for the existing
adjacent tree to remain. Um, and then he has comments regarding the water plan as well. Um, >> so is that do I hear the interpretation that there's enough room for the sidewalk to go in there and the tree to remain?
>> I believe that is what Joe is saying. >> Okay. Okay. >> Did Joe have a a photo? And I'm sorry uh for I can wait um to be called on. What do you >> Go ahead. No, go ahead, Scott. Where?
>> Yeah. Um I I thought Joe's Joe's had Joe had a um at a level out there and um as part of his uh he took a photo. Um >> yes. >> Yeah, I'll just >> Yeah, that's pretty meaningful. I mean,
it it kind of tells you tells you what uh what will work. So, Mike, I might kick you off and just show that other photo if that's okay. >> Okay. Okay. Thanks for your picture. >> Okay. Can we can you see that?
>> Yes. So, what this is showing is what Sadday just read, which is normally there's a twoft uh distance from the fog line, this white line, and then a sidewalk could
start with a 5 to 6 in raised um granite edge, which is consistent with the new Wish sidewalk on the other side of Central Street that the town put in just last year or last spring, I And this is showing a 5ft
um width of what a regular spec for a sidewalk width would be. And Joe's assessment of this is that you wouldn't have to cut into the grade and you could save the tree. There's enough room.
>> So essentially this is narrowing of the street in order to get the sidewalk in. narrowing of this shoulder to have a safe sidewalk rather than this larger shoulder. >> I don't mind that. I was I was under the
impression that the narrowing of the the the shoulder or the street was not an option. >> Um I don't know who I don't believe I said that to you. I'm not sure if that was said by anyone else. Um,
>> well, it could have been an assumption. Uh, but, um, so this looks like a pretty good alternative. Mike, >> I like it. I mean, it essentially pushes traffic even further from the house, which anytime that can happen is good for us. It gives a sidewalk that is
continuous. It uh will be cohesive with the the curbing that uh goes all the way to the intersection. I mean, I feel like the narrowing of the street there will also slow traffic as well. So, uh, all
everything that was said before, Yep, I agree with that. >> Okay. And, uh, just a question on across the street, was uh, did we have have to get state approvals for that sidewalk and the curb? And is it a is it a state spec or I'm just not sure. Um, wasn't
part of that. Do you know Kristen? It >> it's it's Town Road at this location. We have had [snorts] this conversation with the DPW director. Um we do need we do want to go back once we
have this in a sort of more designed drawing. Um, so I think that's part of what we'd love to get from your team, Mike and Chissa, which is like just that sheet five is very very busy and the um
the intersection realignment is uh needs more detail and more space. And we're just wondering if you could do a separate sheet with these offsite improvements. I mean, some of them are abuing your property, but essentially they're we're talking about the
realignment of the street and the crosswalk and the sidewalk. >> Uh, I saw a couple of different options on that. One of which had a sidewalk that went to the right side of the triangle where we were talking about putting a rock and another one had the
sidewalk kind of go right up to the the crosswalk like there was a uh I think a bike lane maybe that cut through and not so much of a sidewalk. Um have we settled on like a uh a final design for that? Um, I think Satie and I were putting
some sort of ideas out there, but since we're not engineers, we were, I guess, uh, leaving it open to the engineers to make a proposal. But, um, you know, we're happy to sort of arrange another
meeting with the DPW director to talk about what might work. Um, [snorts] maybe our peer review engineer could be involved in that. Satie, I don't know. You've you've done some training on these topics. Do you want to add anything?
>> Um, I think I think those were for before we had thought that the sidewalk would be possible. Is that right, Kristen? and we were kind of just talking about designs for if we
were just trying to tee off the intersection without any sidewalk or any curbing. Um I definitely think that um like those designs that you had proposed could be integrated into a
design with include that includes a sidewalk and a crosswalk. Um but yeah, I think it's ultimately up to you guys and the engineers to um to complete the design. >> Okay. While we're here, could we get
some feedback from the board on the proposed uh boulder garden? like we had proposed a uh a boulder uh in the triangle there with a garden around it which kind of matches what's on the other side of church the the fork of
Church Street and and Central and that's the small detail on the upper right hand corner of Paul's plan. >> I will um try to bring that up on the screen that's helpful. I like that design. And then it's kind of cohesive
like you know you're entering into Church Street and it's sort of like framed on both sides. Plus boulders are really durable. >> Yes, they are. >> They are. >> I got at my house, Mike, that you can
have um if you can get it uh on a trailer. >> I'm I think we have no shortage of them on this property. We did the the test pits. It was it was bony. There's enough boulders in Biffield to save a mile. Um I think it's a great
idea to incorporate a short little section of sidewalk to the to a crosswalk incorporated into the configuration. So it would be great to see some sort of a layout of that drawn up um
to the specifications that the admin uh that Kristen and Sadi need. Um this Oh yeah, this is showing it here. Um and I also want to give Larry and Steve an opportunity to make comments before I turn to public comment. Uh Larry, do you
have any questions or comments at this time? >> No, actually I I think these are all good suggestions. Anything we can do to calm traffic there is a good thing. Um I did see one suggestion about um uh rapid flashing beacons. Has anybody talked to
DPW about that? Because going forward they would have uh uh they would have the responsibility to maintain that I would think. Um it I have not specifically either
I don't think anyone's against the idea of them but I haven't brought it up as a specific you know we are asking police and DPW would be the two um entities who have been involved in those flashing beacons and other locations in town. So
I can go back to those directors and have that conversation um if we think that's an important component of the improvements here. >> I know on that Steve >> Yeah, I know Patty does have, you know,
some systems that she moves around town, but if we're talking about a permanent installation, that's another discussion. >> Sorry, Mike. Go ahead. >> No, that's okay. I didn't mean to cut you off. Uh, I don't object to something that's like around the gas station or
past that, but uh I'm not I'm not crazy about the thought of a blinking light. You know, the house is already like in the front setback, so you're talking about 20 ft away 24/7 kind of blinking. You know, I just I got this visual of
like Kramer with the Kenny Rogers uh across from this place at Seinfeld. I got no sleep. [laughter] >> Okay. Um, >> the point is the point is well taken. >> Can I mention something about that real quick? >> Yes. Hold on one sec. I agree with you
there, Mike. Um, I know they have them on High Street, Newbury Po, which is a much busier road. Um, during different periods of the day and it's a the ones I've seen on High Street, Newbury port, the type of setup
where you push the button and that's when it flashes. So, it would only be when the pedestrian was crossing the street. And I'll let Satie talk. >> That's what I was going to say is I know that there are some that are constant, but there are some that it's just when
you push the button and it's for a few seconds as they're crossing. So, I think if if we do go that route, I think that would be a good, you know, specification to have because I agree. >> I know they're effective because they they do catch my attention. And was that you, Larry, that wanted to say
something? No, >> that's all I wanted to say. >> I was just gonna ask you about the expense of that. So, as of right now, there's nothing there, right? >> Nothing. >> Um,
you know, I I I I believe that would be um, you know, very expensive. Uh, >> so >> I I'm not I'm not set on a a flashing light there, but it some some more
information will probably be helpful. And Pete, did you want to say something >> or Steve has been waiting? >> And I'm still wait. >> Go right ahead, Steve. You were next. >> Yeah. Well, regarding the flashing
lights, which is the latest thing to be talking about, uh I think that in a dense residential neighborhood like you see on Water Street, a new report, that could be problematic. But I think the amount of traffic, pedestrian traffic you'd see in this area would mean a
minimal pressing of the button and flashing lights. But I certainly would like to hear what Mike has to say down the road on this. Um, but Mike also triggered me when he mentioned uh bicyclist. And as I understand it, bicyclists can
uh bicycle on the sidewalk as well be if they weren't allowed to do that for whatever reason. Seems to me that the uh narrowing of the street without a shoulder would mean more risk for bicyclists.
And I don't expect every bicyclist to go up on the sidewalk to avoid the traffic, but it just seems to me that u bicycling along a now more constricted roadway could be an issue in terms of safety. But I'm also interested in hearing what
Mike has to say uh to make the divi subdivision work. But that's what's going on in my mind uh about a sidewalk and how it would affect the flow of bicyclists which I think may end up being more
uh numerous than pedestrians. >> I would have to defer to the people in town on that. I'm not really sure relative to the bicyclist versus the pedestrians. I do like the thought of a new sidewalk, new curb, and the traffic calming measure of of narrowing
uh the street there in order to get the sidewalk in. And we still are able to keep the tree and, you know, potentially a boulder, a garden, and you know, better uh better visual, I would think. You know, the narrower you make the street, the wider the sidewalk is, the more space you have between the driving
line and the uh church street right turn there. >> People are driving over the white line as it is right now to make that turn. So, you know, they're they're in the shoulder when they make the right. Mhm. Well, I found myself thinking about
in the era of distracted driving after you come off of 95 and hit that yield sign and you know you got to check your email or whatever it is. Uh instead of driving into over a white line as a shoulder, you might be hitting a curb and I've seen people hit curbs and
that's shall we say fairly disruptive. So it's not obvious to me that a curb is better than a white line. Um, but I let me also emphasize I agree that saving the tree is an important outcome,
perhaps the most important outcome, but curving gives me the uh heebie-jebies a little bit with all that traffic. >> Cape Cod BM would be acceptable to us as well. That's actually what's there now. It's asphalt curb
>> that actually runs along the easement. And I have some pictures of that, too. But it runs along the edge of the easement. Um there's that sort of uh burm where the shrubs are and the additional trees are. And that curb is actually buried out onto the sidewalk
with like years of sand and road buildup. >> Um may I ask may I make a comment? >> Go ahead, Satie. And then I think Pete wanted to say something as well. Go ahead. Um, I believe that in order to
have a sidewalk that close to the fog line, um, the curbing, there are federal highway standards that require or or some set of standards that require the curb to be a certain height. Um, I I
think the DPW has that information. I don't have that information off the top of my head, but um I I would be interested to know if there's different options for curbing, but I I do think that like if it's if the sidewalk is right up next to traffic, you have to have the curve a certain height.
>> Is there a requirement that it be made out of granite? Uh because, you know, certainly granite be is much more brutal on tires than, you know, asphalt curbing, which is rounded and a little more forgiving. I I can also find that out. Um but I'm
not sure. But it's a good question. >> If I understand correctly, the whole point of the curving is so is is to raise the grade so that we don't have to reduce the grade and cut into the root system of the tree.
Uh so I I mean it it's that that's the purpose again is um so that you don't have to reduce that grade next to the tree and you know impinge on the roots. At least that's my understanding anyway.
I think that's part of it and I I do think it's um again we will investigate with DPW who are have the answers but um I think it's consistent with what we saw just go in across the street on the
other side of Central Street is granite curbing. There is still a shoulder. Um, it's a choice for a biker, whether you're a dad with your 5-year-old who's just
learned, you're probably going to be on the sidewalk. If you're a biker who's driving to, you know, riding to Plum Island from Biffield, you're you're probably going to be in the road. But I think the safety improvements in general for slowing traffic
enhance the bic bicyclist experience in either case. Um so I don't think I I think particularly in Newbury where there aren't a lot of sidewalks, bicyclists are very used to sharing the road with cars and the most dangerous
thing is when cars drive too fast. So, you know, I I think we're kind of triaging into, in my opinion, and, you know, our consultation with other transportation planners
improvements that try to do the best at addressing all of these um users, all cars, bikes, walkers. And then in particular about this crosswalk I want to mention that part of the idea is the subdivision is going in on Church Street
and there we're thinking about the users for the new subdivision. What would they likely be walking to do? We've heard some from some of your neighbors and you know the other butters that there's uh
not a feeling like a sidewalk is needed on Church Street. But I think crossing central to get over to the library, to get over to the post office and the convenience store, that's the location we're interested in helping pedestrians
in particular. >> Thank you, Chris, and thank you everyone. It's been a good discussion so far. And what I'm hearing is that we need something drawn up so that we know what it looks like and maybe even a
couple options because I don't think it's terrible idea to have a bowl there either. So it all depends on how much room there is and I'm just not the engineer and I don't think anyone else here could draw it up for us. Um, so
if I if I'm hearing everything correctly, Kristen, that you'd like him to draw something up for us to look at. Correct. >> Sort of more detail in this particular location on a >> ideally a separate sheet so we can take
a look and if there, you know, we'll work with you guys obviously on this because we're going to need to consult with DPW. So if we can do that work, you know, before the next meeting and get that in shape, um
happy to work on that. >> We can do that. Uh just so I have my marching orders uh correct, does the uh since we don't know if the mouth uh the right side of Church Street aligns with the crosswalk on the left side, is there
any kind of spec that says that the crosswalk has to be perpendicular or maximum angle differentiation from being a right angle? I don't I don't have >> So, the crosswalk's going to start at
the ADA ramp across the street, but if that doesn't align with the 15 central side of Church Street, uh do we just angle it to get it to a point where it meets? And should the ADA ramp onto the
new sidewalk face towards the crosswalk only or should that be at like a 45° angle out towards the uh the new entrance of Church Street? What some some guidance on that spec would be helpful so that there's not
multiple iterations back and forth. >> Understandable. >> I don't have the answer. Um I Are you uh I guess I would ask if your engineer could look into it and like clarify what
the questions are then we can help get peer review on it. Does that make sense? >> Sure. >> Yeah. Um I'm also wondering how that fits with the boulder. I like the thought of the boulder there as like protecting the you know that angle as
you go into there. But we're going to need, I think, 6 ft minimum to the face of anything. Uh, and I think the aesthetics of flowers in front of it are nice, but you know, the boulder is kind of the the key component there. So, uh,
we'll just I guess see what fits and, uh, you know, there's plenty of room between the what would be the two foot location, two foot off the off the line to the curb to from there to my front lot line. So, and grade is not so much
of an issue as you get close to the mouth of Church Street. In fact, there's a, you know, 6-in pothole there now. So, you know, grade's not not really a problem there. There's no tree roots. Uh, so even if we have to back the boulder up, you know, towards the house a little bit, I understand it defeats
the purpose of defeating the, you know, defending the corner of church the more you back it up. But uh the in priority order I would say it's the tree and then the sidewalk and then you know the boulder and protecting church. And if you guys agree with that or have your
own list of priorities I'd like to hear them. >> That sounds good to me. A good priority list to be honest. >> Okay. >> So if I could >> in that same order. >> Yeah. And then your crosswalk fitting
your crosswalk into it as well. >> And go ahead. the mouth of Yeah. And I think that's not a problem. Just trying to figure out as to how the the mouth of the crosswalk aims and if there's a spec that requires the crosswalk to be straight, you can't have it, you know, diagonally across an intersection. So,
um, just trying to get feedback on that. I'm sure you guys have all done more of this type of work than I have. So, I will announce my ignorance and, you know, beg for forgiveness on it.
Thank you, Mike. Go ahead, Pete. >> Appreciate you're begging for forgiveness now versus later. Uh, sorry, Pete. >> You know, I what what I got to say here is I I appreciate this collaboration that's going on right now because it's really in the best interest of the community. It's in the best interest of
this development. Uh, and and it's really taking to, you know, attention uh safety. So, you know, we're going to create an a sidewalk, extend a sidewalk. We're going to have a crosswalk. uh we're talking about, you know, square uh making an intersection safer. We're talking about protecting that
intersection and we're talking about the possibility of maybe some sort of uh uh alerting uh a signal system. Understanding that we're probably we're not asking the applicant to do that. That's, you know, a wish list, I think, on the part of the town and that would be the town's responsibility to say, "Hey, listen, that would be on us or
some grant that we could, you know, uh to do for for that because I'm sure that there's associated expense with those types of signs. uh and this is something that we're really uh uh trying to uh collaborate with you. So, uh that would be my my position on that, Kristen. Um at least, you know, so it's a you know,
it's kind of a a bipartisan approach here. How's that? >> Good. >> Any other questions or comments from the planning board before I ask for public comment? Hearing none. Do we have any raised
hands or now's the time if you're participating from the public? If you have any public any questions or comments and I take it we don't see any raised hands. Kristen, >> I don't. >> No. >> Okay. I don't have the ability to see
raised hands. Okay. And has there been any written public comments? Speaking of public comments, >> no, there has not. Um, >> okay, very good. >> I I do want to also say
we are very far along on a draft decision for this project. Um, and I wanted to ask the board if you would like to uh, you know, us to get that into a sort of final draft shape and and bring that
forward while we're still trying to finalize this question about the site plan at this location. >> I think that would be very helpful. And um what do we have? We'd probably continue this to the date was the 19th,
correct? This public hearing. >> It was the 19th, Kristen. Um, yeah, your next meetings are July 29th and August 19th. Um, >> okay.
>> I think we'll need more time for >> Yeah. >> to the August date for this um design work, >> but by August, we'd have a a a pretty good final draft of the decision. We'd
have a good reconfiguration drawings from the applicant, and we'd be in pretty good shape. Correct. Would there be any benefit to coming back at the meeting in two weeks and presenting a draft of the intersection plan? As
Paul's already been out there, he's he's plotted some info on the intersection, but he doesn't have a plan ready as of, you know, tonight's meeting uh as to what the existing conditions are. But once you get the existing conditions, pretty
easy to put forth what we're proposing. Unfortunately, Mike, um um we have a meeting next week with 34 Central and then our next meeting won't be till August 9th. >> Oh, that's a special meeting. That's not
a uh the the next available meeting. >> Yeah. No, the uh next next Wednesday's meeting is because our attorneys couldn't be present tonight for 34th Central Street. >> Gotcha. Okay. All right. We'll I'll send the plan in upon completion and we'll
see you in August. >> Okay. Thank you, Mike. Um, if there's no other questions, staff doesn't have any other further comments. >> Hearing none, I'd entertain a motion to continue 15 Central Street public hearing to July
29th. Excuse me. to continue 15 Central Street public hearing to August 19th at 7:15 via Zoom. >> So move. >> Do I have a second? Thank you, Larry.
>> Second. >> Thank you, Steve. Um, roll call vote. Pete, >> yes, sir. >> Larry, >> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. >> And Steve, >> yes. And I vote yes as well. And thank
you Mike and thank you Teresa. Uh been a nice discussion and we look forward to seeing the configuration drawing with everything we've discussed and uh we'll have a good final draft to go go through on the 19th. >> Thank you.
>> Have a good night. >> Good shape after that. So yep. Have a good night. >> Good night. >> Good night. >> Good night. Thank you. And with that is that public hearing over with. I don't see anything else on
the agenda but a plan of report. So I'll turn it over to you Kristen. >> All right. Thanks. Um we have a few updates. Um I'll let Sadie do you want to start and then I'll >> Sure. Yeah. Um so what did I have? So,
um we are full steam ahead with the open space uh open space and recck plan update. Um where we've enlisted K Emory who's part of the environmental team at MVPC to uh
help us put the finishing touches on everything and review everything. So, we're going to be working with her uh through October. and she we are using our local technical local technical assistance hours to um
uh have her help which is really a great tool. Um so that's been going really well with the committee. And then um I wanted to let everyone know that Newbury Town Day is on August 15th which
is a Saturday. I think it's 1 to 7. Um, and I think it's at the central green fields. Um, so that will just be I'm I'm sure there will be food, drink, games, things like
that. Um, but the main focus is just to highlight all the different organizations in Newbury that are doing great work. So, the open space committee will be there to talk about um the plan update. Um, I know the border to Boston
committee is going to be there. Um, other groups, I think Green Belt's going to have some, uh, materials. Um, so yeah, should be a fun thing to check out if you're around. Um, and then, um,
another little thing that I've been working on is, um, we're working to use some recycling dividend program grant funding to hire a, um, very part-time
uh, recycling coordinator um, to help the town become more sustainable with our day-to-day operations. um events getting residents uh to recycle
in their in their lives and um to just generally help the town become more sustainable, which I think is a great mission. So, uh yeah, that's all of my things that I have to report.
>> Oh, >> right. Thank you, Satie. And uh Kristen, you you're good. Sad's in charge of the players report this week. >> Um now I have a few updates, but I know Steve, you're muted, but you have a question for Satie. So
>> y go ahead. >> Thank you for pointing out the mute, Kristen. Um >> I'm sorry, Steve. I didn't see you. >> No, I was just waving my hand rather than raising my hand. Um, there was a recent article in the Wall
Street Journal talking about how recycling in some ways is a much overblown success story and that 80% of the stuff which you put out for recycling ends up going straight to a landfill. And of the 20 of the 20% a lot of it
goes to a place which basically is an incinerator. though with some artful engineering and word smithing you can say it's really not an incinerator for the other 20%. And the cost of recycling is still going up
quite a bit. So, to repeat a theme I've raised before, I think the town really needs to take a look at who they allow to go to the transfer station to deposit their waste for recycling because uh I'll bet you dollars to donuts that
that's going to become an additional cost for using the transfer station. a cost which is increased in part because of non-new residents bringing material to what is arguably the costly option of
the recycling bins particularly for plastic and metal in the town and I think we need to be wrestling with that and maybe working with the board of health on what their plans are for charging for bringing one's trash to the
transfer station and to recognize the reality ity that it may say recycling, but that doesn't mean that what happens is what we might think is happening. >> Yes. >> Um I have heard that stat before and I'm always like, "Oh man, that's like that's
tough to hear that, you know, people are recycling." Um I I have um read that that is um that stat refers to the general US.
Um, but the northeast um actually is better about um is better than the general US about actually recycling um the things that are sent to
um recycling. So, um I think that um it's a worthwhile uh pursuit um to dedicate time and resources to recycling in in Newbury and
in the Northeast in general. Um I I don't I think the um there's a state office that tracks um uh trash and recycling in Newbury that
has stats on um how much waste our town produces. Um that's that's part of the goal of of this whole waste reduction effort in Newbury is to is to be um is to have a system to track all that. Um
so I can definitely um hunt that down and provide it. Um >> you know if I may interrupt city a little bit, I would say that you how much trash is produced in Newbury? Well, I suppose we can look at what, you know, Melo picks up on the island for people
to pay for Melo to come by and empty their trash bins, but how we know what's happening at the transfer station where anybody can drive in and leave waste there from any any place that you live and happen to drive into. I've seen, you
know, plenty of New Hampshire plates, for instance. So, I'd be intrigued to see how the state generates those numbers uh with the caveats that I just identified. Uh there can be a tendency of things to sound better than they are. And that's
where looking at the data and how the data is gathered uh becomes an important part of the uh story. Again, I suspect the board of health is going to be raising its cost anytime soon for when you go to the new transfer station. And
what Melo does, I don't know. But um there was a wonderful phrase that was around when I was working on hazardous waste in a previous lifetime and that talked about cradle to grave. And >> Yep. >> And uh I would like to see the
cradletograve analysis that's done with data. And again, I'll I'll take off my hat and be quiet. Well, if I just a quick comment is um I think like all all the comments and
questions that you guys are discussing [snorts] this is why this is good for Newberry like there's a group it includes the health director it includes the planning office we're connected with DP we're connected with the other towns in the region and it it's trying to
uh sort of elevate the conversation of waste reduction and I would put along with that recycling reduction Right? Like just cuz you recycle something, like don't get it in the first place, right? Use your reusable bottle instead of recycling your plastic bottle. Like
all of that is sort of convened by Sadi and our partners and the health agent. Um, and hopefully a part-time person. Keep your eye out for this 10-hour a month job if you know of anyone interested in these conversations. We
want to have a landing place for Newbury to really like look at look at the systems we have in our public buildings among our residents and think about ways to you know reduce our waste um altogether in order to be more sustainable. So all of that is good data
driven is important. >> Well I've got my hat back on >> I think you volunteered. I I was [laughter] wondering >> I think under the regs or something like that, one cannot be
taking on such a position while being an elected member of the planning board. But uh I would submit that the lowhanging fruit for waste reduction in the town of Newbury is to simply say if you ain't a resident of Newbury, you can't come to our transfer station. And
that would immediately have cause a great drop in waste being generated in the town of Newbury as measured by uh when those containers are emptied by mellow and they get weighed and that sort of thing. So, um, if you want to
talk about lowhanging fruit and maybe that's something you can carry back to this, uh, 10-hour per month position is to say, well, let's look at that because that's something we can do immediately with a regulation from the board of health.
Again, I'll take off my hat. >> Trash is a complicated topic. >> I I've watched a lot of videos. I've watched the mayor new report recently. Take a test. What you recycle, what you throw away. Um, it's it is what it is.
And unfortunately, we didn't put trash on the agenda tonight. >> Oh, right. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Thank you. Thank you so much, Satie, and everybody. Um, yeah, super excited about um just a lot of other projects. I'll go
through mine really quick. um wanted to I I think since we only we haven't met in a few weeks. I think these are new updates. I hope so. Um the town was awarded a grant for Mass
Trails. Um I don't think I announced that with all of you, but we received a $455,000 grant um that we applied for this winter with Border Boston Trail Committee. That money is going to be going to um
reactivate the engineering work 75 where we're we're between 25% design plans and 75% design plans on the section of the multimodal trail from Biffield to Georgetown. So that money will be going into that work.
Um super exciting. uh we attended the awards ceremony and I I think that's um really going to get that project going again. [snorts] Meanwhile, we also had the kickoff meeting um today actually for the board of Austin segment from
Biffield to Newbury Port. So totally aligned with the conversation we just had with our central street applicant. We're trying to think about starting in Biffield, where do you want to get on a bike? And [snorts] one of the long-term visions that this town has had in its
master plan and the board of Boston committee work is to get to the train station in Newbury Port so that it's both a recreational corridor but also um uh providing a safe way for people to
move around on a bicycle. Um, so that project is a feasibility study that's being funded by a federal appropriation that the town received um through Senator Molton's office. Um and it's taken a long time to contract, but uh
happy to say we're we've kicked off and [snorts] there will be public meetings um along with the open space project, wreck plan project. There will be a public meeting kicking off that feasibility study from Biffield to Newbury Port. Um lots of stakeholders
involved, lots of questions about where the trail is going to go. we don't have to have that conversation now, but there will be opportunities for the public to participate in that conversation um with our consultants. So, that's good. We
also um have a kickoff meeting in two weeks for the municipal vulnerability program 2.0, which is a $50,000 grant that the town received to um update the MVP plan that the town did in 2018. This
is the work looking at coastal resiliency um and in general climate resiliency for the town. So, um Mason Farerk is leading that project. Um Satie and I will be a part of that uh planning team and then there will also be public
outreach related to that. So, lots of good stuff coming ahead in terms of public engagement um in the fall into the winter. And then um just wanted to follow up on the 40y
project. Uh we had a conversation with the MVP staff who MVPC staff who presented at the June meeting for the planning board on the starter home overlay district zoning. So they are
working with their GIS team to do some um sort of data analysis. some of the questions that you all raised about this that um thinking about ways to have a slightly higher density on smaller lot sizes.
For us, it's really soils and septic is a big part of that, which you all raised those great questions at the last meeting. Um, so we're going to be talking with the GIS team about if there's a way to do an analysis that would look at soils,
pulling out prime a soils, like good farmland soils that are already being used for farmland or could [snorts] be used and then looking at soils that are not suitable for septic. So we know
those are not good locations for um more housing. So, we're working through that. Once I hear more from MVPC, I I will definitely have them come back and engage all of you again in that um analysis.
Um let's see. And then I just want to um quickly share what I sent to you all by email, but the Massachusetts budget that's just been passed includes changes to the zoning
act, chapter 4A, and [snorts] it is a big deal. There are some changes that um will affect every town in the Commonwealth's local zoning. Um it's there are changes uh that pertain to
pre-existing structures, non-conforming uses, the criteria that ZBAS have to consider um waiverss and variances. So I'm still learning a lot about it. We have an advisory from town council
that's lengthy and there will definitely be ongoing conversations going forward, particularly with the ZBA. they're paying close attention to this, but I think um certainly it's very likely there will be um zoning amendments that
need to come to the next town meeting to keep Newbury's zoning bylaw consistent with the state um zoning act. So, a lot more to discuss there, but um wanted to make sure that was
on your horizon. Yes. >> I'm raising a finger, not a hand. U if the MVPC gets involved in trying to serve as a uh provider of information for the towns of
the Marramac Valley, you know, educational format. I certainly would be interested in tuning into that as your alternate commissioner to the MVPC. I think it's going to be an important uh discussion for all of the towns.
regarding uh the new mandates that the state may be coming down with. >> Yes. Um I that's a great point. I am sure they will be paying attention to that. Um, and [snorts] in addition to, you know, our town council who, you
know, services many, many towns across the Commonwealth, but I think in particular for Newbury and Newbury Port where we have uh complicated zoning in our Plum Island overlay district that involves a lot of non-conforming stuff
going on out there. Um, there's going to be a need for Newbury to pay close attention to that. So, I'd love to have you join that, Steve, >> or at least listen in. That's for sure. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> And also, if I may, I think I understood
you to say that um material related to the border, Boston to border trails and trash, it's some of that's up there on the website as draft information, or is that one of the things that's
coming down the pike? Um uh I'm not sure. Say your question again. There's there's a landing page page for Board of Boston on the website and we'll we need to update it, but there will be there will be information
kept there. Um I don't know that the waste reduction conversations have a place on the web page yet, but the job posting is going up on the job listings. Um I think soon within the week. >> Yeah. I'll see if if I know anyone
that's interested, I'll let them know. There might be some former EPAs. Uh and I presume you don't have to be a resident of the town of Newbury to apply for the position. Again, I'm asking just in the context of letting people I know that might be interested know about it.
>> No, there's no requirement to be Newberry resident. And absolutely, especially if people are doing this work in other towns. That's kind of I think who we're thinking might be out there. Someone who's an expert in this and helping out a lot of different communities. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Yep. And I think that is it unless anyone has questions for me or is he >> I don't have any questions. I think I hear my dinner bill but other than that good. >> Perfect.
>> Thank you. Thank you for your report Kristen and S. Welcome. >> Um, and with that, I don't have anything else in the agenda, so I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Second.
>> Do I have it? >> Very good. >> Pete, >> yes. >> Larry Scott, >> yes. >> Steve, >> I say yes as well. >> Thank you for a good meeting tonight and uh we'll see you all on the 29th. Text my back.