So, as a preliminary matter, this is Woody Knight, chair of the Newbury Planning Board. Please permit me to confirm that all members and persons anticipated on the agenda are present. Planning board members, when I call your name, please respond in the
affirmative. Peter Pos, yes, sir. Larry Murphy, yes. Mary Stone um will not be with us tonight. Scott Caner, yes sir. Steve Manian, yes. Very good. Town staff, when I call your
name, please respond in the affirmative. Kristen Grubs, plan director. Yes. Applicants and representatives, when I call your name, please respond on the affirmative. Uh we have the Newberry Lower Green Historic District Committee members. Uh Robin Ethridge. Yes.
And Lon Hatchmeister. Yes. Very good. A solar representatives. Uh Sam Cuda and I'm This is Dale Myers. I was asked to join with Sam as a technical support
consultant. Um, but I don't see Sam on. Okay. Well, hopefully he'll be joining us soon. Okay. D. Yep. Yes, sir. Uh, for the Florence Bushy subdivision representatives, Ben Perez and Steve
Sawya. Um, Steve Sawya here. Okay, great. Steve and Ben, I think Ben Ben's planning to log on. Okay, great. Thank you, Steve. And two point Old Point Road. Uh Vince Golden, Sunset Club owner, and Steve
Sawyer, Millennium Engineering. Yeah, I think Vince may also log in at some point. Yeah. Okay, great. Thank you, Steve. Thank you. Good evening. Today's May 20 uh today is May 7th, 2025. Open meeting of the new
planning board is being conducted remotely consistent with chapter two of the act 2025 which extends the governor's March 12th 2020 order suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law GLC
3820 until June 30th 2027. For this meeting, the Newbury Planning Board is convening by video conference via Zoom is posted on the planning board's agenda, which can be found at the town's website. You can join us by going to http semicolon/zoom.
us and entering meeting ID number 83271413056 and the passcode is 108790 or by calling in 1 19292056099 and entering the meeting ID number and passcode when prompted. Please note that this meeting
is being recorded and that attendees and that attendees are participating by video and or telephone conference. The meeting is also being held broadcast live through local access cable channel 9 on Zoom and at
https semicolon newberryv.wix wix sit.comtnctv 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 and 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 comments, questions, or motions. The meeting tonight does not include any public hearings. However, after board members have spoken, I will afford the public an opportunity to comment and or ask questions, I will
seek the questions and comments through the Zoom raised hand function in the order in which people please uh click on the raise hand button. Finally, each vote is taken in this meeting will be conducted by a roll call
vote. So that's the opening statements. We'll move on to the first item on the agenda. Um it's a presentation by the uh Low Green Historic District of Study Committee. And I'd like to welcome uh
Robin Ethridge and Lon Hackmeister. And uh basically I'll turn it over to you guys and you can give us your presentation please. Thank you. Right. Um can everyone hear me? Okay. Yep. Yep.
Good. Right. Uh thank you very much for this. Uh I wanted to give both of us will dart around between slides. want to give a presentation of where we are on the um uh study committee report uh
which will be presented um to the select board and then ultimately the town in due course and with your guidance in the process. So we got a short presentation. It's 13 slides. Um the uh contents will
be as follows. The formation of the committee, what we've been doing up to date and the timeline, the report itself and then the future steps and uh we will happy to open a Q&A afterwards.
Uh if uh you can kindly set the PowerPoint up please, we can get underway. Great. Is that working? Okay, now it is. There it is. Okay. Yeah, looks good. Right.
Right. Uh I guess you might have to control the the slide, right? Yeah. Okay. First slide. The first slide establishes the uh background to um setting this whole uh
um project up. And um uh I'll let you uh read it rather than reading it out myself. And while you're doing that, I'll just say this was um started in late 2022
um following a um a informal survey of um people that um came to the green for sporting activities and everything else. Excuse
me, Kristen. Sorry. Um, I heard Kristen I'm just having difficulty um you know hearing you um or the presentation. It could be me. Uh but
I heard Kristen um um fine. I'm wondering if you could turn up your audio. Turn up the audio. It's on 92 anyway. It's pretty much up. Yeah. Well, put it up. I I'll put it all
the way. Yeah, there we go. Okay. Right. Um just to start the first slide. Is that is that better? Can you hear now? A little better. Is anybody else having um some problems or it it it seems to be very quiet, Scott?
And um I may make the suggestion that maybe they try to speak up a little bit and maybe uh you know, scoot up to the microphone and do the best that they can. Okay, let me move it that way. All right. Thank you, Scott.
Sitting on my stove. Okay. Right. Can you hear me now? Yeah. Uh the first slide really is just the um background to the formation of the study committee back in late 2022.
uh and uh was which was then set in motion by the select uh board in uh establishing the uh um committee. Um uh I'm sure um the uh planning committee
can distribute the PowerPoint to those interested um afterwards. But anyway, uh uh the background is in the state of Massachusetts there are about 200
um local historic districts in about 100 communities um which are all designated as local historic districts under chapter 40C designation um which just uh this just gives you a a
picture of um the extent uh there are some admissions um Ipsswitch being one and um Deerfield being another which have a slightly different status. It's a higher level status in view of their historic
buildings. So they um uh are historic districts but not within the Massachusetts um uh historic commission guidance. So, uh, that just, um, puts the context in. And you'll see Newbury
up the top there is not covered and which, uh, and I sort of draw your attention to the fact the upper green is not a local historic district. It is, it is on a historic register, but that's not the same. We can we can discuss
differences later. Okay. So, the next slide is the committee The committee is formed under the guidance of the Massachusetts Historic Commission which are very specific in
terms of um uh the sort of people who um should attend it. We have some residents then we have people from historic New England and the Museum of Old Newbury. Um okay the next one we had our own
mission statement um which we uh developed showing um what we were about and the goals just let you read that right now important things shows
the timeline And uh this is uh the rules set out by in establishing local historic districts by the Massachusetts Historic Commission are very detailed. The manual itself is
over 60 pages long and it's um there's certain things have to be followed and in order and and all the representative parties have to be involved. the um residents concerned in the area
yourselves as a as the planning board which you'll see down in yellow halfway down in the middle um as well as the select board and then it finally goes to the town meeting
where it has to pass by a twothirds majority. Um the point we're at the moment is the bottom yellow square which is submitting the study to the uh Massachusett
Commission and to yourselves and we'll come on to that um a little bit later. Uh the purposes of this um presentation is to bring you up to date up until that point and to show you where we are. So
your involvement um which will be appreciated comes forward very shortly. Um okay so the next uh slide shows what's happened over the last couple of years.
This started in late 2022 and with the backdrop of COVID it was quite it it got off to a slow start just getting around having meetings and everything else. So really 2023 and 4
were where we uh got involved and and you can see from from there we had um uh surveys out to residents. We had um outline reports done and
um and we get to today where we've we've suggested the um area under consideration. And then into 2025 we got to deal with bylaws which uh we'll cover
in later slide and then uh complete with the study report draft which then goes to Massachusetts Historic Commission and yourselves. Okay. So the next
slide remember to take that one. Yeah. Okay. The next slide. Um so so we held three public meetings uh during during the uh kind of the second second year uh uh one in uh in in Biffield in in the
library uh one at the town hall and I mean in the uh hello the fire department and and and then one over on Plum Island to try and make to make sure to get try and get to as many people as we can uh get to that are going to you know, part
of the voting block here down at the end of the process. And uh we did put out a survey at the same time. Uh so this was a QR code. It was a handout type thing so people could see. We were planning on mailing it until we saw the expense of
mailing uh to to all the voters. Uh and so we we didn't do that not not for the preliminary one. Uh we we're considering another way of trying to get that information out for the for the final ser uh survey at the end of the summer and and into the fall this year uh
notification that's prior to the when everything's all ready and prior to the town meeting and and and the voting. And you can see that most of the people that took the survey are are from the uh the Plum Island. Uh we got Plum the Plum
Island is about 25% the uh Oldtown area was was the largest. Of course, a lot of the people that are going to be in the uh local historic district voted. Uh that was something that Robin didn't mention in the beginning. uh that that
we had an ad hoc group that got together and after seeing uh couple of the properties around here turning into uh into developments, we uh we were cons concerned being people that lived in the vicinity of the green about saving the
architecture and preserving the architecture. Uh for example, if my house burned down, I'm we're sitting here in my kitchen here. my house burned down and I sold the property that that that something that would be built up to replace it would be the architecture would be consistent. So it wouldn't be a
very modern looking house or stucco or something like this. U but but but like like a home from the late 1800s maybe 1800s. So um the uh the um the second
the second graph on that uh was uh the question was should is it is are the things are the uh antique homes or the uh the historic uh places and so is that worth preserving? And you could see
here that 93% of the of the people that took the survey agreed that that it's worth serving. And then we asked people in the next slide um do you know what a local historic district is and uh 76% yes but we don't know if they cheated
and and took the survey after our meeting or not. Uh but about 23% said they think they know what it is. And then the last one was would you in a in a town meeting would you vote for uh local historic district establishing one
uh as described in in in the meeting? So there something around the green uh properties that are in in view from when you're standing on the green and then approaches to the green coming down the route one here that 1A the scenic byway. So those are the ones that we considered
and so 93% of the people that took the survey said that they would support that and then Right. Yeah. Okay. So the next slide gets on to the district. Now um it's important within the guidance of the Massachusetts Historic Commi
Commission is that there is proper um engagement with all the residents and that's why the survey was done uh in more far-flung places like Plum Island, West Bfield. We h we have to show that
we have engaged as many people as po many people from various parts of the town. So anyway, the the central point of the historic district in in preserving it as a district rather than just having
buildings listed on a register of a certain date is and the Massachusetts Historic Commission are very conscious about that is it is a district they're looking at and now some of the properties in it may be later
construction. uction. And so we concentrated on what was the view if you're standing in the middle of the lower green round about where the schoolhouse is and what the ey line
is 360 degrees around and encompass most of the properties there. There are 24 properties in in the area around the green which on your screen is number nine. 15 of the
properties, 15 out of the 24 have buildings on them. Two of those buildings are first period homes. 50% of the other buildings are built pre 1800 and
all were built pre900 except for one and the one which is uh on the green there the owners are quite uh receptive to be included which is there. So part of Massachusetts
Historic Commission is proper engagement with everyone so they understand um uh what the the goals are which is preserving the uh area and that if there is
any new construction or development or extension something that they are treated with empathy with the style and architecture of the property. And it's not to say, and this is where
we we uh will get into the um bylaws, is that um development isn't allowed. It just is is a it shouldn't be in congruous with the um surrounding area.
So the visual scene is um uh viewing the sort of traditional landscape um as it was. And so uh um so that's where we came up with the um the
diagram you've seen above. In addition, there are four monuments and historic markers in in that area. Most of them around the green itself. Okay. So next slide. which I received with the
um Okay. Yeah. So, uh so where where we are in the process right now is working on the the study report. Uh and that's pretty much put together. There's a little bit of editing needs to be done. The the last
portion of it is the wording of the bylaw itself. And that's what we we've got a draft of that. If you go to the next slide, there's actually an outline of of what that what that uh that section is going to look like. So, it's it's it starts out with all the
definitions with the you know what a local historic district is, the difference between that and historic commission, various things uh that are pertinent to the to the rest of the document, and then the pretent and purpose of of why the uh why the local
historic district is being made. And then uh and then the map the map that we just looked at will be and that establishes the boundaries and every every property in that has either agreed to be in in the local historic district
and many of those people were part of the ad hoc group that got together and decided to try and uh establish something here for this. Um uh and so everybody everybody else though is is agreeable to being being in it. So, we're not trying to force anybody into
this at all. And that's that's what uh I'm thinking, what is it? The the sons and daughters approached us and asked us if the first settlers bury ground uh could be included. It is not contiguous, but we said yes. And so that's in there.
And so is Evergreen Cemetery. Again, everybody is is on board with that. Um and then the uh then the next section in the report 66 uh section 4 historic district commission uh just talks about the the membership of it the the
processes for meetings and quorums and things. So this basically this this this whole bylaw describes how this this local historic district is going to be run, managed and uh and so on. And so all these all these things are specified
in it. And five limitations on the commission actions, exemptions from review, uh for example. So one, what's an example of one of those? That that would be we're not going to tell you what color you can paint your house. Something like that. or uh you you can't
you know chimneys or anything like this. Anything that makes uh uh sense, we don't want to have anything to do with it. It's it's things that will change the architectural character. And like I said, we've got drafts of these sections and we're still going over them. Uh number five, uh number six is the
application and review procedures. So that describes exactly how uh if if if someone comes uh wants to make an addition to the side of their house, wants to make change uh something in the front of their house, they they will come before the district commission and
present that and then we have to approve that to have it done. So that's it talks that section talks about the application process and the review procedures for it. uh if they don't like the results, section seven is the appeal process and
then um and then if if they go ahead and do it anyway, we talk about violations and the next and penalties. Uh and that includes daily fines. So the the local historic district actually has some
teeth as as opposed to just a listing on a historical uh list. They're registered. Um and then um I'm not sure what was the applicability for the town. I can't remember. I guess that's applying for
the for the thing. Um anyway, then any amendments that come um all the rest the rest of the sections uh down the line when and when it's effective. And so that that we've got a draft version of that. When we finish that up, that'll be submitted and I mean that'll kind of
finish things off. Then you guys will get a chance to review that and then we send it on to the state. So that's kind of where we are in the in the process and you got you got the next steps. So yeah, the next steps are you will be getting um the study report
um as uh we are a little bit further on than that because we're past April 30th. you'll be getting the study report um for review. Yeah. So, business and um there will be some further outreach
at the like the Newbury Town Day, which is a general bring people up to date. um and um a full public hearing uh before the uh submission at the
annual town meeting for approval. Um so we have between now and then if there's any Q&A any any things coming back from Massachusetts Historic Commission or uh any clarifications required from your
side um to uh resolve So that's um that's uh basically um it in a nutshell. So you'll should soon be receiving
um the report soon. Uh finally that's a photograph of the um schoolhouse and just anecdotally um to tell you that um we found out in the research that in 1919 there were
190,000 such one room schoolh houses in the entire United States. Today only 400 remain intact in their original state and on the same site and Newbury happens
to have one of them. 400 out of 190,000. So that was the sort of motivation to start this whole process off uh and to create a historic district surrounding the schoolhouse. And and once they're gone, they're kind of gone.
Yeah, they're gone forever. And a lot of them were pulled down, but some were removed. Oh, and and the we have a new roof on the school now, and the windows have been redone. Uh they were they were danger they're dangerously uh worn. Uh
we had a a bad thunderstorm with a lot of gusty winds one night and the top window in the school there in the front that one on top actually blew out when a wind gust because the this building breathes and when the wind gust came by
it actually blew that window out and all the glass ended up on the ground. So and these are very rare these windows with the just the style. Most of times when you see a window like this, it's in a museum, not in a school, not in the building.
Uh, okay. We've uh sort of slightly overrun a bit, but um happy to um answer any questions you have. Okay. Well, thank you. It was a great presentation and I'll turn it over to the board. Um does anyone have any
questions? If I could make a comment. Uh gentlemen, thank you very much for doing this. You know, I think this is a significant importance to our community. Uh I had a dad who was very much in history and as a result, uh that thread continued. I just want to understand something. There
are 24 uh uh sites included in this and of the 24 all of those individuals or all those entities want to participate in this. That's correct. Yeah. Yes. Can I can I just say several of the sites are owned or managed by uh trustees of
the reservations uh numbers 13 and 11 on the map and the uh green field. So there actually no properties on them but and we reached out to them and they are obviously very insupportive and the re
the re reason I mean they have their own covenants on them and they won't be built on but we felt they ought to be included because they were visually part of the scene of the um
lower green and you can see them clearly from the lower green. So um uh and they are under macros they are registered as an individual property um it's
although they've been just carved up into segments. So the so the owners which are the ones with 15 owners and 15 buildings on them. In fact, some of them don't have
buildings on them, but uh have all um are all supportive of the prospect. Wonderful. So, the question is, if there are other structures uh down the road that might want to participate, would they be Oh, good question. the uh
um this this is this can happen, but the Massachusetts Historic uh Commission um say we have to go through once you've got the thing set up. It it's it's easy to easier to add on, but you still have
to go through a similar process and have a voting on it. um because uh um it's just just the way the MHC operates. But um there's no reason why that can't be
done. You you basically have to follow this again, but it's just with one property and and it's it's a little easier, but the process doesn't change. No. So anything that's so that's one reason we went out and and and grabbed
as many as people that that that we thought might want to be in it in the future too. Uh so it's a little and of course you know we don't have any control over how the the trustees property uh is visual some of it is visual old town hill the bottom part we
don't see over the top but the whole property gets included they amass uh historical frowns on on breaking up pieces of property and saying well this half is in the district and this half isn't. So, they want the whole property to be in the district if
if part of it's going to be it. Wonder. Thank you very much. Thanks, Woody. Okay, great. Anyone else have any questions? Uh, yeah, actually I do, Woody. And first, I commend you on your efforts uh to preserve the local uh uh
history. Um, yeah, I think you mentioned that there are two first period homes in the district, and I'm just curious what qualifies as a first period home. uh a a pre uh 1725. Oh, okay.
Thank you. The first hundred years Little Do little house and the Jackman Willlet House. I if no one else has any questions. Um go ahead Scotty. Can I just say we're hoping to
get the um uh the the whole the report to you guys because um I'm sure there'll be some Q&A on that um before the end of the this month. Okay, great. view. Yeah.
So, maybe at your next board meeting, you can um uh put that down as an item. Yeah. And and if you need us to come in and and discuss anything or if you want to just
send the comments to us or or whatever whatever process uh works best, you can always come in and explain how we make a how we respond to your comments and come in and talk to you about it. Trying to be as open as we
can. So, okay. Thank you. Go ahead, Scott. Yeah. My question just is uh just just some clarity on the um on the survey. You've had a total of 29 responses. Is
that what I saw? Okay. And and the survey went out to uh how many? Well, we didn't mail the survey out. The we were hoping to send it out to every voter. Uh we had uh Tracy and approved
$800 because that's what we were told it was going to cost through the mailer. And it turns out that's the stamps. Yes, the stamps. And we had another we had to have the printing costs for each one and the handling and everything else. And so we've got a we've got a plan here
to try and do that this summer or in the into the fall, late summer or fall. get do the survey again, but get it out to everybody and and trying to maybe put a mailer in the in the property tax information. I mean, if we can put in
there something about your dog license, we should be able to put something in there with a QR code on it that says, "Please take our survey." Um, so that so we're going to try and get more. It went out to the attendees of the um three locations
uh which we set up in formal Q&A meetings in Plum Island, West Bfield and Newbury. So it went so it was personal but also it was then distributed at the senior center and various other public places and it was on the website of the
town. Right. But I I regret to say, you know, it's like the number of people who turn up at the annual town meeting. It's only 5% of the entire voting whatever it is population of say it's um I regret to
say one would like it to be have a wider coverage, but it doesn't. Yeah. They were they were posted on bulletin boards around the various town built and things. Uh we had handouts on the counter at uh at the senior center. I can't remember where else I had them. I
think I I left them some at the firehouse and police department, but uh was but what we really needed was a mailing and uh it just there wasn't time to do it before we had our our our meetings and because we we need to get
that that cost justified or or approved. Right. the the Massachusetts Historic Commission are conscious of of this and they they do say in their their manual if you've made all the efforts to engage the public, it's um you
u uh that's fine. If if they don't respond, that's not your fault. We we made the effort, but at least the the the results sort of showed that um this was treated positively by those respondents.
Anyway, and I and I you could see why. I mean, people that live here understand the historic significance of the town. And uh I I and and since we're not trying to force anybody into the district that doesn't want to be in it, it doesn't seem to be uh I mean, it's
almost like a no-brainer. But the worst thing we could do is surprise everybody at the town meeting with, "Oh, what is this about? Never heard of this before." So, if we could get something out to everybody so they at least know, have the background information. Yeah, I I
agree with that. And I was I was um trying to say that um what you just said, you know, people don't like surprises, right? um you know and um there's there's folks that uh support
this especially the the folks that are directly connected um you know with uh what the what the effort is. So, um, you know, the more we can do, um, you know, upfront on the communication side, um,
would be, um, you know, if it's $800 or $600, I think it's money well spent and, um, you know, I'm with Pete and Larry. um you know it's uh incredibly um you know awesome uh frankly to uh um you
know just uh hear you two uh and the effort behind uh what uh what you want to do and um it's uh it's great stuff. Thank you. This is quite a process actually. Yep. It's impressive. Okay. Very much. Thanks
for listening to us. Appreciate it. Yep. Steve, did you have a question? You also Yes, I do. Uh, first of all, let me say thank you for a thoughtful presentation. Um, maybe at some point the fact that this is a recorded meeting will also be
useful for other towns people to tune in and get an overview of the project. At a later time, you may have a um, you know, more refined, if you will, presentation that could also be posted on the town website. Uh but a general
question I have uh being an old-time regulator way back when um is are the enforcement provisions is it going to be built into this something that you know the state provides as a generic boilerplate which can be a good thing. Are there any ins and outs you
want to mention about how enforcement works? It's it's not going to be a lot different from the uh demolition delay bylaw. uh very very similar to that. You you basically uh uh there'll be criteria
and the criteria be is the is the building or the property within the historic district and the other one does it fit the criteria is it before you know for the demolition delay bylaw is it before 1823 or whatever. Uh so something like
that. So if it fits the criteria, then then then basically we get notified when the when the building permit comes up when when and and then we would look at the thing, review it and say yes, that's consistent with with the bylaw and we're
and we're okay just just like we just like the historic commission does with the demolition delay bylaw. So okay, thank you for that. That's kind of the process. Um we're trying to figure out yet. uh uh this is a five to seven member board
uh and and trying how do you populate it? So the appointments can be made by the by the uh the select and there are certain criteria that have to be followed just like it was to set up the committee that we're on right now. uh you follow those criteria and and but
some towns uh u basically use their historic commission to to do it rather than setting up a separate one or some set up a separate one and it's the same people as a historic commission but there are criteria for that commission
at least one person on the on the uh historic district commission has to live in the in the uh in the district at least one and there are other criter criteria is on one is supposed to be a um uh like a realer vet type person and
another was architect I think. So there are certain criteria for the for the people if if you can if you can get somebody to volunteer if you if you can't that's just you have to make some effort to get that. Yep. Again thank you for that. I can see some more homework
for uh me about the demolition bylaw. So thank you with that maybe coming up. We'll see. Uh because I hear there's a first period house that's up and that somebody wants to have bulldoz. The other thing to say is that the
Massachusetts Historic Commission are conscious of um what the um uh bylaws are and basically the the intent is not to completely restrict any homeowner
from doing anything. Their main criteria is what is the visual effect from the um uh area you're viewing from a public place or a public road. So whatever happens behind the house or the back if
people want to put an extension on whatever that will go through the normal process of which you guys are involved anyway. they're they're more uh conscious of the um the visual impact
from the viewing the public viewing side and as the green is a public position. It's the view outwards from there and indeed quite a lot of the properties around whilst they're they're very old they do have somewhat more contemporary
extensions and things like that. So um uh they've uh their um uh categories and and restrictions are not as um I mean I think they're fair to
um uh preserve the look of the area and um things which which we have is using the materials used and an example of that is which you've probably just seen is the schoolhouse has just being re-roofed with a
composite. Now, in the old days, it would have been a requirement to put up sheet cedar shakes or something like that. Yeah. Shingles usually. Shingles. Yeah. And uh and now it's got a a modern composite product which has a a almost
lifetime guarantee. 50 years guaranteed. The guarantee you get on a single a cedar shake roof or single roof is zero. Yeah. Perfect. So, so they're they're conscious of of, you know, what's happened over the years as materials
have changed and as I said, they're more interested in the visual effect. So, it's it it shouldn't prohibit um uh the use of modern modern materials if they blend in perfectly. And and as said, the schoolhouse is a prime example
of that. Um, and those look real at five feet away, much less, you know, looking a couple hundred feet across the across the green to see it. They're they're they're very well done. Uh, and I understand that we got a grant for part of that. Uh, the uh which to take your
point, which is very well made, is that um that was that is an is that it was an issue that came up in discussions with uh people who are included in the neighbor neighborhood. That's exactly what what does it mean when we get down to the nitty-gritty violence?
Yep. And uh now that you're on the topic and kind of goes with my question that I had and we've we spent some time on this so I'll be quick but property number 11 on your map is on the corner of Newman and the schoolhouse road and isn't
wouldn't if this was if what you guys are trying to do was already in place today. um wouldn't wooden property number 11 right on the corner there be a classic example of
what you're trying to do because that building was built I believe in the well it's a sedent tavern it's it's yeah it's a sed that's the old sedin tavern that used to sit on high on 1A and in 1933 when they when they redid uh 1a they
moved it over over to the to the uh yeah that that property had I think that was I think Francis Bushy had something to do with that uh because that was her property they put it on to so it's not on the green it's on on what was her
property that property is uh the property the rest of that property is green belt now and then and then heading further west that's was a private property over there I mean that property was actually originally built in 1728 but it was relocated And then it
was destroyed by fire. The um bushy what is there today what is there today is made to look period correct. It's made not only to look like
it. It actually used and this is why it's got a lot of covenants on it. it it when they rebuilt it using the central um fireplace and the stack, they also built it using exactly the same methodology and techniques of a post and
beam built house of the period and the Spinia or whoever it was put in various covenants and they because it was an example of create of architecture um creating and respecting ing um the
historic construction methods and although it is you're absolutely right it is uh it was rebuilt in the 1940s. There was an addition put on about 15 years ago too in the back so heading away from the green uh and that had to
be built uh literally with the same specs. Yeah. From from from 1700. So it's that has a lot of covenants on it. That's a very wellprotected uh building. Okay. Okay. That's what that's what my understanding was too. So that was my
question. You you'll see that well documented in the report you'll be getting. Okay. Well, thank you so much and we have other items on our agenda, but thank you for your presentation and we we look forward to working with you in the future. Yeah. We'll be back with our
final presentation to you too. Yep. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you so much and have a great night. Okay. Yeah. Thanks. Okay. Great. Um, we'll move on to the next
item. Um, new business. Uh, 75 Boston Road. Uh I own a town of Newbury applicant a solar request for amendment to the special permit to reclocate the police firing range as part of the existing solar
panel. Um I'd like to welcome Sam Cuda and Dale I believe. Um are they with us? Yes, I'm here. Hi Sam. Um would you like to
explain your request and uh y show us the plans? Yes, please. Thank you so much. Well, D. Um so, first off, just want to introduce myself. Um I'm Sam. I'm taking over this project from the ACE side. I know you guys have previous work worked with Nick. Um his last day
at ACE was last Friday. Um so, like I said, I'm taking this over. Um I've been involved with this project for, you know, the past few months, so I'm still getting caught up to speed a bit here. Um, but let me share my screen. Share the prints. Oh, uh, I don't know if I have the abil ability to share.
Yep. Looks like you might now. I think if you Can you try now? Let me know. Oh, yep. I got it. Got it now. Thanks. And, uh, like I said, Dale Dale Myers, our director of engineering, is on as
well. Um, I I'll lead this, but Dale, if I miss anything, um, or if there's any further questions, feel free to chime in. Um, let me know if you can see my screen once once it's up here. Awesome. Yep, we can see it, too. Awesome. Thanks. Yeah. So, uh, like I
said, I'll give a little backstory of of, you know, where we're at. Um, like I said, I was only involved the past few months, so a lot of this, you know, happened this development happened before I was on board. But, uh, um, yeah. So, you know, my my understanding is um this original proposed change was due to the
the firing range being in our um in our proposed access road. And as you can see on the screen here, um this is where the existing fire range location was. Um and it was moved up here to the north to to where this red um area is showing the proposed reo relocation of the firing
range. Um I you know I know back this was back in 2023 this went through extensive review from both the police department and the the the fire department. Um you know I know that it was um approved by both the police
department and the fire department um with with access requirements and and and whatnot. And then um jump now to 2024 uh I think was you know just before just back in December um I know that our our special use permit and then also the
concom permit was extended from the permit tolling and uh one you know kind of stipulation there was that this new proposed firing location um was within the 200 foot riverfront buffer area. So that meant that we need, you know, we
needed to get a um order of conditions permit from the the consom first. And I sat on that meeting. It was a few months back um with, you know, with the conservation committee and we went through that whole review for the for the order of conditions permit and that
was approved and uh we have that that permit in hand. So, um, yeah, if you look here on the on the the prints, I said, this this kind of shows an overlay of where where the firing range used to be and the proposed and then this, um, you know, this this plan shows the
layout of the new proposed firing location. Um, you know, the orientation of of where the the shooting will will take place and uh this page will shows the actual structure where the shooting will be going into. Um so that is you
know what I wanted to pre present but I would definitely open it to any questions or anything from from that end. Okay thank you Sam. Um, welcome members. Do you have any questions for Samale? B Larry
Scott. Okay. The only question I have is um how far is the shooting range where you're firing your weapon from the pavement from the sorry
how far is the fire firing range from the pavement surface p surface of Boston from the access road or from the actual U Boston actually right away Boston Um I I don't know off the top of my head
that you know the the distance. Sure. I could get that number for you. I was just curious. So yeah, but like it it shows it here. You know, it's it's it's Yeah. So Sam, I'm looking at it um on on near maps and roughly from the
from that 150 foot setback from for the to the shooting position from that shooting position to the edge of Boston Road if that's the question is roughly 100 ft. Okay. Thank you. Um, if no board members
have any questions at this time, I'll ask the I do, Woody. Okay, go ahead, Larry. So, uh, if someone were using the range, the shooter would have their back towards Boston Road. Correct. That's correct. That's correct. Y
Okay. So, yep. Go ahead. Yeah. So, the the the um the square box indicates the where the target area is, but where is there a shooting stand? It would be up to the north. I don't know if you can see my course or cursor
or not. Um, but it would be, you know, to the north of that up here where this uh this note up here that says all existing material up here. Okay. Thank you. Yep. Okay. Any other questions? Anyone
hearing? None. Uh, any questions from the public? Woody, I I would just add just for clarity's sake that the police chief and and staff have reviewed this um and are
you know comfortable with its location and I I do know that the review with the consom um took into consideration the fact that the use is so near the wetlands and um their conditions around cleanup and that
the police have agreed to and all that kind of thing. So, it's certainly a benefit to the town um that we've been able to find a way to continue to allow this use on this property as well as um you know, being
able to move forward with the um solar panels on the landfill. So it's, you know, it's been a process of multiple minds looking at the site together to figure out a way to to make it all work. Um, so I think it is um an outcome
that's of benefit to multiple um components of the of the town. Very good. Um, and I don't see you don't see any race from the public, correct? No, I don't.
Okay. Well, I'd entertain a motion to approve the amendment to the special permit to relocate this police firing range as part of the existing solar panel project plans. You have it. Do I have a second?
Second. Thank you, Peter. Thank you, Larry. Roll call vote. Peter Pos, yes. Larry Murphy, yes. Scott Ker, yes. And Steve, how do you feel? I'm all all in. Thank you.
Okay. And I vote yes as well. So, thank you, Dale. Thank you for your presentation, Sam. Thank you. Thank you. All right, moving on to the next order of business. Um, Flory Bushy, uh,
Florence Bushy Lane, owner Barry Costa, Kosha, excuse me. Trustee Bushy Real Estate Trust. Applicant Ben Perez, Boston North Development, request for minor modification to the approved
subdivision plan to add stone gateway pillars and entrance entrance gates. Um, do we have Ben and Yeah. Uh, Steve? Yeah, Steve. Yeah, Steve Soy with Millennium Engineering.
And, uh, I know Ben's on here. I just saw him log in also. Yep. I'm here as well. Yeah. So, I think the um the plan is to right uh basically just add a decorative uh entry to the private way.
Stone uh some stone pillars with lights. I can if you quickly I can just share share the uh renderings and such. Yep. Uh let's see share. All right everyone see see what's
see the image. Y yeah. So basically it's just to provide a entry gate a decorative entry gate here there currently there's a wall on this side and parking that parking and wall would remain and then we basic you
know what what we're doing here is just making a symmetrical entrance with with a pole light some pole lamp in and gate um and as far I think there was concern regarding the um fire access which I don't know if
this is going to jump right to Did that jump or not? No, I think I got to stop sharing. Did that jump to the PDF or? No. Okay, I gota That's one thing about this. It doesn't It's not like Okay, I got to go back and then share
again then jump to that share. Yeah. So, here's in plan view. Um the cyan is the truck turning movement. you know, the T we we had widened this out in agreement to uh 22 feet uh as requested by the the fire chief or the
deputy fire chief. Um and so all all firet truck turning movements are within the paved area. Anyway, uh so this is in plan view showing the the distance and clearance between the two uh between the two poles. And that's basically it. That's
what we uh that's what we're looking at. Okay. Thank you, Steve. Anyone have any questions from the board? What do I do? Yes. Go ahead, Pete. Hey, so Steve, so we're trying to move towards dark sky compliance sort of uh lighting and fixtures. So, how would we design
something like that to achieve what you want to also achieve? Um, I think I I defer to Ben. Those those are actually very I I know these were installed I think some of these were installed down on um they've been
installed down on uh off of 105 on Seagate I believe. Um Ben, are those the same pictures we're talking about? Yes. Yeah. They would be a gas a gas lantern that would just have a light glow to it. It wouldn't illuminate anything really.
Right. Since that time, you know, at our town meeting, we kind of had a bylaw with kind of a mention of that we're going towards dark sky compliance. So, I'm trying to figure out how we can now roll this in so we can be compliant with we what we did at our town meeting.
Okay. Will the gas lanterns be too much illumination? Is that what you're saying? So, I I could defer you to town staff so you could try to figure out what sort of a fixture would work best for Doc Sky appliance. So, everything's pointed down. So, it's just, you know, a matter of getting what you want to get
achieved and then just kind of flowing with what the town's trying to go towards going forward. Okay. Yeah, that's not a problem. The fixture, we can certainly discuss what that is. Great. Thanks. I I think that's just the main
difference is whether the light is going down versus surround. So, I'm not, you know, I haven't been by the lights at 105 high. I I certainly remember seeing them in the daytime, but
um but that I guess that's the question is the shedding of the light going down versus around. Yeah, I I would think I would think with you there's a lot of the dark sky compliant technologies requested and such, I imagine what they could do is just put a a blacked out or
darkened hood uh for the top of the light. Um, so it's just directed down, you know, like horizontally or downward. Yeah, we um not sure if it's like all around. I
think um all around as long as it's shielded. Um and anything that is facing upwards um you know has a shield to it at some point. Maybe it's 10 or 20 feet. Um it's
just being very very thoughtful. Um you know, and having up light, having lanterns, you know, on top of uh pillars, Ben, um that you know, may you know, push light up into the sky. um that
um you know could uh you know be maybe uh a little uncomfortable uh if you're used to uh um you know a uh a night sky versus a light sky. So that's that's my interpretation Kristen. And I think the
other thing to keep in mind is you know you're kind of in a natural corridor there. You know we're not in a town. you're in a very environmentally sensitive area between the marsh and the you know the uh the preserved areas by back. So I think that's kind of the direction the town's trying to move in since we've seen some dramatic changes.
Yeah, the gas the gas lanterns I would be using are very it's you can relate it to a couple of candles glowing. That's all they would be. They're more for an ambient than they even really give light. So, and you know, we can obviously put a a a cap or a lens which they would come
with naturally so that the um light would be directed down. Is it um at 105? Are they true gas lanterns? Um they are true gas lanterns. Yeah. Each property has one at the
entrance of the driveway. There's none up there's nothing near the road, but they're at the entrance of each individual lot from the from the uh Seagate roadway. Got it. And um and I'm certainly with and Pete's camp. I I
I you know, we we we do support um what we just approved. Um but I would also um suggest that um you know possibly um you know Ben you
could make or deliver some submitts of those lights uh to Kristen in the planning department um and that could be potentially administrative um you know approval. Um I think that might uh that'd be okay with me. Not sure about
the rest of the board. Um but uh you know we we could ask them actually one one item of note there is a cobra head um lamp on the utility pole directly across the street. So I imagine that I imagine the light emitted from that
cobra head right basically across the street would far exceed any of the lighting would exceed any of the light pollution that these would. I think a good it is a good idea to provide submitts in and such on the uh on the gas fixtures. It's all about going
forward, Steve. Yep. Well, Steve, how did you allow them to put that that that light in that pole that cover? I don't know. Somehow somebody snuck it up there. I guess source or somebody put it up there. Okay. Uh but I I think we all understand
uh where what we'd like to see. Yep. Okay. Yeah, that's no no problem there. Okay. And I noticed the pillars are 30 feet wide, so there's plenty of room beyond the pavement.
And I will add that th those gates are ornamental. They don't they won't function. They'll be they'll be bolted open. So they're all they're just there as a decoration. Then they they won't close or anything. They're not motorized. Yep. They'll never end up being closed and become Okay. Thank Very
good. If uh there's no other questions, I'd entertain a motion to approve the minor modification to the Florence Bushy Lane approved subdivision plan to add some stone
gateway pillars and entrance gates. So, and the lighting to on top of the pillars to also be uh specs to be turned into crystal. I'd make that motion.
Do I have a second? Second. Okay, thank you. Roll call vote. Peter Pos, yes, sir. Larry Murphy, yes. Scott Kinta, yes. Steve Manin, how do you feel? I see that you said you feel good,
Steve. And I vote yes as well as chair. And uh thank you, Ben. And thank you, Steve. Thank you. So, so I guess uh just a quick follow up on that now that we've I think we're at a point where there will be no changes to the plans. Uh I think the the planning board want um
requested a mile for signature. Is it I believe that is that is correct Kristen? Yes. Yeah. Okay. So I I will get the I'll put the now that everything's set. Well, we got to put a mile out together for uh for signature and recording at the registry of deeds with the updated
layout. Okay. Great. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Steve. Next item on Have a good night. Yep. Have a good night, Ben. Thank you. All right. Next item on the agenda. Two-8 Old Point Road owner applicant.
The Cottages Commercial LLC request for extension of site plan approval. Um Kristen, can we have an update on this matter? Um sure. I'll give a quick update and
then if um Vince and or Steve want to chime in. Um yeah, so the applicant submitted a letter requesting extension of their site plan approval previously. Um but um we have not met since that
extension request came in. So their site plan uh permit actually expired on April 28th. Um so uh we're trying to work together to move
forward. Um I think the um applicants have also received a letter from the building commissioner um regarding the result of that expiration. um which includes some requests regarding um
enforcement and uh the I I did send it around to the planning board. Um it was just received this afternoon, so not everyone has probably seen that yet, but um I guess I just thought I'd turn it over to Steve
and Vince to share what the next steps are. Yeah. So I think um we were actually we're in the process. So my understanding is whatever changes were going to be a major modification which would require
uh it would require a better notification. Basically it's a new a new site plan anyway. So, I was in the process of submitting a site blend view applica application and um have already pulled the a butter a butter note the um
a butter list and such uh which I think I pulled a couple weeks ago and was working on putting together the application which in turn I I actually forwarded off a PDF of the draft submission to Kristen today which I'm hoping to work through and get the
formal submission in hard copies uh later this week or I think we're planning to discuss the the process tomorrow. Um and uh then go from there. So my understanding is that the there's a few things going on here. So there's
some changes on the site. Um there's a merch shacks. There was some I think the propane tank was moved. There's some some items that are that vary versus what the approved plan was. Um and Vince is has run through the planning actually
ran through the ZBA zoning board of appeals and has received approval for the additional merch shack uh and also a pavilion structure which we are as part of the change conditions that have
been constructed. We're going to be asking for this additional pavilion structure which is currently before the conservation commission. Um the conservation commission did or issue an updated order conditions for the change site conditions um back in I think
believe it was October. Um but we're back before the conservation commission for a modification to include that 40ft pavilion. Uh this site plan application that we're looking to file actually um the draft was filed today includes the
merch shack and any of the changes on the site along with the requested uh 40x 40 foot uh open pavilion structure. So that's uh that's the status now. Um we we're looking we've been methodically moving forward. I I was involved with
the original permitting. Um and then Vince had uh the company that I was at no longer entertained. They they got away from the site permitting process. So Vince ended up uh having to go he ended up joining or hiring Millennium. I am now with Millennium. So I'm back
involved with the project from as I was at the at the original permitting of it. So, we're looking to move forward in a positive note and work with the planning board and and and get this thing um get everything get all ducks in a row and get this get everything put together here and hopefully over the next next
month or so next couple months get this thing get all the changes documented, monumentated and approved. Okay, very good. Um is there any questions from anyone on the board hearing? None.
Um, basically we'll be hearing from you guys soon and work work our way through this. Do you have anything? Yeah, I I guess the only the only question I have I guess we just got that letter today on the um so the letter did state that the merch shack um they the cease and desist on
the merch shack merch shack um uh which is part of the you know it's it's part of the business of I I granted it was not on the original plan. I understand that the permit had lapsed, but I believe the permit had lapsed um a
couple years ago and then it it basically got reinstated uh with the I think it came back to life or something. It was dead and it came back to life. Now it's dead again. Um I don't know if it if the board could give any latitude and at least allow uh we
show good faith that we we did submit the draft or draft application that if they could continue to at least use the merch shack through the permitting process and if the planning board decides I guess if if there is a decision not to allow the use or not to allow the update that it would stop at
that time um just to to help the business and and and and help them move along. My understand I'm sorry. Go ahead, Venom. Go ahead. Sorry. I just wanted to I'm not sure if all of you were involved in the original
uh um I know some of you were involved in the original approval and I just wanted to give a little bit of a history since it's been a number of years. Um so this was originally approved back in 2021. Um the construction occurred there and we actually had applied in 2022.
Steve had submitted to close out the the the the site plan and everything. And um um just to give a little history, I live I'm I'm the owner of the property and I'm I guess a silent investor in the restaurant operation that's not active
in it. And so I got a call from Martha after Steve had submitted, you know, the asbuilts and a few of the slight modifications that had to happen during the construction. and she let me know that there was now a um a shipping container on the site um unbeknownst to
me. And so the the the tenant I I called my tenant and and unfortunately it was a situation where they they thought they were leasing the site and they're used to dealing with not Plum Island and the things that go with Plum Island and they truly felt that just dropping a shipping
container on there was okay. uh not realizing any of the rules and not realizing all the the the approvals that had gone through getting this this done. And so at the time, um, I had spoken with Martha and I think she spoke spoke to the board and he said, "Look, we're
we're looking to do something on the corner on the on the site where something had, uh, where the building had burned down and and we'll come in and and resolve that alongside with with the um what we're going to do on the corner." And and the board was was or
Martha, I'm not sure how how it went down, was was more willing to to accept that. And so it took about a year, year and a half to kind of finalize the plans of what we were going to do. And and now we're almost in two years that we've been trying to get our approvals done
and resolve all the issues um that kind of came up from this. And um you know it took 6 months just to get all the documents and get the new engineers up to date to get into the ZBA. A few months to get the ZBA approval. And then we ran into this
issue where there was a potential for tolling on the conservation. So that took a while to figure out how we were going to apply for that. And we finally decided, let's not wait and let's just go in and and resolve the old issues and then we'll come in with the pavilion and
and we're right near the end of resolving that. And then right at the end of the process where we were supposed to submit to you guys about probably about a month ago, there was a discussion between um I believe Kristen and Mason where they felt it made more
sense for Joe Schwarzka Schwarzka I believe to review um while we were still with conservation um since since the pavilion really is more of a a storm water issue. And so,
um, we finally got his report back a week ago. Um there's a an issue that he brought up with with um the asphalt and and how it it um drains into the the um rain garden and and um uh Steve and I
have been working on that issue and and have a have a solution to it and hope to have that resolved uh I believe on the May 20th meeting with with conservation. So, you know, it's been a uh a lot
longer than I had anticipated to to resolve this issue. And and it was honestly a I I blame myself maybe for not telling my my uh uh restaurant partners kind of what they were allowed to do, but I was also in Florida where I
live full-time and didn't realize what had been done. And so it's kind of been a three-year process of trying to undo and fix what was accidentally done. And so um you know, anything the board could
do and I understand if if you know enough time has passed that that it is what it is. And um you know, I haven't had a chance to call my restaurant partners cuz I just got the letter before, but I will make sure they understand first thing tomorrow what
what is going on. And um you know, we just hope to get this this resolved. I mean, I'm fully aware we live essentially or or that restaurant is essentially a fish fishbowl on the island. We can't move a grain of sand on there without people noticing. So, you
know, there was definitely no intention on doing something that we could kind of pull a fast one on somebody as if they weren't going to notice a shipping container sitting on on the property. Um, unfortunately, um, I just probably hadn't conveyed
enough to my to my tenants kind of what was allowed or not allowed on property. So, either way, we look forward to to resolving this and and moving forward. Okay. Well, my understanding is that this is
this uh letter that was sent to you today was from the builder inspector. So, as far as the merch shacks concerned, that's not that's kind of out of out of our purview. Now, this is an enforcement order from the builder inspector. And I have it right in front of me. It says, "File a complete
application for a level two site plan review for the Sunset Club. Please coordinate with the new planning department for submittal requirements. This must be submitted by uh May 22nd which is Thursday in order to satisfy
this requirement. Failure to complete this filing will result in a cease and desist order on the operation of the club. So that's one thing that he's laid out here in this letter. And that application should be in like Steve said
hopefully tomorrow the the final version. Yeah. And then the second note on his letter was immediate cease operation of the merch shack because the merch shack wasn't on the original original plans and the original
plans are expired as of the 28th. So I don't think that's under our purview anymore. So, we could petition We could petition with Peter for that. I I guess so. This is from This is from
Peter. Peter's laid it out that that's the way it is. And what's it say at the end? Uh it says in his letter, it says, "Operation of the merchandise trailer may resume only when the this part of
the site plan review is complete." So these he's saying that when the site plan review that you submit is complete then I guess the merch trailer would open. Am I reading that correctly Kristen?
Um that's how I read it. Yeah. So I that's So I guess the answer to your question Steve is no. So, work with Kristen and get the plan in, the level two site plan in. We'll
get you on the agenda. And Woody, may I also ask a question of Vince? Yes, go right ahead, Steve. Yep. In the interest of not slowing things down, uh Vince, I seem to recall a while back when you perhaps you
were before the ZBA that there was some mention of not only the merch merchandise shack, but um a storage shed which was meant to uh be a place where the umbrellas and that sort of thing could be stored over the winter. And I don't know, that is something we're
going to be going in for for approval as part of this process as well. Okay. And I mention it merely so that you know the package is complete in Yep. So the storage doesn't come up a month or two
months from now. So thank you. Yep. Basically it's a start over. So everything that you want there, put it on the plan and then we'll we'll weigh in and we'll go through the process. So it's
unfortunate that it's expired, but it's what I Um, Woody, I just want to correct one thing Vince said, um, which is, uh, you know, I wasn't here back in
2021, 2022, 2023. Um but we did talk in February and explain that you know with any site plan review pract uh project that's has to go before the conscom and the planning board we we
tend to always recommend that those review processes happen simultaneously because there are ways that the purview of the two boards um overlap and you know need to be coordinated such that one board isn't approving something that
the other board hasn't approved. So, that was certainly our recommendation in like late February regarding the pavilion. Um, and because that didn't happen, that's why Mason and I talked about making sure that the review of the
pavilion with the consom included some storm water review. The concom is actually the storm water permit granting authority um for projects according to our bylaw. So it's an important piece of the review process. In some cases the planning
board does more of the storm water review because both boards are reviewing things at the same time. So it's certainly a you know an effort at coordination that we're you know we generally work with on many projects. Um,
and you know, I I just wanted to clarify why that was happening slightly differently in this case. And and we're 100% in agreement that that that getting Joe involved before conservation had had voted on any
approvals or not just so that we wouldn't have to come back and forth again. So So we're 100% in agreement with with going that route. Yeah. and and unfortunately actually Vince did back in March ask me to get going on the site plan review application but unfortunately we're just
so busy that it it had slipped through the cracks and and bas you know it was in the queue to get done um and there's work involved with putting it together granted the plan work was mostly done but still it's time involved and and the unfortunately it did slip
okay well we'll have the new plan and we'll get on the agenda. We'll go right through it. Oh, Steve, did you have another question? Is your hand still raised from previous uh another question or reminder? Um again, I seem this is for Vince to be thinking about, I guess.
Um I vaguely recall or I do recall again back to that ZBA meeting, there was some concern expressed about how a pavilion as a structure would be a visual element as you're coming onto the island. Now, I'm not sure how that plays
into the purview of the planning board, but there was concern expressed about, you know, what is the pavilion going to look like as a gateway fixture? And yeah, that's something you might want to give some thought to is all I'm saying.
Yeah, I I recall as as part of that process, we had originally had it orientated so that I guess if you have it as an A-frame. It was kind of facing the A was going north south and and the board felt it would make more sense to turn it the other way because it would
just look more visually appealing. And so that is something that we we took into consideration and and did do um as part of that approval process. But we will have I was in I was I was in conversations with the the folks that
that manufacture these and and um originally when we started this process their their way of trying to put the the I was trying to get a 3D image and they really couldn't get anything but I guess with all this AI stuff they recently told me that they should be able to give
me something that'll really show what the the structure will look like on the site and give more of a realistic uh depiction than some sort of a Google Earth where they kind of 3D stick it on and everything else is flat and it just doesn't doesn't look like what's
actually going to be there. So, I'm hoping to get that um in the next week or two before the the the meeting to be able to to share with everyone. Sure. Thank you. I wanted to give you a heads up from what I remembered from an ancient meeting. So, thanks. All right.
Well, thank you, Stephen. Thank you, Vincent. Any visuals that the board can take into consideration would be great, realistic visuals. So, all right. If there's not if no one has anything else, um, we'll move on with the agenda and
I'll we'll be working with you, Steve and Vincent, in the future. Steve, I'll call you tomorrow. All right. Thank you. Yeah. Yep. Thanks. Have a good night, guys. You, too. All right. Yep. Thank you.
All right. Next item on the agenda, old business. We don't have any. Um, next item, meeting minutes. Has everyone reviewed the meeting minutes from March 19th, 2025? Yes. Sounds good. Thank you. Well, I
would entertain a motion to approve the meeting minutes from March 19th. So moved. And a second. and a second. Roll call vote. Peter Pos, yes, sir. Larry Murphy, yes. Scott Ker, yes, sir.
And Steve, how do you feel? I'm still a happy camper. Okay, for one more week hopefully. And as chair, I vote yes as well. Meeting minutes are approved. Thank you. Leaison reports and meeting reports.
Um Larry, do you have anything from ZBA? Uh no, they're um actually um their regular monthly meeting is a week from tomorrow. So, and I haven't seen the agenda, obviously. So, I think I'll defer until our next meeting. Okay. Any report?
Okay, great, Larry. Thank you. Uh conservation's the next one. That would be me. We met last night. It was a three-hour meeting. Did all kinds of stuff on there. generators, uh, demolition of a
building. Uh, the only thing that really pertained to us that I could recall right now is, um, Sunset Club and it was continued. They asked for requests for continue and uh, it may be come before us in the
future is the site of the Pom Island Grill across the street from the Sunset Club and but they also asked for continuance. So there was no discussion on the matter. So I know that was before ZBA at one point. I don't know where it's at now, but um just something to
keep on everyone's radar as time goes on here. So that's all I can recall. Um so that's the end of my report. MVPC. Crystal
um just let's see a couple things related to our work with MVPC which I can say now in my planners report but I'll say them now. Um, one is I think I mentioned previously that the GIS um,
mapping staff at MVPC have been working hard to reddo the my map um, program which is the the web based viewer that allows us to look at lots and put all sorts of day
layers on top. Um, and I I just want to um they have a sort of soft launch of their new um what it looks like now. So, I'll send that link around and they're really looking for feedback. I maybe I'll even put it on the website because
it's open to the public to sort of try out the my map and and give any comments back about usability and just how it looks and how it works. Um, so it's definitely a tool that I, you know, use probably 10 or more times a day and I
think it's really helpful, um, for the town in general. So just support anyone who has time to take a look at that. Um, and then I also have a meeting with um, Ian Burns who's and Kayla Renie who
you all remember help have helped us a lot with our housing work. Um, the housing production plan that was approved by the planning board and select board and submitted to the state. We've received comments back from the um
EOHLC, the housing and livable communities review team at the state level that there it looks great. They just have a couple minor modifications. So, I'm going to be meeting with um with Ian and Kayla to review that. And I
don't think there's anything that has to come back to the board, but once um but I'll, you know, I'll let you know what the requests are for some slight edits and then it looks like we're um on path to have that reviewed um very soon. So,
that's great. get that housing production plan finalized and then we can move forward into actually, you know, working on some of the strategies in the action plan. So, I'll keep you posted about that. Okay. You want to roll right into your
I'll roll right in. Um, let's see. Uh, one, just a general thank you to everybody. I was very pleased at town meeting. Uh thanks in particular to Woody for standing up and representing the work of this board. You
did a fantastic job. Um and you know it was a long meeting in general, but um I really appreciate that uh those zoning amendments move forward smoothly. I think that attests to you know a lot of the meetings and work and conversations
we've had with people over the winter. So, um just thank you again and also thank you to Martha Taylor who really also carried um the load on moving those amendments forward. So, now they're approved and we wrap it up with the town
clerk and send it off to the attorney general um for review and approval and then all those bylaws will become um official. and Martha and I are uh talking about the next phase of the
recodification work already will give us all a break for a while, but I think hopefully this summer we can start kind of wrapping our heads around um some of the next revisions to the zoning bylaw that have come up over time and we want
to um move forward with for next year. So, thank you to everybody for that. Um let's see two short project updates. Um 34 central just to remind everyone that we did
um post the legal notices. I think the the first um ad for the rescheduled public hearing for the 34 central multif family site plan review um was in the newspaper today and it'll be um posted in the daily news next
Wednesday. A better notices went out um and that um public hearing date is now going to be our next meeting which is May 21st. Um, we have continued to be receiving public comments. So, I'm posting all
those on the website. I haven't sent them around individually to all of you, but I'll summarize them before the May 21st meeting. Um, but just so you know, they are on the um public website, so you can read some of those public comments um when you have time.
Um, oh, and then our traffic peer review for that project, we are moving forward with that. I should have that contract signed um by the town administrator this week. Um, and I think that uh peer
review of the traffic study will be an important piece of it. And I I don't think we'll have comments back by May 21st, but my hope would be we'd have comments for the meeting, the next meeting, the early June meeting. Um so
just keeping that moving forward as well. And then 105 high Seagate. Um Steve, I see your hand, but I'll just run through all my stuff and then I'll stop talking.
Um 105. Hi Seagate. Um you recall um they had some work to do on the wetlands replication and some of the open space components. Um and my understanding is that now that it's warm
and uh things are growing. They have done that work. So Mason and I are talking about um going out there for a site visit. And then we also want to schedule a time for all of you um to get out there um and see the property which
is nearly complete. We we are still waiting for the comments on the conservation restriction which come from the state. Um but we're trying to keep moving with everything that we can handle locally um to uh move towards
close out of that project with them. So, um, so I'll send around some, uh, date possibilities for that sitewalk. Um, let's see. Okay, the last thing is we just there are two really, um,
important public meetings coming up. I wanted to invite you all to and anyone who's listening to this. Um the first as you heard at town meeting the open space committee and recreation committee have been working on the update to the open space and recck plan for the town and
they are holding their first um kickoff meeting for that work um to look at maps and talk about open space and think about priority actions for um open space conservation and and management of
recreation lands. That is May 20th. Um it's a Tuesday 700 p.m. and the meeting will be actually in the Council on Aging um large meeting space and that effort also has a public
survey. Um we just heard how hard it is to get that out there but um Satie Woodward who's our open space planning assistant is working really hard with the committee to um do that work. So, um, that is also coming right up. May
20th and then May 28th, which is a Wednesday, 3 weeks from today, um, the Plum Island Turnpike Fasibility Study for Resiliency Improvements Project,
which is a mouthful, so we're just calling it the Plum Island Turnpike Project. Um we're h having the public meeting for that project. It will be a short presentation about what that project is and then an opportunity for
people to be in the classroom and talk about their concerns, ideas about ways to um address some of the challenges of Plum Island turnpike both from a sort of
vulnerability of flooding um angle but also in terms of multimodal transportation and safe transportation. Um, as you recall, that project is funded through what's called a flap grant, which is federal lands access
program. So, it's federal highway money that Newbury Port and Newbury were eligible for because that the Parker River Wildlife Refuge is on the island. So, it's specifically concerned with um improving access to um federal
properties. Um, but obviously our local communities, our residential communities on the island also have the same concerns. So, that meeting is May 28th. It's going to be held at the headquarters of the wildlife refuge um
right at Plum on Plum Island Turnpike on your way out to the island 5:30 p.m. So, we have flyers um for that. We'll be going out tomorrow. We'll start doing a lot of outreach and um marketing
about that event. But those are my updates. Very good. Steve, did you have a question for Right. Um we actually got another one now that I listened to Kristen's presentation. Um will the um
flap and or the open space recreation committee meetings be zoomable or is it only uh in person? Um, both of those will be in person. Okay. Thank you. And there may be a way that we can record them, but I haven't I
haven't figured that out yet. You know, I think it'd be great as a minimum to record them. That way, um, there could be after the fact commentary if need be. Yeah, both of them are intended to be sort of pretty interactive with breakout tables and conversations. So, some of
that part may not be recordable, but I certainly think the initial presentation should be able to be. It's a good idea. Thank you, Steve. And then, um, the other one, um, had to do with the traffic study. Is that something where the consultant's
working for the town or are they working for the applicant or That's um, that's working for the town. Um but it's a peer review similar to our storm water um and engineering peer
review. So it's the um the cost is covered by the applicant. However, the hired by the planning board by the town and their work is on behalf of of the town and our review.
Does that mean that you know you worked with Tracy whatever to pick the consultant to do the work or Yes. trying to get a sense of how that works. Uh, and something I will share with the board is that when it does come out, I will probably have a question, but one
of my ongoing questions uh when I get a traffic study to that comes up in something I've been interested in was ask how many times has the uh contractor found that the traffic would had an undesirable effect and it shouldn't be allowed to go through or
have they always said it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it won't be a substantial uh impact. I realize I'm sounding sarcastic and maybe I do mean to be, but u that's a question that I always want to put on the table. What's their record of approval
versus disapproval? I know that that certainly came up uh was raised as well by another person I worked with in the town um about traffic measurements that were being done on the Plum Island turnpike.
And I think it's going to be it'll be interesting answer to watch u how the contractor responds, you know. Yeah, I'd be happy to um share both the RFP that went out to consultants as well as their proposals
back. Um I'm happy to share that with you. And it's um I think their charge is to kind of point out and identify questions but not
necessarily, you know, I think the the project is in the hands of the planning board in terms of our how we interpret their um their findings and their report. Okay. Thank you. But again, I may have gone out on a limb too far uh in
mentioning a long-standing concern I've had about traffic studies and in general. So, thank you. I I think your comments are very fair, but and I will also say that many of the public comments coming
in from the neighborhood are particularly concerned about this issue. So, it's c certainly something we're going to be um taking a close look at, right? Though it'll also come up on the federal meeting at Parker
River, I suspect. Thank you. All right. Very good. And Kristen, if you have nothing else, that's it. I see nothing on the agenda. So before I entertain a motion to adjurnn, I just
want to thank the board for attending town meeting. Well, first off, I uh um Woody, I I I would like to just reiterate um I think what everyone on the board feels. Um and that's thank you to Kristen, certainly Martha and uh
Woody, for you to have the courage to get up in front of 350 people, maybe 300 by the time you actually stood up and and uh addressed the um the town meeting. Um something that is commendable. Um, I'm extremely proud of
you. I think the board is as well and everybody else in the town. So, I just wanted to um just um um thank you all. Uh it was uh meaningful last week. Um it's my first Newbury Town meeting. Um
won't be my last. Uh but it was uh very interesting uh to say the least and very proud of the town for u making the right choices. So, thank you. Yep. It It went well, sir. Well said.
That's all that uh all that matters. It went good. So, thank you, Scott. What do you rock? Next year, it will be your turn, Scott. All right. We'll put you up there. All right. If anyone else has
anything, I entertain a motion to adjourn. So move. Second. Very good. Roll call vote. Peter Larry. Yes, sir. Yes. Yes. Steve,
how do you feel for the last time, Steve? I'm all good. Very good. And I vote yes to adjourn as well. And everyone have a great night. Kristen, thank you very much. Good night. Thanks. Thank you. Good night in a couple weeks. Over and
out.