Planning Board
Town of Princeton, MA Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2023
Town Hall Annex and GoToMeeting
Board Members present in-person: Ian Catlow, Rud Mason, John Mirick, and Ann Neuburg and Alternates Corey Burnham-Howard and Lisa Drexhage
Board Members present, remote: None
Absent: Tom Sullivan
Public Participation, in person: Larry DeBlois, James Hanssen
Public Participation, remote: None
Call to order: 7:30 PM
ANR Plan Reviews
There were no ANR plans to review.
Review and Approve Meeting Minutes of January 18, 2023
MOTION to approve minutes
Motion: Ann Neuburg; second: Ian Catlow
Vote: unanimous
Informal Discussion on Old Mill Road Parcel
James Hanssen inquired about an approximately 19 acre parcel on Old Mill Road for which the Board had endorsed a 4 lot ANR plan in October 2019. The Board does not know if the ANR plan has been recorded. The Selectboard subsequently determined that Old Mill Road would not be maintained. The property is at the Rutland end of Old Mill Road. Hanssen suggested that as a practical matter, access from Rutland to the property may be more feasible than access from Princeton. The Board informally advised Hanssen that an ANR endorsement is a determination that the lots on a plan satisfy area and frontage requirements, and is not a determination that the lots are buildable. In addition to septic, water, setbacks for buildings, and building plans, Hanssen may need to satisfy the Building Inspector about access for fire and emergency vehicles, perhaps through Rutland, to receive a building permit. The Board is not involved in the issuance of building permits.
Public Hearing on Proposed By-Law Amendments
The public hearing on the proposed by-law amendments (name/gender neutral changes throughout the Zoning By-Laws; new Section XXIII for Solar Energy Systems) has been advertised for March 1. The text of the amendments has been posted on the Board’s website.
High Density Residential Zoning
The Town Administrator has submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”) a plan for compliance with Ch. 40A Sec, 3A. The conceptual proposal in that submission for a high density overlay district will not be part of the public hearing on March 1. The Board does not plan any further action on a high density overlay district until that concept has been approved by DHCD.
“Flag Pole” Lots
The Chair reported that he had responded to an inquiry about “flag pole” lots. His informal advice was that while Princeton’s Zoning By-Laws do not permit flag pole lots (minimal frontage connecting a narrow corridor to backland), there is a section on backlot development. He has heard nothing further.
False Alarm By-Law
During the discussion in 2022 about marijuana cultivation and the state regulations for alarm systems for marijuana facilities, the issue came up about the Police Department possibly being required to respond to multiple false alarms. When the proposal for marijuana cultivation on Beaman Road was withdrawn, the issue of a false alarm by-law was not pressed. The informal consensus of the Board was that any false alarm by-law would be a general by-law, not a zoning by-law.
Housing Production Plan
DHCD approved the Town’s Housing Production Plan. The next step is for the Selectboard to appoint an implementation committee.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board will be Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 7:30 in the Town Hall Annex. This will include the public hearing on the zoning amendments, starting at 7:35. When the Public Hearing has concluded, the Board may deliberate concerning any changes to the proposed zoning amendments in response to public comments.
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
MOTION to adjourn passed unanimously
Respectfully submitted,
John Mirick
Documents reviewed: Draft Minutes for January 18 meeting
Notice of Public Hearing on March 1 with proposed Articles
DHCD Approval of Housing Production Plan