Planning Board
Town of Princeton, MA Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
May 17, 2023
Town Hall Annex and GoToMeeting
Board Members present in-person: Rud Mason, John Mirick, Ann Neuburg, and Tom Sullivan and Alternate Member Corey Burnham-Howard
Board Members present, remote: none
Absent: Ian Catlow, Alternate Member Lisa Drexhage
Public Participation, in person: Larry DeBlois, David Cruise
Public Participation, remote: none
Call to order: 7:30 PM
ANR Plan for Hubbardston Road
David Cruise presented a proposed ANR plan for approximately 23 acres on the northerly side of Hubbardston Road owned by the Mountain Pond Real Estate Trust. The three beneficiaries of the trust who are all abutters have decided to terminate the trust and distribute the land to themselves. None of the resulting three parcels meet the requirements for a building lot. Each resulting parcel is labeled “not a building lot.” Wetlands are shown on the plan based on Mass GIS data.
MOTION to give ANR endorsement to the plan
Motion: Rud Mason; second: Ann Neuburg
Vote: unanimous
Public Hearing on Backlot Development at 175 Brooks Station Drive
After the agenda had been posted, Lar Greene advised the Chair that the Applicant’s attorney needed more time to draft the proposed deed restriction and other documents, and requested that the public hearing be continued. In order to have the full panel that was present for the first session, the hearing needs to be continued to June 21, 2023. The Chair continued the public hearing as requested, and will confirm the June 21, 2023 date with the applicant.
Referendum on Marijuana Restrictions
The three referendum questions on the ballot on May 8 passed. The zoning by-law amendments restriction marijuana adopted by Town Meeting in May 2022 will now take effect.
Proposed Solar Energy Systems By-Law
The Board reviewed the draft explanation and FAQ sheet drafted by Corey. There needs to be some slight further editing. Corey will make the edits and then ask the Town Clerk to send it out as a town email.
ANR Requirements
The Board discussed the ANR requirements appearing in the Board’s Rules and Regulations, and the change to the “Form A” application for ANR endorsement proposed by Kolette. The change calls for a specific representation by an applicant that the plan complies with the ANR requirements. Requirement A.1.l is that any lot that does not meet zoning requirements shall be labeled “Not a Building Lot.” While this should put an applicant on notice, it was the consensus of the Board that it would be useful to refer specifically to the frontage and area requirements in the zoning by-laws, including that a building lot have at least one acre of upland. The Board also felt that it would be useful to require a surveyor to indicate how the wetland and flood hazard areas shown on a plan were determined. The Chair will draft some language for discussion at the next meeting.
Review and Approve meeting minutes of May 3, 2023
MOTION to approve minutes as corrected
Motion: Ann Neuburg; second: John Mirick
Vote: unanimous
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be June 21, 2023. There will not be a meeting on June 7, 2023.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
MOTION to adjourn passed unanimously
Respectfully submitted,
John Mirick
Documents reviewed: ANR Application and Plan for Hubbardston Road property
Explanation and FAQ sheet for solar energy systems by-law
Rules and Regulations concerning ANR endorsements
The ANR Handbook prepared by DHCD
Draft Minutes for May 3, 2023 meeting