Planning Board
Town of Princeton, MA Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2023
Town Hall Annex and GoToMeeting
Board Members present in-person: Ian Catlow, John Mirick, Ann Neuburg, and Tom Sullivan, and Alternate Member Corey Burnham-Howard
Alternate Board Member present, remote: Larry DeBlois
Absent: Board Member Rud Mason
Public Participation, in person: Gary Gaffin
Public Participation, remote: none
Call to order: 7:30 PM
Informal Discussion of Proposed ANR Plan
Gary Gaffin showed the Board a conceptual plan for the division of a parcel on Old Colony Road. In 2020, the Board had given an ANR endorsement to carve out one building lot (“lot 1”). The current conceptual plan is to divide the remaining 16+ acres into three lots, and to have a common driveway for lots 2 and 3, with no current construction on the remaining land (lot 4). The conceptual plan showed that new lots 2 and 3, and the remaining lot 4, all have sufficient area and frontage. Gary discussed with the Board the design of a proposed common driveway serving lots 2 and 3.
The Board observed that while there are design standards for common driveways in the Subdivision Rules and Regulations, which are incorporated by reference in Open Space Residential Design plans (Section XIV.4) and essentially replicated in the Backlot Development plans (Section XV.5.B), there are no generally-applicable design standards for common driveways in the Zoning By-Laws. This could be a good topic to consider for a future amendment. Gary stated that he intended to meet the subdivision design standards. Initially, he does not expect to need a common driveway because the only immediate construction will be on new lot 3. If the Board proposes and the Town adopts general design standards that are consistent with the design standards in the Subdivision Rules and Regulations, Gary is confident that a common driveway serving lots 2 and 3 will meet those standards.
Gary will complete his site investigations and prepare an ANR plan for submission to the Board.
ANR Guidelines
The Board reviewed the proposed revisions provided by Corey after the discussion at the September 6 meeting. Further revisions were suggested requiring applicants to provide an electronic copy as well as hard copy, and requiring applications and plans to be submitted at
least two business days in advance of Board meetings. Corey will make those revisions, and then give the guidelines to Kolette.
The Board’s Rules and Regulations need to be amended to conform to the Guidelines. John will draft proposed amendments for the next Board meeting. Because these are the Board’s Rules and Regulations, and not Zoning By-Laws, no Town Meeting action is required.
Master Plan
Drafts of the first three sections of the revised Master Plan have been provided. Ann will lead a discussion at the next Board meeting, and provide the Board’s comments to the Master Plan Committee.
High Density Residential Zoning
John reported he had met with CMRPC for “compliance modeling” of Princeton’s proposed plan to meet the Ch. 40A sec. 3A requirements. CMRPC determined that 12.9 acres of the proposed overlay district were available for construction, but that the algorithm provided by the State computed that Princeton’s proposed plan resulted in a density of only 5 residential units per acre, rather than the required minimum of 15 residential units per acre. With CMRPC’s concurrence, John has sent a letter to CMRPC to forward to the State asking for an explanation.
Review and Approve meeting minutes of September 6, 2023
Corey provided corrections to the reference in the draft minutes to Ch. 41 Sec 81L.
MOTION to approve minutes as corrected
Motion: Tom Sullivan; second: Ann Neuburg
Vote: unanimous
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be October 4, 2023. Kolette is scheduling for that meeting a public hearing for an accessory apartment on Sterling Road.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
MOTION to adjourn passed unanimously
Respectfully submitted,
John Mirick
Documents reviewed: Conceptual ANR Plan for Old Colony Road property
Draft Guidelines for ANR process
Draft Minutes for September 6, 2023 meeting