Planning Board
Town of Princeton, MA Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
November 1, 2023
Town Hall Annex and GoToMeeting
Board Members present in-person: Ian Catlow, Rud Mason, John Mirick and Ann Neuburg, and Alternate Members Corey Burnham-Howard and Larry DeBlois
Board Members absent: Tom Sullivan
Public Participation, in person: none
Public Participation, remote: none
Call to order: 7:30 PM
Review of ANR Applications
No applications had been filed.
Possible New Restaurant on Hubbardston Road
The interested party, Scott Morris, had a conflict. This item was deferred to a subsequent meeting when he can be present.
Uniform Design Standards for Common Driveways
Corey is working on a draft. This item was deferred to a subsequent meeting when a draft is available.
FEMA Flood Plain Map
A joint meeting with the Conservation Commission has been scheduled for Wednesday November 8 for a presentation and discussion of the proposed new map and the impact on Princeton. John will circulate some written materials from FEMA in advance of the meeting. While this will be an informational meeting rather than a deliberative meeting, the meeting will be posted by both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board to avoid any Open Meeting Law entanglements.
Master Plan
The Board continued the discussion from October 18. Rud and Ian agreed to draft comments on the Economic Development section for review by the Board. Ann agreed to draft comments on the Open Space section. Corey circulated some “in progress” comments on goals 1 and 2 of the Land Use section. Larry circulated some “in progress” comments on goals 3 and 4 of the Land Use section. John agreed to draft comments on goals 5, 6, and 7 of the Land Use section. Tom is traveling and will not be back until the first meeting in December but may have input when he has had an opportunity to review comments.
It was the sense of the Board that while the data collected for the Master Plan was helpful, some – perhaps many – of the goals and objectives stated in the draft were not particularly useful for Princeton, did not reflect what Princeton residents want, and in some areas appeared to ignore existing realities. For example, it seems clear to the Board that cost, topography, und underlying bedrock means that Princeton could not develop town water or town sewerage. Similarly, most of the area zoned for business or business-industrial use on Princeton’s major roads currently has some residences. The realistic potential for additional business uses is probably limited to home occupations or small businesses that are compatible with residential uses, and businesses that take advantage of Princeton’s open space and rural beauty.
The Board discussed the possibility of suggesting to the Master Plan Committee that rather than specific textual comments (similar to Corey’s in progress comments), the Board provide more conceptual comments, identifying goals and objectives that the Board felt were unrealistic or simply not applicable to Princeton. The two approaches could be combined: textual comments for goals and objections that are applicable, and conceptual comments for goals and objectives that are inapplicable. As a member of the Master Plan Committee, Ann will raise this issue with the Master Plan Committee and then report back to the Board.
Possible Development of “Captain Bob’s” Parking Lot
Nothing has been filed with the Planning Board or with the Zoning Board of Appeals. This item was deferred to a subsequent meeting.
Housing Implementation Committee
Ann reported that the Committee is about to start work. She will keep Board advised on issues that may have zoning implications.
Review and Approve meeting minutes of October 18, 2023
MOTION to approve minutes as corrected.
Motion: Rud Mason; second: Ian Catlow
Vote: unanimous
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
MOTION to adjourn passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
John Mirick
Documents reviewed: In progress comments on Land Use Goals 1 & 2 (Corey) and 3 & 4 (Larry)
Email correspondence from Chair to Board on division of responsibility for comments
Draft Minutes for October 18, 2023 meeting