Planning Board meeting
Town of Princeton, Mass. -- Remote Participation hosted by Ann Neuburg via Webex and conference call
PLANNING BOARD Public Hearings & Meeting Minutes
--– May 27, 2020 7:30 PM
Present were: Chair John Mirick, Tom Sullivan. Ian Catlow, Rud Mason and Ann Neuburg. Participants included: Rick Gardner, Roger Brooks, Dave LeRoy, and Bryan Patrone
7:40 PM Opened meeting after some participants got through technical difficulties.
ANR for 41 Prospect Street—The board questioned the appearance of Park Road on the ANR proposal that splits a 9+ acre lot owned by Galilean Group (Dr. Daniel Ervin). Surveyor Dave LeRoy described the street layout. As drawn, Park Road makes a “T” at the end of Prospect Street and is leftover from a decades-old subdivision plan that was recorded at the Registry but never constructed—a paper street that doesn’t exist on the ground. John M. pointed out that it was not relevant to the ANR endorsement, which creates a non-buildable lot, Parcel A of 7 acres, from the back land of the house at 41 Prospect Street which is left on a house lot of 2.14 acres and questionable frontage. John M. explained that the legitimacy of the existing house frontage is a moot point, because the building permit for it was issued so long ago—it somehow met zoning requirements at the time that it was issued. Parcel A abuts the larger parcel owned by Dr. Ervin at 30 Mountain Road—essentially expanding that holding.
7:55 PM The board, in role call, voted in favor to endorse the plan with Tom S. abstaining.
ANR on Old Mill Road—Roger Brooks presented a plan that created lots 1, 2 & 3 from Parcel 63 on Map 15. Each new lot is just over 2 acres with the remaining parcel 37+ acres—all have min. 225’ frontage on Old Mill Road starting at corner of Ball Hill. Roger stated that he had no building plans and just wished to ensure the land’s value. He recognizes that each building lot will now be assessed separately,
8:05 PM The board, in role call, voted all in favor to endorse the plan. Board members will visit the temporary Town Hall at P.O. Place on Thursday morning to sign Mylars for both ANR plans.
8:10 PM Board voted all in favor to approve minutes of April 15, 2020.
Zoning amendments for ATM — John reported that town counsel reviewed the draft article and added some detail. Site plan review accompanies any special permit and should be reiterated in the text of the amendment. John noted that site plan conditions can sometimes be incorporated within a special permit. Town counsel also added the state minimum acreage and frontage for a building lot, in the non-conforming, pre-existing, lot definition.
Open Space Plan for 2020 – Rick Gardner from the Open Space Cmte. was online and noted that they need a letter from the Planning Bd. supporting the OS Plan. The PB has received/reviewed the draft and Tom S. had some minor edits. The 2020 update is required if the town were to apply for a state LAND grant or PARC grant to purchase or develop land or recreational sites. Group discussed situation with Parks & Rec Commission’s lack of involvement in the OS Plan owing to no staff and decreased membership.
8:25 PM The board, in role call, voted all in favor to submit a letter of support and appreciation, signed by the chair..
8:30 PM. Adjourned Group agreed to skip 1st Wednesday in June and schedule their next PB meeting on June17; may be at Annex with distancing or continue online.
Respectfully submitted: Marie Auger, land use coordinator
Referenced Documents Draft of 2020 Open Space Plan; two ANR plans with Form A