May 23, 2013 Minutes
The Northampton Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting
May 23 2013
City of Northampton Council Chambers, 212 Main St., Northampton, MA
Members Present: Time
Chair, Mark Sullivan
Vice Chair, Jennifer Dieringer
Francis “Frandy” Johnson
Stephen Gilson
Debin Bruce
John Lutz
Karla Youngblood, Associate Member
Ann DeWitt Brooks Associate Member
Staff:
Planning Director, Wayne Feiden
Senior Planner, Carolyn Misch
7:00 P.M.
Mark Sullivan opened the meeting with public comment.
There was no public comment
Mark Sullivan opened the hearing on the site plan for a temporary school building
7:00 PM
extended curb cut for drop off at Montessori School of Northampton-51 Bates St, Northampton,
Map ID25A-46.
Karla Youngblood recused herself from conversation and stepped out of the room.
Peter Wells described plan and need for parking modification as well as drop off modification,
referencing the plans.
Wells described how comments from Department of Public Works had been addressed including
paying for the pedestrian crossing sign for Bates Street.
Francis Johnson asked about tree planting and whether a Tulip is on the approved list of street
trees.
John Lutz asked how drop off area in the street is safer than existing conditions.
Lutz asked about temporary sidewalk vs. installing permanent sidewalk in front of the modular
classroom.
He asked how many people would be estimated to use the drop off area?
Wells indicated that there could be 7 cars queued in the drop off at a time.
Debin Bruce asked about adding a 120’ long curb cut and the total nunumber of students at the
school.
115
Celia Pastorese, Board member for the school, stated that there are 115 students but that the bulk
of the school age children are younger and are typically taken inside with their parents..
Lutz, asked about installing a green strip/barrier between drop off and street.
Wells stated that adding depth of a strip would impact the two trees that are on school property
so they opted not to design a buffer strip.
Mark Sullivan noted that there is currently an unsafe situation with cars parking in the area of
the proposed pulloff.
Jennifer Dieringer asked for staff concerns.
Stephen Gilson asked what the difference between temporary and permanent classroom? Is there
a difference in approval?
Wayne Feiden stated that the Board should approve it as though it is permanent.
There was no public comment.
Wayne Feiden described three proposed conditions from Department of Public Works
(pedestrian crossing signs to meet Department of Public Works and MUTCD and standards, and
snow removal conditions)
The Board discussed whether the Tulip tree should be replaced with an accepted city street tree.
Debin Bruce noted that the school spent time and effort to pick a specimen tree and she wasn’t
concerned with the selection not being on the city street tree list.
Francis Johnson asked if absence of street trees was a concern for the Board?
Ann DeWitt Brooks, Mark Sullivan and Jennifer Dieringer indicated they were not concerned
since the existing trees are large mature trees with substantial canopy.
Francis Johnson not a fan of the street pulloff.
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Jennifer Dieringer noted that current situation is untenable.
Board discussed merits of the permit and whether a condition to add a no parking in drop off and
Drop off area only signs would be appropriate.
Upon motion by Francis Johnson and second by Jennifer Dieringer the board voted unanimously
to close the hearing.
Upon motion by Debin Bruce and second by Ann DeWitt Brooks the board voted 6-1 (John Lutz
opposed) to approved the plan
Karla Youngblood returned
7:45 PM
Mark Sullivan opened the hearing for Major Site Plan 4,780 sq.ft. medical office
addition-70 Main St, Florence, Map ID 23A-70.
Matt McDonough, owner, described the proposed plan. He noted that they were not changing
any landscaping or curb cuts, but they would be converting small lawn area where a trailer has
sat for a number of years. The addition would match existing architectural style.
McDonough distributed a revised lighting plan that shows no spillover on the property line. He
noted that lights from the fire station lights do spillover onto his property.
Debin Bruce asked for clarification on the parking required vs existing. She raised a concern
about impacts of parking in neighborhood related to other medical uses in the vicinity.
Stephen Gilson asked about tree planting requirement.
The Board discussed the need for four additional trees along the frontage to comply with the
zoning ordinance.
Mark Sullivan asked if exterior lights would be on a timer.
Stephen Gilson asked if wall packs are 24 hours.
McDonough noted that the lights were on timers.
Trudy Fisher, 253 Middle Street abutter, asked about setbacks for landscaping on an adjoining
parcel owned by the medical group.
Mark Sullivan noted that the current proposal doesn’t include any work on the parcel in question.
Josh Rickman, PVPC speaking on behalf of PVTA asked whether there would be any changes to
the paratransit access?
McDonough noted nothing is changing.
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Upon motion by Francis Johnson and second by Jennifer Dieringer, the board voted unanimously
to close the hearing.
The Board discussed two conditions (additional trees and lights on the timer).
Upon motion by Stephen Gilson and second by Jennifer Dieringer the Board voted unanimously
to approve the permit with 2 conditions as discussed.
8:10 PM
Mark Sullivan opened the continuation of a public hearing on proposed zoning changes
to URA, B, C districts, and modifications to section 6.8. and opened the hearing on the proposed
modification to URC and URB list of uses to specify that special permit is required for any
multifamily or townhouse project containing 7 or more units.
Staff described changes as proposed by Councilor Freeman-Daniels.
There was discussion by the Board.
John Lutz asked if this would be defeating the ordinance before it passes.
The Board asked how the number 7 was selected as a threshold?
Staff described the proposal coming out of EDHLU.
Bill Hurley, 43 Eastern Avenue described the stormwater infrastructure deficiencies and
concerns about emergency access during storm events. He described sinkholes in Ward 3 and
possible impacts new development could create where there are existing problems.
Upon motion by Stephen Gilson and second by John Lutz the board voted unanimously to close
the hearing.
Upon motion by Stephen Gilson and second by Ann DeWitt Brooks the Board voted
unanimously to recommend all the changes including the proposed amended language to City
Council.
Staff described issues relative to KIA street trees and request for substitution of a smaller tree.
Upon motion by Francis Johnson and second by Ann DeWitt Brooks the Board voted
unanimously to allow the substitution of species to the Hawthorne.
8:40 Adjourn.
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