Dec 13, 2013 Minutes
The Northampton Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting
Dec 12, 2013
City of Northampton Council Chambers, 212 Main St., Northampton, MA
Members Present: Time
Chair, Mark Sullivan
Vice Chair, Jennifer Dieringer
Francis “Frandy” Johnson
Karla Youngblood
Debin Bruce
John Lutz
Dan Felten, Associate Member
Ann DeWitt Brooks Associate Member
Staff:
Planning Director, Wayne Feiden
Senior Planner, Carolyn Misch
There was no public comment
7:00 P.M.
Staff and Board introductions for new member Dan Felten
7:00 PM Mark Sullivan opened the hearing on the Site Plan review for AT&T Wireless new
antennas on existing tower at 790 Florence Rd, Florence, Map ID 37-077.
Brian Allen presented the application and described the location and project.
Ann DeWitt Brooks asked if ATT was to rent space on the tower or own it?
Allen confirmed there was a lease arrangement in place.
Francis Johnson asked if there were any other antenna on the tower.
Allen said this is the only telecommunications antenna to be on the tower.
Bruce asked if there would be a scenario where the permit would not be exercised.
Allen noted that there is already a lease on the site but couldn’t confirm 100% but more than
likely ATT needs to fill the gap in this location.
Mark Sullivan asked about acoustical impacts with generator or other equipment.
Allen noted that the generator will be inside a concrete building which will buffer
the sound.
There was no public comment.
Upon motion by Francis Johnson and second by Ann DeWitt Brooks, the Board voted
unanimously to close the hearing.
Upon motion by Debin Bruce and second by Francis Johnson the board voted unanimously to
approve the permit with no additional conditions.
Mark Sullivan asked for review of the minutes distributed from the previous two meetings.
Upon motion by Debin Bruce and second by Ann DeWitt Brooks, the Board voted to approve
both sets of minutes from the 10-24-13 and 11-14-13 meetings.
Staff briefly described the other items on the agenda that could be discussed upon completion of
the public hearing items, if time allowed.
7:15 PM
Mark Sullivan opened the application for Site Plan Review by the Pecoy Group for
five single family house lots on Musante Dr. Northampton Map IDs 38A-135, 31C-35.
Lawrence Lloyd, Representing Pecoy asked if Beth Murphy could be recognized to answer any
questions about density.
Mark Sullivan noted that this might be a special permit amendment and discussion about density
related to the special permit.
Beth Murphy noted that she would discuss the density issue and that the special permit had a
conceptual master plan meant for flexibility. She showed the “guide” of master plan with North
employees building. She stated that her interpretation was the special permit has a broad
perspective and not based on engineering and finding developers who do high quality
development.
She further emphasized that the master concept plan should not be literal and it needs flexibility.
Mark Sullivan noted that the concept should be flexible but overall the concept was to have a
core density area.
The Board discussed whether this is a site plan issue or a special permit issue
Murphy argued Planning Board didn’t have jurisdiction to determine density and unit count.
Mark Sullivan noted the options for the permit.
Kent Pecoy asked what the goal is for the plan?
Murphy noted they wouldn’t file a special permit amendment because they don’t believe that
modifications shown with the site plan are a special permit issue. She added that they
maximized density in this area – therefore they meet the criteria in the special permit.
Pecoy noted that changes to these lots won’t substantially change the special permit.
Francis Johnson agreed that this is a bit change relative to the overall build out and it wouldn’t
have a significant effect on what has already been built.
Jennifer Dieringer noted that the Board has shown flexibility all along and has allowed this
movement away from the village core.
Debin Bruce noted that these are such small parcels that that wouldn’t affect the overall parcel.
So she felt the Board could approve it as site plan review.
Mark Sullivan asked for straw poll vote on whether or not this is a special permit question. The
vote was split.
Murphy argued again that it is so small that it can’t possibly rise to a special permit amendment.
Lloyd noted they would appeal the decision if it was denied and therefore preferred the board to
deny rather than continue.
Board decided to hear the items related to the site plan.
Eric Bernardin, Fuss & O’Neill presented the layout of the 5 lots, describing the driveways,
building orientation, drainage.
Jennifer Dieringer asked if garages could be put in back of the lots instead of to the side and then
allow for at least one additional unit?
Bernardin said that they wouldn’t be able to accommodate the required two parking spaces per
unit and the setbacks.
Murphy argued it that it would not be consistent with the design guidelines.
Staff confirmed that there are no minimum setbacks and there are no minimum parking
requirements.
Mark Sullivan confirmed that we should be having the special permit discussion first followed
by the discussion of the site plan.
There was more debate about whether special permit should be reviewed prior to the site plan.
Upon motion by Jennifer Dieringer and second by Debin Bruce, the board voted unanimously to
close the hearing.
Francis Johnson argued it is the same use as approved in special permit and therefore matches
the special permit.
Francis Johnson moved to approve –second by Ann DeWitt Brooks -the site plan. The vote
failed (3-3) (Felten, Dieringer, Sullivan voting against the motion on procedural counts that it
was not ready).
Adjourn 8:15