Regular Meeting and Public Hearing
Mayor’s Conference Room
PRESENT: Mike Cassavoy, Chair, Richard
Connolly, Ed Cassidy, John Sadowski, Anne DeSouza-Ward, Bob Mercado, Tom
Pawlina and Carla Francazio
ABSENT: Gerry Marcus
Denise
Gaffey, Director & City Planner, Matt Hennigan, Assistant Planner, and
Janet Graf, Secretary, were present.
The meeting was called to
order at
MINUTES
a) Special Meeting and
Public Hearing,
b) Regular Meeting,
c) Regular Meeting and
Public Hearing,
Mr. Sadowski MADE a MOTION to
accept all three sets of minutes with a minor correction to the
ASSENT CALENDAR
Case 06-045,
Mr. Pawlina recused himself
from the Planning Board given that he has an application for a home occupation
special permit on the ZBA agenda. Ms. DeSouza-Ward
MADE a MOTION to send a standard letter to the Board of Appeals. Mr. Cassidy SECONDED the MOTION. All in favor.
None opposed.
Case 06-046,
Mr. Pawlina appeared as the
Applicant and explained his application.
Two members of the public spoke about their concerns with home
occupations. They raised concerns about
traffic and other potential impacts from the home occupation which
Mr. Pawlina addressed. After
discussion, the Board concluded that the application appears to meet the
requirements for a Special Permit for Home Occupations. Ms. DeSouza-Ward MADE a MOTION to send a
standard letter to the Board of Appeals noting that Mr. Pawlina appeared and
answered questions about the nature of his home occupation. Mr. Mercado
SECONDED the MOTION. All voted in
favor. None opposed.
SLOPE PROTECTION SPECIAL PERMIT
Case SP06-003,
Attorney Patrick McAvoy
appeared on behalf of the Applicant, Stephen Amero, asking for a continuance of
the Public Hearing. Because Planning
Board member Gerry Marcus was absent, the Applicant’s Attorney requested a
continuation of the Public Hearing to the next Planning Board meeting when
Ms. Marcus would be present. Mr.
McAvoy stated that the Applicant will prepare plans of the proposed dwelling and
submit them to the Planning Office this week.
Mr. Connolly MADE a MOTION to continue the Public Hearing until
Case SP06-004,
The Applicant, Mr. Rivers,
was present. One of the Planning Board
members is absent tonight. The Applicant
decided to wait until the next Planning Board meeting, January 22, 2007, at
which time Board members would likely vote on his Special Permit application. Mr. Connolly MADE a MOTION to place this case
on the agenda for
OTHER
Zoning for Home
Occupations
Ms. Gaffey stated that in
recent months the Zoning Board of Appeals has seen a dramatic increase in
applicants requiring a Special Permit for Home Occupations. This is due to a strict interpretation by the
Building Inspector. The Mayor’s Office
has received many complaints from applicants about the expense and time
commitment involved with acquiring the Special Permit. Ms. Gaffey stated that most communities in
the Greater Boston area permit home occupations that meet certain criteria as
of right. The members decided that
clarification is needed and the Zoning Subcommittee should meet to discuss this
further within the next two weeks. Ms.
DeSouza-Ward will contact the Zoning Subcommittee members shortly about a
meeting.
Subcommittee Membership
Mr. Cassavoy appointed Ms.
Francazio to the Zoning Subcommittee at her request. She will no longer be a member of the Design Review
Subcommittee.
Mr. Connolly MADE a MOTION to
adjourn. Mr. Cassidy SECONDED the
MOTION. All voted in favor. None opposed.
Meeting adjourned at