by Frank Schroth

At the most recent meeting of the Planning Board local attorneys Bob Sheffield and Ned Corcoran met to discuss proposed articles for annual Town Meeting. Both attorneys frequently represent clients before the Planning Board. Articles included but were not limited to penalties for zoning violations, medical marijuana dispensaries, amending zoning law related to non-conforming lots, and revising cluster zoning bylaw.

In short, the board approved sending the articles on to town meeting with the exception of an article authored by Corcoran and Sheffield regarding non-conforming lots. Currently, a resident with a non-conforming lot (one that does not abide by current zoning) must appear before the Board of Appeals to have any remodeling done. The attorney’s sought to have the bylaw amended to allow remodeling that did not change the existing footprint or height of the structure. Chair Whiteside said that “I like to see things before I sponsor them.” He said he will not support it because he is not familiar with the language which was approximately a paragraph in length. It will be reviewed for October’s Special Town Meeting.

Member Kelly had a similar concern with language authored by Chair Whiteside on cluster zoning. Whiteside said he had received a correspondence from John Cronin regarding St. Pius property. St. Pious has approximately 8 acres and in considering the property it prompted Whiteside to propose amendments to cluster zoning. The existing cluster zoning bylaw has “languished” and “much too restrictive” according to Whiteside. Member Kelly found the changes “a lot to digest” and he questioned the benefit. Later in the meeting Kelly voiced considerable frustration over receiving materials the same day the board is expected to render a decision. “[We are ] asked to decide something the night [we] receive it and it is 6 pages long.” Kelly said that the short amount of time he had to familiarize himself with materials was not enough. “I’m lost sometimes.” The board did not make a motion to have materials available a week beforehand but Planning Director Bill Clark noted Kelly’s concern and will make efforts to address it. Clark agreed with Whiteside on proposed changes to cluster zoning. Kelly voted along with the board.The board had to vote any articles that night in order to meet the deadline for inclusion in the warrant.

The board had discussed the landscape changes to the Milton Hill development earlier in their session. The issue of discussion was removing a blue spruce in front of the Henry House. The developers had been asked to discuss the issue with the neighbors. Ned Corcoran, the attorney representing the development effort, reported that he had surveyed the Milton Hill Neighborhood Association via email and also taken up the issue with the Milton Village Revitalization Committee. Both groups approve removing the tree and replacing it with two sugar maples. The tree is becoming stressed as a result of the construction and the landscape architect is recommending maples as being more historically accurate and aesthetically pleasing.

Meanwhile the Granite Avenue Park & Ride Committee met to discuss development options to the DOT lot at that location. The committee decided to hold off on any further discussion of specific development options until a member was named to the committee to fill vacancy left when the Chair Andrea Doherty left. Ms. Doherty was also a resident of the neighborhood. The committee has two seats allotted for neighborhood residents. The new Chair Brian Furze did not want to engage in a discussion that would have to be repeated when the vacancy was filled. They are hopeful the Board of Selectmen will appoint someone at their next meeting (1/21). If they do the Granite Ave committee will reconvene on 1/30. Two or three individuals have expressed interest in the vacancy.

The committee heard from Rich Klienman who took advantage of Citizen Speak to discuss the benefits of an assisted living facility. He said his client would remain anonymous for the moment. He said the development which could lend itself to a variety of models might be 6-80 units in a 2 or 3 story structure. The use would have little traffic impact he noted and would include affordable units and provide for Milton preference.