Planning Board Minutes
Wellfleet Planning Board Minutes
October 5, 2016,7:00 PM
Wellfleet Council on Aging
Members Present: Andrew Freeman, Mary Ellen Manning, Janet V. Morrissey, R. Dennis O’Connell, Gerald E. Parent, Chair, Beth Singer
Members Absent: Alfred Pickard
Others Present: Assistant Town Administrator (ATA) Brian Carlson, Wellfleet Town Clerk Joe Powers
Chair Parent opened the meeting at 7:01 PM.
Town Clerk on Zoning Bylaw Change Protocol
Chair Parent began by requesting that Town Clerk Powers explain the 2015 Supreme Court decision Reed vs Gilbert, AZ and its impact on Zoning Bylaws and Bylaw Amendments. The Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) office indicated that it is aware that Wellfleet, among other municipalities, has a sign bylaw, but it is not going to take any action. The Board requested a copy of the AG’s statement on this Supreme Court decision, and those statements made by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Freeman stated that he would like Town Counsel to review the current sign bylaw and determine whether it complies with the Supreme Court decision. These materials should be provided to the Planning Board before more work is done on revisions.
Morrissey asked Powers to review the procedure for integrating the latest Zoning Maps provided by the Cape Cod Commission. As no boundaries nor other content has changed, the re-formatted maps do not need to go before Town Meeting for approval before being included in the Zoning Bylaws.
However, references to specific dated maps within the text of the Zoning Bylaws must be revised to reflect a more general reference, thereby producing a cleaner document that allows for re-formatted, but not substantially altered maps in the future.
The Board discussed other revisions that need to be made including the removal of the footnote or parenthetical statement at the end of Section 7. Powers intends to begin a forensic audit of the Zoning Bylaws within the year.
2008/2016 Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) Goals
ATA Carlson presented the 2008 LCP goal matrix that contains all goals established within the Plan for which the Planning Board had responsibility. The Board reviewed the matrix and recorded the status of each goal.
Food Truck Regulations
No action has been taken to date, but the Board discussed options for addressing the issue. Morrissey agreed to draft a definition and bylaw for food truck use.
Sign Bylaw Review
Freeman and O’Connell are working on a draft and may be ready to present it to the Board at the next meeting.
Citizen Planner Trainings/Seminar Funds
The Board agreed to notify the secretary when registering for low-cost conferences or workshops, and bring proposals to the Planning Board meetings when the cost is more substantial.
Parking in Downtown
Tabled until Pickard is able to attend.
Subdivision Rules & Regulations Recording Update
The Subdivision Rules & Regulations that were amended in May of 2016 were delivered to the Barnstable Co. Registry of Deeds and are available to the public at that office.
Correspondence
O’Connell summarized the Truro ZBA decision to grant a Special Permit to Habitat for Humanity for three housing units.
Minutes
O’Connell made the motion to approve the September 21, 2016 Planning Board Minutes as amended; Freeman seconded; the motion passed 4-0-1.
Topics for Future Concern
- Lawsuit Old King’s Highway Community Housing Project
- New Town Administrator invited to meeting in the fall
- Research on Educational Resources for the Planner and Town Counsel updates August
- Landing Strip
Agenda for Meeting on October 19, 2016
- Cluster Housing Bylaw
- Parking in Downtown
- Food Trucks
- Sign Bylaw
- New Amendments to the Zoning Act
- Liaison Reports
- Draft of Planning Board 2017 Meeting Schedule
Agenda for Meeting on November 2, 2016
- DSD 16-01: Heyliger, 0, 2 & 15 School St.
- Draft Minutes as Public Record
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:41 PM.
Public Records of October 5, 2016:
- 2008 LCP Goal Matrix
- Information re: Citizen Planner Trainings
- Town of Truro ZBA Decision Case #2014-008