Planning Board Minutes
Wellfleet Planning Board
Wellfleet Senior Center, 715 Old King’s Hwy
August 16, 2017, 7:00 PM
Present: Chair Gerald Parent; Steve Cooney; Vice Chair Andrew Freeman; R. Dennis O’Connell, Alfred Pickard; Beth Singer
Others Present: Assistant Town Administrator, Brian Carlson
Chair Parent called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed new member Steve Cooney.
Announcements, Open Session & Public Comment
The Board recognized the contributions of Janet Morrissey and expressed regret over her departure.
Meeting Minutes
O’Connell moved to approve the minutes of May 17, 2017 as amended. Pickard seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
O’Connell moved to approve the minutes of July 19, 2017 as amended. Pickard seconded and the motion carried 6-0.
Singer advocated for streamlined minutes. The Chair will contact the Town Clerk for direction in requirements for minute taking.
Designation of Districts of Critical Planning Concern
Martha Hevenor of the Cape Cod Commission discussed the Designation of Districts of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) in conjunction with Eastham. This allows for a moratorium, and Eastham opted to prepare a DCPC for the Route 6 corridor. She wanted Wellfleet to be aware of this option. Board members discussed the potential impact of expanded water lines in Wellfleet.
Cluster Housing Draft Bylaw
Marth Hevenor presented a draft Cluster Housing Bylaw for the Planning Board’s consideration. She said a site plan review had been folded into the proposal, but a site plan review could be a separate bylaw. Public hearings and notifications are desired to be a required part of the process. Hevenor said notification of abutters could be a requirement in a by right procedure. She and the Board discussed the workings of Affordable Flexible Residential Design (AFRD). Chair Parent suggested that a sample plan would be helpful to grasp how the bylaw would actually operate. Ms. Hevenor said that the Cape Cod Commission was, in fact, working on sample plans for dimensional purposes. She offered to participate in a working meeting with the Planning Board to continue ideas for AFRDs.
Planning Meeting with Housing Authority and Local Housing Partnership
Carlson said that the Housing Authority and Local Housing Partnership would like to schedule a meeting with the Planning Board sometime in the fall.
Commercial Business Bylaws
O’Connell discussed commercial business bylaws, which he and the Board had discussed with Town Counsel Carolyn Murray at the last Planning Board meeting. The Planning Board will offer further ideas for bylaws to control businesses at another meeting with Town Counsel. This could be on the September 6, 2017 agenda. O’Connell said he would work on a draft.
40B Paine Hollow Road-Revised Site Plan
This plan had been available for review.
Proposed Disposition of Portion of Town-Owned Road Map 47
Freeman was unanimously voted acting chair before Chair Parent recused himself and left the table for the discussion of the disposition of the portion of the Town-owned road near Great Woods Field.
Town Counsel Carolyn Murray had responded to a request to discontinue a portion of an unnamed Town-owned road located on Assessor’s Map 47. The Discontinuance Plan had not been prepared because ownership of the road had not yet been determined. Michael Ford came forward to present a Land Court plan from 1933 indicating that Leonard Dill was the owner. He said that the road in question was intended to be a part of the greenbelt in front of the Great Woods Field development. Mr. Ford, representing the residents of Great Woods Field, said they were interested in acquiring the abandoned road. Pickard asked about splitting ownership with the abutters on the other side of the road. Planning Board had been asked to make a recommendation on the disposition of Town-property, but Town Counsel had indicated that ownership of the land has not been ascertained. Planning Board members said there was other information needed. Carlson will check with the Building Inspector about the plans for the abutter on the Route 6 side of the road.
O’Connell moved to not make any recommendation on disposal of the land at this time. Pickard seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Planning Board Resource List
Planning Board members reviewed the July 27, 2017 list of resources, which Janet Morrissey had prepared before leaving the Board. Cooney will receive a packet of the pertinent material.
Liaison Reports
O’Connell gave a report stating that the Charter Review Committee (CRC) is tending to make use of alternates.
Correspondence
O’Connell reviewed items of interest in the Correspondence File.
Board Reorganization
Singer nominated Pickard as Vice-chair. Pickard declined. Freeman indicated he could not serve as Chair, but was willing to serve as Vice-chair. O’Connell said he was willing to serve as Chair for one year. Parent discussed his willingness to continue as Chair. He said he would let the Vice-chair or another member preside or present bylaws whenever that would be more effective.
O’Connell nominated Parent as Chair. Singer seconded the nomination. The motion carried 6-0.
Parent nominated Freeman as Vice-chair. Singer seconded the nomination. The motion carried 6-0.
Pickard nominated O’Connell as Clerk. Singer seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
Topics for Future Concern
Agenda for the next meeting includes: Monitoring Financial/Time Status of Cape Commission; Habitat for Humanity’s plan for 2082 Rte. 6, Commercial Bylaws, Liaison Reports; Correspondence; and Minutes.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:20 P.M.
Public Records material of 8/16/17
- DCPC Guidance Document
- Draft Cluster Bylaw by Martha Hevenor
- Email exchange with Town Counsel Carolyn Murray
- Policy on Disposition of Town-owned Land
- Revised list of Planning Board Resources by Janet Morrissey
- Janet Morrissey's Letter of Resignation