Planning Board Minutes

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Wellfleet Planning Board

Wellfleet Senior Center, 715 Old King’s Hwy

May 16, 2018, 7:00 PM

Members Present: Chair, Gerald Parent; Vice Chair, Andrew Freeman; R. Dennis O’Connell; Steve Cooney; Beth Singer; Alfred Pickard

Others Present: Assistant Town Administrator, Joseph Powers

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Announcements, Open Session & Public Comment:

-Freeman mentioned that Select Board Chair, Janet Reinhart forwarded information to Smarter Cape Cod’s Accessory Dwelling Bylaw model, and he will have the link forwarded to the other Board members.

-The Chair mentioned that the Energy Committee and the Wellfleet Forum will hold a public forum on the photovoltaic array to be located at the transfer station.

Meeting Minutes:

The minutes of 4/18/2018 were moved as amended, by O’Connell. Seconded by Freeman, and the motion carried, 6-0.

The minutes of 5/2/2018 were approved as written, by the Board.

Discussion-Site Plan Review

The Chair opened the Site Plan Review discussion to the Board members. Freeman mentioned that he would like a better understanding of what is objected to by the Board in the bylaw. Freeman’s concern was that the Board began its work with the understanding that it could not preclude so-called formula business, and also that the Board had devoted a significant amount of time to drafting the by-law and had consulted Town Counsel. O'Connell explained that his motion was to not submit to the Warrant and not to hold a public hearing as then scheduled. He indicated he was concerned that the PB had not and time to fully think through all aspects of the proposal, especially regarding thresholds. He was uncomfortable about the chance of success at Town Meeting. Also, he indicated that the PB had a lot of significant articles for Town Meeting and this was the least priority at the time.

Singer explained that she was not supportive of taking it off the plate. She believes the Board should continue with the fine-tuning, and that it was not neutral enough for local businesses. Cooney asked if the proposed bylaw would work for franchises as well as local businesses.

The Board reviewed 6.3.13 of the Zoning Bylaws. Freeman suggested that the Board not spend time tweaking the bylaw unless the majority of the members are in favor of doing so. The Chair would like to have this as an agenda item at a meeting before O’Connell leaves at the end of June. The Board agreed to continue the discussion at a later date.

Discussion of Notification Received for the Community Outreach Meeting to be held May 18th by Atlantic Medicinal Partners

The Chair mentioned how this notification is a State mandated meeting that marijuana facilities must hold, and that It should come back as a developmental impact to the Planning Board.

Town Planner’s Report:

  • Marijuana Overlay District: The Town Planner, Joseph Powers read Town Counsel’s response from an email received on 5/15/2018. Counsel expanded it to include the marijuana manufacturer, “…may seek to manufacture where light industrial is allowed”. There are no pending applications with the Board of Selectmen, and currently there is one host-agreement in use.
  • Traffic Light-Status of the Route 6 Main Street Traffic Light: Town Administrator Dan Hoort gave an update at the Select Board meeting, but there weren’t a lot of definitive solutions. The Department of Transportation would take consideration from the Select Board and other entities.
  • Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Planning (MVPP) Grant Letter: The grant letter was sent by the Health and Conservation Department to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Liaison Reports:

-O’Connell reported that the Charter Amendments have been submitted to the Attorney General.

-Powers reported it takes 90 days to review for the Board’s submission, and an additional 60 days for the Attorney General’s “Appeal” period. The Chair requested that notification be sent when the bylaw changes are in effect.

Correspondence-

-Wellfleet Community Forum Notification: Solar Array on the Capped Landfill dated May 11, 2018

-Correspondence from Mike Rice dated April 30, 2018

Topics for Future Concern

-Special Permit/Site Plan review

-Discussion with the Building Inspector and/or ZBA

-June 6 agenda item: Traffic light status

-Cape Cod Commission maps/grant information

-Follow up on marijuana cultivator June

-Eastham’s Article 22/Marijuana/Site Plan Review for June 6th

The meeting adjourned by consensus for 8:05 P.M.

Public Record:

-Notice of Community Outreach Meeting dated May 9, 2018

-Wellfleet Community Forum: Solar Array on the Capped Landfill

-Email from Mike Rice dated 4/25/2018