2008-03-31-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes for the Meeting of March 31, 2008 Page 3 The Planning Board voted 4-1 to recommend disapproving this article. They are concerned it may affect the retail business in the center and that it might allow strip malls and feel the article needs to be reviewed further to make sure all issues have been addressed. Article 55, Amend Zoning By-Law – CRO District Floor Area Ratio This article would allow light manufacturing as an accessory use in the CRO district. Mr. Smith has seen major tenants go elsewhere because manufacturing currently is not allowed. He also feels it should not be necessary to get a special permit. The Planning Board would support this article if it required a special permit for the manufacturing and plans to amend the motion to require a special permit. Article 56, Amend Zoning By-Law, Traffic By-Law This article would modify the existing language of the Traffic By-Law to allow a Special Permit Granting Authority or the Building Commissioner to grant permits if they determine that traffic capacity is adequate. The Planning Board voted 3-2 to disapprove this article. They see no real net effect to the changes and do not know of any Special Permit that has been denied. The proposed changes do not adequately address traffic problems. The Planning Board’s intent is to bring forward articles regarding Traffic Mitigation to the 2009 Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Thuma is concerned any action by Town Meeting that would remove traffic as an absolute measure could be interpreted by the development community and potentially by the courts as taking away from the Special Permit Granting Authority the ability to use traffic as a major factor in considering proposed developments. Ms. Dratch, Traffic Mitigation Group (TMG), read a statement of the TMG that an integrated approach to traffic management must be part of any zoning changes. Ms. Dratch, Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), read a statement of TAC that the proposals in