2008-12-17-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 Minutes for the Meeting of December 17, 2008 Mr. Galaitsis said the BHD allowed nine more units then the conventional plan would allow so make one an affordable 40B to prevent backsliding with affordable units. Mr. Marino said they could not because of the increased costs for that development. Mr. Galaitsis said all the units were large and would be occupied by families with children and suggested that they make ten smaller units to guarantee empty nesters and young professionals would occupy them and keep the number of children lower. Mr. Marino said that it would decrease the economic value of the development and they could not consider it. Mr. Galaitsis said they would need to make 10 smaller units in three structures to get his approval and he did favor the SSD over a conventional development. Mr. Zurlo asked staff what kind of density bonus could be given for a public benefit development (PBD). Mr. Henry said there would be a 20% increase in GFA for 10% affordable units. The PBD provisions in the zoning bylaw could only be used for affordable housing, nothing else. Mr. Zurlo asked if they could be asked to fix an existing problem. Ms. McCall-Taylor said in the PBD the only public benefit recognized as qualifying for an increase in density was affordable units. Mr. Zurlo asked if they could be required to do a traffic study. Ms. McCall-Taylor said there were no provisions in the bylaw for that. Mr. Zurlo felt that the Victory Garden needed to be more integrated in the overall arrangement and the curb cuts should be realigned to not be directly across the street from the abutters for protection from headlights. Mr. Hornig said the road was intended to be a subdivision street so why was the right of way (ROW) reduced from 50 feet to 36 feet. Mr. Waitt said the rest of the ROW would be a grass shoulder and the 50- foot ROW would impinge on the open space. Mr. Hornig asked if he moved the strip back would it matter. Mr. Waitt said it would impact on marketability. Mr. Hornig asked if it would impact the access to open space? Mr. Waitt said not access, but the path to the farm would be physically impossible. Mr. Hornig said many letters had been received from abutters and were placed in the file. Audience comments and questions: ?? This is a historically important district. Are the zoning provisions being waived? Who is the developer? What was in it for the Town/neighbors? ?? Was there any degree of freedom to incorporate the Diamond School Road? Could they create a more traffic friendly design?