The Planning Board met on September 22 to discuss conditions for the 203 Pond Street development that included trees, the new culvert and the construction of the roadway for the development. In attendance were applicants John Coolidge and Anne Richards, engineers Eric Dias and Garrett Tunisian and developer consultant David Wluka.
The project would create a 12 lot single-family subdivision on the property with payment in lieu of one affordable housing unit with some Open Space. The footprints of the homes on the plan are 2,500 square feet, though ultimately the size of the home will be up to the developer. There will be no streetlights, but there will be lights off of the doors of the homes as required by the Massachusetts building code.
Trails and trees are both proposed for the Open Space area. To maintain the buffer zone between the Open Space and abutting properties, the Open Space will be conveyed to conservation organization who are proposing trustees to monitor the buffer zone with another organization that will overlook them. To help ensure this, the land will have stewardship fees that will go into making sure the conservation restrictions of the land are adhered to.
There had been a request for a variance on street trees in the past because a lot of street trees may lead to a lot of density with the Open Space. However, the bylaw calls for street trees every 40 feet, and so 38 street trees will be planted 40 feet apart along both sides of the right of way. The Board suggested consulting the Tree Warden the types of trees to be planted. Other planted screening is proposed on an abutter’s property with the agreement of the abutter, but if an agreement cannot be reached, there will be no planting on the abutter’s property.
To manage storm water, a culvert is being replaced on the site. The top of the culvert will be level, but the ground below the culvert will slope downwards to a stream channel. The stream will connect to a pond below and will allow for amphibious wildlife to travel to the pond as needed. There will be no fencing to hinder larger wildlife from crossing the road above. There is a natural depression that will be 2-3 feet deep, and will be used to help store storm water runoff. Although it does not meet the setback requirements, it cannot be moved without damaging nearby trees. Instead, BETA Group consultant Phil Paradis recommended an easement. Wluka agreed with having an easement on the plan as it would allow for maintenance to take place as needed. There is also a pipe running into the nearby wetlands that will likely be grown in over time, and Paradis asked for a marker to show where the pipe is on the site.
The conditions were approved by the Board with the inclusion of a condition that the tree warden will be consulted as to the types and locations of the trees on site and along the roadway, a conservation restriction will be placed on the Open Space, the roadway will be started within six years of the home construction and will be finished in three years. However, if no homes are built along the roadway and the roadway itself does not get built, an extension can be granted by the Board if needed. A condition was also put on the trails for the Open Space, stating that they can be put in at the discretion of the Open Space recipient, but the recipient is encouraged to connect them with pre-existing trails. All Board members voted in favor of these conditions except for Francis DeYoung who had to abstain due to missing a meeting.
