Minutes of January 10, 2006

Present were: Louis Calabrese, Vice Chairman; Marilyn Richards and Thomas Morrissette. Donald Anderson, Chairman and Michael Przybylowicz, Clerk were

not present.

Request for Signage – Business Partners, North Main Street

Jim White from Business Partners explained that Business partners is a franchise store that would be opening in the Heritage Park Plaza and that the owners of the company require all franchises to be located in a mall setting. Mr. White wanted to discuss the signage in the front of the store and explained when he first submitted the request for signage that the signage on the left was acceptable but the one on the right was not. He said he was a little surprised after reading the signage requirements that it was not allowed and was hoping that the Board would reconsider and approve it after talking with him that evening and knowing where they were coming from. He said that the sign is not advertisement, that it is only telling about the services provided in their business and feels that what they are requesting falls in line with what the Town would allow. He provided the Board with a booklet of other businesses in town that have more than one sign and provide advertising on those signs.

Ms. Richards said some of the signs Mr. White referred to had not been applied for nor approved and that the Board was hoping that the new building inspector will start enforcing the signage requirements as of April by revisiting each establishment. She said when Mr. White first submitted their application they were addressing the business on the front of the building and that was an allowed sign. Ms. Richards said the Board was looking to identify the business location with the signage and that advertising was not allowed. Mr. White said it would address their target demographics because they are limited in their budgets. He added that they would only be able to go after specific targets. Ms. Richards asked if they were limited to what they could put at the street level in the window because they are allowed a window sign. Mr. White said that the window was problem because it is poorly lit and blocked and half of their frontage is brick, it would simply just not show up. Ms. Richards said to her the logo is the primary sign and what they were looking to do was to advertise which would be an accessory component of the primary sign.

Mr. Morrissette said he understood why Mr. White was arguing because he has the pictures to show it, however the fact of the matter was the Board is allowed to approve signage and the zoning says it is not allowed. Mr. White referred to the by-law stating “signs must identify or otherwise relate to the primary use of the building and cannot be used for other purposes such as advertising” and it seemed pretty clear that he was relating to the primary use of the building and nothing more.

Mr. White said they could change the design and make it one sign but he does not think it would be aesthetically pleasing and it would save them a lot of money. Ms. Richards said there could be a primary sign with some accessory information within that same sign.

Mr. Morrissette suggested maybe they should address the issue at the next meeting when there is a full Board in attendance. Ms. Richards added because if they voted that evening there probably would not be a unanimous vote. Mr. Morrissette said all 3 board members in attendance that evening would have to say yes and Mr. White probably would not get that, so he advised Mr. White, in fairness to him, to allow the Board to extend the meeting and then he could explain it to rest of the Board. Mr. White agreed to come back to the next meeting on the 24^th of January.

Request for Waiver of Traffic Study – Premier Source

Mr. Morrissette read a letter from Gary Weiner, Ecotec Environmental requesting a waiver of traffic study for Premier Source Credit Union. He said that the relocation of the credit union approximately 1,500 feet southerly of their existing business would have minimal impact on the North Main Street traffic corridor. Mr. Weiner added that currently, and for the new building, hours of operations are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm except for Thursdays when the credit union is open until 6:00 pm. with no Saturday hours. Mr. Weiner said that the credit union may service up to 7 clients during their peak hours and with that minimal number, along with the limited hours, it would not impact North Main Street. Mr. Weiner stated that on behalf of the credit union he was asked to meet with the Board informally for any input as to the need for a traffic study.

Mr. Weiner introduced Bonnie Raymond, CEO and Manager of Premier Source Credit Union and explained currently the credit union was located in the Senior Center and explained that they have been looking for a alternate site. Further, the Credit Union currently has an option for a purchase and sale agreement for the parcel just north of the Forastiere Funeral Home on the corner of North Main Street & Westwood Avenue. He said the parcel would be broken off from the funeral home parcel to create the site for the credit union and the property line would be established so that the existing curb cut remains the same. He added that the funeral home has their own curb cut so they would not be sharing the curb cut nor the entrance, however, they intended to have cross easements agreements for the use of the driveway for both and each individually they would have their own access. Mr. Weiner did say that the credit union would have a drive through and because of the building size and the way the parcel is setback significantly on the property, approximately160 feet from North Main Street. He said that a formal submittal for site plan approval would be submitted within the next 3 weeks but they looked at the traffic numbers and really feel that the volume the credit union has they are not going to burden the system. Further, Mr. Weiner stated that they were concerned with the North Main Street corridor and they did not want to submit for site plan review and ask for the waiver at that time, and then find themselves in a difficult position because of what is going on North Main Street. Hence, they would rather know if they would need a traffic study sooner, rather than later.

Mr. Calabrese asked how big the building would be. Mr. Weiner said a 9,000 square foot two-story building and at this point they would be the only tenant.

Mr. Morrissette said his only thought was what if they sell the property and someone else goes in there such as another credit union or a bank which typically is considered a high volume traffic generator. Mr. Weiner said they would have to come back before the Board for a Site Plan Review. Mr. Morrissette said they would have to come back but the building would be already built and they could not be stopped from going in there because they have proper parking and all they are concerned with is the effect on the traffic not necessarily on the parking. Mr. Morrissette continued to state that the Board was concerned about the traffic generated from a bank that could effect North Main Street. Mr. Weiner said if they do a limited traffic review they would come back with the use that is proposed at this point, but it just seems that the numbers were so low that for the study that the Board would end reviewing for impact, and the project does not seem to warrant it.

After further discussion, and upon motion duly made and seconded, the members in attendance (Louis Calabrese, Marilyn Richards and Thomas Morrissette) all voted that a full traffic study would not be required for this proposed project. The members based their decision on the fact that this use is not a high-volume use and that the hours of operation do not warrant a heavy volume of traffic at the location. However, the members reserved the right to revisit the traffic issue at any point in the future, should problems arise that warrant another discussion regarding traffic at this location.

ANR – Tufts Street & Channing Road

The Board reviewed the ANR plan dated January, 2006 submitted and owned by Carmine Capua and the plan, dated January, 2006 showing the creation of two new Lots, Lot 2-A containing 10,000 square feet and Lot B, containing 10,000 square feet – both having at least 75 feet of frontage on Tufts Street. Both parcels are in compliance with the Zoning By-laws. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the ANR.

ANR – Markham Road

The Board reviewed the ANR plan dated January, 2006 submitted by Michael Carabetta and the plan, showing the creation of three new parcels, Parcel A containing 25,029 square feet; Parcel B containing 25,564 square feet – both having at least 140 feet of frontage on Markham Road; and Parcel C, containing 66,834 square feet and at least 140 feet of frontage on Allen Street, all parcels in compliance with the Zoning By-laws.

After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the ANR.

Waiver of Site Plan Review & Signage – Frame Corner Gallery, 225 Shaker Road

Mr. Morrissette read a letter into the record from Michael Pluta, President requesting

a Waiver of Site Plan Review to relocate an existing business. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the members unanimously (3-0) voted to GRANT the request for Waiver of Site Plan Approval to open the Frame Corner Gallery in an existing building located at 225 Shaker Road. This site is an existing site for retail businesses and the new parking plan on file is being reviewed by the Planning Board and Department of Public Works.

After review of the sign applications and the color renderings presented, the Board unanimously (3-0) voted to approve the ground sign as presented showing the name and address of the business, conditioned upon obtaining a building/sign permit from the Building Inspector. The second application for signage on an awning across the building was denied by the Board due to the fact that such signage is not allowed in the Zoning by-laws.

Request for Signage – Lighthouse Liquors, 199 North Main Street

After review of the application and the diagrams/pictures, it was unanimously voted (3-0) by the Board to APPROVE the sign as presented to be placed on the building provided it does not measure more than three (3) square feet per linear foot of the building front. However, the second sign application requesting the ground sign was unanimously denied by the Board. The sign must identify the business i.e. Lighthouse Liquors. Furthermore, the total signage for the site cannot exceed 100 square feet. As presented, the ground sign measures 56 square feet – added to the proposed 70 square feet of the building sign totals 126 square – 26 square feet over the allowance,

and the building sign was allowed contingent upon approval by the building inspector with regard to size as.

There being no further business and upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted unanimously to close the public meeting at p.m.

For the Board

Thomas J. Morrissette, Acting Clerk