PLANNING BOARD TOWN MEETING ARTICLES

There are 4 zoning articles on the warrant for Town Meeting this  year. Two are proposed by the Planning Board, one was sponsored by the Planning Board on behalf of the developer of the former Peace Abbey property and one was sponsored by the Board of Selectmen. The four articles are:

Article 13: This article would allow retail, office and assisted living uses as part of an age-restricted or affordable housing development under our EA zoning category. As with all EA projects, these additional potential uses would need to be part of a Preliminary Development Plan approved at Town Meeting as part of the rezoning to EA.

The Planning Board recommends in favor of this article because it allows limited complementary uses as part of an age-restricted residential development. For example, offices of a medical professional or other service that would be convenient to the residents of the development while also serving the Town at large. The office, retail and assisted living uses would only be allowed if they were identified as part of a Preliminary Development Plan approved by Town Meeting, and then also approved by the Planning Board through the special permit process. This article was originally proposed in conjunction with Article 14. While this article is no longer relevant to the project on the former Peace Abbey site, the Planning Board believes it makes sense and represents good zoning. The mixed uses are also consistent with Smart Growth principles.

Article 14: This article would approve the Preliminary Development Plan and rezoning to EA of the former Peace Abbey property to allow the development of 18 units of age-restricted housing on the site.

The Planning Board recommends in favor of this article. The Planning Board has met with the applicant proposing the age-restricted project on this site. The Planning Board has carefully considered the proposed layout and configuration of the project, design, access, preliminary grading and drainage plans, preliminary landscaping and has agreed that the project warrants rezoning of the property. Of course, if the rezoning and Preliminary Development Plan are approved at Town Meeting, the project itself will still be subject to a special permit by the Planning Board. At that time the Planning Board will review detailed plans. The Zoning Bylaw allows the detailed plans to vary slightly, but not significantly from the approved Preliminary Development Plan.

Article 16: This article would increase the maximum size of a single retail outlet that is part of a Planned Unit Development to 6000 square feet. All other retail outlets would still be restricted to 2500 square feet.

The Planning Board recommends in favor of this article because the current limit of 2500 square feet is inadequate to support a viable retail facility. Previous efforts to increase this limit to a higher number fell just short of a two-thirds majority in support. For comparison, the Planning Board has determined that stores such as the Dover Market and Tilly and Salvy's (in Natick) are just under 6000 square feet. Again, it should be noted that there is no size limit in the Business General district. This bylaw amendment would only allow one retail outlet within a Planned Unit Development to exceed the 2500 square foot limit, which is only available by special permit from the Planning Board and has more controls and requirements for public benefits  than the Business General district.

Article 17: This article would impose a moratorium on medical marijuana treatment centers through June 30, 2014.

The Planning Board will hold its hearing on this article on April 24. It will make its recommendation after that hearing. It should be noted that the Town is prohibited from banning these facilities so it will need to provide for such facilities next year even if the moratorium passes this year.