HomeMy Public PortalAboutPlanning Board -- 2022-02-23 Minutes s Brewster Planning Board Approved : 5/ 11 /22
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PO BREWSTER PLANNING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, February 23 , 2022 at 7200 pm Iiie"p,V ;f; i ; :; ; ;p; V.
Brewster Town Office Building (virtual)
Chair Paul Wallace convened a remote meeting of the Planning Board at 7 : 00 pm with the following members participating
remotely : Amanda Bebrin , Charlotte Degen , Madalyn Hillis- Dineen , Mark Koch , and Elizabeth Taylor. Also participating
remotely : Charleen Greenhalgh , Interim Town Planner, Lynn St. Cyr, Senior Department Assistant, and Kari Hoffmann , Select
Board Liaison .
This meeting will be conducted by remote participation pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 . No in -person meeting
attendance will be permitted . If the Town is unable to live broadcast this meeting , a record of the proceedings will be provided
on the Town website as soon as possible . The meeting may be viewed by : Live broadcast (Brewster Government TV
Channel 18 ) , Livestream ( livestream . brewster-ma • gov) , or Video recording (tv . brewster- ma • gov ) .
The Planning Board Packet can be found at: hyD.011records brewster-ma pov/weblink/0/fol/118269/Row1 . aspx or by going
to the Planning Department page on the Town of Brewster website (www. brewster-ma. gov) .
Wallace declared that a quorum of the Planning Board was present .
7 : 03 PM CITIZEN ' S FORUM
No citizen comments .
7 : 04 PM FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Wallace announced that the Vision Planning Committee survey is available online until February 281h and encouraged
participation in the survey .
7 : 05 PM PLANNING DISCUSSION
Housing Production Plan Update by Jill Scalise Housinq Coordinator.
Documents .
02/ 16/22 Email from Jill Scalise
Jill Scalise , Brewster Housing Coordinator, addressed the Board . She stated that an update to the Housing Production
Plan ( HPP) is in the beginning stages . The current five-year plan was approved by the Department of Housing and
Community Development ( DHCD) in June 2017 , The HPP has guided Brewster' s housing program for the past five years .
Scalise stated that the Planning Board has been involved in HPP accomplishments including the creation of the
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU ) bylaw , work with Serenity Brewster, creation of new affordable housing through the 40B
Comprehensive Permit process , creation of a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust , and hiring of a Housing Coordinator.
The update to the HPP is funded by a grant through the Community Preservation Act, The Housing Partnership is
working on the community outreach process . Scalise stated that the goal is to complete the update by the end of June for
approval by DHCD prior to the expiration of the current HPP . In the next few months , outreach will include an online
survey , small group interviews , focus groups , and community meetings . Barrett Planning Group has been hired as the
consultant working with the Town to create the updated plan . Barrett Planning will start with a needs assessment which
will be brought to the community for input followed by goals and strategies to meet the requirement by the state of 10 % of
year-round housing as affordable or be on the Subsidized Housing Inventory ( SHI ) . Scalise stated that the Board will be
receiving an invitation to participate in small group interviews scheduled for next week and once a draft needs
F
ssessment is available and proposed draft plan , they will be shared with the Board . Scalise stated that there will be a
meeting in May with the Planning Board , Select Board , and Housing Partnership and another meeting with the Select
Board and Planning Board in June to approve the HPP . A community meeting will take place in April to share the plan
and get input. Scalise noted that the HPP will be a key component of the Local Comprehensive Plan ( LCP ) so the Vision
Planning Committee will also be involved .
PB Minutes 02/23/22 Page 1 of 4
7 : 10 PM PLANNING DISCUSSION CONTINUED
Discussion on updated and revised Planning Board Stormwater Management Regulations and possible vote .
Documents :
• 02/16/22 Stormwater Management Regulations , changes tracked
• 02/ 16/22 Stormwater Management Regulations , changes accepted
Mark Nelson and Lori Kennedy of Horsley Witten Group participated in the meeting . Nelson stated that the Stormwater
Management Bylaw had been approved at Town Meeting and by the Attorney General ' s office . The Stormwater
Management Regulations were previously approved by the Planning Board pending approval of the bylaw at Town
Meeting and by the Attorney General and pending a review by Town Counsel , Town Counsel has now reviewed the
regulations and suggested edits . Wallace asked if Town Meeting approval of any changes was necessary . Nelson stated
that the Planning Board could approve the changes to the regulations , and they would be in effect and used by both the
Planning Board and Conservation Commission .
Kennedy reviewed changes made to the Stormwater Management Regulations with the Board including clarifying
language added after review by Charleen Greenhalgh , Peter Lombardi , and Town Counsel . Kennedy noted that under
Section 6 . 2 , Major Stormwater Permits , the precipitation depth table under B . (4) was removed so the regulations would
not need to be updated each time the NOAA Atlas is updated . Bebrin asked how applicants will obtain the information in
the table if it is not in the regulations . Kennedy stated a link to the website containing the information is provided in the
regulations . This information could also be provided in guidance documents . Taylor asked how up to date NOAA would
be with their data given the rapidly changing data . Kennedy responded that the NOAA Atlas is based on historical data so
the NOAA Plus values are used to account for changes being seen with climate change and extreme precipitation . This
approach is used by the state . Taylor asked if the plus values were kept current and Kennedy responded that it is not
known how often NOAA Atlas 14 will be updated and the Board may need to update the regulations if the data being used
becomes obsolete .
Kennedy presented an update to Section 7 , Construction Inspections , based on feedback from staff. Staff suggested the
first two inspections under 7 . 2 F . be combined but all other inspections remain as listed . Degen suggested clarifying
language that allowed for one combined inspection if milestones could be met together. Kennedy stated that staff would
need to decide on the number of inspections needed . Degen suggested clarifying language to address concerns raised
by the public as to the number of inspections needed recognizing that it would be dependent on the project presented .
Wallace stated that Section F does not require inspections but notifications .
Wallace asked about 7 . 2 D . which stated that the Stormwater Authority or designated agent " may" inspect and suggested
a change to " must" inspect. Kennedy stated that Town Counsel reviewed the language and opined that " may" is
appropriate and provides some discretion by the Stormwater Authority or its agent. Greenhalgh stated that the
requirements for an inspection will be dependent on the project and will be a judgment call by the agent after notification
has been received . Wallace stated that he was concerned inspections would get missed and applicants would possibly
have to backtrack to complete inspections . He was also concerned that the notification requirement of five business days
could cause projects to take longer than needed especially if notifications and inspections had to be conducted
separately . Greenhalgh responded that depending on the size of the project, cross-over inspections may be possible .
Bebrin asked if clarifying language was needed to Section 7 . 2 F . noting that multiple components could be inspected at
one time . Greenhalgh suggested that this could be clarified during the permitting process , and she would not add
additional language to the regulations .
Taylor asked if applicants were aware that coastal banks are wetlands and should be included in stormwater management
discussions . Greenhalgh and Kennedy responded that the Conservation Commission would have jurisdiction when
wetlands are involved . Wetlands are required to be identified on the site plan for major stormwater management permits .
Degen asked why solar panels were included in the definition of impervious surface and how they differed from decks .
Kennedy responded that town staff asked to include solar panels in the definition due to run off issues as well as changes
to drainage patterns .
Greenhalgh stated that the bylaw has been approved by the Attorney General and is required to be posted for two weeks
by the Town Clerk before it is in effect. The effective date of the bylaw is March 4 , 2022 .
PB Minutes 02/23/22 Page 2 of 4
Bebrin asked if sample documents would be available to those applying for a stormwater management permit , so they
were aware of the requirements . Nelson responded that guidance documents are being developed . Horsley Witten is
preparing a document of instructions for filing a minor stormwater management application which will help clarify the
requirements . The document will include examples of best management practices ( BMPs) and sample calculations .
Degen suggested the Board add a review of the stormwater management bylaw and regulations to their March/April 2023
agenda .
Motion by Degen to Approve Stormwater Management Regulations , as discussed and amended . Second by
Hillis -Dineen . Wallace stated that he believes the revisions make sense so he will vote to approve but he did not
vote in favor of the bylaw and his opinion of the bylaw has not changed . Roll call vote : Hillis -Dineen -aye ; Degen -
ayes Koch -aye ; Bebrin -aye ; Taylor-aye ; and Wallace-aye . Vote : 6 -0 -0 .
7 : 49 PM PLANNING DISCUSSION CONTINUED
Discussion and vote on stormwater management permit application .
Documents :
Draft Stormwater Management Permit Application
Greenhalgh presented a stormwater management permit application drafted based on a DEP document used by other
towns . The application has been reviewed by staff and Horsley Witten who are comfortable with the application .
Greenhalgh noted that the application will be provided to applicants along with educational documents and the checklists
from the regulations . A written decision will be provided to the applicant as well .
Motion by Hillis -Dineen to Approve Stormwater Management Permit Application . Second by Degen . Roll call
vote : Taylor-aye ; Bebrin -aye ; Koch -aye ; Hillis -Dineen -aye ; Degen -aye ; and Wallace-aye . Vote : 6 -0 -0 .
7 : 54 PM PLANNING DISCUSSION CONTINUED
Discussion on stormwater management educational materials .
Nelson stated that Horsley Witten is working on additional educational materials including an overall fact sheet on the
bylaw and design sheets for 34 major practices .
7 : 58 PM PLANNING DISCUSSION CONTINUED
Approval of Meeting Minutes : January 26 , 2022 .
The Board reviewed the January 26 , 2022 meeting minutes . Motion by Degen to Approve January 26 , 2022 Meeting
Minutes , as amended . Second by Hillis -Dineen . Roll call vote : Degen -aye ; Hillis -Dineen -aye ; Koch -aye ; Bebrin -
ayes Taylor-aye ; and Wallace-aye. Vote : 6 -0 -0 .
8 : 01 PM FOR YOUR INFORMATION CONTINUED
The Board discussed the Vision Planning Survey available through February 28th . Bebrin stated that 1725 surveys have
been completed . The Vision Planning Committee has started to review the surveys received . Bebrin noted that the age
demographic is skewing to 50- 60 plus . She encouraged members of the community in their 20s , 30s , 40s to respond to
the survey . Paper copies of the survey are available in the Planning Department,
The Board received copies of letters submitted to the Division of Conservation Services from the Conservation
Commission and Open Space Committee in support if the 2021 Open Space and Recreation Plan .
8 : 03 PM MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR
Koch announced that he will not be running for election to the Board in May . The Board thanked Koch for his service .
Bebrin acknowledged Wallace' s efforts at the last meeting . She appreciated the way he handled the meeting and
managed questions and comments from the public . The Board agreed and thanked Wallace for his efforts .
St . Cyr stated that a joint meeting with the Select Board to appoint a member to the vacant Planning Board position is
scheduled for Monday , March 71h .
Motion by Hillis -Dineen to adjourn . Second by Degen . Roll call vote : Taylor-aye ; Bebrin -aye ; Koch -aye ; Degen -
aye ; Hillis -Dineen -aye ; and Wallace-aye . Vote . 6-0 -0 .
PB Minutes 02/23/22 Page 3 of 4
Meeting adjourned at 8 : 09 pm .
Next Planning Board Meeting Date : 03/09/22
Respectfully submitted ,
4"VA
Lynn St. or, Senior Dep ftment Assistant, Planning
PB Minutes 02/23/22 Page 4 of 4