MARSHFIELD DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Approved Minutes of May 5, 2005

Board Members present: Tom Daley, Jon Groveman, Martin Johnson, and James Arisman (arriving 7:25). Also attending: Trevor Tait and Joe Currier.

Meeting opened at 7:05 pm. Trevor Tait described for the Board the status of his plans for the property he and Ellen Cooke have recently purchased from Wilmer Brandt. Cooke and Tait have a pending Subdivision application for this property, and the Board had issued a Sketch Plan Determination letter on 11/29/04. While that plan was to create two lots from the source parcel, they now prefer to create three lots by establishing two new building sites of 3 to 5 acres each, leaving a third parcel of 90 acres or so containing Wilmer’s home and outbuildings. The Board feels that this proposal differs significantly from the plan as originally proposed, and requested that Trevor submit a new, modified application and submit to a new Sketch Plan review. Jon advised that, because we have not yet taken the matter to a public hearing, he was probably entitled to make this revision without paying a new application fee.

At 7:25 pm Joe Currier told the Board of his wish to re-define the boundaries of two adjacent properties he owns just off the Groton Forest Road, and asked for advice on how to obtain zoning approval for this plan. The lots as they exist now are10 acres and 18.4 acres, respectively. The discussion quickly turned to the issue of what portion of these lots are in which Zoning District. When he originally built his house on one of these lots, in the mid-80’s, he was compelled to site it in a less-desirable part of the lot because the Town informed him that the area in excess of 600 feet from the Groton Forest Road was all in the Forestry and Conservation District. Since then he has found some documentation indicating that some neighboring property was treated differently; one particular survey drawing indicates that the Agricultural and Rural Residential District extended to 1,200 feet from the Road.

The Board told Joe that, for purposes of its own review, it relies on the Official Town Map to determine the location of Zoning Districts. In that area of the Groton Forest Road, the map appears to show a consistent boundary of 600 feet where the Forestry and Conservation District begins. However, the Board strongly advised Joe that, if his plans for the property hinged on the possibility of building future residences on it, he should go to the Zoning Administrator get a determination from him about where the District boundary lies. Until Joe gets this fundamental question answered to his satisfaction, the Board will reserve consideration of the specifics of what he may then want to do with the property.

At 8:10 pm James moved to approve the minutes of April 27, 2005 as drafted; seconded by Jon, all in favor.

In anticipation of the Public Hearing scheduled for June 2 on the matter of Robert and Ada Silverstein’s Site Plan application, the Board then discussed the standards that should apply generally to their consideration of the construction of ponds. Following this, the Board took up once again the discussion begun at the previous meeting regarding Marshfield’s requirements for road frontage on newly created lots, and the alternative of granting approval for access by Right-of-Way.

At 8:55 pm Martin moved to adjourn the DRB meeting. Seconded by Jon, all in favor.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Tom Daley