When the Marion Planning Board wrapped up Monday night’s rather-brief Zoom meeting with a community-outreach segment, no one from the public spoke up, so the board’s members played catch-up on lingering matters that had taken substantial time out of their lives but had recently gone dormant.
Alanna Nelson addressed the failed litter bylaw and suggested efforts be made to solve the ambiguities that resulted in the negative vote at the October 19 Town Meeting.
As an alternative to the arduous work of crafting another bylaw that may or may not pass with voters, Planning Board Chairman Will Saltonstall mused as to the possibility that the town could levy a fine in excess of what the state levies based on the latter’s law for tossing trash out of car windows. But it was explained to him that the town cannot supersede the state’s fine.
Going back to the drawing board is easier said than done. “I haven’t finished licking my wounds,” joked member Norm Hills, who chairs the Bylaw Codification Committee and spearheaded the recent effort to thoroughly examine, revise as necessary, and update Marion’s bylaws.
Eileen Marum said she has not succeeded in reaching the designated contact person to discuss potential availability of the Music Hall on behalf of the Southeastern Massachusetts League of Women Voters. Terri Santos, the administrative assistant for the Planning Board, told Marum she would assist in that situation.
Hills asked about the anticipated delivery of rules and regulations for subdivisions, and Santos said she was waiting to hear back from Town Counsel John Witten.
Member Chris Collings, a River Road resident, asked for an update of The Stone Rooster. Hills reminded him that the last time the applicant appeared before the board, a parking plan was requested. “We don’t have anything yet,” said Hills, so plans for the Route 6 bar/restaurant establishment cannot progress until that matter is addressed to the board’s satisfaction.
In opening the scheduled continued public hearing for the application filed by Sherman Briggs and Hamblin Homes, Inc. for the construction of 28 townhouses at Spring and Mill Streets, Saltonstall told the board that Briggs’ action means the board will not be discussing “that business for a while.”
As a point of order, Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee suggested that Briggs’ October 20 letter indicating the developer’s withdrawal of the special-permit application without prejudice be read into the record.
The board voted to close the public hearing and voted to accept the application’s withdrawal without prejudice.
In other business, the board voted to appropriate no more than $250 to send Guey-Lee to CPTC classes, which Saltonstall characterized as “good learning to be done there about being a good Planning Board member.”
The board also voted to approve the payment of $1,121.27 to the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) for its work on Marion’s Open Space and Recreation Plan.
Hills said that the work on the plan began several years ago, and he expects a final draft on the project this week. Hills further explained that the plan needs to meet the approval of the Stewards of Community Open Space, a committee made up of officials representing the town and outside agencies such as the Sippican Lands Trust, before it is ultimately vetted by the town.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, November 15, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Planning Board
By Mick Colageo