1996-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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2. To hear and decide applications for Special Report of the permits upon which the Board is empowered to act planning Department under the Town By-laws. 3. To hear and decide petitions for Variances as set forth under State statute and Town By-laws. To t e Selectmen and the Citi ens o f he Town of Ma tepee: 4. To hear and decide petitions for Comprehen- On behalf of Assistant Planner Eric Smith, Admin- sive Permits relative to low and moderate income istrative Assistant Myra Suchenicz and myself, it is housing as set forth by Chapter 40B of the Massachu- my pleasure to submit this annual report of the Plan- setts General Laws. ning Department. A unanimous vote of the three sitting Board mem- 1996 was a busy year for the department, focused bers is required for grant of a Special Permit or Vari- primarily on development of the Town's first Compre- ance under Chapter 40A. In addition to the regular hensive Plan.By the end of the year,Goals and Objec- work of the Board the Members continue to review the tives had been adopted by the Planning Board for four- Zoning By-laws and recommend improvements. In teen of the sixteen "elements" of the plan and nine 1996 John J. Friel and Kenneth E. Marsters resigned completed element plans had been drafted by the from the Board. They had both served the Board with department and submitted to the Board for approval. distinction. Three new Associate Members were Beginning in September, each of the nine element appointed:Richard T. Guerrera,James M. Dorgan and plans were explained by department staff and public Michael A.Makunas. comments were solicited at heavily advertised public held b the Planning Board.The Public Safe- without he g m y g The work of the Board could not be accomplished ty and Solid & Hazardous Waste elements were pre- without the excellent cooperation and input from sented on September 4. On September 18 the Afford- ` many of the Town Boards, Agents, and Departments able Housing and Municipal Buildings & Facilities - most are involved in every Application before the Board of Appeals. These include the Town Clerk, elements were presented. The Open Space & Recre- ation and Wetlands/Wildlife &Plant Habitat elements Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Asses- were covered at the October 2 meeting. The Econom- sors' Office, Harbormaster, Shellfish Constable and is Development element of the Plan was presented on the Selectmen's Office. The Board would particularly Inspector,William F.Hauck, November 20 along with the Coastal Resources ele- like to thank the Building p ment. On December 18,the School Facilities element, for his detailed review of Applications, attendance at which had been endorsed by the School Committee on all meetings and research of the Zoning By-laws. December 4, was also presented. Meetings of the Board of Appeals are normally held Of the remaining elements of the Plan, Transporta- on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at tion,Water Resources,Water&Wastewater Facilities, 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall. The Board of Appeals Historic Preservation & Community Character and meetings are always open to the public. Land Use & Growth Management are scheduled to be completed by the May, 1997 Town Meeting and-it is Respectfully submitted, our hope that a summary Comprehensive Plan docu- Edward M. Govoni, Chairman ment will be available for distribution at that Meeting. James E.Regan III, Vice Chairman The Health & Human Services element and a newly- Cheryl A.Hawver,Associate Member added Energy element,both of which are recommend- Robert G.Nelson,Associate Member ed by the Cape cod Commission but not mandatory, Richard T. Guerrera,Associate Member will be written over the summer. Between may and James M.Dorgan,Associate Member October, public hearings will be held on the full Plan Michael A.Makunas,Associate Member and it will be submitted to the Commission for a"con- Elinor K.Walsh, Secretary sistency review with their Regional Policy Plan. Unless problems arise with that review, the Plan should be submitted for approval to the october, 1997 Town Meeting. In addition to the Comprehensive Plan, the depart- j ment continued to perform its other duties, including staff support to the Planning Board, special projects for the Board of Selectmen and Executive Secretary, assistance to other boards,departments,Town Counsel 93