10/02/2002 PLANNING BOARD Minutes

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Department had an obligation to provide such information to Planning Board Members. The Planning Board has also been accused of allowing a special interest group to appropriate a Planning Board Article. She described this as being "preposterous", it is not a Planning Board Article, the Planning Board does not own it, put it up for sale, or rent it out; it is public property. Any group of citizens have a right to petition. The Chairman commended those citizens for expressing an interest in their Town, and for getting involved, stating there is a need for more citizen involvement in Iashpee . She addressed concerns raised by Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding a loss of power, to which they are opposed. She suggested providing an opportunity to allover the citizens of lashpee to decide whether or not the Planning Board should have oversight of these situations, or whether the Zoning Board of Appeals is better suited to do so. The Chairman commented that the Planning Department Staff is well educated with degrees in planning, who devote their time working on these types of zoning articles on a daily basis. She expressed concern for citizen participation in Town affairs being attacked as it has been regarding the matter at hand. She feels citizen treatment in this manner to be wrong and unfortunate that are attempt is being made to discourage and discredit said citizen participation, when in fact citizen participation in their government is very much needed. The Chairman then addressed Planning Board members inquiring if they have had sufficient time to review the two letters which had been read into the Public Hearing Record in order to comment, deliberate, and reader a decision. Dennis Balzarini was the first to respond by stating that each of the letters had made certain points with which he agrees and believes in. He agreed that the matter at hand i complicated, and acknowledging a recent request from the Board of Selectmen for all Town Boards to cooperate in reviewing zoning issues. However, he also feels that citizens have every right to present a petition before the 'Town, and that they have the right to appear before the appropriate Board and ask for approval. He made the distinction that citizens do have the aright to petition this Article and to request Planning Board opinion 'and approval. He reserved the right to express his decision until after all Planning Board Members have spoken. Steve Dolan made reference to language used in Attorney Dunning's letter, taking exception to "...inappropriate -14-