Planning Board
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Ashburnham Planning Board operates under the authority of the Subdivision Control Law enacted under Chapter 41, Section 81A-81GG of the Massachusetts General Laws. The Board is comprised of five elected members and one appointed associate member, who are empowered to regulate the subdivision of land under the provisions of the above law for the purposes of protecting the safety, convenience, and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Ashburnham. The Board is also responsible for preparing careful studies pertaining to planning issues in the Town and recommending zoning amendments for Town Meeting approval.
During the calendar year 2006, the Board approved 18 "Approval Not Required" (ANR) plans of land as compared to 25 in 2005. The Board endorsed 19 building permit applications for new dwellings in 2006, compared to 28 in 2005.
The Board reviewed two new subdivisions during the year. A 15-lot conventional subdivision known as Cashman Hill Estates, which was submitted in October 2005, was approved by the Board in January 2006. Patriot Estates, a 7-lot subdivision off Hastings Road was approved by the Board in June 2006, but is currently under appeal.
The Board performed 3 Scenic Road hearings in conjunction with the new Scenic Road Regulations. A total of 5 Site Plan Reviews for commercial businesses have also been heard under requirements of the Site Plan Review process.
Common driveways were approved under the Common Driveway Bylaw on Westminster Street and Main Street.
During the year, the Board and the Town Planner reviewed and updated the Planning Board "Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land", "Rules and Regulations for Open Space Residential Development (OSRD)" Special Permits, "Rules and Regulations for Private Common Driveway" Special Permits and regulations pertaining to "Scenic Roads". The Board adopted new "Procedural Rules Governing the Planning Board".
The Board adopted new "Regulations Governing Fees" and revised the application fee schedule. The Board also revised and adopted numerous application forms and checklists for applicants to improve the flow of information to the Board.
The annual Town Meeting adopted zoning amendments submitted by the Board which allowed for "Open Space Residential Development in the Green Business (GB) district, gave the Planning Board authority to waive certain parking requirements within the "Village Center (VC) district, allowed for Common Driveways within all zoning districts and allowed access to three lots. Also amended Change of Use Table to allow Self-Storage Facilities in certain Commercial and Industrial zones via a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Town Meeting also adopted revisions to Chapter XI of the General Bylaws pertaining to driveway openings and curb cuts.
The Town Meeting adopted a new "Major Residential Development" zoning bylaw to encourage Open Space Residential Developments within town.
On a citizen petition, Murray Road was rezoned from Industrial to Residential use.
Members of the Planning Board and the Board of Appeals attended the Massachusetts Citizen Planner Training Collaborative annual conference held at Holy Cross College. The Spring conference is well attended and all of the seminars have proved to be extremely useful to those attending and for helping the Planning Board prepare Ashburnham for the future.
The annual Town Meeting authorized $10,000 for the Board to proceed with an "Industrial and Economic Land Siting Study". The study was prepared by students of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Gary Howland, Associate Member, resigned from the Board in January of 2006 and Robert Salo, Clerk, resigned in February of 2006. The Board thanks both members for their service to the Board and the town. Thomas Ruble was appointed to and subsequently elected to fill the position vacated by Mr. Salo. The Board is still in need of an associate member.
The Board would like to thank Eric R. Smith, Town Planner, for his dedication, expertise and assistance during the past year. Eric has been involved with many projects and provides much needed support to the Town.
The Board was saddened by the death of Susan Dembek, Land Use Administrator. Sue was the Land Use Administrator for over ten years and was always able to juggle and coordinate the various responsibilities of all the different boards and inspectors.
Respectfully submitted,
John MacMillan, Chair
Robert Salo, Clerk (resigned February 2006)
Robert MacLeod
Joseph Kalagher
Gary Howland, Associate member (resigned January 2006)
Bruce Whitney, Clerk
Thomas Ruble
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