Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
Minutes of 9/19/12
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Source page 1
TOWN OF CANTON PLANNING BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 SALAH MEETING ROOM 7:00 P.M. TOWN HALL MINUTES Present: Chris Connolly, Chairman; Gary Vinciguerra, Vice Chairman; Kristin Mirliani, Clerk; Jeremy Comeau; George Jenkins. Also present: Tom Houston, Professional Services Corporation Karen Lawlor, Planning Board Administrative Assistant Meeting came to order at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Chris Connolly called to order the Planning Board meeting of September 19, 2012. 1 St Item on the Agenda — Homewood Suites had not arrived yet so the Board moved on to the next item. 2nd Item on the Agenda — Washington Commons was continued until October 3, 2012. 3 Item on the Agenda — Knob Hill was also continued until October 3, 2012. 4 th Item on the Agenda — Heather Lane (Rick Blasser) — Discussion of Street Acceptance. Mr. Richard Blasser introduced himself and explained he has been a resident of 5 Heather Lane since 1992. He thanked the Board for allowing him to speak. He has lived on Heather Lane for 20 years and never knew it was a private road and had never been accepted by the town. His neighbor had been trying to get a tree removed and he was informed by the Tree Warden that because it was not a town accepted street the tree could not be removed by the Town. He tried to find out why and couldn't get an answer right away. He spoke with Mr. Friel and he said he would check into this. Mr. Blasser further
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Planning Board Minutes of September 19, 2012 explained that he attended the Selectmen's Meeting last night, October 16, 2012, and although he agrees with Mr. Friel's plan to standardize acceptance of private ways, he feels there needs to be flexibility for exceptions. For 20 years we were unaware this was a private way and many of us are 2 nd and 3rd owners of the property. He has researched this and there was nothing disclosed at the time of purchase. His neighbor who lives across the street is the son and daughter -in -law of the developer. They told him that the work was completed which included granite curbs, sidewalks, lights, pavement or hot top. There was a cost of the easement which was split between the developer and one of the homeowners, Mr. Bill Duggan of 6 Heather Lane, who has since passed away. The work was completed by an excavator from the Town who was also a Planning Board member at that time. He then reported back to the Board that the work was completed and the Bond was released back to the Developer. Based on these facts, they are asking for an exception from the policy that is being considered by the Town. Mr. Blasser also stated that the residents are not asking for any repairs to be done or any money spent on the roads, they just want street acceptance. Somewhere along the lines something fell through the cracks and now its twenty (20) years later. He ended by thanking for the Board for their time. Mr. Comeau stated that he has reviewed the file and spoken to Mr. Blasser a few times and now Mr. Jenkins is reviewing the file. There is an email in the file from Karen and Ellen Jones in Financing asking if there are any Bonds left and all Bonds have been released. There were unfinished issues at times including lights, curbing and issues relating to drainage in certain areas of the development and to my understanding they were addressed. This is what the file says and this is why the Bond was released. And personally after talking with various people and reviewing the file and talking with other people involved, the work was completed but there is no documents stating that. The file stops around 1993. The Developer never brought this forward, the Bond was released and the neighbors are dealing with a private way. Mr. Connolly stated that it is the Developer's responsibility to bring this matter before the Selectmen after completion and have this become a public way. Mr. Vinciguerra stated that what he is hearing is that there is nothing in the file to indicate that the Developer brought this forward for acceptance. The Developer completed the project, the Bond was released and the Developer never brought the project forward for acceptance and what we have is a private way. 2