Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
MasterPlan-20241015T181155
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Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes June 15, 2023, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Via Zoom Master Plan Implementation Committee Members present: Joseph Amrhein (Planning Board), Emilio Mauro (Finance Committee), and Alan Rapoport (Economic Development Committee) Master Plan Implementation Committee Members not present: Bob MacDonald (Conservation Commission), Kristian Merenda (School Committee), Mike Nourse (Historical Commission), Citizen at Large — vacant, Community Preservation Committee or Playground and Recreation Committee representative — vacant, Select Board representative — vacant School Committee Non -Voting Alternate: Maureen Moran — not present Staff: Town Planner Taylor (T.l.) Torres — not present due to still transitioning into new position P,KITO771r0 iM01P Chair Emilio Mauro called the Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and he welcomed and introduced all those present. ANNUAL REORGANIZATION of the MPIC This item was deferred to the next meeting, due to a lack of quorum. NEW TOWN PLANNER and ANY TOWN PLANNER UPDATES E. Mauro announced to the committee that the Town had selected a new Town Planner. Taylor (T.1.) Torres, who should be starting in the role soon. E. Mauro noted that there is now a transition In progress to Mr. Torres from Interim Town Planner Gene Manning, which will continue over the summer. E. Mauro also expressed his gratitude to Gene Manning for all of his work as Interim Town Planner. CANTON HERITAGE FESTIVAL REVIEW E. Mauro reported that he had represented the MPIC at the Canton Heritage Festival at the Paul Revere Heritage Site on May 20, with the help of his wife Dagmar Mauro who had volunteered to assist. The MPIC had a table at the event and the primary objectives were to raise awareness about the Master Plan (and the MPIC) and provide an opportunity for public comment and feedback. He presented a slideshow (see Meeting Documents for presentation slides) that demonstrated the setup of the table, the documents handed out, what was done, and the presentation attempted to capture the public feedback and comments received during the event regarding different aspects of the Master Plan. Visitors to the table were invited to write their comments or thoughts about different sections of the Master Plan on sticky notes and affix them to a display board that had summaries of each section of the Page 1 of 19
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Master Plan, divided into the following categories: Live (town services and neighborhoods and housing), Work, Play, Connect, Protect (environmental stewardship and historical resources) / Adapt, Downtown and Canton Junction, and Route 138. The sticky notes were different colors but there was no color coding. There were also many members of the public that asked questions about the Master Plan or other activities or services in Town that were not reflected through the suggestion/comment stickers but were responded to at the event. E. Mauro went through each of the public comments expressed on the sticky notes and offered some background and some pros, cons, and/or logistical commentary on many of the items raised by the public based on his thoughts. During the presentation, E. Mauro occasionally paused to take questions from MPIC members or to check if members had questions. J. Amrhein asked further about the "reverse calls" that a member of the public wanted more of regarding Town Services. E. Mauro explained that it seemed that the person wanted more informational calls from the Town to inform them of events or situations, such as elections or town meetings as examples, similar to the calls that were conducted by then Emergency Management Director Charlie Doody during the COVID-19 pandemic but on a more routine basis. T There was also some discussion about the success of the event and the positive communication the MPIC was able to have with the public through it. There was discussion regarding the parking lot in front of Walgreens in the Downtown (corner of Washington Street and Bolivar Street) and whether some of that space could be used for shared parking or if the Town could acquire the front row of parking along Washington Street for general parking use. The had been a public comment at the event suggesting that the Town acquire that front row along Washington Street for general parking to serve the downtown area. E. Mauro noted that former Town Planner Laura Smead had approached the owners of the site to discuss that parking lot being available for shared downtown parking, which is in the spirit of shared parking proposals for the Downtown recommended in the Master Plan. Excess off-peak downtown parking was identified but in privately - owned parking lots, which is the basis for shared parking efforts. A. Rapoport noted that he believed that the first two rows of parking along Washington Street is already available for general public use but there is not proper signage to notify the public. In addition to the proposed public parking area being proposed on Neponset Street to serve that portion of the downtown area, J. Amrhein noted that there was a proposed expansion of parking on the Paul Revere Heritage Site property to be used for special events there. There was some discussion about Route 138 and the various studies done to study the roadway or local development of the corridor. Which also included some explanation of the difference between Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) agreements and District Improvement Financing (DIF) agreements. Page 2 of 19
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E. Mauro also noted that at least the community tent portion of the event was broken down an hour early due to rain. There was a discussion about Forge Pond and public access to it. A. Rapoport noted the ambiguous signage at Forge Pond about whether it Is accessible to the public. He added that the signage says the path around the pond is only for residents of a private multi -unit housing property but is actually open to all members of the public. Better access and signage were then considered. SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE UPDATE E. Mauro updated the committee on the formation of the Sustainability Action Plan Steering Committee (SAPSC) to implement the approved Article 27 of the 2023 Annual Town Meeting Warrant. He noted that the MPIC was being considered for a seat on the committee but that he had contacted Town Administrator Charlie Doody who told him that the details regarding the formation of the SAPSC were still being worked out with the local sustainability advocates that have supported the process of having that committee and developing a Sustainability Action Plan. E. Mauro will keep the committee updated on the process of constructing the SAPSC. POTENTIAL EXPANSION of MPIC or LIAISONS to MPIC E. Mauro reported that he had spoken to the Town Clerk's Office for informational purposes about what would be needed to consider adding more seats for voting members to the MPIC, or to establish non- voting liaisons from unrepresented committees. The process, if the MPIC would be interested in such an expansion, would be to vote in favor of that position and then ask the Select Board to approve a reconstruction of the committee to expand membership or establish liaisons, as the appointing authority of the MPIC. The idea of more involvement of unrepresented groups had first been raised by the discussion with the Canton Public Library where the chair of the Board of Library Trustees, Peg Mead, had expressed interest in more involvement. There was some consideration as to how this expansion of voting members might positively or negatively impact quorums while non -voting liaisons would have no quorum impact but increase the involvement of some unrepresented committees. The Board of Library Trustees; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; the Council on Aging / Elder and Human Affairs; and/or Sustainability Committee were mentioned as possible candidates for such a proposed expansion of the MPIC. There was no opposition and some support from members present but there was not a quorum present, so no official deliberation occurred and any consideration of the proposal was postponed to a future meeting. ACCEPTANCE of PAST MPIC MEETING MINUTES The acceptance of the March 16, 2023; April 20, 2023; and May 18, 2023 MPIC meeting minutes was deferred to the next meeting due to the lack of a quorum. No changes to the drafts were suggested by the members present. Page 3 of 19
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UPCOMING MEETINGS and FUTURE GUESTS The MPIC tentatively scheduled its next meeting on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting date will be e-mailed to committee membership to see if that meeting date works for members not present. There was also a brief discussion on possible future guests and priorities with an understanding that the new Town Planner would be taking on an increasing role in the committee as it headed into the autumn. J. Amrhein expressed support for a focus on missing middle size detached single family homes to fill the gap between smaller condominiums and large single-family homes. ADJOURNMENT A motion to adjourn was made by A. Rapoport and seconded by J. Amrhein. It was approved by the consensus of 3-0-0. ROLL CALL: Amrhein y Mauro y Rapoport The meeting was adjourned at 7:54 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Emilio E. Mauro, Jr. Chair Master Plan Implementation Committee Page 4 of 19
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MEETING DOCUMENTS Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting June 15, 2023, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Zoom Meeting Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/i/82124845378 Meeting ID: 8212484 5378 Phone: 1-309-205-3325, 82124845378it US • Master Plan Implementation Committee Members: Chris Albert (Select Board), Joseph Amrhein (Planning Board), Bob MacDonald (Conservation Commission), Emilio Mauro (Finance Committee), Kristian Merenda (School Committee), Mike Nourse (Historical Commission), Alan Rapoport (Economic Development Committee), Citizen - at -Large - vacant, Community Preservation Committee/ Playground and Recreation Commission representative — vacant • School Committee Non -Voting Alternate: Maureen Moran • Staff: Taylor Torres, Incoming Town Planner/ Gene Manning, Interim Town Planner AGENDA Item Time Discussion 1. Introductions 7:00-7:05 Chair welcomes attendees and Introduces members. 2. Reorganization of MPIC 7:05-7:10 Annual election/re-election of chair, vice chair, and clerk. New Town Planner/MPIC staff member Taylor Torres hired and 3. New Town Planner and Any 7:10-7:25 any updates regarding town planning from Interim Town Planner Town Planner Updates Gene Manning or Incoming Town Planner Taylor Torres. 4. Canton Heritage Festival Review of MPIC participation in Canton Heritage Festival on May Review 7:25-7:50 20 , 2023, at Paul Revere Heritage Site. Update on Sustalnablllty Action Plan Steering Committee and MPIC S. SAPSC Update 7:50.8:00 Involvement in it. 6. Potential Expansion of MPIC Discussion on potential to increase participation in MPIC for non - or Liaisons to MPIC 8:00-8:10 seated boards or committees and the process required to do this. Review MPIC meeting minutes from March 16, 2023, April 20, 2023, 7. Acceptance of Minutes 8:10-8:15 and May 18, 2023. 8. Upcoming Meeting, Priorities, 8:35-8:30 Next meeting: September TED, 2023, and future guests and and Future Guests priorities discussed. Notes: Times are approximate and Items might betaken out or order. Should an Item be added to the agenda prior to 49 hours before the meeting's scheduled start time, the agenda will be updated. Noweyer, the committee might also discuss a topic not reasonably anticipated by the chair prior to the meeting. This meeting will be recorded. Page 5 of 19
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Public Participation. at MPIC Table • Brief explanation to visitors regarding the Master Plan and its background and goals. • Public feedback regarding things they liked in Canton or wanted to see more of in Canton. • Handouts (Frequently Asked Questions, 2022 MPIC Annual Report, and Guiding Principles document) • Copy of Master Plan available for viewing • Allergy -free lollipops for children and other visitors MPIC Handouts for Canton Heritage Festival