001Starting in 5 4 3 2 1. All right. Good evening everyone and welcome to the Ashlin Planning Board meeting of Thursday, May 8th. I'm calling the meeting to order at 7:19. Everyone should um note that we obviously are being broadcast and recorded and we are not um meeting in the room tonight. We are all on Zoom. So with that said, the first item of the day is the clerk's report. Kate, thank you, Madam Chair. We've received one correspondence from uh the last meeting which has not been responded to. Um I think it's also doesn't quite fit our generic that was actually Jim Nielsen about the um historic district and then we also for recent that we owe um there was to about the 40B but also to the planning board and other boards and uh
002last meeting we left you and I were going to get a draft um to send I sent you that a while ago but I haven't heard back. So, we technically have two outstanding to correspond, too. Okay. I'll uh it's been a little busy with town meeting everything. So, um I'll look for the for that. She's just one though, right? Um uh well, I didn't do anything about the one from Jim. I mean, I could I can just respond and say thank you. I mean, I feel like it's in keeping I'll respond because he he talked he was at town meeting last night and so I'll I'll respond um to it. Thank you. So, um I just forgot it was there and like I said, it's been a little bit been a little busy. So, it's
003hard to That's it. So, we have two. One you'll get back to me and one you'll take care of Jim. So, that's good. Okay. Um, all right. So, and and Kate Haya, I'm not sure if I'm even getting email. I I asked um if you can just send me um the the the materials you have about being in your role as clerk. Um y as after tonight, you will be sorely missing that role, I'm sure. And uh those documents should carry on in your absence. Sure. So, but I know that might not might be hard to send. So, just whenever you get to it. Okay. So, next item on the agenda is public comment. I will open it up for public comment. Hey, Mark. Eric, I just ask you to unmute. Okay. Thank you. Mark
004the 119 Main Street. There is two things actually three things. Last night's town meeting I I had what I why I did not speak last night because I told the town manager at his pre-town meeting the week before form at the h at the town hall. I made all my comments on on that on all the articles including the planning board's bylaw was at his forum. So I stayed quiet last night for that reason. That's one. Two, is any of what's on the agenda tonight open for public comment tonight? Well, there's not a lot on the agenda and there are no public hearings on the agenda. So, no, there's not there's not really a lot for public comment this evening. Okay. And through the chairman to Alvaro, can I ask him a question, a quick
005question? Sure. Al Valo, I was told through the um one of the committees that I I'm online with that in July you're leaving the you're leaving Ashlin. Yes or no? Uh yes, but it's not July. It will be June, the end of June or the start of June, sorry. The first week of June, I'll be stepping out of my of my assistant planner position. Can that be said? what town you're going to. I'm not moving right away into an opposition. I am potentially going back to school. Um there's a chance that I might go to work again for a couple of extra years. Um but most likely I'm going to head back to school. Okay. And good luck down the road in the school in back to school then. Thank you. I'm all set. Thank
006you. All right. Thank you. All right. So, first on our agenda tonight um is 240 to 260 Pleasant Street. This is the soccer fields at the Metro West facilities um in Connect Church. Um this as we um received the continuence letter um they have asked for a continuance to May 22nd. Is that right, Alvaro? Yes, that's correct. So, um, and I think in that time obviously, um, that will be shortly after the election and I assume the project will be, um, republicized, uh, because we will have different members on the board. Um, and in order for them to be voting members, we would need to to revertise it. Is that is that right, Al? Yes, I can double check if we need to readvertise it. um just to make sure what will be the the
007followup on that. I can check with Lisa to see what will be. Yeah. And we we'll we can coordinate that with them because we until we're actually going to discuss the project. It'd be better not to revertise it probably until we're ready to um until they're ready to start again, you know, the discussion. So, okay, we'll be coordinating with that with them. So, but does anyone have any questions about that project or that status before we discontinue it to May 22nd? Um, I do because I think under the republicizing, so when we first saw the project, we're hearing it's going to be substantially different like the biggest thing the field is not the field that in the application. So, I feel like that um a should be part of the readvertisement, but I'm a little
008concerned that a a giant change like that gets lost because it's not on the application. And I I mean I not saying that insulting, but we right now don't have a town planner and we're soon to not have an assistant town planner. Um which are some of the gatekeepers about that as well and a new board. So, I'd like to kind of solidify that a little bit how that's going to work. Um yeah, I don't think it's a small issue. I think the design review committee has listed it as a big issue with the um the things that they've sent us. Obviously, I am very aware of it. I think Anna and Deepa are as well. Um I think uh Becca Solomon is very aware of it. So I don't think it's a little thing,
009but I'm not um if you have a specific suggestion, you're um it should be added to the application. Is that I think so. Yeah, because it is substantially different um than the initial application. We can go back and see if the if the original application listed turf fields, then yes, maybe they should put in a different revise their application to be um a turf artificial field. I don't Yeah, whatever the proper term is for it so that that is on the application or at least if we're renoticing that the public knows. Um, and then I mean along with that, so I think the design review did an excellent job of kind of guiding of raising some issues, but I particularly um again because you could say it's a value. I want the fields to not
010have to rest. But that is a groundwater overlay protection and some of the data of of that is like leeching plastic forever plastic peeps. I don't know if Pass comes to the field. I'm not um that isn't my my expertise, but I feel like that um before we're caught all of a sudden they're in front of us. We have this deadline again. Um should kind of try to figure that out a little bit. Um all I can say is that I I'm think aware of that situation as as you know, we we've already talked about it here. We've mentioned it here. Design review committee sent was very clear about their take on this. Obviously um uh they have to go through conservation. Um it's a big thing. So um I I think it's it's true
011that when we revertise we should make sure that that is clear in there that that that is a difference from the original project, but I certainly don't see it getting lost in the scope or being treated as something small. I mean, this project is really about the fields and that's the primary part of the fields. So, that said, that's not really what we're discussing tonight. We don't have even have the applicant here. So, um uh I mean, but is that I'm not sure what else to tell you. Like is like our third party uh reviewer that was also maybe they didn't like the cost. Are they capable of helping the planning board review the um groundwater protection overlay with the turf field or do we have to look for another third party reviewer that might
012I'm presuming knowing the backgrounds of the people on the board and even at least one of them coming that I don't think they're expert on this. So is that something we have to look for a third party reviewer on that aspect instead of waiting again until we're under the gun of a deadline? I'm a little confused, Kate. uh I don't believe they are they have an overlay ground protector over district on it but I'm happy to double check and I I'm sure that GCG does the peer reviewing also for the conservation commission so I believe that they will be capable to look into that I know that the applicant will be resubmitting new plans and addendums to the storm water calculations um because that will be the requirement that they need to submit a a
013change on the project as they're suggesting So I think they will be qualified for that. Okay. So that's good. I think I think it is groundwater protection on the map, but I might have misread the map. So yeah, I I don't think so because I think that they are they have a base zone industrial and they have the adda overlay district. Um because I think the GPOD, which is the overlay district that you're referring, is in other areas of town. But I'm happy to double check. All right. So, um, yeah. So, I guess duly noted, I think I think actually though that it's, um, I I don't think that's an issue that's going to just be forgotten about. I think that is the major question. I don't I think it's more I was focusing on
014revertising to make sure that's in there. Okay. Yep. I think that makes sense that that it is noted that that is a change from the original advertisement. So, um, so everyone and I can take a look at that. Like I said, I don't know when we'll revertise it because I don't want to revertise it and then have them just continue. I would rather get it closer to them when we're actually going to talk about it again. Um, and it sounds like two weeks from now was probably just an update, but we can um touch base with them about what that schedule, you know, should be. Um, yes. So, and I'll make it clear that it's part within my transition plan. I'll make it clear um to the person that will be overseeing this position. So,
015if they um have not they're going to send something about extending the deadline. Um I guess we do have a meeting before the deadline. We the planning board will have a meeting before the deadline to be able to accept that because I was wondering like but I think we're okay. There's one more meeting or perhaps two before the official deadline. Yeah. Um but from the communication that I had from with the applicant, they understood that it was a delay on their part. So they were willing to work on sending something on writing of extending the closing public hearing date. Um so once that is received it will be a schedule and then from there we can also make a game plan of when it can be readvertised and when they will come back in front
016of the board. I also explained to them that there will be some changes on the board as elections was coming up. So they were very aware of what was the situation. So we we don't have to vote to accept a um continuence of time. They can just send that in. I'm just making sure logistically for timing, but I think we do have one or two meetings before timeout. Yes, double check that. Yeah, right now we're accepting the continuence the request of continuence for the next public hearing and they will have to send something in writing to extend the public hearing date. Yes, but you that we I believe have to accept that as a board. Correct. And that would have to be on the agenda. So I'm just saying that's a couple a meeting or
017two. I think we still have time, but they them sending it in it doesn't make it happen. I don't think I'm not 100% sure. I think we have to vote on that. Is that true? Does anyone remember? I mean, I think that's the way we've always done it. I guess I don't remember. I don't think we've done it all too often. Um, but uh but we will look at it and we still have me and Deepa and Anna who are still members of the board like looking at this project. So, um you know, we so we still have a quorum of people who are um were involved with the project. So it'll we'll look at I assume it'll you know it'll be next meeting that we will be extending this or voting no. We'll either
018extend it or we'll vote no on it. So those those are the two options right because obviously it hasn't even had a peer review yet. It hasn't it's it's barely started well I mean it has started the process but um so that's good right so any other questions on that all right so the so just to summarize we are we are continuing this until the next meeting May 22nd but at that meeting May 22nd we will be looking for from them um and and We may have a suggested date on this. Elvo had a suggested date, but it might be pushed even further. We left, you know, about when we would be pushing out the decision date um based on the fact that we don't even have a peerreview contract yet, right? So, all right.
019So, um I will make a motion that we extend the 240 to 260 Pleasant Street public hearing. um until May 22nd. Is there a second? Second that. All right. And roll call vote. We saw your lips move, Anna, but we didn't hear you. Anna Tesmaniti. I There you go. Thank you. Okay. So, that we will go to May 22nd. we will figure out what we're well we will know what we're doing with it at that time. Okay. Next on the agenda is um the 501 Pond Street minor modification. So um on this you should have received the special permit document which we talked about last time we talked about and voted on. Um it was put in writing um as a memo. Um Lisa me reviewed it and then we got another letter from the
020applicant. Um, any one of us should have uh should have said, "Hey, what about the site plan review, but we got a letter from Chris Grant, who I think is also um listening in here." Um, that we needed to do it for the special permit, not the special permit, for the site plan review as well, that it needed to be both documents because obviously in our when we do our conditions, we have them be mirror images of each other on the two documents. So, we needed to do it for both documents. So um Elro put together the second set of documents which is on the um the site plan review portion um which is the same document which is changed from special permit to site plan review. Lisa also looked at that and said yes,
021you know, this is how we need to do it. So we should be all um set. We we actually already voted on the special permit one at the end of last meeting. So really it's just voting on this one, but did everyone get those documents, have those in front of you? Um, and then obviously we'll need to collect signatures since we're not here in person, but uh Chris, did you want to add anything to that? No, nothing to add. Uh, it's exactly right. So uh, thank you everyone. Uh yeah, we realized after, you know, in the the past two weeks that we needed to update the site plan approval as well. Uh I believe the language is a uh identical to the special permit. Uh so uh that's exactly right, Trisha. No additional comments. Yeah,
022we we intentionally obviously do that to keep except for the parts that are different between the two special permit and site plan review. We keep all those conditions exactly duplicate. in fact not adding them on to the other document until the last minute. Um but uh um but yes, so any one of us should have been able to say, "Hey, what about the site plan review?" So um I'm glad you were on top of it and and caught it so that we could take care of it all together. I really appreciate the the quick attention to this. So, um, does anyone have any questions on those? Well, they're identical documents. [Music] So, I think Anna wants to be let in. Alro, I think that she went to the waiting room because she recused from That's
023what I thought. But should I should I just I'll admit her. I'm just I'm getting a message that she would like to be added back in. Okay, there we go. Maybe she's just stepped away from her. I I apologize. I somehow got thrown out. Here I am. Oh, wait. I know. We thought we we thought you left intentionally because we're discussing 501. Oh, good. Then I'm supposed to leave intentionally. Nobody kicked me out other than I lost my connection. So, I think it was karma reminding me that I'm not supposed to be here. So, I am going I am going to leave and then you guys I don't think that was intentional right on your part. Anyway, you guys tell me when to come back. What's meant to be is meant to I'm leaving officially.
024Okay. Okay. Perfect. All right. So, that's resolved. All right. So, does anyone have any questions about either of the two uh kind of identical documents? show the ones who are signing. Since Anna is excusing herself, how does her name is on this paper? Does she sign that still? No. So, it'll be um I think on the first one, um for the special permit, um Anna has an X on hers that she's not part of the voting as does Amanda. So, the only signatures for both documents would be me, you, and Kate. Oh, no. It's on the site plan approval. Her hers is not showing as an X. I don't think any of our votes are there yet because they're all blank right now. Technically has nobody has voted for that one yet. So, I'll fill
025it in after this meeting depending. So, yeah. No, that I I get that. So, we just three of us in in place of five. So, does that still meet your quorum count? Yes. Okay. Yeah. You mean like for the do m do my modifications only need a quorum? I assume that a three. Yeah. When Lisa reviewed this because I sent her the special permit with the three votes, she didn't comment on any on that. She said that it looked good. Yeah. So I assume it with a minor modification and I also sent her the draft of the site plan just to double check and she also said that it was good. Okay. All right. So I will make a motion that we accept the uh minor modification for [Music] um for the site plan review.
026Um I I was paused because actually overall it's it still says special permit on this document. Yeah. Just make sure. Thank you. Yep. So, just make sure you change it before we uh before we sign. It's the one thing that's not highlighted, right? Um, of course. There we go. That's okay. Yep. Um, I will make a motion that we approve the minor modification for the site plan review for 501 Pond Street. Um, with that one little change in text, is there a second? I second that. And a roll call vote. Deepo and I. House. And Trisha Kendall I. So over will prepare those and I guess um um when Kate gets back Deep and I can stop in at any time and and get them signed. Chris, is there a is there a rush to
027get these signed or uh Well, so what's the timing? It'll be early next week, it sounds like. Kate, what what's your timing on when you might be able to sign? No, I won't I won't be back. I will be back for the 15th for a comprehensive plan meeting, but I will be probably sliding in the door for that at 7 PM on the 15th. So, the earliest would be the 16th. I mean, if something needs to be four, we could try to figure out some FedEx thing. I don't that I'm not sure, but I would definitely try if that needs to be earlier. Yeah, if there's any way that you could do it sooner, I think it would go a long way. Um, I'll follow up with Alro to uh confirm the timing needs, but
028uh I do believe that as early as possible would be a huge help. Do you want to um is it Kate? Are you able to sign the document and uh email it back if if Alvo sends you a Yeah, I could the last page and then we will add for like places to print. Um but I'm not anywhere near my home so I have to I can start checking. Do you have access to a computer with Microsoft Word? Yes. Um, probably if then I send you the word document, you can probably make like a box with text and then you can kind of like do it with the mouse if that will work. That could be a possibility. Possibly. I don't have like Adobe like electronic signature on here or anything, but um I I'm
029happy to look into Microsoft and as a possibility and then I can send it to you Kate if um just to make it easier because I know that by Chris you guys are under a deadline. So um you know I'll I'll give it a a look on Monday and do my best. Well and I can also look for place print. So it's if you print scan, you're saying I can print it, sign it, scan it, send it back. Is that what you're asking as a possibility as well? Okay, I will look into that. Okay, thank you. Okay, so [Music] um yes, I know the office is generally are you are you in the office tomorrow? That's the day that it's usually closed, right? Yeah, I won't be, but I can leave the copies here. I
030know that somebody will be here. I'm working remote tomorrow, but I after I before I leave tonight, I can leave the copies ready for somebody to have it ready for signing. Yeah. Okay. I mean, obviously it'll be easier for me and Deepa. I'm just, you know, trying to think how to it might be it might be Monday before we can address, you know, uh I mean Kate can get it by email obviously and then she can see over the weekend if it's possible to for her to, you know, find a place to to print and sign or if you can if you can do the Microsoft Word over the tomorrow or and and find a way to do that, you know, it'll be easy for Deepa and I I think to um to do our
031part of it. So, okay. All right. Well, Chris, if you just keep keep in touch with Alvaro and we'll we'll figure out a way to make it work. Thank you all very much. Right. All right. Thank you. Okay. Next on our agenda then is um the 55 West Union Street 40B comprehensive plan permit. This is the um Do you want to get Anna back? Yeah. Oh, yes. Sorry. listen text. That'll teach me to go on vacation and come to a planning board meeting in my last one. Who was that? I said that'll teach me to go on vacation and log on for my last planning board meeting. No, I I'm I will definitely try to do what I can do. So, in this modern world, we should be able to find a way to make
032it happen here. I mean, because even I don't know where you are, but even if there's a something like a Staples nearby, like you can I think you can send a fax to a Staples, you know, and sign it and send it back, you know. Um, yeah, this just is a weird area of like there's definitely a lot around. It's just a weird area to get places timely. Okay. So, I texted Anna, but maybe she's trying to come on. We're just looking ahead while we wait for Anna. Um the minutes review are from April 10th. Did we Were there two sets of meeting minutes that we Yes, I sent the April 10th on Friday and then I received the ones ready for the 24th uh earlier this week. So, I sent both of them. Can
033we do meeting minutes if the date isn't on our agenda? I think it is posted on the on the posted agenda. It is. Oh, okay. I'm looking on the draft agenda that it was sent on Friday. There was not, but I received it on Monday. Um, so I figure that since it was K will be in this meeting, it will be easier to get all those minutes taken care before. Yeah. So, you added it on. I printed it out. I printed this agenda out earlier. So, I probably just don't have it on my Okay. Um, when did you send the second one? because I definitely did not I Yeah, I have the 24th one that I saw. Was there another one? The 24th one came on Tuesday. That just just a few days ago. Yeah,
034I saw that. And the 10th The 10th went out on Friday, May 2nd. Yes. Wind here. Um, I'm just going to use a few minutes to kind of look at the meeting minutes. Well, So, you haven't received anything that she's trying to get in? No. All right. Well, I don't know. I don't know where she is. I sent her two texts. Maybe she um I don't know. So um do you want to start uh looking at the um other 40B project? Basically what what we have is that there's now a deadline the deadline was extended uh by the state for comments um back to the state to May 28th. Um and uh Elro, do you are you able to bring up some of those documents that we could just look at it? Yes, I was
035just preparing this site plan and the architectural stuff. So, and we'll obviously have So, if we can I I think my I think my [Music] um I think my thing while we have Kate here is that we can maybe just get some initial comments that we can jot down, initial concerns that um that uh we'll try to for you know put together into a document for the next meeting. Kate won't be here, but um hopefully our other board members will be ready to go and can add their feedback in before we need to send it out on the on the 28th. Um so at least the next meeting is on the 22nd and we still have we'll still have the 28th to um to look at it a second time and maybe with with fresh
036sets of eyes, you know, from new members of the board. So, [Music] um the the few things so far that I was looking at with this um 4 DB is um well, one of the things is kind of the areas of snow storage and I'll know they'll go through that with um the zoning board of appeals, but they're putting a lot of the snow storage is then the little 10-ft setback um between the parking and and the property line. And I think that's 10 ft just isn't a whole lot of space, you know, especially if they're going to have plantings there, which I assume that they will. Um, we don't have that information yet. So, um, that's kind of a more minor issue for me. The bigger issue is the, um, kind of the just
037the overall look of it. I was kind of surprised that, you know, in the architectural narrative and maybe just the maybe just the renderings are I'm sure they're very preliminary and cartoony at this point, but the narrative talks about the exterior building materials are drawn from a residential pallet and include brick, fiberment, fiber cement, lap siding, metal standing seam roof, and large windows. The exterior is the thing. The exterior colors evoke a classic New England residential feel with an earthtoned brick that clads the base level, coffee colored siding at levels one through three, and a dark gray standing seam manered roof that encloses level four. I I just found that to be a very strange description of classical New England. Yeah. like you know what is classic New England residential feel that this is not
038what comes to mind. Yeah. Um, and so to me that was like the from the materials I h I've been looking at so far was and and thinking about what we commented on on other projects that that was just a big jump for me. Like I Yeah, that I'm just not sure where that kind of came from um or how that is justified or translated into these sketches. Yeah, it feels like it was a little too um dressed up, if you will. Just forced connection. Forced. Yeah. Can you can you bring up over the elevations, the um kind of the renderings? Yes. Um I mean, I think everything they're listening about sustainability is great. That's what we would um There she is. Okay. Yeah. And so to me, this doesn't say new classic New England,
039you know. Um, in fact, I think out of the projects that we've been dealing with, you know, our larger scale projects, this seems to be the kind of the flattest with least articulation. You know, the balconies are just stuck on. They're even they even have little um wire supports holding them on, right? versus it being more integrated with the building. Um, so again, I I feel like this was probably this probably may have been rushed to get these um, you know, to get get this application in, get this get this design in. Um, but those are things I think that would maybe have a a prominent part in the description of what we were looking for, especially as this is this is the entrance to our train station. It's the entrance to the YMCA. Um,
040there's another large housing complex up there which uses color, you know, and arguably in a better way. Um so um but maybe this is just maybe it just isn't coming through um what their intent is here. Um so so Anna we were trying to talk about that comments on that 40B project that we can just kind of brainstorm on different things. And I was um I was noting how in the architectural narrative they describe the outside as um the exterior colors evoke a classic New England residential feel with an earthtoned brick that clads the base level u coffee covered siding standard um dark gray standing seamansered roof um and uh balconies placed at every unit stack helps to create a rhythm along the facade reinforcing the residential use. So I I think as Deepoa was
041kind of saying these are kind of ways of there's an architectural speak here that but it's certainly not it's certainly dressing up a lot what we're seeing. Um yeah. So, so the um the why now I know last I think it was last meeting they said they were getting closer to coming back and I don't know how much they've changed but I think um that would be a good idea in our comments to reference that if if um the why at least by their presentation absolutely tried to honor that space that site that location And we would love them to kind of look to do that, I think. Right. That would be probably the best we could hope for. Um, what what do you mean by that? Because I think the wise the wise renderings
042at the time were pretty basic as well. Um if I if I remember correctly um they well they went the architect I remember did a the excellent presentation and I'm sure that's to a lay person not an architect but of what he tried to say what is what is Ashland what what belongs in Ashland and he brought samples of all around town and he's like I don't think these really belong here and my my um inspiration was that site the wilderness the the um and possibly even going back to Native American kind of stuff about it. And so I that made sense to me, but again, I'm willing to admit as a lay person in that field, but that whole thing seemed to make sense. And that that's what So if they're sticking to something
043like that, again, I I know probably even Deepa was like, I don't really love your design, but she could see that if I'm remembering that all correctly, but I think it did still speak to something. Um, and that might be or at least to like mention that, I guess, but not if they're going to come back with something substantially more developed or change, we've never seen maybe that's not worth it. That one I think that one had so much within the site context, but it was not going beyond the site to me. So that's where I think the story with the site and just that site, it had a lot of great design details, but when you look at it and step out of that site area, for me, I had that disconnect. But this
044one, it feels like there's something either the scale is off or there's something that feels like I I can't connect to this at all. It feels very fake for me. I'm not sure why but the narrative has some [Music] um like good notions in it. like they talked about um trying to remember where am I remember where I read it here that the um you know that that because there was a lighter a different or a lighter color like in the back area um that the building will look like it's kind of being broken up into pieces when it's not. Trying to think where that was. Um I'm on the project narrative here. Oh yeah, the building massing is broken by an inset fiber cement panel areas. So I think like like in this view
045it's that the part that is most in the back like you know um you know I think in the middle Alvaro the um yeah like back there that light. So, I think there's a different maybe a different color panel back there to give the illusion of a series of buildings being interconnected and the balcony's placed at every unit. Um, so I think there's some notion of trying to make it seem like the buildings like it's a it's a series of buildings instead of just one big building, but I don't think it's working right now. Um, I think the brown is really the whole color scheme is just very dark and heavy to me. I'm a little worried about. But and it's and it's also not the full picture. It's like it's kind of one 3D
046view shot, which is really not the whole project design. So, I think the angle of it is very zoomed in. So, I think this is also very deceptive. So, I'm not sure we should be judging this based on this one snapshot on a drawing set because it's not really 3D view of the full building. So, so that's interesting. Like I just went I I apologize if we were supposed to look at this because I don't think I got it in email, but if I did, I didn't find it. I went to the town website. it's not there to try to like look at this because we I mean we usually start with like site and then go to design. So does that mean you guys have kind of looked and you think there's no site
047issues except the first one you mentioned Trish or No, we can we can bring up the site. Yeah, it is on it it is in the 40B project folder online. I think it's under the zoning board of appeals. If you go to the zoning board of appeals then there's a 40B comprehensive like on their left side there's a information about the 4B cases zoning board. Um, what I thought you said it was 55 West Union. Yeah. Okay. I see 10 to 60 main, 61 Waverly, um, 169 Pleasant and 17 Central. Those are varants. I I think you're looking at the current cases. So if you in my screen I'm going to the board and commissions here on the government startup page I go to boarding commissions A through C and then once you're on the
048Sony board of appeals on the left side says 4B housing information and projects And there are all the 40 projects. And there were other elevations in there too. There were the whole elevations of the whole building. Um, which get pretty figure out why there was a site visit that uh many people at least in town didn't get to go to and know. And is that something I don't think anyone I know I'm not even sure what happened with that. Did you get did you get any other information about that? No. Um we follow up on an email Michael both and I and that's how we received the um extension on comment. I didn't receive any further information on another site visit. I can follow up with Michael on Monday though about I mean, I guess
049so does like I I'm not someone to ding someone if something happened, but like we the dates and timing of all these processes are super important. So if something went arry, I think I think that's up to us to bring up too if if there just wasn't proper notification. It sounds like there must have been something. Um yeah, at least for the planning department, there was um a lack of communication. So I can speak for my department. um that I did not receive that timely. I don't know if that information went timely to either the select board or anything like that. I have brought up that concern um and I stated in my email to mass housing. So that's how they responded to providing the extension due to that misunderstanding. Um but I don't have
050more information other than that. Okay. So we don't know if it's an internal Ashlin thing or mass housing. Yeah. I don't Somebody does. I don't. You don't. Okay. I mean, it sounds like we should try to find out though. Just um if it's somehow mass housing didn't give proper notice to Ashlin, I feel like that needs to be uh brought up. Oh, is it possible for you to bring up the uh Well, we can look at the site plan if you want to bring that up. Yes. I don't think there's any um at least I didn't see that there was a like a rendered site plan. Did you see anything like that overall? I No, I think that they had the existing conditions and then they had the on the fourth page. I think it
051was the clearest explaining where the building will be and the entrances and all of that. What caught my attention is that there's just one entry into this whole site. And I wondered like how does a fire engine get in and get out of this place? Isn't there two? I mean, but there's only one on the Memorial Drive side, but I didn't find another one anywhere until I missed it. Well, isn't there one? Is there one? Are they supposed to go below that covered entry? I didn't know that path out there. I think No, I think Well, oh, yeah. We mean like can a firetruck fit under there? Yeah, because the rendering is showing that corner. Yeah, that's a good question. Like, what's the Can a firetruck go through there? Is it that high enough? Um,
052but this being a 40B project, what is it that we should be weighing in? Is it just architectural or should we get into every the number of parking spots feel like they're really heavy? I'm not sure what the ratio is. I don't remember seeing number anywhere but I think they said what's 1.6. I thought I saw it slightly low. Maybe it was 1.58 to 1.6 something like that. Yeah, I think they had a Sony table. Let me see if I can find it quickly. Maybe I missed that. Was that in the narrative? So, what should we be really weighing in on? Um, Trisha, I always feel like these 40B projects are very challenging. They are. They absolutely are very challenging. I was just trying to see where should we focus our energy instead of kind
053of I mean does is it design is it where should we focus our energy here? It was the things that we have control over or that um they ask for input. Remember how we were given a list with the first 40b of five or seven um different things that they look at and we kind of determined that there was really only one or two that [Music] um you know that even were something we can comment on. The other ones were like how is it financed? You know that kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah. Um, let me see if I This is This is comments to the state or to the ZBA. This is comments to the state first. Oh, okay. Yeah, then that is Yeah, because I was thinking technically they're asking we're used to reviewing
054a bunch of stuff and our comments on them, right? But yeah, so I was trying to look at [Music] um see if I open up our comments for 10 to 60. So, we were looking at um I mean, first of all, there's some of the zoning the 40B um stuff that went through on there [Music] um that that maybe we'd be able to summarize again as our third forb Then we went through some key zoning elements. I haven't looked at that yet about I don't not sure. I think this is commercial highway. I I haven't had a chance to look at what that means as far as what they're um proposing. Obviously, part of that would be like, well, there's no commercial there um in the commercial highway. Um and then [Music] um yeah so
055key elements of the zoning we would we look at setbacks um we don't have any form constraint in this area because it's been there probably there probably is so we can't we can mention that as part of the zoning um and then it was it was looking at the, you know, site analysis, historic heritage. We looked at the river massing and scale, language and materials. Um, but I I can't find um I can't find the actual 40b that list that we were given of things that count and things that don't. that would take me a little bit more digging up um to try to find their list. But I think I think it was just things that really you know affect the community in a negative way. Yeah. Right. So, I think that is the
056way though like said to orient to what is the zoning and it I know that it may not change but it's still up to us to say this is what the zoning says three stories and you made it four and highway we don't see commercial. I'm making that up because I don't have it in front of me. But um I I think that is the way to orient and I I think the um otherwise the design elements that are specialty of you um and deep I think is helpful um because this will go to potentially the ZBA right our comments as well like it'll start the bones of that when it gets to that stage. And then the sooner the applicant sees that, maybe they can react to it as well, right? Yeah. It's actually
057really interesting like the um where they where they said they're trying to break up the building looking, you know, making it look like a small building. It's really just those tiny little rectangles. They make it look like a lot more on that perspective rendering. Deeper was right on with that. that it's just these tiny little areas where they're doing a different color and that's um making the building look smaller apparently or like it's broken up into pieces. Um, so, [Music] um, yeah, like I like I said, I'm hoping just that the building was more rushed and and that they're really just on the very beginnings of design and hopefully there's more design coming, but on this, but, you know, it should be things then that we can comment on and hopefully help um, you know,
058help the designer and the architect um, you work toward a more, you know, um, sophisticated product. [Music] So, but a lot of things do start out very obviously get a little um, rough like this, you know, probably particularly in these projects. Um, so that maybe they put more emphasis on the site plan than on the on the development of the elevations and and the facade. So if our homework is just to kind of look at the big picture, I think design should be a very small section of this, but just look at the big picture. Um, will that help at this point? because there's 116 units that we're talking about here, 184 parking units. Um, so instead of focusing on design, we we keep our comments very high level. Would that be sufficient for this
059at this point? I think it's I think it's I think it's both. In our letters to the state before, we had um kind of the first section was a comment on kind of the 40Bs and how we've you know and might be just a much smaller section but a reminder you know that that hey this is our third one now you know um and then um the second part we focused on issues like Kate said issues of zoning this is what the zoning says this is what they're doing or not doing. Yeah. Um, and then the third part, well, in at 10 to 60, there was a a part that focused on kind of environmental issues. I'm not sure that's um, you know, as applicable here. Um, I don't think it was as applicable on
060at Waverly, you know, because we didn't have the stream and the Nanza and, you know, that kind of thing. Um and then the other issue was the was kind of the design the um you know we talked about um you know the scale of the building the massing of the building. Yeah. U how it related to the landscape um something about materials um of it you know so so I do think those have a role um like they have in the other projects but with I guess it's also with an understanding that it the design isn't likely not complete right I assume it's just getting the getting the units in you know at this point Um, so um but anyway, so we can um if there's a part of that um if there's a part
061of that Deepa that appeals to you like the um you know I and make sure you have the letters that we did for the other two projects and you can look at how it fits this one and I'll take another component of it. Okay. Um Kate obviously isn't going to be here but maybe Anna can summarize the 40B part of it again and to an extent she had worked I think on that part. What what part would you be most comfortable with the um the zoning the zoning massing um things? I think it's commercial highway, but we can we can look which probably doesn't say a whole there's probably not a lot that surrounding land uses just talks about it's close to the trolley brook trail a few steps away from there. YMCA is across
062the street. Um, then the Patricia, which part do you want me to help with? It wasn't clear. Oh, I I didn't even know you were still there, Ann. I thought you were having a hard time getting back. No, I'm still I've been here this entire time. I don't know why is not working. Yeah, I came back once 501 Pond was done. Um, yeah, I knew you came back. I I said I thought you had uh gone out again. Um, no, I'm still here. that uh I was wondering about the um you know for the beginning at least of the of um the 10 to 60 Main Street and I don't remember I think for Waverly Street we did have some kind of little intro about about again about the 40Bs like the work we've been
063doing and I know it's getting repetitive but I think it I think maybe they need to hear it at the state level you know that we are doing this work you know kind of thing. So essentially this section I think we had done that very first project where we drafted a comment on the 40B the mil street the the mill project we had like an extensive section about our efforts you know I can definitely try to find that hopefully I still have it somewhere. Oh yeah we have it we have well we have both those letters so and I think I think it's about getting it's getting well together. Yeah, I mean if if Alvaro can circulate that. I'm trying to think. Yeah, if he can forward that to Trisha Deepa and me, I can
064take a stab at giving Trisha. I guess how do how do we do this? Do we forward it to Alvaro to put together Trisha? How would we exchange? Well, remember that this isn't a matter before our board. We're just putting together a letter, you know. So, um, so I mean technically it's comments, right? It's a discussion on our agenda. I guess what I'm asking is should we we need somebody to like put it all in one place, right? Yeah. I mean, we'll I mean, we'll we'll put it all in one document, but what I'm saying is like if if we can send I mean, Elro can send out if he has them handy. um the two the two word documents of our finished letter for 10 to 60 and our finished letter for Waverly Street
065and I think they both had that kind of 40B component intro and so if if you can take that and just make one that's appropriate for this project you know um because now we're two projects 40B in we have 501 coming on we have 100 Chestnut Street basically done. Um, you know, so that that could be again the the intro part to this one and then Deepa is there a certain part you're most comfortable with? Um, how about I take a stab at the site plan and kind of the massing and the scale of it? Okay. Related to the zoning that that's there. just the big picture. Uh let me take a stab at that part of it and share it with you. Yeah. And so there's there's again those their components um on those
066two letters as well. So we can pull those out, see what we commented on there. Um, it might just get help with the like the structure of it, you know, to what, you know, what did we comment on, how did we talk about it, even though it's different zoning, it's a different building, but at least creates kind of a starting framework. Yeah. And then I can work on the um the the design comments again, the materials, the facades, which we had that component in the other two. Again, I don't think there's anything with the kind of environmental component really here. Um, I don't think it's sensitive land or there's certain it's I don't think there's any wetlands or anything like that. A little bit of wetlands. Not much, but there is. Oh, there is. Yeah.
067Or there notes the narrative has a little bit of information. Oh, I didn't even see that. I wonder if that's at the bottom by the road. No, I think they're on the top left of the showing. Yeah. Let me I think on this one you can see clear. Oh. Oh, right, right, right. Yep. Yeah. I think they're like about 4 acres. Yeah. But they're outside of all that. They're building outside. I think they're trying to stay away from the Hunter Buffer Sonia. Yeah. They put there's that utility easement and the building's like right over that. How did they deal with that? I don't get that either. Um I think it depends on the type of easement that it exists. In some cases, there are easement that they allow to be construction on top as long
068as they have access from a certain point of uh or a certain area. So, it really depends on the type of easement or an easement that's no longer it's just not going to be used anymore. It wasn't, you know, sometimes there's an easement that there's nothing in it and they no longer need it. But, um sometimes I guess it stays within like deeds. uh and then you know like you have the full history of it. You just have to do a title search on it. Um but yeah I I've seen from my understanding is that sometimes there are seasons that they are allowed to build on it as long as they have access from one point or the other. Do you know of any way we can find out more about that? How would who
069would I think that the applicant maybe has submitted, but I am I'm happy to just like check around here. Uh maybe ask DPW if they know anything about it. Yeah. What just what that is, what it means, why is it there? Um that would that would help. Well, and I think if maybe it's something in the uh comments to mass housing because I as much as we were disappointed with the response, I think whatever we say it does get looked at and I don't know they probably have a hundred of these a week. I don't know. Um and I could see that they don't look at it to that detail. So, if we even don't find, I think it's probably worth mentioning in our comments. If we don't find out what it's for, just say
070it's on top of an easement, then I mean, yeah, that that there there might be more to that and there might not, right? Yeah, DPW sounds like a good first stop with that that they might know, you know, what that what it could possibly relate to. [Music] So, okay. Does that seem uh Yes. So if we can get those if we can get those component parts in a draft form for our meeting in two weeks um then we can we can talk about it then and we still have you know five days say to um massage it a little bit get get feedback from new board members and um and uh and get it to the state. So, so just to review, uh, Alvaro is going to get us the the letters so that we
071can all kind of grab our section and then bring it together. I I still would caution us. I know we don't have a planner now shortly. Um, but I would still caution the three of us, Trisha, Deepa, Anna, in sending things to each other kind of outside of a meeting. I I would feel much more comfortable to avoid open meeting law violations if we bring our input to the next meeting and just put it together right there in a word document almost like a working meeting. It makes me nervous because it's unusual from in the past when we've done this we have forwarded our stuff to Peter. He would put it together and maybe work with one of us so that there would not be a problem. So, I feel like it's a little tricky
072if the three of us are going to start sending emails to each other without it being on the public record. You know, I'll I'll confirm with Lisa about that, but last time what we did actually is um you know, we worked in um small, you know, each of us did a section and we put the section together and we swapped sections and we edit each other's sections. Um I I read through the sever several times editing it. So I don't think it's something that like it's not a matter that we vote on before the board. Like we don't have to vote on our letter. So we don't really have we don't really have any power here. I think so. I think that's the Yeah. I don't remember exactly how we did it. You might be
073right. For whatever reason I thought it was like Peter put it together. We talked about it. we agreed to the changes together and then like one of us went and made them which is a little different from initiating a discussion outside of a meeting. So it just feels a little bit like a gray area. If you want to run it by Lisa that's a great idea just so that we're not accidentally as we get smaller and we don't have staff support. I don't want us accidentally because we have good intentions. I don't want us accidentally to do something that we're not supposed to be doing. That's all. Yeah. timeline that Alro is still there till first week of June and this meeting is end May. Does that help for us to still send it to
074him and uh he can even if it is just copy and pasting into one document for our review doesn't have to be formatted or things like that but just kind of Anna would that help at this point? I think I think that that's probably a good idea while Trisha kind of connects with Lisa. I think in general as we get smaller and we don't have a a regular size board and no staff that seems like a good short-term solution while Trisha connects with Lisa so that we can I I'll send Lisa an email on it, you know. Um um that that's fine. Like I know I know last time we we all worked on it. I I think it's kind of thing is it's it's actually my understanding it is that it's not a decision
075before our board in any way. It's a draft that you're working on. It's it's a letter. We have no deciding power about anything except what our letter contains, but that's not a decision over anything. So, um but um but I'll run it by Lisa to make sure that our that my understanding of that and that of our process is is is good, you know, is valid. So, yeah. I I just didn't want to get if we were working on a decision. Yeah. Like for a project that would be one thing, but but we're not. It's not even I mean that might be that might be appropriate. I just want to make sure we don't Yep. I always don't step on it over any lines. Yeah, exactly. We've done this. We've had we've had open like
076whatever. I just want to avoid it because I know we're we're underst staffed. So, it's good to get it right. We don't want to get lazy and make a wrong move. Yeah. Yeah, that's fair enough. Okay. All right. So, we'll work on that as a team. Um, anything else on that? We If not, the next thing on our list is just a discussion review of any retreat items that anyone that anyone has. Um, I don't have anything to do the retreat items. I did not either. I'm ashamed to say I've been wanting to. I just have not had time. Has been busy. Kate was probably thinking more about vacation than retreat items. So, we're all in the same boat. I I will say that, you know, this is a strength of Kate's that she had
077us organized and thinking about these things and I'm going to miss that. And although she's no longer, you know, she's no longer going to be a member of the board, I certainly hope as a member of the public, she's open to our reach out and picking her brain on things. And I, for one, you know, would enjoy that outside of this board. And so ultimately, although I did not do my homework for today, I plan to stay in touch with Kate and continue with her legacy, if you will, of continuing to work on these items and keeping her in the loop as a member of the public as appropriate. Um, and I hope the rest of the board will do the same. Yeah. So, Kate, just um I think we I think you already sent
078us that list of items. So, wasn't that distributed? Yeah. And I I guess I mean to Anna's thing I I too hope some stuff that I believe I did help institutionalize that that could be under the clerk. I mean I I picked up that from our retreat under basically clerk duty and because I do care about keeping us productive and planning and not just continuously commenting on um things that are pllopped in front of us because I think we I think we owe it to ourselves and the public to do that. So, um hopefully whoever takes the clerk or the people remaining from this board can sort of pray upon and say um that we morph the c clerk role um substantially under you know since I was on the board um and I don't
079think it's super hard and if someone does take that I could just I mean certainly give them any tips about it and that. Yeah. So, we'll have a number of uh you know, as we move forward, there's obviously um multiple um you know, multiple roles that are available um under the planning board and to see how those might be, you know, distributed between us and the and the new members to see what, you know, people want to want to do. So the clerk is one of those and um along with the you know obvious the other seats that we need to fill around um around the community. So um I'm making a list of right now Okay. So, um, so nothing to go forward, nothing to discuss on those retreat items tonight. It's what I'm
080what I'm hearing. So, yeah, it's like um at the at town meeting last night, which um all of our our three warrant articles actually passed. Elro Elro was there. Our three warrant articles passed without a single comment from anyone in the P. No one came to the microphone for any of the three articles. Um people were tired. I think the article was read. I explained it extremely briefly. There were no comments. It was voted on. They all passed. So, um, but, uh, so now that some of those things are, you know, off our plate until the state ch has another change where we have to move that to high on the priority, you know, we'll start to plug away on the existing bylaws and other other things that we wish we could spend our time
081on until something else demands that we spend our time on something else. That's that's how it actually works, right? you would like to do all this lists of things, but actually the state or or regulations or laws require you to actually do these things you have to do instead of these things over here that you'd like to do. Um, and uh except for Alvo, this isn't our day job, right? So, it's your day job, Alvaro. So, get busy. There you go. Unfortunately. So, um anyway, okay. So, I guess that will wait. Everything else on the I don't think there's any updates we need to do um I don't think there's any updates we need to do um from the reports unless someone has one. I do. So, so the comprehensive plan, um, I don't know
082if people got a chance to read the a I guess Ashlin access that was a stuffed in the, um, the monthly newspaper. Um, there's a section on the planning department and I I'll just because I don't know if I can comment on other things, but I believe I feel strongly that the planning board kind of writes in and asks for a correction here because it talks about um I'm just going to read this. Currently, the department is leading the comprehensive plan process, a critical initiative that will shape Ashlin's future for years to come. Now I am not aware of the planning department leading that and I I am aware of it being a public process with a steering committee. Um so if that is happening that the planning department's leading I think we need to
083expose that and talk about it. Uh and this may be just an error. I mean what's a little frustrating is that there's other basically egregious errors about planning in that same document. But if if the planning department's leading this basically behind the scenes, then then that should be exposed. Well, there is no planning department right now except Elvo. So, well, this is this this was published. I mean, to get it in the newspaper, it had to be, you know, published several weeks ago, probably when Peter was still here. So, here's my my thought on this. Obviously, some whoever's whoever prepared it may not know or understand the jurisdiction of the planning board and it may just be an error. So, I'm going to start with that position and give the person grace. Um, and you
084know, ultimately I do think it's really important to make sure it's accurate. I don't think the planning department is running the show of the comprehensive plan. they are a super important part of the process. Um we certainly don't currently have a planning staff person on the comprehensive plan steering committee and and when we do they don't have a vote. So ultimately they're an important supporter of the effort um and they should be recognized and the public should have a more accurate perspective as to what we do. So to me, it's more of like, hey, maybe speaking of retreat items, we've talked about this before, Trisha, having a website, having a more clear understanding of who we are and what we do and better communication and all that. As we regroup as a board and we
085have new staff, we should keep an eye on things like this and perhaps correct it. I I'm not sure what we can do now. It It's already been printed. So, to me, maybe the best thing we can do is like make some suggested edits and figure out who who printed it in the paper and maybe like, "Hey, FYI, here's a more accurate version for next time." Something like that. Yes, I have I have I have it here in front of me. I don't think anything in here um is uh trying to put the planning department or the planning board in a in a bad light. In fact, I would think just the opposite. I think this thing comes out once a year. It's a very general description of what different departments do, including the library,
086the police department or right on around the planning department. Um, so it's not um, frankly, I frankly I have other things to do with my time than to to track down exact wording in this document. Um, so that is not something I'll be pursuing. Um, and uh, and I'm good with I'm good with what it says. It's a general description for the public. I don't think we need to go it's not a bylaw. I don't think we need to go into crazy detail that someone didn't use the right wording. That just doesn't bother me. So, my to-do list is uh, that's not going to make it to my to-do list. So, no, there I mean they're just inaccuracies that are unfortunate to the public when you say the planning department oversees the planning board. um
087and the design review which is overseen by the planning department. So it's it's just a disservice to the public. I mean those kind of inaccuracies. I I understand that you are bothered by this. I'm not um you know maybe we'll say hey next year can can we take a look at and write our own blurb? And if I don't have time I'll say put in what you got. Right? So, um, so yeah, it's just I I think it's I think it's um I think we have we have bigger fish to fry than than getting a a bee in our bonnet bonnet. It's about such small small items. So, um, that's my opinion on it. Um, but if anyone wants to find out where it came from and ask Michael Herbert or whoever put it out,
088that's, you know, as an individual, you're obviously uh very welcome to do that. So, so here's a thought, Kate. If you're willing to make some couple word edits on it, I know you're not going to be a member shortly, but if you're willing to kind of change a couple of words and send it to me, I am more than happy to take it upon myself to forward it to Michael and just say, "Hey, this came up on Kate's last meeting. It was discussed. The planning board is not taking a position as a board. However, as we kind of regroup and whatever, I can share my own views as a one member, not speaking for the whole board, but sharing that this came up and it may be helpful in the future to coordinate more together,
089whatever. And I can see Trisha and we can just kind of close this issue out more as a let's work better together in the future type of comment. You can't hurt. Sure. Is that does that sound reasonable? Deepa Trisha as a Yeah, it's fine. I mean to me like this is said this is just a littleformational thing and I think we're making way way too much of it but um it's fine. If someone else feels strongly about it then you have a right to pursue it. It's just I I don't think it's just a reflection of of anything really. So um I just don't agree. So it's fine. But yeah, yeah. So, if you guys feel strongly about it, obviously you have every right to pursue it. So, all right. So, the only thing then
090if unless there's any other updates, um I I don't have any. Um there's any other updates we can there's just a well I'll I'll I guess there is one update um in administrative matters the um ongoing search process for the town planner um Beth Reynolds in in her new role is organizing some uh interview of candidates early next week for the I don't remember what the exact title is anymore but would be the the town planner position. It will be the director of planning and economic development. Okay, that's right. Um, so those are a new title because it sounded like a very is that common title as well? It was like town planning and economic development. I believe there's positions in other cities that they do connect both of them. I think you know when
091you look at a project mixuse a lot of things most of the time we had to have meetings where there will be everybody in the room. So I guess now that person will be looking. So are we just revisiting the whole role just to attract more candidates? Yeah. And also Beth from being the economic development uh director now she's moving into the assistant manager of the community development. So all the departments under her that will be conservation uh planning board of health building and then the director of planning and economics. that some of her previous uh scope of work is going to fall within the town planner now. Yeah. Yeah. So, um so I I think they I they revised the the description and put it out there. I don't know that what the timing
092was, but they do have um three or four candidates that they're going to be at least they want to come in to talk to. um that is going to happen during um Monday and Tuesday afternoon, you know, um before five, somewhere between kind of 11 and 5. Um they're setting those up. Um so I don't know what availability um anyone has. If you have an interest in attending, maybe um just send me a um uh send me a text or an email if you have free time during those. It it would be in the afternoon, right? Um is it 13th and 14th Trish? It's Monday and Tuesday. Okay. Afternoon. Yeah. Um and obviously it's not all afternoon. I just don't have the times. Beth had sent me something about it. So if if someone and
093that it would be a town hall. So if someone is in Ashland at that time um think they might want to participate in some way you can let me know. I think it would um and then and then we can coordinate it. Um it would just be one other member [Music] um one other member besides me. So if you if you have if you think you have that time and and can do that um and be in Ashland at that time, let me know. So short notice, but that's that's like how it's panning out. So, um, and okay. And then, um, I don't think there's any other updates about ongoing projects that I know of. I don't know if Elro has any updates about things that are already in process. Um so I will be
094receiving the two new applications for a town cell um at Albert Ray Drive. I was advised by the person that met I think it was from Crown Castle that came maybe I want to say a month ago to do a permitting process. So they will be doing one for Verizon, one for T-Mobile. So, okay. Um, of course, I'll work on seeing when is the best day to schedule those and I I will foresee doing that probably before I leave to like make sure those advertising and everything is ready for the I will say potentially the first week of the first meeting in June. Um, I I was I was going to say I'd rather not have it. I mean, our next meeting is Yeah. within days of the election, right? and it wouldn't give enough
095time to advertise it on the newspaper as it should. So it would potentially be for the first week before this meeting on June. Um so just a heads up that will be coming in but I'll take care of that um before. Other than that I haven't had I guess one update is I know that uh the YMCA sent all the information to uh the building department and the building department is doing findings on the zoning. Uh so I believe they will probably have to make a pit stop with the CVA and then they will be continuing with the process with the planning board. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Anyone have anything else before we just do meeting minutes? Oh, you know I have when when you're listing on here um on the agenda and again I'm I
096printed this out early so maybe it was you have next meeting May 22nd and then June 22nd. Don't we have one other in there? Yeah, I think that would have to be June 12th. Sorry for that. Yeah. Um, and then it wouldn't be June 22nd, would it? No, the next it will be June 12th and the next one will be 12th and 26. Okay. Okay. All right then. Uh so last thing we have is meeting minutes as we were discussing earlier. We have April 10th. Um I did read through those. I um while we were waiting to start, so I did not have any corrections to April 10th. Everybody good? Should I make a motion? Go for it. Make a motion we accept the minutes from April 10th meeting as presented. I'll second it. And
097a roll call. Anna Tesmania I and Trisha Kendall. So those are done. And then Elvrel had sent out April 24th. Um let's see what happened at that meeting. That was when 501 first came before us. [Music] Um, what else is on there? uh meeting. Oh, that was when is that when I think that was when we had the uh forum for the um forum for the various uh zoning bylaws. Yeah, I'm also that. Yeah, I think I'm good, too. Um, do we have to care about So, it's kind of one of these things. We, it was said at the meeting that we were comprehensive plan was going to have three meetings in May and that was true at the time. I think that might not be true now. So, is there any need to say
098edit there's been an update or just leave it because at the time it was correct? I just don't want people to be confused because I'm not sure we're having three now in May. Um, I remember in the past nine and then it's like the first bullet point and then the second sentence. I don't think the minutes could be changed because at the moment that's what it was stated that it can be mentioned in these meeting if we need to say like edit um meetings change comprehensive plan or ignore it. I'm fine either way. I just want to bring it up because I'm not sure we're having three in May. That was the intent at the time. Um, I know there was recently something that I had suggested changing, but at the time that's what was
099said or that's what we did and we just left it. Um, even though it it was, you know, meanted to be corrected. So, and I think we corrected on the next minutes. Yeah. Because now he's studying these meetings. So, then these meetings will reflect that. Got it. Got it. Oh, that's true. Yeah. Okay. It's like a snowball. Yes. Well, for that then I believe we may not be um just with scheduling, but not a big deal. So, if everyone's good, I can make a motion. Yep, that sounds good. I make a motion that we approve the April 24th meeting minutes as presented. I'll second that. Good. Anna Tesmaniski, I Cather, and Trisha Kendall. So, all right. caught up on the meeting minutes as much as we have. Actually, we're very caught up because that's No.
100Yeah, that was last meeting. No. Good. Awesome. Um, okay. So, then we are at the end of our agenda. Kate is at the end of her term and she can actually enjoy her rest of her vacation without having this meeting hanging over her head. No, unfortunately, I do have um until the election. I was just gonna assume I'm serving on on the comprehensive plan. So, I do have one or two more of those. Yeah, that's that's true. You said you're gonna run to that. Yep. Kate, good luck and looking forward to running into you a lot more. Don't disappear. Okay, sounds good. Thanks. She's around community events wise. It always you're always around for community things. That's if you want to run into her, that's the best. Just go to some community thing and you
101will bump into Kate. Yeah. Come off into the planning board and remind us for our to-do list so that we help. All right. Yep. I think me and Mark can work together. I I will I will say I want to recognize that in my opinion, Kate made us a a more organized, a more public oriented, and a much more forwardinking board. And I I think that needs to be recognized. I really appreciate Kate stepping up to be the clerk. I think that was fairly new to the planning board and extremely helpful. Um, I want to recognize that Kate pushed us to have a public comment and despite some unique challenges, I think it's a great addition to our process. Um, and she tends to be hyperfocused on the public being aware of what's going on.
102and that that has certainly made me more aware of how to bring the public into the process um and kind of reinforcing our jurisdiction and our the importance of what we do. So, I really want to underscore those things. I think Kate made us a better board. I'm going to miss her a lot um as being part of the board and um I think the public will as well. And so I wanted to thank her for for those contributions. And even after her departure, I think that we're all going to continue I certainly will continue to the best of my ability to carry on to the things she cared about. Um and I hope Kate, you'll continue to keep an eye on on us and share your thoughts with us as a member of the
103public. Um even if you're not involved in the in the weekly meetings, so or the bi-weekly meetings that we do. So thank you for all you have done. I've definitely asked Kate to pass on uh the documents and things that she's created and you know so that we can keep utilizing keep utilizing those things and keeping them in you know as part of what we do. Um so uh so we'll do that but Ke do you have any uh like are you like what's your plan from here? Are you like do you have you know like are you joining looking at a next adventure? Are you trying to wrap up work so that you can travel more? What's what's the on June 20th my next endeavor you can join me on Pawn Street to celebrate
104our sidewalks and solstice. So 5 to 7 Pawn Street prominade. Um simply just come show up walk meet some people. That's my next thing working on that. Yep. June 20th 5 to 7. So I've already started. I won't I won't be absent from our community. Um is there is there any possibility of another parade? Um that happen I think I think it takes Yes. I think that wouldn't be super hard with getting a few organizations to kind of come together and um this could be a version of that if people want to dress up and do something fun. It's just on the sidewalks. But um yeah, I I I appreciate um the time on the board. I I I having an elected position, right, is is a different sense of responsibility than an appointment to
105me, which is why from afar I said I took somebody's room and sit here while the rest of the family's enjoying themselves because that's what we do, right? And I appreciate that. um the colleagues on the board have taken it that seriously as well and I do hope that we can shift to more planning and I know it's sometimes dumped to us the planning which like in BTA zoning but I think we can um probably ways to maybe work with the community more to shift that to more planning. I I think it would be appreciated. It would be for me and I don't think I'm the only one. So yeah, but it's been a great board to serve with. I love that it's um a diverse board and I think that's although having the five
106women is diverse right now. We're missing some diversity. Exactly. But it is from uh over history. So and that's been also I think something that we did celebrate probably probably not as much as we should have with at least documenting a photo. But I think we all I appreciate that it was um for a short time aboard of five women. I think that's really cool. No, I mean I think yeah, technically it still it still is. So, y yeah. So, might have made Ashland history there. So, anyway. Okay. Well, like I said, Kate, uh enjoy the rest of your vacation. You know, you have to you said you had to come running in the probably the comprehensive plan meeting, but enjoy your time and until then, uh get a get a little time away. So,
107everyone needs it. All right. Motion. Otherwise, we'll see you around town. Yeah. Do I get to make the last motion to adjourn? Yes, please do. Yes, please. Motion to adjourn. We made it by nine. Right on. I'll second them. Anna Tesmania. I Katherine Jersey. And Trisha Kendall I. That's the end of an era. We will um see you next month everybody. Well, no, in a few. Good luck to you as well. Thank I'll be here on the 22nd though. All right. See you on the 22nd. One more time for Alvaro. One more time. Have a good night. Thanks everyone. Byebye. Good night everybody.