ACTON PLANNING BOARD MEETING

March 19, 2009

A.        ROLL CALL – 7:00

            Members present were:            Chip Venell – Chairman

                                                            Thomas Cashin – Vice Chairman

                                                            Randy Goodwin

                                                            Keith Davis – 1^st Alternate

                                                            Larissa Crockett – 2^nd Alternate           

            Members absent were:  James Fiske

Yoli Gallagher                                                  

                                                           

            Others Present:             John Moore, Joe Ruma, Roy Trafton, Michelle                                                              Rumney, Ken Paul (CEO)

B.         MINUTES

February 5, 2009 - A Motion was made and seconded to approve the Minutes of the February 5, 2009 Meeting as submitted.  Davis/Crockett – 4/1 (Abstention of Goodwin who was absent at that meeting)

No minutes provided from February 19^th meeting.  To be discussed at future meeting.

C.        UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no unfinished business to come before the Board.

D.        NEW BUSINESS

Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee Update

Tom Cashin provided the board with information on the changes that the CPIC has been working on in regards to the Shoreland Zoning Changes.  Many of the changes are State Mandated; however the committee has been working on a way to protect the 2^nd order streams that feed our major bodies of water.  New changes would also affect buffers surrounding wetlands less than 10acres in size, greater than 2 acres in size.  A sliding scale buffer based on the wetland size would be

(25’ X acreage=buffer zone), with a maximum buffer of 250’.  This buffer would infer undisturbed vegetation and no new buildings with in these buffer zones.  Based on mandates from the State, some new laws would put certain undeveloped lots in the shoreland into Resource Protection.  The 30% expansion would be allowed in Shoreland only if the land was developed already.  The committee hopes to have handouts with documented changes to the Board by April 16^th meeting and asks that the board schedule a Public Hearing for April 30^th.  The CPIC secretary and Planning Secretary will work in conjunction in sending out the required notices.

Chip inquired as to whether the CPIC had done any work on the groundwater extraction ordinance; Tom replied that they had not.  The board discussed the possibility of working on this for a future Town Meeting but was certainly not enough time to do so before June Town Meeting.

E.         OTHER BUSINESS

            Chip informed members of upcoming workshops hosted by Rachel Carson        Reserve in Wells and offered the Information to anyone interested in attending.     Larissa thought she may be able to attend the activities on Saturday.

F.         ADJOURNMENT

The Meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM.

                                                                                   

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    ______________________________                                                                                    Michelle Rumney,

                                                                                    Recording Secret