Planning Board Meeting Minutes 1/14/21
DRAFT MINUTES
PUBLIC MEETING
Meeting Date: January 14, 2021
Meeting Time: 7:00 pm
Meeting Place: Monterey Town Office (Planning Board Members Only)
Members Remote: Nancy Marcus, BJ Johnson, Chip Allen, Laura Mensi
Members Present: Tom Sawyer, Roger Tryon
Public Hearings and Meetings:
N/A
Misc.:
Master Plan – Discussion – Continued
TS updated the members. A Master Plan was drafted and approved back in 1975. Master Plan may cost up to $10K to $20K. LM concerned about the cost, questioned time involved, and how do the residents might feel about going forward with the Plan. LM suggested raising the issue of going forward with a revised Master Plan at Town Meeting. BJ is concerned about the expense and not and the value of the plan. BJ questioned the use of a Master Plan by the Selectboard and the support from other NM commented that it is just statistics. TS questioned the value of the data in the Master Plan. TS questioned the importance of the whole plan in general and pointed out that except for the transportation section, not much currently applied. RT commented that Monterey currently and in more or less ways drafting a Master Plan as needed. RT also commented that a lot of the data is outdated (codes, septic system designs). It was agreed that TS will draft a memo to the Selectboard with the PB’s concerns of the expense, if all boards will be involved and committed, and the resident’s input and enthusiasm. TS will draft the letter to the BOS.
Short Term Rentals (STR) – Discussion – Continued
CA questioned have there been any changes at the state level since the pandemic and if STR are so popular in Monterey to be concerned about. TS does not feel that there is a strong need for regulations in Monterey. BJ commented that there are two new statues for B&B but not AirBBs. Pittsfield and Lenox pursued regulations. Stevens Lake Assoc is currently deliberating on regulations for AirBBs BJ does not feel that there is relevancy in Monterey to go forward. NM no relevancy. LM no relevancy. CA no relevancy. RT no relevancy. Discussion ensued that most property owners are respectful. LM questioned if the public safety is having an issue. TS replied that if there have been some bad experiences, it is not wide known. BJ briefed the members on how the SLA is going forward with regulations. It was agreed to not continue the discussion unless needed.
Reports from Board Members
TS welcome CA to the Board. CA introduced himself and briefed the rest of the members on his background. RT informed the members that Member Larry Klein had passed away. TS recommends starting the New Year with reviewing and possibly revising the current bylaws. The board will start with the Right to Farm Bylaw at the next meeting. RT commented that Foresight Land Services will be submitting a plan to the board within the next month or so and he will be recusing himself from the application.
Review Misc. Correspondence
Invoice for new file cabinet
Approve prior minutes
Minutes were approved. LM/NM MSV
Adjourn: 8:14 P