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Planning Board Meeting Minutes 8/3/2023

Meeting date: 
Thursday, August 3, 2023

Minutes of the Planning Board Meeting

Minutes of the meeting 8/03/23

Meeting Date: Thursday August 3, 2023

Meeting Opened at 7:03pm

Planning Board members present remotely: Tom Sawyer, Laura Mensi, Roger Tryon, Margy Abbott, Chip Allen, Mort Salomon

Planning Board members absent: Lauren Berhman 

Also Present: None

Also present remotely: Laurie McArthur (SB secretary), Lisanne Finston, Peter Murkett

Call to Order 7:03 pm

Agenda: 

  1. Peter Murkett – Renewable Energy 

Peter provided a summary of REWG proposals for amending Monterey’s solar zoning bylaws. Peter reported that the REWG has been working on a proposal for a large-scale solar array on a previous parcel of land that used to be a landfill.  Peter reported that it is an 11.4-acre area.  Peter provided an overview of discussions with Lisanne Finston of Gould Farm and the interest of Gould Farm in participating in solar with the Town of Monterey on a former gravel bed.  Peter discussed the current solar zoning bylaw and the REWG’s work with Beth Greenblath on the work completed thus far on the solar project.  Peter reported that they are working on using the META grant for the landfill solar project.  Peter discussed potential proposals for revision by the Planning Board as follows:   

  1. Designate the town landfill garage site as being in the solar overlay district.
  2. Changing the title of the large-scale overlay district to municipal parcel overlay district.  
  3. Setback requirement for large scale and utility scale districts so ZBA can reduce or eliminate setback along common boundary lines between two parcels that might be proposed for a utility scale or solar project.

Peter described challenges with the current wording of the bylaws and presented reasoning to the Planning Board for consideration.  Peter reported that the REWG would be meeting again in two weeks.  Peter discussed the process that the REWG would have to go through including discussing the information with the Select Board who will vote on whether this will be placed on a Special Town Meeting warrant this fall.  Roger reported that his is opposed to placing solar on any agricultural land and would be interested in learning more about the gravel pit prior to deciding.  Roger discussed the need for additional agricultural land.  Lisanne discussed their plan for sunsetting the gravel pit years ago and reported that solar installation was one of the identified opportunities to make use of that area.  Mort asked if the REWG was looking at alternative forms of renewable energy.  Peter said that as of this time solar was the primary option.  Tom said that the Planning Board would discuss the options and the bylaws.  

Peter discussed a study by several UMASS students pertaining to clean energy in Monterey.  Peter said that there was also a survey completed pertaining to independently generated clean energy, along with an action plan for the Town.  Peter reported that over the next month the students would make a presentation to a forum in Monterey regarding their findings.  The Planning Board will follow up with this during their next meeting.  Peter offered to look over their first draft and will send it to the Planning Board.  The next Planning Board meeting will be on August 24th at 7:00pm.  

  1. Master Plan finalization 

Tom presented the current Master Plan draft to the Planning Board, and they discussed changes that Seth requested the Planning Board review.  The Planning Board discussed concerns with tax exempt properties outlined in the Master Plan.  Tom reported that when ready, Hume will submit a new site plan for the Planning Board to review.  Tom suggested adding a priority to the implementation table, and the Planning Board said that they had incorporated the priority into the table and sent this to Seth so he could input it into the table.  Margy asked what the order should be on the four categories.  Mort clarified that the most important category should be the first listed.  The Planning Board rearranged the categories to reflect the most requested order.  Tom will forward this to Seth for final review and updates.  

  1. Preparation for Master Plan Community Presentation August 10th. 

The Planning Board will conduct their presentation of the Master Plan at the Monterey Town Library and remotely.  

Agenda: Public Meeting on August 10th at 6:00pm-7:00pm at the Town Library to discuss the Master Plan.  

Chip will post on the Google Group.  

  1. Correspondence 
    1. Summary of REWG proposals for amending Monterey’s solar zoning bylaws. 
  2. Approval of minutes 

No minutes were approved at the meeting this week.  

The Planning Board unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting at 8:55pm.  

Documents used at the meeting:

  1. Summary of REWG proposals for amending Monterey’s solar zoning bylaws.