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FOURTH AMENDMENT TO NOTICE OF DECISION

Site Plan Approval for Hingham High School Athletic Complex Renovations Phase II

Applicant:      Hingham School Committee

                        210 Central Street

Project Site:   17 Union Street

                        Hingham Assessor’s Map/Lot:  90-0-112; 100-0-63; 100-0-61; 101-0-8

Date:               September 23, 2013

PROCEEDINGS

The Planning Board issued a Notice of Decision, dated March 11, 2013 (“Original Decision”), as amended by Amendment to Notice of Decision, dated March 25, 2013 (the “Amendment” and together with the Original Decision, the “Decision”), in connection with the Application of the Hingham School Committee (“Applicant” or “School Committee”) for Site Plan Review under Sections I-H and III-B.8 of the Hingham Zoning By-Law, subject to and with the benefit of the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 40A, Section 3 commonly known as the “Dover Amendment.”

As required by Condition A of the Amendment, the Applicant submitted a full set of revised plans with all required changes (“Revised Plan Set”).[1] 

A public hearing of the Planning Board was held on June 10, 2013 to review and ratify the Revised Plan Set.  At the June 10, 2013 meeting it was moved, seconded and unanimously SO VOTED:  To approve and ratify the Revised Plan Set entitled “Hingham High School Athletic Complex Renovation – Phase II” (67 Sheets), dated December 12, 2012, revised through April 19, 2013, prepared by Gale Associates, except for the boys’ baseball field scoreboard and girls’ softball field scoreboard (subject to those exceptions, the Revised Plan Set shall hereafter be referred to as the “Approved Plans”).

A public hearing of the Planning Board was held on August 5, 2013 to review the size, orientation and locations of the scoreboards.  The Board acted favorably on the request for amendment to the Site Plan approval for the softball and baseball scoreboards as presented and depicted on the Approved Plans dated April 19, 2013.

A public hearing of the Planning Board was subsequently held on September 23, 2013 for the application to  modify the Approved Plans with a revision to sound system and location of the loudspeakers. The Planning Board hearing was conducted by William Ramsey, Gary Tondorf-Dick, Judy Sneath, Sarah Corey and Walter Sullivan. 

DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS

In attendance for the Applicant:  School Committee Chairman Ray Estes, School Committee Member Ed Schreier and Hingham Schools Business Manager John Ferris. 

Mr. Estes presented the application to the Board explaining the proposed change of the loudspeakers and location of the loudspeakers. 

The approved plans for the project have two loudspeakers (Model No. R1-94Z) mounted behind the visitor bleachers on two 30’ poles.  The speakers were to be placed at 26’.  The Applicant proposes to eliminate the two 30’ poles and install the loudspeakers on the adjacent visitor side athletic field light poles.

The Applicant’s acoustics consultant Cavanaugh and Tocci Associates proposed the substitution of the loudspeakers with Model No. R1-64Z.  

Mr. Estes stated that the only difference between the approved model and the proposed model is the angle of the horn.  Mr. Estes further stated the new model’s horn angle would better direct the sound toward the bleachers and lessen the amount of sound spillage toward Union Street.  The proposed loudspeakers would be located 15’ further away from Union Street and more towards the field.

The Board requested a narrative from Cavanaugh Tocci Associates certifying the decibel levels of the new model and location of  the loudspeakers will be consistent with the approved plans.  In addition, the Board requested the Applicant to submit plans reflecting the revision date of 9/11/13. 

VOTE AND CONDITIONS

It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED to approve the proposed PA Sound System Revisions as described in the application dated September 11, 2013 to permit the Community Loudspeaker Model No. R1-64Z, and that the speakers be mounted on the athletic light poles on the visitor (east) side of the field at a height of 30', as shown on Sheet AV-01 and AV-02, dated 2-20-2013, Revised to September 11, 2013 with the following condition:

1. Subject to delivery to the Planning Board of a written update by Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Incorporated (“CTI”) to Section C of the Final Technical Report Sound Study, dated November 28, 2012, which certifies that the proposed modifications to the east side PA sound system will not substantively affect the estimated sound levels as set forth in such study as shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14.

Except for this change, all other provisions of the original Notice of Decision dated March 11, 2013 and revised to March 25, 2013 and June 10, 2013 and August 5, 2013, as shown on the Plan Set entitled “Hingham High School Athletic Complex Renovation – Phase II” (67 Sheets), dated December 12, 2012, revised through April 19, 2013, prepared by Gale Associates, shall remain in full force and effect.

_____________________________

William Ramsey
Chairman, Hingham Planning Board

EXECUTED this ____ day of October, 2013

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Plymouth, ss                                                                                  October _____, 2013

Then personally appeared William Ramsey, Chairman of the Hingham Planning Board, and acknowledged the foregoing to be the free act and deed of said Board.

___________________________

Karen M. Clancy, Notary Public                        My Commission Expires:  July 22, 2016