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NOTICE OF DECISION
Special Permit A3 (Parking Determination)


IN THE MATTER OF: Certified# 7014 2120 0003 3809 8594

Applicant: Hingham Cemetery Corporation

Premises: 12 South Street (aka 40 Water Street)
Hingham, MA 02043

Deed Reference: Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Book 194, Page 86 and
Book 2003, Page 389

Date: April 27, 2016

Summary of Proceedings
This matter came before the Planning Board on the application of Hingham Cemetery Corporation for a Special Permit A3 parking determination under §V-A of the Zoning By-Law to modify the previously granted Special Permit A3 parking determination slightly as related to the current renovation of the existing historic Ames Chapel to be used for religious ceremonies, office space for the Cemetery Board and small and medium community gatherings at 40 Water Street, located in the Official and Open Space District.

The application was received on March 21, 2016 and the Board heard the application at a duly advertised and noticed hearing April 11, 2016 at 7:00 PM in the Hingham Town Hall at 210 Central Street. Members of the Planning Board present were Gary Tondorf-Dick, Sarah Corey, and Jennifer Gay Smith. Associate Member Dick Cook was present and seated on this hearing as well. Planning Board members William Ramsey and Judy Sneath are abutters to this project, therefore they recused themselves from the hearings on this application. In attendance for the Applicant: Engineer John Cavanaro and members of the Hingham Cemetery Board.

Discussion and Findings
The purpose of this application set is to have the approved plans match the final construction. He recognized that this isn’t the ideal way to proceed with a project and apologized to the Board, but explained that the changes are minor in nature and result in slight changes for the betterment of the overall project. He then explained that the original application was to add parking, and lighting associated with the increased use of the facility. The changes include the addition of curbing in place of the curb stops, addition of one light pole for a total of 7, request to not stripe the parking, and that one of the reserve spaces was constructed. The Board found that there is no change to the overall amount of parking required, or constructed vs left in reserve. They acknowledged it would be difficult to paint stripes on the gravel parking spaces. The Board discussed the potential drainage implications of the curbing and noted that there is good soil in addition to an infiltration trench at the low point near the curb. Mr. Cavanaro explained that the grading was changed by the vault which diverts a great deal of the historic flow to the other side of the chapel, and that also is an improvement. The Board agreed that the drainage flow to the parking area would be less, and that that was a positive improvement. Mr. Cavanaro said that hydro seeding still needs to be done. These changes were made to help maintain the historic integrity of the site, and, minimize the intrusion onto the landscape by the parking

The Board then Moved, Seconded and SO VOTED to Approve the Special Permit A3 modifications with waivers as requested to allow minor changes to the parking, drainage and lighting previously approved related to the reuse of the historic Ames Chapel as presented at the hearing and shown on the map titled “SITE PLAN AMES CHAPEL HINGHAM CEMETERY PREPARED FOR: THE HINGHAM CEMETERY CORPORATION 40 WATER STREET HINGHAM, MA 02043, prepared by Cavanaro Consulting, 687 Main Street, PO Box 5175, Norwell, MA 02061, dated 3/17/16, drawing SP, sheet 1 of 1.

For the Planning Board,

____________________
Sarah H. Corey, Chairman Date
Hingham Planning Board

NOTARIZATION


EXECUTED this _____ day of May, 2016

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Plymouth, ss May____, 2016

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


____________________________ My Commission Expires: ____________
Dolores A. DeLisle
Notary Public