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TOWN OF HINGHAM

Planning Board

8
NOTICE OF DECISION
Site Plan Review

Applicants: Dan K. Gordon Associates
267 Washington Street, Suite 6
Wellesley, MA 02481

Premises: 5 Martin's Cove Lane
Hingham, MA 02043

Date: June 2, 2015

Plan Reference:
"Existing Conditions Plan" 5 Martins Cove lane Hingham, MA 02043 Prepared For: Dan K Gordon Associates in, Drawing EC dated 4.4.15, Sheet 1 of 1; Dan K Gordon Associates plans for the Farren Residence, 5 Martins Cove Lane, Hingham, MA, dated April 20, 2015, Sheets L-1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and 2.1; and, Storm water & Erosion Control Plan, 5 Martin's Cove Ln., Hingham, MA, Prepared by Columbia Design Group, LLC, 14 Upham Avenue, Boston, MA 02125, dated April 17, 2015, Sheet C-1.

Summary of Proceedings
In accordance with Section I-I and Section IV-B,6.b of the Zoning By-Law, the Hingham Planning Board conducted Site Plan Review relative to the application of Dan K. Gordon Associates due to the extent of the site grading and drainage work proposed at property known as 5 Martins Cove Lane. A partial waiver of the Site Plan submittal requirements is requested to waive the requirement to submit a lighting plan, and on site traffic circulation plan.

The Site Plan Review hearing on this matter was posted and duly noticed to afford the neighbors an opportunity to comment on the proposal and also be aware of the project. The hearing was held on June 1, 2015 by Planning Board members Sarah Corey, Chairman, Judith Sneath, Gary Tondorf-Dick, and William Ramsey present. Dan Gordon and Peter Stephens were present, as well as Tom and Christina Ferren of 5 Martins Cove Lane. John Chessia, of Chessia Consulting, was present as the peer review engineer for the Board.

Project Description
The Applicant requested Site Plan approval for the overall grading and drainage work, with a request for the Board to waive the requirement to submit a lighting plan, and on site traffic circulation plan.

The project includes widening of the driveway, re-grading to make a better are in the back yard for the skating rink, some ledge removal, moving the toe of the slope back towards the property line, and bringing in stone and sand to improve the drainage in the yard, There will be no blasting and the exact scope of the ledge removal will be more clear once the site work begins. It is estimated that approximately 975 c.y. of material will leave the site and approximately 125 c.y of material will be imported. The excavation will result in approximately 49 trucks over a week's time. The loam will be screened and remain on site. Crushed ledge will leave the site. There will be a gravel trench to collect drainage in the back yard and allow it to infiltrate slowly as it flows towards the front of the yard. Any flow that discharges from the trench will be neglible in quantity and would flow over the lawn towards the street. There will be a tracking pad/construction entrance that will be restored upon completion of the project, and silt fence is provided. Mr. Chessia reported that there is no new impervious, the driveway expansion is a improvement for infiltration. The grades are being modified in back yard but no increase in time of concentration. The yard is shaped like a bowl so the drainage and any dust will likely most impact these owners more than the neighbors. There is no requirement for infiltration but the project will enhance infiltration. There is no requirement to handle TSS. The proposed new slope and planting plan will be nicer than the existing growth which is mostly invasive weedy growth. Dust control will be done as needed. The Board asked about lighting and the applicant stated there are lights on the back of the house, and any other lighting would be minimal. The applicant will be applying for an earth excavation permit for this project, but Mr. Chessia explained to the Board that this plan as designed and presented covers that project.

Findings
The Board found it was appropriate and reasonable to waive the requirement to submit a lighting plan, and on site traffic circulation plan.

The Planning Board made the following findings under the Site Plan Review criteria:

a. protection of abutting properties against detrimental uses by provision for surface water drainage, fire hydrant locations, sound and site buffers, and preservation of views, light and air, and protection of abutting properties from negative impacts from artificial outdoor site lighting.

The Board found that the drainage as designed and the driveway expansion would improve infiltration on the site. The lighting was low and rink is at a lower elevation than the neighboring properties. Additional landscaping will be added as part of the project in the back yard and one tree is being removed.

b. convenience and safety of vehicular and pedestrian movement within the site and on adjacent streets; the location of driveway openings in relation to traffic or to adjacent streets, taking account of grades, sight distances and distances between such driveway entrances, exits and the nearest existing street or highway intersections; sufficiency of access for service, utility and emergency vehicles;

The Board found that this is not applicable.

c. adequacy of the arrangement of parking, loading spaces and traffic patterns in relation to the proposed uses of the premises; compliance with the off-street parking requirements of this By-Law;

The Board found the expanded driveway was an improvement due to the proposed construction of stone and shell which will promote infiltration and drain better than the existing conditions.

d. adequacy of open space and setbacks, including adequacy of landscaping of such areas;

The Board found that the proposed project was an improvement in the landscaping by virtue of adding more trees to an already partially wooded area, and only removing one tree. The invasive vegetation would be removed and replaced by lawn.

e. adequacy of the methods of disposal of refuse and other wastes resulting from the uses permitted on the site;

The Board found that this is not applicable.

f. prevention or mitigation of adverse impacts on the Town's resources, including, without limitation, water supply, wastewater facilities, energy and public works and public safety resources;

The Board found that this is not applicable.

g. assurance of positive stormwater drainage and snow-melt run-off from buildings, driveways and from all parking and loading areas on the site, and prevention of erosion, sedimentation and stormwater pollution and management problems through site design and erosion controls in accordance with the most current versions of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Stormwater Management Policy and Standards, and Massachusetts Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines.

The Board found that the project would improve the drainage of the yard overall but not increase the time of concentration or volume of flow. The infiltration would be improved overall as a result of the work so there was a net benefit. The project as designed meets these MDEP standards and an erosion control plan was submitted and reviewed. Dust control will be done as needed.

h. protection of natural and historic features including minimizing: the volume of cut and fill, the number of removed trees of 6 inches caliper or larger, the removal of stone walls, and the obstruction of scenic views from publicly accessible locations: and

The Board found that the project was adding trees, only removing one tree that is in poor condition, moving the hill back but retaining the loam on the site and would not impact the views.

i. minimizing unreasonable departure from the character and scale of buildings in the vicinity or as previously existing on or approved for the site.

The Board found that this is not applicable

Vote and Conditions
It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED to waive the requirement to submit a lighting plan, and on site traffic circulation plan. It was then moved, seconded and SO VOTED to approve the site plan as shown on the plans titled "Existing Conditions Plan" 5 Martins Cove lane Hingham, MA 02043 Prepared For: Dan K Gordon Associates in, Drawing EC dated 4.4.15, Sheet 1 of 1; Dan K Gordon Associates plans for the Farren Residence, 5 Martins Cove Lane, Hingham, MA, dated April 20, 2015, Sheets L-1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and 2.1; and, Storm water & Erosion Control Plan, 5 Martin's Cove Ln., Hingham, MA, Prepared by Columbia Design Group, LLC, 14 Upham Avenue, Boston, MA 02125, dated April 17, 2015, Sheet C-1.

Sarah H. Corey, Chairman
Hingham Planning Board

NOTARIZATION

EXECUTED this _____ day of June, 2015

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Plymouth, ss June __, 2015

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.