31B-192 91 King Street-PB Site Plan Approval AMENDMENT-5-11-2011Planning - DecisionCity of Northampton
Hearing No.:PLN-2011-0042Date: May 11, 2011
APPLICATION TYPE:SUBMISSION DATE:
PB Major Site Plan5/11/2011
Applicant's Name:Owner's Name:
NAME: NAME:
ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON PARISHROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF SPRINGFIEL
ADDRESS:ADDRESS:
3 ELM STKING ST
TOWN:STATE:ZIP CODE:TOWN:STATE:ZIP CODE:
NORTHAMPTONMA01060NORTHAMPTONMA01060
PHONE NO.:FAX NO.:
PHONE NO.:FAX NO.:
EMAIL ADDRESS: EMAIL ADDRESS:
Site Information:Surveyor's Name:
STREET NO.:COMPANY NAME:
SITE ZONING:
91 KING ST
CB(100)/
TOWN:ADDRESS:
ACTION TAKEN:
NORTHAMPT0N MA 01060
Approved With Conditions
MAP:BLOCK:LOT:MAP DATE:
SECTION OF BYLAW:
31B192001
Chpt. 350- 11: Site Plan Approval
TOWN:STATE:ZIP CODE:
Book:Page:
PHONE NO.:FAX NO.:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
NATURE OF PROPOSED WORK:
Demolish 2 buildings and construct new 14,000 sq. ft. parish center building with associated site improvements inclduing 140+ space
parking lot with two 24' wide curb cuts. CONFIRMATORY VOTE
HARDSHIP:
CONDITION OF APPROVAL:
1)Final plans incorporating conditions herein shall be stamped and submitted prior to any work on the
site.
2. To meet the criteria in 350-8.9F, two landscaped islands shall be added to center parking area. At
minimum, the dimension of each of these islands shall be the width of one parking space and the
length of two parking spaces (8.5’ x 36’).
3. Four additional street trees shall be planted along the frontage. Trees shall be selected from
Northampton Tree Committee list.
4. Tree protection measures shall be installed prior to any site work for trees at the entrance.
5. Water and sewer line connections shall be made in accordance with Department of Public Works
standards.
6. In order to provide separated, safe non-vehicular access for parishioners to this site, a 6’ wide
bituminous connection from the parking lot to the rail trail shall be installed. Construction materials
and specifications shall be in accordance with Office of Planning & Development standards for rail
trail construction. The connection shall be made either on the applicant’s property or, at the property
owner’s choice, on abutting property prior to completion of any portion of the parking lot.
7. Approval of the layout of the parking lot and the two curb cuts is contingent on the rail trail access
being provided. At the applicant’s choice, if they find the rail trail connection impossible, they can
request an amended approval from the Planning Board showing no rail trail connection but instead
showing only one curb cut and improved pedestrian and bicycle connection on the site.
8. These approved plans include a traffic waiver based on limited weekday use of the new building. If
the days of the week in which the building is used changes to functions that occur during the PM peak
periods Monday through Friday (for at least 50% of the functions), traffic mitigation will be required in
accordance with the increase in peak trips generated as described in the zoning.
9. Upon completion of parking, applicant shall submit a stamped lighting plan showing that installed
light levels comply with zoning and plans shown for CB.
GeoTMS® 2011 Des Lauriers Municipal Solutions, Inc.
Planning - DecisionCity of Northampton
Hearing No.:PLN-2011-0042Date: May 11, 2011
10. Snow shall be plowed to the rear of the site.
11. Lights off within one hour after the last function. No more than 4 pole lights shall remain on during
the night.
FINDINGS:
The Planning Board approved the site plan for the layout of a new 14,000 square foot function hall and associated site development by a 3-
2 vote of eligible planning Board members present. The Board based its decision on the following plans and information submitted with
the application:
1. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Revised Site Plan Submission, dated March 31, 2011 by The Berkshire Design Group, Inc. Plan Sheets
EX, 1, 2, 3, SL-1B, A1.
A. The requested use protects adjoining premises against seriously detrimental uses. If applicable, this shall include provision for surface
water drainage, sound and sight buffers and preservation of views, light, and air; Stormwater management will be contained on site and
plantings will be added between the new building and the residences to the north.
B. The requested use/site will promote the convenience and safety of vehicular and pedestrian movement within the site and on adjacent
streets, minimize traffic impacts on the streets and roads in the area. Through condition, the connection to the bike path will accomplish
compliance with this standard. If applicable, this shall include considering the location of driveway openings in relation to traffic and
adjacent streets, access by public safety vehicles, the arrangement of parking and loading spaces, and provisions for persons with
disabilities; The Planning Board granted the relocation and widening of two curb cuts based on separation of pedestrian/bicycle and
vehicular traffic.
The project, including any concurrent road improvements, will not decrease the level of service (LOS) of all area City and state roads or
intersections affected by the project below the existing conditions when the project is proposed and shall consider the incremental
nature of development and cumulative impacts on the LOS. Given the off-peak trips anticipated and noted in traffic letter and assuming
the rail trail access condition recommended, staff believes this criteria has been met.
C. The requested use will promote a harmonious relationship of structures and open spaces to the natural landscape, existing buildings
and other community assets in the area; Landscaped islands to break up the mass of 82 parking spaces will meet this criteria.
D. The requested use will not overload, and will mitigate adverse impacts on, the City's resources, including the effect on the City's water
supply and distribution system, sanitary and storm sewage collection and treatment systems, fire protection, streets and schools. The
construction materials and methods for water lines, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, fire protection, sidewalks, private roads, and other
infrastructure will be in accordance with Department of Public Works standards.
E. The requested use meets any special regulations set forth in this chapter. There are none specified in the zoning. The Board did
approve a waiver from the standard 16' pole heights to 18' and 20' due to the limited space available for installing new poles. The lights
will be on the south side of the new structure and generally screened from the residences.
F. Compliance with the following technical performance standards:
(1) Curb cuts onto streets shall be minimized. Access to businesses shall use common driveways, existing side streets, or loop service
roads shared by adjacent lots when possible. More than one curb cut shall be permitted only when necessary to minimize traffic and
safety impacts. The Board approved the widened double curb cuts based on the condition that safety improvements for non-motorized
access will be created at the rear of the site along the rail trail.
(2) Pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic movement on site must be separated, to the extent possible, and sidewalks must be provided
between businesses within a development. Adequate separation and accommodation for bicycles/pedestrians will be met through
conditions.
(3) Major projects, except in the Central Business District, must be designed so there is no increase in peak flows from the one- or two-
and ten-year Soil Conservation Service design storm from predevelopment conditions (the condition at the time a site plan approval is
requested) and so that the runoff from a four- to ten-inch rain storm (first flush) is detained on site for an average of six hours. These
requirements shall not apply if the project will discharge into a City storm drain system that the Planning Board finds can accommodate
the expected discharge with no adverse impacts. In addition, catch basins shall incorporate sumps of a minimum of three feet and, if they
will remain privately owned, a gas trap. A Department of Public Works stormwater permit was issued.
COULD NOT DEROGATE BECAUSE:
FILING DEADLINE:MAILING DATE:HEARING CONTINUED DATE:DECISION DRAFT BY:APPEAL DATE:
9/2/20109/16/201010/14/20105/12/2011
REFERRALS IN DATE:HEARING DEADLINE DATE:HEARING CLOSE DATE:FINAL SIGNING BY:APPEAL DEADLINE:
9/9/20107/15/20114/14/20115/12/20115/31/2011
FIRST ADVERTISING DATE:HEARING DATE:VOTING DATE:DECISION DATE:
9/9/20109/23/20104/28/20115/11/2011
SECOND ADVERTISING DATE:HEARING TIME:VOTING DEADLINE:DECISION DEADLINE:
9/16/20101/14/20117/13/2011
MEMBERS PRESENT:VOTE:
Andrew Weirvotes toGrant
GeoTMS® 2011 Des Lauriers Municipal Solutions, Inc.
Planning - DecisionCity of Northampton
Hearing No.:PLN-2011-0042Date: May 11, 2011
Debin Brucevotes toGrant
Katharine G. Bakervotes toGrant
Stephen Gilsonvotes toGrant
Francis Johnsonvotes toGrant
MOTION MADE BY:SECONDED BY:VOTE COUNT:DECISION:
Francis JohnsonDebin Bruce5Approved with Conditions
MINUTES OF MEETING:
Available in the Office of Planning & Development.
This second vote on the permit represents the Planning Board's confirmation of vote with majority of members voting in favor.
I, Carolyn Misch, as agent to the Planning Board, certify that this is a true and accurate decision made by the Planning Board and certify
that a copy of this and all plans have been filed with the Board and the City Clerk on the date shown above.
I certify that a copy of this decision has been mailed to the Owner and Applicant.
___________________________________
Notice of Appeal
An appeal from the decision of the Planning Board may be made by any person aggrieved pursuant to MGL Chapt. 40A, Section 17 as
amended within twenty (20) days after the date of the filing of the notice of the decision with the City Clerk. The date is listed above. Such
appeal may be made to the Hampshire Superior Court with a certified copy of the appeal sent to the City Clerk of the City of Northampton.
GeoTMS® 2011 Des Lauriers Municipal Solutions, Inc.