Planning Board Meeting

Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 6:00 pm until 11:45 pm
Online/Dial In Only - See Below for Info
A meeting of the Planning Board

Meeting will be held remotely using Google Meet.

Participants can join remotely via: meet.google.com/vnt-qnuj-jjn or by calling 1-413-893-3306 and entering pin 502 441 018#

Meeting of Planning Board

Members: (Quorum)

  • Present: Sara Wik, Member, at 6:00 PM
  • Present: Robert Slowinski, Chair, at 6:00 PM
  • Present: Loren Feinstein, Secretary, at 6:00 PM
  • Present: Gregory Olchowski, Member, at 6:00 PM
  • Present: Marybeth Chichester, Member, at 6:00 PM

Also Present:

  • Shawn Kimberly Colrain Building Inspector
  • Michael Bailey Jr. of South Hadley MA.

See original Agenda Approved Meeting Minutes

Meeting opened: 6:04 PM

Meeting closed: 7:22 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. New Business

    • 6:00PM: FY22 Budget

      General Discussion...
      Discussed the proposal to keep the budget the same as past years, level funded at $1000. All were in agreement to do so.

    • 6:10: MEI ANR

      MOTION, moved by Sara Wik, seconded by Robert Slowinski: To accept the ANR as presented.

      Pass: Aye: Marybeth Chichester, Robert Slowinski, Gregory Olchowski, Sara Wik, Loren Feinstein.

      1. Bailey_Form_A.pdf
      2. Bailey_rev-_final_stamped_plan.pdf
    • 6:15PM: Josh Spring- ANR

      MOTION, moved by Loren Feinstein, seconded by Sara Wik: To approve the ANR as presented.

      Pass: Aye: Marybeth Chichester, Robert Slowinski, Gregory Olchowski, Sara Wik, Loren Feinstein.

      1. scan.pdf
      2. scanner_20210202_132646.pdf
    • 6:30PM: Review of Setbacks per Zoning Board Request

      General Discussion...
      The planning board members discussed the existing setback requirements of the protective zoning bylaws, compared them to surrounding communities setbacks. Bobby will do some research into the historical reasoning for the current setback requirements. There is also a request to review the recent ZBA variance requests related to these setback requirements in order to gain broader context for this.

      Grogory requested input from the ZBA as to where the specific locations in the community are that these setbacks are coming into question and requiring variances.

      The board decided to table this discussion until further investigation, and perhaps a member of the ZBA

      MOTION, moved by Loren Feinstein, seconded by Gregory Olchowski: To table this discussion pending further investigation and obtaining more background information.

      Pass: Aye: Marybeth Chichester, Robert Slowinski, Gregory Olchowski, Sara Wik, Loren Feinstein.

    • 6:45: Short Term Rental/B&B Bylaw Review

      General Discussion...
      Discussed with the Colrain Building Inspector the possibility of reworking the current Zoning Bylaw pertaining to Bed and Breakfasts to help them be more clearly in alignment with State building code requirements.

      More information and research will be gathered and reviewed in an attempt to address this in our next scheduled meeting.

  3. Meeting Wrap-up

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes prepared by Planning Board Secretary

Minutes approved on Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021

Posted to: Planning Board.