Planning Board Meeting

Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 6:00 pm until 11:45 pm
Online Only - See Details Below
A meeting of the Planning Board

Planning Board Meeting
Wednesday, June 8 · 6:00 – 11:30pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/epu-wjhp-eck
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Meeting of Planning Board

Members: (Quorum)

  • Absent: Sara Wik, Member
  • Remote: Robert Slowinski, Chair, at 6:00 PM
  • Remote: Loren Feinstein, Secretary, at 6:00 PM
  • Remote: Gregory Olchowski, Member, at 6:00 PM
  • Remote: Marybeth Chichester, Member, at 6:00 PM
  • Remote: David Greenberg, Member, at 6:00 PM
  • Remote: Ben Eastman, Member, at 6:00 PM

Also Present:

  • Michael Slowinski of Colrain
  • Maggie Smith of Colrain

See original Agenda Approved Meeting Minutes

Meeting opened: 6:00 PM

Meeting closed: 6:42 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. Old Business

    • 6:05PM: Short Term Rentals/Bed and Breakfast Continued Discussion

      General Discussion...
      The board discussed the current draft of the proposed STR Bylaw. Sean Kimberley (Colrain Building Inspector) reviewed the draft and had no comment.

      The New Salem STR Bylaw was discussed as an example of overregulation that we as a town might want to avoid, both for added administrative burden and over restriction of land use.

      MOTION, moved by David Greenberg, seconded by Loren Feinstein: To send the current draft of the proposed Short Term Rental bylaw to the Select Board for their review and submission to Town Counsel for review and comment.

      Pass: Aye: Ben Eastman, Gregory Olchowski, David Greenberg, Marybeth Chichester, Robert Slowinski, Loren Feinstein. Not Present: Sara Wik.

    • 6:15PM: New Projects Discussion

      General Discussion...
      The necessity pressed by FEMA and Federal Flood Insurance for an update of our Flood Plain bylaw was restated. It has been added to next months PB meeting agenda. Flood zone creation and implementation was also discussed and next steps were taken to encourage and support community input and involvement, including David offering to draft a letter to the interested parties.

      Michael Slowinsky made the suggestion to look at the Conway Flood Plain Bylaw update that was voted in last week for background research purposes.

      Master Plan creation and research was mentioned.

      Marybeth brought the Woodland Partnership Committee to the board's attention and suggested she would find out more about it from FRCOG.

      David Suggested the possibility of investigating the CPA (Community Preservation Act) as a potential benefit to Colrain.

  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, Aug 3, 2022

Posted to: Planning Board.