City Council
Regular MeetingMarlborough, MA · April 8, 2019
Minutes
CITY OF MARLBOROUGH
OFFICE OF CITY CLERK
Steven W. Kerrigan
140 Main St.
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508) 460-3775 FAX (508) 460-3723
APRIL 8, 2019
Regular meeting of the City Council held on Monday, April 8, 2019 at 8:00 PM in City
Council Chambers, City Hall. City Councilors Present: Clancy, Juaire, Oram, Ossing, Robey,
Delano, Doucette, Dumais, Tunnera, Irish and Landers. Meeting adjourned at 10:35 PM.
ORDERED: That the Minutes of the City Council meeting, MARCH 25, 2019, FILE;
adopted.
Suspension of the Rules requested – granted
ORDERED: That the Communication from Fabricio DaSilva, re: Request to WITHDRAW
WITHOUT PREJUDICE, Application for Special Permit to construct a new 5 x 18
front porch on an existing structure, 3 Jonas Court, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Application for Special Permit from Fabricio DaSilva, to construct a
new 5 x 18 front porch on an existing structure, 3 Jonas Court, WITHDRAWN
WITHOUT PREJUDICE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the PUBLIC HEARING On the Proposed Zoning Ordinance
Amendment, Chapter 650, §5, §17, §18 & §48 relative to adding Food Trucks to the
Table of Uses, Order No. 19-1007543, all were heard who wish to be heard, hearing
closed at 8:05 PM; adopted.
Councilors Present: Delano, Doucette, Dumais, Tunnera, Irish, Clancy, Landers,
Juaire, Oram, Ossing & Robey.
ORDERED: That the PUBLIC HEARING On the Proposed Zoning Map Amendment
from Attorney Brian Falk on behalf of St. Mary’s Credit Union, re: Rezoning of land
located on John Street, Order No. 19-1007569, all were heard who wish to be heard,
hearing closed at 8:18 PM; adopted.
Councilor Delano recused.
Councilors Present: Doucette, Dumais, Tunnera, Irish, Clancy, Landers, Juaire,
Oram, Ossing & Robey.
ORDERED: Under authority of MGL Chapter 44, Section 53A, the City Council hereby
APPROVES the Donation Acceptance in the amount of $3,000.00 for the Fire
Department from Dwayne Thompson, Michael Burnell and Andrew Eick of
Cummings Properties, LLC to be used for employee appreciation; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 2 APRIL 8, 2019
ORDERED: Under authority of MGL Chapter 44, Section 53A, the City Council hereby
APPROVES the Donation Acceptance in the amount of $20.00 for the Police
Department from Marilyn Gaudette to be used for summer programs; adopted.
ORDERED: That the PUBLIC HEARING On the Application for Special Permit from
Attorney Brian Falk, on behalf of E on Main, to construct a Mixed-Use Development
in the Marlborough Village District consisting of both residential and commercial
space at 161-175 Main Street, Order No. 19-1007571, all were heard who wish to be
heard, hearing closed at 8:51 PM; adopted.
Councilors Present: Delano, Doucette, Dumais, Tunnera, Irish, Clancy, Landers,
Juaire, Oram, Ossing & Robey.
ORDERED: That the Communication from Councilor Ossing, re: Municipal Aggregation
– Six-month fixed price contract with DYNEGY, May, 2019 through October, 2019,
FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Transfer Request in the amount of $699,088.00 which moves funds
from Economic Development to MEDC Funding to fund the FY20 operations, refer
to FINANCE COMMITTEE; adopted.
CITY OF MARLBOROUGH
BUDGET TRANSFERS --
DEPT: Mayor FISCAL YEAR: 2019
FROM ACCOUNT: TO ACCOUNT:
Available Available
Balance Amount Org Code Object Account Description: Amount Org Code Object Account Description: Balance
$1,661,109.48 $699,088.00 27000099 42440 Economic Development $699,088.00 11740006 53950 MEDC Funding $0.00
Reason: To allow the MEDC to continue it's work in promoting the economic development of the City for FY20
$699,088.00 Total $699,088.00 Total
ORDERED: Under authority of MGL Chapter 44, Section 53A, the City Council hereby
APPROVES the Reimbursement Acceptance for the Fire Department in the amount
of $7,409.02 from FEMA for storm expenditures from the snow event of March 13,
2018; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 3 APRIL 8, 2019
ORDERED: That the City Council, upon reconsideration, hereby removes the conditions
currently set forth in Order No. 18-1007441A for acceptance of a grant in the amount
of $6,219.00 awarded to the DPW to fund 50% of the cost to purchase two Level 2
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and imposes the following new conditions in place
thereof, APPROVED; adopted.
1) The two (2) charging stations will be set up for City vehicle use only.
2) The charging stations will be installed on the first floor of the parking
garage or a location that the DPW Commissioner sees fit.
President Clancy declared a hand count of six Councilors in favor (Doucette, Irish,
Clancy, Landers, Oram & Ossing) and five Councilors opposed (Delano, Dumais,
Tunnera, Juaire & Robey).
ORDERED: That the Communication from City Solicitor, Donald Rider, re: Special Permit
for Marc Buchan, to demolish the existing one story single-family dwelling and
construct a new two-story single-family dwelling on the same foundation footprint at
180 Cullinane Drive, in proper legal form, Order No. 19-1007512B, MOVED TO
ITEM 32; adopted.
ORDERED: That the proposed amendment to Chapter 650 as outlined in Order No. 18/19-
1007452D is hereby further amended by striking out in 650-22 C (i) 5 the words “and
any approved ancillary residential community are” and inserting in place thereof the
word “is”, so the section would now read “The lot or lots on which an RCO-D/T
community is located shall contain, on a consolidated basis, at least 7,000 square feet
per housing unit.”, APPROVED; adopted.
ORDERED: That the proposed amendment to Chapter 650 as outlined in Order No. 18/19-
1007452D is hereby further amended by striking out in 650-22 C (i) 9 the words “and
in any permitted ancillary residential community”, so the section would now read
“Maximum combined lot coverage in an RCO-D/T community shall not exceed 40%
of the total lot size.”, APPROVED; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Communication from City Solicitor, Donald Rider, re: Proposed
Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Chapter 650 §22 & §5, relative to Multifamily
Retirement Community, 90 Crowley Drive, in proper legal form, Order No. 18/19-
1007452D (X18-1007198G), MOVED TO ITEM 31; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Communication from the Planning Board, re: Favorable
Recommendation on the Proposed Zoning Amendment to Chapter 650 which will
create the Executive Residential Overlay District in the Simarano Drive and Cedar
Hill Road area, Order No. 19-1007533A, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Communication from the Planning Board, re: Favorable
Recommendation on the Proposed Zoning Map Amendment, land off Valley Street,
Order No. 19-1007552A, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Communication from the Planning Board, re: Decision for Colbea
Enterprises, LLC, Request for Sign Variance, 342 Boston Post Road East, FILE;
adopted.
ORDERED: That the Application for Renewal of Junk Dealer/Second Hand Dealer License,
TVI, Inc., d/b/a Savers, 222A East Main Street, refer to PUBLIC SERVICES
COMMITTEE; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 4 APRIL 8, 2019
ORDERED: That there being no objection thereto set MONDAY APRIL 29, 2019 as
DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING Petition from MA Electric to install a new pole
47-84 to use as a stub pole for poles 47 and 47-5 on Bolton Street, refer to PUBLIC
SERVICES COMMITTEE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, School Committee, March 12, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, Board of Assessors, March 20, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, Conservation Commission, March 7, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, Council on Aging, February 11, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, Historical Commission, March 7, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, License Board, February 11, 2019, February 27, 2019 &
March 21, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, Planning Board, March 11, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, Retirement Board, February 26, 2019, FILE; adopted.
ORDERED: That the Minutes, Traffic Commission, February 27, 2019, FILE;
ORDERED: That the following CLAIMS, refer to the LEGAL DEPARTMENT; adopted.
a) Meryl Cheney, 5 Whispering Pine Drive, Milford, pothole or other road
defect.
b) Andrea Kotufo, 103 Cook Lane, pothole or other road defect.
c) Christine McCarthy, 73 Wayside Inn Road, residential mailbox claim (2b).
Reports of Committees:
Councilor Ossing reported the following out of the Finance Committee:
Marlboro City Council Finance Committee
Monday April 1, 2019
In Council Chambers
Finance Committee Members Present: Chairman Ossing; Councilors
Robey, Oram and Irish.
Finance Committee Members Absent: Councilor Dumais
Other Councilors in Attendance: Councilors Delano, Landers and Doucette.
The meeting convened at 7:12 PM.
1. Order No. 19-1007607 – Transfer $60,000.00 For Fire Department Vehicle
Maintenance: The FINANCE COMMITTEE reviewed the Mayor’s letter dated
March 20, 2019 requesting a $60,000.00 transfer from various Fire Department
Accounts to the Fire Department Vehicle Maintenance and Repair account due to
an increased number of repairs for existing (older) apparatus. The FINANCE
COMMITTEE voted 4 – 0 to approve all the transfers.
IN CITY COUNCIL 5 APRIL 8, 2019
2. Order No. 19-1007618 – Review FY19 Abbreviated Budget and Recommend
FY20 Budget Format – The FINANCE COMMITTEE reviewed an order
submitted by Councilor Ossing that appeared on the March 25, 2019 City Council
agenda (Agenda item 19) to review the results of the FY19 abbreviated budget
process and approve the abbreviated budget authorization format for all
departments for the FY20 City budget.
By way of background information, the City Council approved the abbreviated
budget process for FY18 on April 24, 2017 (Order Number 17-1006856A) and
FY19 on April 23,2018 (Order No. 18-1007236). In its 2006 Financial
Management Review of the City of Marlboro, the Massachusetts Department of
Revenue recommended that the City adopt several best financial practices
including approving the City budget with the salary and expenditure accounts for
each department as opposed to the past practice of approving each individual line
item. This recommendation was also made in the City’s Fiscal Year 2016 audit
performed by Roselli, Clark & Associates. Department heads would not be able
to add funds to their approved salary or expenditure accounts without City Council
approval. The Auditor will provide a summary of all transfers within a
department’s budget each month to the City Council.
• The FINANCE COMMITTEE reviewed the FY19 abbreviated budget
process (summarized in Attachment 1) and voted 4 - 0 that the process was
working properly.
• The FINANCE COMMITTEE voted 4 - 0 to approve the order for the
abbreviated budget format for the FY20 budget process that includes the
sunset clause to have the City Council assess the results in April 2020 to
determine if the practice will continue.
• The FINANCE COMMITTEE agreed to support suspending the rules at
the April 8, 2019 City Council meeting to approve the Order to review the
results of the FY19 abbreviated budget process and approve the
abbreviated budget authorization format for all departments for the FY20
City budget.
3. FY20 Finance Committee Budget Review Schedule: The Finance Committee
reviewed the timeline and schedule for the upcoming Finance Committee meetings
to review the Mayor’s FY20 budget. The Finance Committee agreed to meet on
May 9, 13 and 14, 2019 to review the FY20 budget.
The Finance Committee adjourned at 7:35 PM.
Councilor Landers reported the following out of the Public Services Committee:
Meeting Name: City Council Public Services Committee
Date: April 1, 2019
Location: City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 140 Main Street
Convened: 6:00 PM – Adjourned: 6:55 PM
Present: Chairman Landers; Public Services Committee Members Councilors
Doucette and Irish; and Councilor Oram, Ossing, and Robey; Donald Rider
(City Solicitor, City of Marlborough)
IN CITY COUNCIL 6 APRIL 8, 2019
Reports of Committee Continued:
Order No. 19-1007568: On Petition from Massachusetts Electric, to install 461
feet of underground primary from P13 on Framingham Road up to Pad 1-99 on
Beverly Drive and to install 262 feet of underground secondary from Pad 1-99 to
HH 0-2, all work to remain in the public way. The Public Services Committee met
with Albert Galvin of National Grid regarding their petition to install 461 feet of
underground primary from P13 on Framingham Road up to Pad 1-99 on Beverly Drive
and to install 262 feet of underground secondary from Pad 1-99 to HH 0-2. Mr. Galvin
explained the purpose is to install upgraded wire with all new conduit. They were
requested to stay off the sidewalks since the area was recently repaved and the plan is
to hug the curb with the installation to bring to the residents on Beverly Drive.
Chairman Landers expressed the concern about cutting into new streets that were
recently done. The road cut is on Framingham Road at Pole 13 across to Beverly Drive
where it will on the road against the sidewalk as the request was for them not to touch
the sidewalk and minimize disturbance to the road.
Motion made by Councilor Doucette, seconded by the Chair, to approve the
petition. The motion carried 3-0.
Order No. 19-1007609: Application for Renewal of Junk Dealer/Second Hand
Dealer License, Tony Bitar, d/b/a Hannoush Jewelers, 601 Donald J. Lynch
Boulevard. Police Chief Giorgi approved the CORI report for Tony Bitar and had no
objection to his application for a Junk Dealer's/Second Hand License. Mr. Bitar stated
his business does not do much in the way of buying used jewelry, but he keeps the
license as a service to his customers. He informed the committee most of the people
who try to use the service are scammers attempting to sell fake jewelry. Mr. Bitar
stated they always test the product and he is experienced enough to tell the difference.
He provided an update of the business and explained how they do a good business on
jewelry repair.
Motion made by Councilor Doucette, seconded by the Chair, to approve the
license renewal. The motion carried 3-0.
Order No. 19-1007610: Application for Renewal of Junk Dealer/Second Hand
Dealer License, Roman Kimyagarov, d/b/a Arthur &Sons Shoe Repair, 107 Main
Street. Police Chief Giorgi approved the CORI report for Roman Kimyagarov and
had no objection to his application for a Junk Dealer's/Second Hand License. Mr.
Kimyagarov explained his business is to buy jewelry, gold, and precious metals. He
buys scrap gold, broken jewelry, and items people no longer wish to wear. The
business of buying gold and silver has been up and down this past year and not as busy
as in the past. He also shared some of his experiences with people trying to sell fake
gold/silver jewelry as well as gold and silver-plated items. Mr. Kimyagarov discussed
the leather repair portion of his business.
Motion made by Councilor Irish, seconded by the Chair, to approve the license
renewal. The motion carried 3-0.
IN CITY COUNCIL 7 APRIL 8, 2019
Reports of Committee Continued:
Order No. 19-1007605: Communication from President Clancy, regarding
Proposed Amendment to Chapter 473 of the City Code, Small Cell Wireless
Facilities Within Public Rights of Way. Councilor Ossing provided some
background on this proposed amendment to the City Code. Recently through the
Wireless Communications Committee, there were petitions for pole-mounted,
wireless, 5G facilities. During the review of those petitions, the City Solicitor
discovered recently issued FCC rules in October 2018 that gave communities 90-days
to implement or 180-days to put rules in place for their locality for aesthetic type
requirements, i.e. where to locate, how to mount, and color. Through research in other
communities, it was decided to implement the process for application fees, application
review, what the community is looking for, etc. The City Solicitor compiled the
proposed amendment to the City Code based on those from several communities and
the FCC knowing it would require some revision going forward. The deadline was
180-days from the FCC rules otherwise the community would be subject to those
issued by the FCC. City Solicitor Rider explained the four new sections proposed for
the City Code, Chapter 473. The committee discussed the proposed amendment to the
City Code and acknowledged it needed approval by their next meeting on April 8,
2019 but had at least two concerns they wanted to review for future revisions. Those
two concerns were no small cell facilities be allowed on leaning poles and the timing
of a recertification fee in relation to when the initial fee was paid.
Motion made by Councilor Irish, seconded by Councilor Doucette, to approve
Order No. 19-1007605. The motion carried 3-0.
Motion made by Councilor Irish, seconded by the Chair, to request a suspension
of the rules at the April 8, 2019 City Council meeting to vote on the Proposed
Amendment to Chapter 473 of the City Code, Small Cell Wireless Facilities
Within Public Rights of Way. The motion carried 3-0.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn. The motion carried 3-0. Meeting
adjourned at 6:55 PM.
Councilor Robey reported the following out of the Legislative & Legal Affairs Committee:
City Council Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee
Monday, April 1, 2019 – 7:05 PM
In Council Chambers
Minutes and Report
Present: Chairman Katie Robey, Councilor Landers, and Councilor Delano.
Other attendees: Councilors Doucette, Irish, Oram and Ossing; City Solicitor
Donald Rider; Conservation Officer Priscilla Ryder; and Attorney Kevin
Eriksen from Walker Realty LLC.
Order No. 16/17/18/19-1006443D-5: Open Space Covenant and Restriction for
certain land on a plan entitled “Open Space Exhibit for Apex Center, 240 Boston
Post Road West, Marlborough, MA, dated March 21, 2018.”
IN CITY COUNCIL 8 APRIL 8, 2019
Reports of Committee Continued:
The item was removed from the table. The chairman reminded those attending this
item had been approved by city council but wasn’t signed by Walker Realty as they
had an issue with one of the conditions. With the Conservation Commission, having
finalized the Snow Storage Plan for the site, the attorneys were able to craft
satisfactory language to cover the City Council’s concern about snow being dumped
in the Open Space area. It was moved and seconded to approve the order which
will become Exhibit B, the Open Space Exhibit which will become Exhibit A and
to approve and accept the gift thereof, the amended Open Space Covenant And
Restriction as follows: Section III Prohibited and Permitted Acts and Uses, A.
Prohibited Acts and Uses -remove the words “and snow” in #5, add in a new #6
to read, “The stockpiling of snow, except in accordance with an approved snow
management plan, which plan shall be on file with the City of Marlborough
Conservation Commission.” Renumber remainder of the items in A as 7-10.
Motion carried 3-0.
A Suspension of Rules will be requested on April 8 to refer this to the City
Solicitor to be placed in proper legal form.
It was moved and seconded to adjourn; motion carried 3-0. The meeting adjourned at
7:15 PM.
Councilor Juaire reported the following out of the Urban Affairs Committee:
Meeting Name: City Council Urban Affairs Committee
Date: March 26, 2019
Location: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 140 Main Street
Convened: 6:57 PM – Adjourned: 7:04 PM
Present: Chairman Juaire (Acting); Urban Affairs Committee Members
Councilors Landers and Doucette; Councilor Clancy.
Absent: Chairman Delano (recused) and Councilor Tunnera.
Order No. 18/19-1007461 (X18/19-1007423): Application for Special Permit from
Attorney Sem Aykanian to modify existing Special Permit issued to Main Street
Bank, 81 Granger Boulevard on June 22, 2009, Order No. 09-1002152C, to
modify permit to allow for an electronic digital display (electronic message
board) sign. The Urban Affairs Committee met with attorney Sem Aykanian
regarding Main Street Bank’s request to modify their existing special permit to allow
for an electronic digital display sign. Mr. Aykanian explained when the original
special permit was issued in June of 2009, these types of signs were not done. Since
that time, several other banks have applied for and received approval for their own
electronic digital display signs and they are requesting the same treatment as these
other businesses. They will follow all the City’s regulations regarding the operation
of their sign.
IN CITY COUNCIL 9 APRIL 8, 2019
Reports of Committee Continued:
The Original Special Permit is amended by removing Condition #7 in its entirety and
inserting in place thereof the following:
7) The location and design of any signage on the Site shall be reviewed and
approved by the City of Marlborough in accordance with § 526-13 entitled,
Electronic Message Center Signs and Digital Display Signs, as set forth in the
City Code of the City of Marlborough.
Motion made by Councilor Doucette, seconded by Councilor Landers, to approve
the application for special permit. The motion carried 3-0.
Order No. 18/19-1007423 (X18/19-1007461): Application for LED Sign Special
Permit, Main Street Bank, 81 Granger Boulevard. The Urban Affairs Committee
met with attorney Sem Aykanian regarding Main Street Bank’s request for a LED Sign
Special Permit. There was one condition for the operation of the sign as follows:
1. The Sign shall be operated in accordance with the EMC and Digital
Display Sign Ordinance of the City of Marlborough.
Motion made by Councilor Doucette, seconded by the Chair, to approve the
application for LED Sign Special Permit. The motion carried 3-0.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn. The motion carried 3-0. The meeting
adjourned at 7:04 PM.
Suspension of the Rules requested – granted
ORDERED: That pursuant to Order No. 18-1007236 the City Council Finance Committee
reviewed the abbreviated budget process utilized for FY19 and concluded that it
worked effectively and further recommends to the full City Council that the practice
be continued for FY20, APPROVED; adopted.
Suspension of the Rules requested – granted
ORDERED: That the City Council hereby approves the Massachusetts Department of
Revenue Financial Review Recommendation for adopting an abbreviated budget
authorization format for all departments for the FY20 budget.
It is further moved that the City Council will assess the results in April, 2020 to
determine if the practice will continue.
APPROVED; adopted.
Suspension of the Rules requested – granted
ORDERED: BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MARLBOROUGH THAT THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF MARLBOROUGH,
AS AMENDED, BE FURTHER AMENDED BY AMENDING CHAPTER 473,
ENTITLED “POLES, WIRES AND CONDUITS,” AS FOLLOWS:
I. By adding to Chapter 473 a new Article III, entitled “Small Cell Wireless
Facilities within Public Rights of Way,” as follows:
IN CITY COUNCIL 10 APRIL 8, 2019
Sec. 473-27. Purpose.
A. The purpose and intent of this Article III is to provide a uniform and
comprehensive set of regulations and standards for the permitting,
development, siting, installation, design, operation and maintenance of small
cell wireless telecommunications facilities in the City of Marlborough. These
regulations are intended to prescribe clear and reasonable criteria to assess and
process applications in a consistent and expeditious manner, while reducing
the impacts associated with small cell wireless facilities. This Article III
provides standards necessary to:
(1) preserve and promote harmonious land uses and the public rights of
way in the City;
(2) promote and protect public health and safety, community welfare,
visual resources, and the aesthetic quality of the City;
(3) provide for the orderly, managed, and efficient development of small
cell wireless telecommunications facilities in accordance with federal
and state laws, rules, and regulations; and
(4) encourage new and more efficient technology in the provision of small
cell wireless telecommunications facilities.
B. This chapter is not intended, nor shall it be interpreted or applied, to:
(1) prohibit or effectively prohibit any personal wireless service provider's
ability to provide personal wireless services;
(2) prohibit or effectively prohibit any entity's ability to provide any
interstate or intrastate telecommunications service, subject to any
competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory rules or regulation for
rights-of-way management;
(3) unreasonably discriminate among providers of functionally equivalent
services;
(4) deny any request for authorization to place, construct or modify
personal wireless service facilities on the basis of environmental effects
of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such wireless facilities
comply with the FCC's regulations concerning such emissions; or
(5) otherwise authorize the City to preempt any applicable federal or state
law.
Sec. 473-28. Application Process.
Applications for permits to install small cell wireless facilities shall be processed as
follows.
A. Fees. Applications shall be submitted to the City Council by filing with the
City Clerk’s Office in accordance with subsection D below, accompanied by
the application filing fee of $500.00 per application, payable to the City of
Marlborough. The $500.00 fee will cover up to five (5) locations. Each
application for more than 5 installations is subject to a separate fee of $100.00
per installation.
IN CITY COUNCIL 11 APRIL 8, 2019
B. Public Hearing Notices. The applicant must also pay for legal notices of the
public hearing to be mailed to abutters directly abutting, and across the street
from, the property where the pole for the proposed small cell wireless facility
currently is, or is proposed to be, located. The applicant is responsible for
obtaining the abutters list for each pole location contained within the
application.
C. Pre-Submittal Verification by DPW Engineering. No application will be filed
as provided in subsection D below unless and until the Engineering Division
of the City’s Department of Public Works (“DPW Engineering”) shall have
first verified that the applicant has assembled, to DPW Engineering’s
satisfaction, all of the application contents listed in subsection E below.
D. Payment of Application Filing Fees and Number of Application Copies. The
applicant shall pay all application filing fees to the City Clerk’s Office and
shall file the following number of sets of application materials at the offices
set forth below:
Number of Sets Office
3 City Clerk’s Office
1 City Engineer
1 Building Commissioner
12 City Council Office
E. Contents of Application. Applications shall include the following information:
(1) Applicant’s name, address, telephone number and email address.
(2) Names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of anyone
acting on behalf of the applicant with respect to the application.
(3) Detailed drawings and descriptions of the equipment to be mounted on
the pole(s) in question, including:
a. Type of equipment;
b. Specifications of equipment (including but not limited to
dimensions and weight);
c. Equipment mount type and material;
d. Power source or sources for equipment, including necessary
wires, cables, and conduit;
e. Expected life of equipment;
f. Coverage area of equipment, including:
i. Amount of antennas
ii. Antenna model
iii. Antenna length
iv. Antenna height
v. Typical coverage area radius;
g. Hardening, including:
i. If there is a battery backup
ii. If there is a generator backup; and
h. Renderings/photo simulations and elevation of equipment.
IN CITY COUNCIL 12 APRIL 8, 2019
(4) Detailed map with locations of the poles on which equipment is to be
located, including specific pole identification number, if applicable,
and the geographic areas the equipment will service.
(5) Detailed map showing existing and proposed small cell installations
within 500 feet of the application site.
(6) Certification by a registered professional engineer that the pole will
safely support the proposed equipment.
(7) Written consent by the pole owner to the proposed installation.
(8) Affidavit from a radio frequency engineer outlining the
network/network service requirements in Marlborough and how each
installation addresses that need in Marlborough. Such affidavit should
characterize, through or with coverage maps, the current level of
coverage and how the desired installation(s) will change the current
level of coverage, including current and proposed coverage, and the
breakdown of “excellent,” “good,” and “poor” reception areas.
(9) Liability insurance certificate, naming the City of Marlborough as an
additional insured.
(10) Description as to why the desired location is superior to other similar
locations, from a community perspective, including but not limited to:
a. Visual aspects; and
b. Proximity to single-family residences.
(11) Description of efforts to locate the equipment on existing poles which
currently exist or are under construction. A good faith effort to locate
on such poles is required and evidence of such efforts must be included
within the application.
(12) An affidavit from the applicant which certifies that it will maintain the
installations in good repair and according to FCC standards, and will
remove any installation not in such good repair, or not in use, within
sixty (60) days of being no longer in good repair or no longer in use.
F. Placement of Application on Agenda. Once the application has been
submitted and all filing fees have been paid, the City Clerk’s Office will
place the application on the City Council agenda for the scheduling of a
public hearing.
IN CITY COUNCIL 13 APRIL 8, 2019
G. Shot Clocks. The City Council shall have sixty (60) days from the
application’s filing date for processing an application for collocation of a
small cell wireless facility using a pre-existing pole, and ninety (90) days for
processing an application for attachment of small cell wireless facility
proposing a new pole. These shot clocks may be extended by mutual written
agreement of the City Council and the applicant, such agreement to be timely
filed with the City Clerk’s Office and a copy of that filing to be submitted for
informational purposes on the agenda for the next regular Council meeting;
provided, however, that by vote of the standing Council committee to which
any given application has been referred by the full Council, that committee
may, by simple majority vote at a duly noticed public meeting, authorize the
following committee members to sign the written extension agreement on
behalf of the full Council: a) the chairman of the committee; or, b) in his or
her absence or incapacity, its vice-chairman; or, c) when a quorum of the
committee is otherwise not present, the Council President or Vice-President
sitting for that meeting as an ex officio member of that committee.
H. Council Decision. The City Council may grant, grant with conditions, or deny
the application based on inadequate capacity of the pole or mounting structure,
safety concerns, reliability concerns, failure to meet applicable engineering
standards, and/or failure to meet applicable aesthetic requirements as
hereinbelow set forth.
Sec. 473-29. Annual Re-Certification and Affidavit.
A. Annual Re-Certification and Affidavit. Each year on July 1, the small cell
wireless equipment owner shall submit an affidavit which shall list, by
location, all small cell wireless installations it owns within the City of
Marlborough, and shall certify:
(1) each such installation that remains in use;
(2) that such in-use installations remain covered by liability insurance naming
the City as an additional insured; and
(3) each such installation which is no longer in use.
B. Annual Re-Certification Fee. The equipment owner shall pay to the City of
Marlborough an annual re-certification fee of $250.00 per installation which
remains in use.
C. Facility No Longer in Use. Any small cell wireless facility which is no longer
in use shall be removed by the owner, at the owner’s expense, within sixty (60)
days of the City Council’s receipt of the annual re-certification affidavit.
D. Non-Removal of Facility No Longer in Use. Any small cell wireless
installation which is not removed by the owner, at the owner’s expense, within
sixty (60) days after being listed in the annual re-certification affidavit as no
longer in use shall be subject to a fine of $100/day until such installation is
removed by the owner.
IN CITY COUNCIL 14 APRIL 8, 2019
E. Failure to Timely Submit Re-Certification/Remove Facility No Longer in Use.
Where such annual re-certification has not been timely submitted, or
equipment no longer in use has not been removed within the 60-day period, no
further applications for small cell wireless installations will be accepted by the
City Clerk’s Office until such time as the annual re-certification has been
submitted and all fees and fines have been paid.
Sec. 473-30. Aesthetics and Additional City Requirements.
A. Poles.
(1) No small cell wireless equipment shall be installed on double poles.
(2) Within the public right of way, only pole-mounted antennas shall be
permitted and all telecommunications towers within the meaning of
City Code sec. 650-25.A are prohibited.
(3) Absent City Council permission, no new poles are permitted within the
public right of way that are not replacing an existing pole. If an
applicant proposes to replace a pole in order to accommodate the small
cell wireless facility, the pole shall match the appearance of the original
pole to the extent feasible, including size, height, color, materials and
style, unless another design better accomplishes the objectives of this
section as determined by the Council. Such replacement pole shall not
exceed the height of the pole it is replacing by more than seven (7) feet.
(4) If a new pole is permitted by the City Council to be placed within the
public right of way, the new pole shall be designed to resemble existing
poles in the right of way, including size, height, color, materials and
style, unless another design better accomplishes the objectives of this
section as determined by the Council. Such new poles that are not
replacement poles shall be located no closer than ninety (90) feet to an
existing pole.
(5) Small cell wireless installation equipment (meters, boxes, etc.) shall be
mounted on the pole a minimum of eleven (11) feet above ground level.
(6) No small cell wireless installation equipment shall be replaced or
altered on a pole without a re-application, hearing and approval from
the City Council, unless the equipment is no longer functioning and it
is being replaced with the same or substantially similar equipment.
(7) The maximum height of any antenna mounted to an existing pole shall
not exceed 24 inches above the height of the then-existing pole;
provided that in any event:
a. no small cell wireless facility shall be located on a pole that is
less than twenty-six (26) feet in height; and
b. no facility shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height, including
but not limited to the pole and any antenna that protrudes above
the pole.
(8) Pole-mounted equipment shall not exceed six (6) cubic feet in
dimension.
(9) Not more than one (1) small cell wireless facility shall be mounted per
pole.
IN CITY COUNCIL 15 APRIL 8, 2019
B. Location.
(1) Each component part of a facility shall be located so as not to cause
any physical or visual obstruction to pedestrian or vehicular traffic,
inconvenience to the public's use of the right of way, or safety hazards
to pedestrians and motorists.
(2) A facility shall not be located within any portion of the public right of
way interfering with access to fire hydrants, fire stations, fire escapes,
water valves, underground vaults, valve housing structures, or any
other vital public health and safety facility.
(3) Each pole-mounted small cell wireless telecommunications facility
must be separated by at least 1,500 feet.
(4) All new wires needed to service the wireless telecommunications
facility must be installed within the width of the existing pole so as to
not exceed the diameter and height of the existing pole.
C. Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance. All facilities shall be built and
maintained in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA)/Architectural Access Board (AAB).
D. Residential Neighborhoods. If an applicant seeks to place a small cell wireless
facility in a residentially-zoned neighborhood, the applicant:
a. Should seek to avoid attaching to poles that are within twenty-
five (25) feet of an existing driveway so that the property owner
can plant trees that could shield the wireless equipment from
view; and
b. Should seek to avoid poles where the installation and/or
ongoing maintenance will require significant tree trimming due
to the wireless equipment.
E. Satisfactory Material, Construction and Work. The small cell wireless facility
shall be of such material and construction, and all installation and maintenance
work shall be done in such manner, as to be satisfactory to the City Council
and DPW Engineering. If the DPW Engineering shall determine that such
material, construction and/or work is (a) placing or tending to place at risk the
public health, safety, and welfare, (b) interfering or tending to interfere with
pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic, and/or (c) causing or tending to cause
damage to the public right of way or any property adjacent to the location of
the pole in question, the DPW Engineering shall forthwith notify the City
Council, which shall review that determination for possible further action as
to the applicant.
F. Indemnification. The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the City
against all damages, injuries, costs, expenses, and any and all claims, demands
and liabilities whatsoever of every name and nature, both in law and equity,
allegedly caused by the acts or neglect of the applicant, its employees, agents
and servants, in any manner arising out of the rights and privileges granted
herein to the applicant for its small cell wireless facility. Such indemnification
shall not be limited by the amount of the applicant’s liability insurance naming
the City as an additional insured.
IN CITY COUNCIL 16 APRIL 8, 2019
G. City Streets and/or Sidewalks. All cutting of and/or digging into City streets
and/or sidewalks by or on behalf of an applicant in conjunction with its small
cell wireless facility is prohibited, as is all underground installation associated
with the small cell wireless facility; provided, however, that the grounding rod
proposed to be installed as part of the small cell wireless facility is permitted
as long as:
1) The applicant installs the rod immediately adjacent to the pole so as
to cause minimal disturbance to the surface of the street or
sidewalk; and
2) The applicant restores the street or sidewalk surface to its pre-
disturbance condition to the satisfaction of the DPW Engineering.
H. Repair of Damage. The applicant shall repair, at its sole cost and expense, any
damage including, but not limited to subsidence, cracking, erosion, collapse,
weakening, or loss of lateral support to City streets, sidewalks, walks, curbs,
gutters, trees, parkways, street lights, traffic signals, improvements of any kind
or nature, or utility lines and systems, underground utility line and systems, or
sewer systems and sewer lines that result from any activities performed in
connection with the installation or maintenance of a wireless
telecommunications facility in the public right of way. The applicant shall
restore such areas, structures and systems to the condition in which they
existed prior to the installation or maintenance that necessitated the repairs. In
the event the applicant fails to complete such repair within the number of days
stated on a written notice from the City Engineering Division, the Division
shall cause such repair to be completed at the applicant's sole cost and expense.
I. Visual Impact Minimization. The small cell wireless facility shall be color-
coordinated so as to best minimize the visual impact of the facility.
J. Side of Pole on which to Mount Equipment. The small cell wireless facility’s
equipment cabinet, circuit breaker box, and electric meter main shall be
mounted on the side of the pole facing away from the roadway.
K. Future Road Reconstruction/Repair. Any future road reconstruction or repair
project by the City and/or the Commonwealth requiring the relocation of the
pole shall result in the applicant’s moving its small cell wireless facility to
another pole in a timely fashion after having been notified by the DPW
Engineering about the road project; provided, however, that any such
relocation shall require further City Council approval.
L. Construction and/or Installation Schedule. Prior to the commencement of
construction and/or installation of the small cell wireless facility, the applicant
shall provide the DPW Engineering with a written construction and/or
installation schedule satisfactory to DPW Engineering.
IN CITY COUNCIL 17 APRIL 8, 2019
M. Removal Bond. Prior to the commencement of construction and/or installation
of its small cell wireless facility, an applicant shall provide the City’s Chief
Procurement Officer (the “City CPO”) with a bond from a surety authorized
to do business in Massachusetts and satisfactory to the City CPO in an amount
equal to the cost of removal of the small cell wireless facility from the pole in
question and for the repair and/or restoration of the public way, in the vicinity
of the pole in question, to the condition the public way was in as of the date
when the relevant application was submitted to the City Clerk’s Office, said
amount to be determined by DPW Engineering. The amount of the bond shall
be the total of the estimate by DPW Engineering plus an annual increase of 3%
for the operating life of the small cell wireless facility. The applicant shall
notify the City CPO and DPW Engineering of any cancellation of, or change
in the terms or conditions in, the bond.
N. Each Requirement a Permit Condition. Each and every requirement set forth
in sections 29 and 30 of this Chapter 473 shall be deemed to be continuing
conditions on the applicant’s pole location permit granted by the City Council.
O. Failure to Comply with Conditions. An applicant’s failure to comply with any
of the City Council’s conditions to the Council’s satisfaction or, as applicable,
DPW Engineering or the City CPO, shall result in the City Council’s review
of the applicant’s pole location permit(s).
II. This amendment shall become effective immediately upon passage.
APPROVED; adopted.
First Reading, suspended; Second Reading, adopted; Passage to Enroll, adopted;
Passage to Ordain; adopted. No objection to passage in one evening.
Suspension of the Rules requested – granted
ORDERED: That the Open Space Covenant and Restriction for certain land on a plan
entitled “Open Space Exhibit for Apex Center, 240 Boston Post Road West,
Marlborough, MA, refer to the CITY SOLICITOR TO BE PLACED IN PROPER
LEGAL FORM FOR THE APRIL 29, 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING;
adopted.
Suspension of the Rules requested – granted
ORDERED: That the Application for Special Permit from Attorney Sem Aykanian to
modify existing Special Permit issued to Main Street Bank, 81 Granger Boulevard on
June 22, 2009, Order No. 09-1002152C, to modify permit to allow for an electronic
digital display (electronic message board) sign, refer to the CITY SOLICITOR TO
BE PLACED IN PROPER LEGAL FORM FOR THE APRIL 29, 2019 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING; adopted.
Councilor Delano recused.
IN CITY COUNCIL 18 APRIL 8, 2019
Suspension of the Rules requested – granted
ORDERED: That the Application for LED Sign Special Permit, Main Street Bank, 81
Granger Boulevard, refer to the CITY SOLICITOR TO BE PLACED IN PROPER
LEGAL FORM FOR THE APRIL 29, 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING;
adopted.
Councilor Delano recused.
ORDERED: That the Reappointment of Patricia Pope as Executive Director of the Council
on Aging for a three-year term to expire from date of City Council approval,
APPROVED; adopted.
Councilor Juaire recused.
ORDERED: That the Order relative to Municipal Aggregation that was approved by the
City Council on April 10, 2017 (Order No. 17-1006881) is hereby replaced and the
following adopted in place thereof:
1. This order supersedes Order No. 17-1006881 dated April 10, 2017.
2. The goal of the Ad-Hoc Municipal Aggregation Committee is to obtain
competitive electric supply offers that will provide stability and predictability
and on a yearly average be lower than the National Grid Fixed Basic Service
Rates during the same period.
3. Establish an Ad-Hoc Municipal Aggregation Committee that will review
competitive electric supply agreements and make recommendations to the
Mayor. The Municipal Aggregation Committee will consist of 5 members
including:
▪ The Mayor
▪ Two City Councilors (appointed by the City Council President)
▪ The Chief Procurement Officer
▪ The DPW Commissioner (or designee)
▪ A quorum shall consist of a minimum of 3 members
4. The Ad-Hoc Municipal Aggregation Committee will provide periodic updates
to the City Council on Municipal Aggregation implementation.
5. All suppliers of electricity licensed by the Department of Public Utilities and
qualified to do business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can
participate in the City’s Municipal Aggregation Program.
APPROVED; adopted.
Councilor Doucette opposed.
ORDERED: That the Communication from City Solicitor, Donald Rider, re: Proposed
Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Chapter 650 §22 & §5, relative to Multifamily
Retirement Community, 90 Crowley Drive, in proper legal form, Order No. 18/19-
1007452D (X18-1007198G), FILE; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 19 APRIL 8, 2019
ORDERED: THAT, PURSUANT TO § 5 OF CHAPTER 40A OF THE GENERAL LAWS,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MARLBOROUGH, HAVING
RECEIVED FOR ITS CONSIDERATION CHANGES IN THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MARLBOROUGH, AS AMENDED, TO
FURTHER AMEND CHAPTER 650, NOW ORDAINS THAT THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MARLBOROUGH, AS AMENDED, BE
FURTHER AMENDED BY AMENDING AND ADDING THERETO AS
FOLLOWS:
I. Section 650-5, entitled “Definitions; word usage,” is hereby amended by striking
out in its entirety the definition of “retirement community” and inserting in place
thereof the following new definitions:
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY - DETACHED AND TOWNHOMES
– A community consisting of detached or attached (only alongside walls in
so-called “townhouse” style) structures, constructed expressly for use as
housing for persons aged 55 or over, on one parcel or on contiguous parcels
of land, subject to the provisions of MGL c. 151B, § 4, as amended.
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY - MULTIFAMILY – A community
consisting of a single multiple unit structure constructed expressly for use
as housing for persons aged 55 or over, on one parcel or on contiguous
parcels of land, subject to the provisions of MGL c. 151B, § 4, as amended.
II. Section 650-22, entitled “Retirement Community Overlay Districts,” is hereby
amended as follows:
a. By striking out in its entirety subsection A thereof, entitled “Purpose,”
and inserting in place thereof a new subsection A, entitled “Purpose,” as
follows:
Purpose. The purpose of the Retirement Community Overlay
District shall be to advance the public health, safety and welfare
by providing for the development of retirement communities
that provide housing choices for persons aged 55 or over on
sites which are otherwise zoned for other purposes but which,
because of the size of the parcel being developed and its
proximity to other residential neighborhoods and/or residential
amenities and supportive services, will provide an appropriate
environment for a retirement community
b. By amending subsection C thereof, entitled “Permitted uses,” as follows:
i. by striking out in the introduction thereto the words “retirement
community” and inserting in place thereof the following words:
Retirement Community - Detached and Townhomes, or
a Retirement Community – Multifamily
IN CITY COUNCIL 20 APRIL 8, 2019
ii. by striking out the numbered provisions in subsection C which
follow the introduction thereto and inserting in place thereof a
new sub-subsection (i), entitled “Retirement Community -
Detached and Townhomes (RCO-D/T),” as follows:
(i) Retirement Community - Detached and Townhomes
(RCO-D/T).
(1) No building in an RCO-D/T community shall be
more than 2 1/2 stories in height.
(2) Each building in an RCO-D/T community shall
face either upon an existing street or upon a public
or private way constructed within said RCO-D/T
community and shall have a minimum front yard
of no less than 20 feet from the edge of the paved
way to the closest point of the structure and a side
yard of not less than 10 feet from the edge of the
paved way to the closest point of the structure.
Each building, whether principal or accessory,
shall be at least 10 feet distant from any other
building by airline distance between the nearest
points of the buildings.
(3) No dwelling in an RCO-D/T community shall
contain less than 1,000 square feet of living area
or more than 2,400 square feet of living area.
(4) All dwelling units in an RCO-D/T community
shall be detached from the others or attached only
alongside walls in the so-called "townhouse"
style.
(5) The lot or lots on which an RCO-D/T community
is located shall contain, on a consolidated basis, at
least 7,000 square feet per housing unit.
(6) No part of any principal building in an RCO-D/T
community shall be less than 25 feet from any
exterior lot line or less than 50 feet from the side
of any public way.
(7) Each dwelling unit in an RCO-D/T community
shall have its own attached yard area.
IN CITY COUNCIL 21 APRIL 8, 2019
(8) Required off-street parking for each dwelling unit
in an RCO-D/T community shall be adjacent
thereto. Each unit shall be required to provide at
least one parking space inside a garage and an
additional space in front of a garage, said garage
to be attached to said unit. The City Council may,
as a condition of its special permit, require
additional off-street parking areas to be used in
common by dwelling unit owners and their
invitees. In addition, the City Council may, as a
condition of the special permit, require the
adoption of legally enforceable condominium
bylaws or other similar regulations to limit or
prohibit the presence in an RCO-D/T community,
either entirely or except in designated locations, of
boats, boat trailers, campers, or other recreational
vehicles.
(9) Maximum combined lot coverage in an RCO-D/T
community shall not exceed 40% of the total lot
size.
(10) Each lot or contiguous lots upon which an RCO-
D/T community is located shall have total
frontage on an existing public way of at least 250
feet. Each lot or combination of lots shall have a
total size of not less than 10 acres. The underlying
zoning district for all said land shall be either
Industrial or Limited Industrial.
(11) The City Council may, as a permit condition,
require that all proposed condominium bylaws or
similar binding RCO-D/T community regulations
which may be relevant to the issuance of the
permit, including but not limited to bylaw
provisions prohibiting the presence of children
residing in an RCO-D/T community and limiting
or prohibiting the presence in a RCO-D/T
community of boats, boat trailers, or recreational
vehicles, be made a part of the special permit and
that any change to or failure to enforce said
provisions shall be a violation of said special
permit.
IN CITY COUNCIL 22 APRIL 8, 2019
(12) The City Council may, as a permit condition,
require that a proposed RCO-D/T community be
constructed entirely on one lot, and that, from and
after the date of the issuance of the building permit
for said community or any portion thereof, no
subdivision of said lot shall be allowed without
the express approval of the City Council;
provided, however, that the recording of a
condominium master deed and the conveyance of
condominium units within the area covered by
said deed shall be allowed.
(13) No unit in an RCO-D/T community shall have
more than three bedrooms.
(14) If an RCO/DT community is proposed which
contains at least 30 acres of land, the following
provisions shall supersede those found elsewhere
in § 650-22:
(a) The lot or lots on which an
RCO/DT community is located
shall contain at least 5,000 square
feet per unit in the RCO/DT
community;
(b) Maximum lot coverage in the
RCO/DT community shall not
exceed 50% of the total lot size,
excluding from the lot size any
land which, prior to development
of the site as a RCO/DT
community, would be defined as a
"resource area," as that term is
defined in M.G.L. c. 131, §40.
(c) Each lot or contiguous set of lots
upon which a RCO/DT community
is located shall have total frontage
on an existing public way, or on a
private way laid out by the City
Council pursuant to M.G.L. c. 82,
§21, of at least 250 feet; provided,
however, that said frontage need
not be continuous.
iii. by inserting after new sub-subsection (i), entitled “Retirement
Community – Detached and Townhomes (RCO-D/T),” a new
sub-subsection (ii), entitled “Retirement Community -
Multifamily (RCO-MF),” as follows:
(ii) Retirement Community - Multifamily (RCO-MF).
IN CITY COUNCIL 23 APRIL 8, 2019
(1) The total area of the tract of contiguous parcels to
be developed as an RCO-MF shall not be less than
ten (10) acres. The underlying zoning district for
all said land shall be either Industrial or Limited
Industrial and be located within the area that lies
within the perimeter of the following roadways:
commencing at the Fitchburg Street intersection at
the Rte. 85/290 Connector Road; then west along
the Rte. 85/290 Connector Road to the
intersection of Rte. 495; then south along Rte. 495
to where it passes over the intersection with Berlin
Road; then southeasterly along Berlin Road to the
intersection with West Hill Road; then easterly
along West Hill Road to the intersection with
Pleasant Street; then north along Pleasant Street to
the intersection with Fitchburg Street; then north
along Fitchburg Street to the intersection with the
Rte. 85/290 Connector Road. All of said land
being in reasonable proximity to the UMass
Memorial Marlborough Hospital and the
interstate highway intersection of Rte. 495 and
Rte. 290.
(2) An RCO-MF may contain one (1)- and two (2)-
bedroom units and studio units for independent
living persons, and may include services and
amenities for its residents, including but not
limited to, dining facilities, in-unit kitchens,
common rooms, activity rooms, exercise rooms,
theater, chapel, library, pharmacy/gift
shop/convenience store, beauty salon, barber
shop, personal banking services, offices and
accessory uses or structures, concierge and valet
services, third-party vendor services, and
recreation facilities.
(3) No building in an RCO-MF shall be more than 3
stories in height.
(4) The total number of dwelling units in an RCO-MF
shall be limited to 12 units per acre.
(5) No part of any principal building in an RCO-MF
shall be less than 50 feet from any exterior lot line
or less than 100 feet from any public way.
(6) Maximum combined lot coverage in an RCO-MF,
including any permitted accessory structures,
shall not exceed 40% of the tract or contiguous
parcels.
IN CITY COUNCIL 24 APRIL 8, 2019
(7) The tract or contiguous parcels upon which an
RCO-MF is located shall have a minimum total
frontage on an existing public or private way of at
least 200 feet.
(8) The City Council may, as a permit condition,
require that all proposed condominium bylaws or
similar binding RCO-MF regulations which may
be relevant to the issuance of the permit, including
but not limited to bylaw provisions prohibiting the
presence of children residing in a retirement
community and limiting or prohibiting the
presence in a retirement community of boats, boat
trailers, or recreational vehicles, be made a part of
the special permit and that any change to or failure
to enforce said provisions shall be a violation of
said special permit.
(9) The City Council may, as a permit condition,
require that a proposed RCO-MF be constructed
entirely on one tract and that, from and after the
date of the issuance of the building permit for said
community no subdivision of said tract shall be
allowed without the express approval of the City
Council; provided, however, that the recording of
a condominium master deed and the conveyance
of condominium units within the area covered by
said deed shall be allowed.
(10) A minimum of 1.0 parking space per dwelling unit
shall be provided in an RCO-MF. Attached and
detached garages shall count toward this parking
requirement.
(11) No dwelling unit in an RCO-MF shall contain less
than 500 square feet of living area or more than
1300 square feet of living area.
IN CITY COUNCIL 25 APRIL 8, 2019
(12) No building in an RCO-MF need be located or
placed further from the exterior line of any street
or public way than the average distance from such
street or way line of the dwellings or other
principal buildings located on the lots adjacent
thereto on either side. In determining such
average, a vacant side lot having a frontage of 50
feet or more shall be considered as though
occupied by a building having the required
setback, and a lot separated from the lot in
question only by a vacant lot having a frontage of
less than 50 fee shall be deemed an adjacent lot.
The point of measurement of the average distance
shall be from the closest point of the principal
building to the street or public way regardless of
parcel ownership.
(13) In an RCO-MF, there shall be provided with each
multifamily building a landscaped area equal to
the greatest single floor area of the building,
provided that such landscaped area may include
undisturbed natural areas such as vegetated areas,
woodlands, wetlands and floodplain areas.
APPROVED; adopted.
Councilor Irish opposed.
First Reading, suspended; Second Reading, adopted; Passage to Enroll, adopted;
Passage to Ordain; adopted. No objection to passage in one evening.
ORDERED: That the Communication from City Solicitor, Donald Rider, re: Special
Permit for Marc Buchan, to demolish the existing one story single-family dwelling
and construct a new two-story single-family dwelling on the same foundation
footprint at 180 Cullinane Drive, in proper legal form, Order No. 19-1007512B,
FILE; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 26 APRIL 8, 2019
ORDERED:
DECISION ON A SPECIAL PERMIT
MARC BUCHAN
180 Cullinane Drive, Marlborough, MA
CITY OF MARLBOROUGH
CITY COUNCIL ORDER NO. 19-1007512C
DECISION ON AN APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PERMIT
The City Council of the City of Marlborough hereby GRANTS the application for a
Special Permit to Marc Buchan of 180 Cullinane Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752, as provided
in this Decision and subject to the following Findings of Fact and Conditions:
PROCEDURAL FINDINGS
1. Marc Buchan, with an address of 180 Cullinane Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752, is the
owner of real property located at 180 Cullinane Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752 (the
“Applicant”).
2. The Applicant is the owner of said real property which is described in a deed recorded
with the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds at Book 68745, Page 400, and
identified on the City of Marlborough Assessor’s Maps as Map 6, Parcel 115 (the
“Site”).
3. The Applicant, on or about December 18, 2018, filed with the City Clerk of the City of
Marlborough an Application to City Council for Issuance of Special Permit (the
“Application”) under Section 12, Paragraph B of Chapter 650 (Zoning Ordinance) of
the Code of the City of Marlborough to demolish the existing one story single-family
dwelling located on the Site and to construct a new two-story single-family dwelling
on the same existing foundation footprint (the “Project”).
4. The Application consisted of an original and two copies of the following: (a)
Application to the City Council for Issuance of Special Permit, (b) Special Permit-
Summary Impact Statement, (c) Filing Fee check in the amount of $300.00, (d) Plan
Delivery Certification, (e) Tax Payment Certification, (f) Abutters List, (g) Existing
and Preliminary Site Plans, (h) Architectural Drawings, (i) Certificate of
Completeness of Application, and (j) Zoning Denial Letter (dated November 20,
2018), (collectively the “Documents”), which Documents are incorporated herein and
become a part of this Decision. Eleven sets of documents were delivered to the City
Council and one set each to the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, the City Planner (Building
Commissioner), the City Engineer, and the Conservation Officer, all in accordance
with Section 59 of Chapter 650 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Marlborough.
5. In accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the City Council and M.G.L. c. 40A,
§§ 9 and 11, the City Council established a date for a public hearing on the
Application, and caused to be advertised notice of said hearing and the date thereof in
the Main Street Journal. All necessary abutters, as certified by the Office of the
Marlborough Assessors, were provided notice as required by law.
IN CITY COUNCIL 27 APRIL 8, 2019
6. The Marlborough City Council held a public hearing on the Application on February
25, 2019 in accordance with the published notice (the “Public Hearing”). The time for
the City Council to take final action on the Application is May 26, 2019, a Sunday;
per M.G.L. c. 4, § 9 the next succeeding business day for final action is Tuesday, May
28, 2019.
7. The Applicant presented testimony at the Public Hearing detailing the Project, its
impact upon the neighborhood, and such issues as the City Council and members of
the public deemed appropriate. Members of the public had the opportunity to testify
at the Public Hearing. Subjects of concern were the deteriorated condition of the
existing single-family dwelling, the proposed new two story single-family dwelling,
and the existing foundation side setback. A direct abutter, Shawn McCarthy of 185
Cullinane Drive, spoke in support of the Project.
8. The Site is located in the A-3 zoning district.
9. The Building Commissioner has determined that the existing one-story single-family
dwelling, which is located on a nonconforming lot, is a legal pre-existing
nonconforming structure with respect to side yard setback; and that the proposed two-
story single-family dwelling would increase or intensify the setback nonconformity.
Specifically, the A-3 zoning district, where the Site is located, requires a side yard
setback of 15′, whereas the existing one-story single-family dwelling does not
conform because of its existing side yard setback of 5′. The proposed reconstruction
of the dwelling would add an additional second floor within the side yard setback area,
thereby intensifying the setback nonconformity and requiring a special permit from
the City Council. The Zoning Denial Letter of the Building Commissioner, dated
November 20, 2018, is attached hereto as “Attachment A.”
10. The existing site plan submitted with the Application is entitled, “Existing Conditions
Plan, Located at 180 Cullinane Drive, Marlborough MA; Prepared for: Marc Buchan,
65 Country Lane, Marlborough, MA 01752;” Prepared by: Land Planning, Inc., 167
Hartford Ave., Bellingham, MA 02019; graphic scale 1″ = 10´; dated April 30, 2018
(Sheet No. 1) (the “Existing Conditions Plan”), attached hereto as “Attachment B.”
11. The site plan submitted with the Application is entitled, “Site Plan, Located at 180
Cullinane Drive, Marlborough MA; Prepared for: Marc Buchan, 65 Country Lane,
Marlborough, MA 01752;” Prepared by: Land Planning, Inc., 167 Hartford Ave.,
Bellingham, MA 02019; graphic scale 1″ = 10´; dated March 24, 2017 (Sheet No. 1)
(the “Site Plan”), attached hereto as “Attachment C.”
12. The architectural drawings submitted with the Application are entitled “Private
Residence, 180 Cullinane Drive, Marlborough, MA;” Prepared by: VU Architecture,
167 Annie Moore Road, Bolton, MA 01740; dated August 31, 2017 (Drawing Nos.
A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4) (the “Architectural Drawings”) attached hereto as “Attachment
D.”
BASED ON THE ABOVE, THE MARLBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL MAKES THE
FOLLOWING FINDING OF FACT AND TAKES THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
A. The City Council finds that it may grant a Special Permit subject to such terms and
conditions as it deems necessary and reasonable to protect the citizens of the City of
Marlborough (also referenced herein as the “City”).
IN CITY COUNCIL 28 APRIL 8, 2019
B. The City Council finds the Application for the Special Permit does not derogate from
the intent or purpose of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Marlborough.
C. The Applicant has complied with all Rules and Regulations promulgated by the
Marlborough City Council as they pertain to special permit applications.
D. The City Council makes these findings subject to the completion and adherence by the
Applicant, his successors and/or assigns to the conditions more fully set forth herein.
E. The City Council finds that the expansion or alteration of the existing legally
nonconforming one story single-family structure at the Site, by demolition thereof and
construction of the proposed new two-story single-family dwelling, is not substantially
more detrimental to the neighborhood than the existing non-conforming use and
structure, that it is an appropriate use, and that is in harmony with the general purpose
and intent of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Marlborough when subject to the
appropriate terms and conditions as provided herein.
F. The City Council, pursuant to its authority under M.G.L. c. 40A and the Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Marlborough, hereby GRANTS the Applicant a Special
Permit to build a single-family dwelling as shown on the Plans filed, SUBJECT TO
THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, which conditions shall be binding on the
Applicant, his successors and/or assigns:
1. Demolition and Construction in Accordance with Applicable Laws.
Demolition and construction of all structures on the Site is to be in accordance
with all applicable building codes and zoning regulations in effect in the City
of Marlborough and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be built
according to the Site Plan and Architectural Drawings as may be subject to
minor modifications with prior written approval of the Building
Commissioner.
2. Work in Conformance with Special Permit. All work performed at the Site
shall be done in compliance with this Special Permit decision.
3. Recording of Special Permit. In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c.
40A, Section 11, the Applicant at his expense shall record this Special Permit
in the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds after the City Clerk has
certified that the twenty-day period for appealing the Special Permit has
elapsed with no appeal having been filed, and before the Applicant shall apply
to the Building Commissioner for a building permit concerning the proposed
expansion. Applicant shall provide a copy of the recorded Special Permit to
the City Council’s office, to the Building Department and to the City
Solicitor’s office.
APPROVED; adopted.
Yea: 11 – Nay: 0
Yea: Delano, Doucette, Dumais, Tunnera, Irish, Clancy, Landers, Juaire, Oram,
Ossing & Robey.
IN CITY COUNCIL 29 APRIL 8, 2019
ORDERED: It is moved, in conformance with MGL c. 30A, § 21(a)(3), that the
Marlborough City Council conduct an executive session for the purpose of
discussing strategy in litigation involving property off Williams Street, as an open
meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City Council,
and the chair hereby declares that an open meeting may have that effect.
It is further moved and stated that the City Council will re-convene in open session
after the executive session for the purposes of adjournment only.
APPROVED; adopted.
Yea: 11 – Nay: 0
Yea: Delano, Doucette, Dumais, Tunnera, Irish, Clancy, Landers, Juaire, Oram,
Ossing & Robey.
ORDERED: There being no further business, the regular meeting of the City Council is
herewith adjourned at 10:35 PM; adopted.
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