With surprising dispatch, the 2017 spring Town Meeting got underway Monday, April 24, approving a series of zoning and bylaw measures affecting some aspects of development before ending the evening discussing Article 17, a limited ban on plastic bags.

The clear high point for the first session was speed with which developer-related articles passed muster. Last year, all were shot down. Perhaps the addition of 30 meeting members after the April election had its impact. Surely, the Residential Study Group (RSG) did.

That 14-member body, meeting 30 times for more than 900 person-hours since last August, embraced a range of interests — from planning to legal to real estate. See their names here >> The compromises that led to Article 8 (Residential driveway and parking zoning changes) appeared to be time well spent.

Long-term process

Realtor Steve McKenna emphasized the group’s work represents baby steps in a long-term process.

Redevelopment Board Chair Andrew Bunnell got 15 minutes to describe an article addressing driveway safety and open space that has “many moving parts.” He called the measure “extremely strong.”

Attorney Elizabeth Pyle explained the article aims to eliminate danger of downward-sloping driveways by limiting slope to 15 percent and have parking at surface level in new construction only. The move encourages one garage, not two, and leads to building smaller homes, she said.

While Article 6 (Mixed-use zoning) and 7 (Artisanal definitions, zoning) were adopted without member comment, Article 8 drew some challenges.

Discussion focused on an amendment from former Redevelopment Board member Chris Loreti introduced by Ted Sharpe (7). Loreti said he did not support the article’s off-street parking impact.

He said the town has an estimated 38,000 vehicles for 19,000 households and has a longtime tradition of no front-yard parking. Accompanying his comments were photos showing cars parked up to the sidewalk and a development built by a member of the RSG.

He said the article, if enacted, would result in more requests for waivers to the overnight parking pan.

A call to terminate debate led to a vote of 105-100-3. Needing two-thirds, it was insufficient to pass.

Debate continues

Paul Schlichtman (9) opposed the amendment, saying the town requires too much parking.

Zarina Memon (21) backed the measure, asking why it calls for two changes, not one. Pyle said the garage-under design leads to the issue and that both changes are needed.

After the break, Patrick Hanlon (5) supported the main motion and opposed the amendment. His comments provided clarity to this article and many others addressed in the first session: He called the “package of solutions” a compromise, and he urged Town Meeting not to “pick and choose which parts of the compromise to take.”

Brian Rehrig (8) asked whether it is legal to park on town sidewalks. Police Chief Fred Ryan was unavailable, so Town Counsel Doug Heim stood in, saying one can’t obstruct a public way.

A move to terminate debate was approved, 190-21-1. Loreti’s amendment failed, 37-172-1. The main motion was approved, 200-13-2.

Two articles, 9 (Medical-marijuana buffer zone) and 10 (Mt. Gilboa zoning) had their recommendations of no action supported by unanimous voice votes.

Compromises: 11 through 14

Article 11 through 14 brought members to the meat of the work done by the RSG — bylaws aiming to put some controls on construction.

They were discussed as a unit, followed by individual votes. Read each here: 11,12, 13 and 14.

Selectmen Chair Joseph Curro Jr. said his board backed all articles. They would increase notification requirements, among other changes.

In an amendment to Article 11, Christian Klein (10) proposed adding developer contact information to the notice.

RSG member Adam Auster (3) got 10 minutes to present the four articles. He described visits to sites where many members got a firsthand taste of how zoning bylaws apply in the real world. “These are pretty modest proposals” to changes to town bylaws, he said, and “all represent improvements.”

Addressing Article 14, RSG member Wynelle Evans said the key responses to a survey focused on noise and found that almost 60 percent of residents are home all day.

‘Itty-bitty modest’

As the attempts address noise, Bill Berkowitz (8), echoing Auster, said: “I agree that they’re modest … itty-bitty modest.” The last phrase drew some laughs.

Berkowitz also noted he saw no enforcement mechanism in Article 14.

Christine Bongiorno, head of town human services, said a noise complaint would spur an inspector to a site, resulting in a warning, followed by a fine and court action. Heim said late that the fine is $200

Annie LaCourt (15) called the proposed rules too tough on developers.

Peter Howard (10) asked why the town took no action against the developer at 109 Irving St. last summer. Bongiorno said testing by a town inspector found noise below 85 db, the level that spurs a fine.

Pyle said John Martin, a noise expert, claimed that only the Board of Health could change the decibel limit.

A moved to end debate on all articles passed, 177-29-2. Klein’s amendment was approved, 195-9-2.

The vote for the four: amended Article 11, 205-3; Article 12 and 13, taken together, 205-4; and Article 14, 199-9.

Ban discussion starts late

The move to postpone Article 15 (Pride Commission) to April 26 passed on a voice vote.

The no-action recommendation on Article 16 (Fees, tax liens) was supported on a voice vote.

At a late hour, members faced Article 17, (Plastic bag regs). but it was worth waiting for, because it sparked the quotes of the night.

After Curro reviewed the selectmen’s recommendations, Klein offered an amendment about the bag thickness, which was accepted administratively.

Schlichtman offered an amendment to exempt book sales. Juli Brazile (12) opposed it, and so did Charles Foskett (8).

First, though, Joe Tully (14) got off a good line, noting that he does not usually see someone tossing paperback books at 5 a.m.

Foskett betrayed no humor: “I like plastic bags …. they work …. why fix something that is not broken?”

At 10:50 p.m., chief proponent Jim Ballin asked for 10 minutes to make a presentation, and he took it all, including comments about such a ban in 42 other communities and much outreach to businesses.

Just before adjournment, William Logan (2) asked for reconsideration of Article 14.

Town Meeting is broadcast live on local broadcast and live-streamed on acmi.tv >>