NO TREES TO BE CUT Bordering Golf Course
Backtracking, asserting their presentation at Selectmen's July 15 meeting had been 'unclear', representatives for the proposed building on the Myette property at 120 Boston Road said no trees would be cut down along Route 119 bordering the golf course.
Improving lines of sight when approaching the building is the goal of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, representatives for the project said, explaining that this could be accomplished by clearing brush and tree branches up to a maximum height of six feet from road level. No mature trees would need to be cut.
Traffic engineers are concerned about three issues when evaluating lines of sight for entrance and egress: 1. Stopping sight distance 2. Intersection sight distance, and 3. Car-stopped-in-road distance. Estimated line-of-sight distance to the proposed entrance is now 200 feet. Studies show that 300 feet of sight distance is needed to approach the Myette site safely, they said. By trimming undergrowth and mature tree limbs up to six feet from road level, lines of sight would be increased from 200 to 300 feet, meeting the safety standard, making for much safer driving.
Vetting the new plan, Selectmen asked Police Chief Don Palma whether there was a record of frequent traffic accidents in the area. A quick review of accident logs did not show the area to be a problem, the Chief said. Asked whether there were any reports of errant golf balls hitting cars traveling along Rte. 119, Chief Palma replied that a golf ball was rumored to have bounced off a cruiser years ago, but that he could not verify the rumor's accuracy. Asked whether he thought the proposed trimming presented any unanticipated hazards, Chief Palma said he saw none. The Chief requested that any tree work be coordinated with his department to ensure public safety while doing the tree work.
When asked, Highway Department Director Tom Delaney said he did not believe the trimming would lead to increased flooding or water flow in the area, further noting that most - if not all - the land being discussed is state-owned and, consequently, not under town jurisdiction. Josh Degen agreed saying that he was not sure why town approval was being sought because 'most if not all the land is likely state property.'
Based on public concerns that brush removal and trimming could lead to golf balls striking cars traveling along Rte. 119, Selectmen Cunningham asked whether the applicant would be "willing to consider some kind of remediation" should this become a problem after the brush clearing. Representatives replied that "if it is determined that there are accidents as a direct result, the applicant would be willing to consider some kind of remediation."
Resident Shane Grant commented that it seemed strange for the town to issue a permit for something the state is doing anyway, further commenting that if Selectmen decided to issue a permit, he thought it would be preferable to wait until the Planning Board had determined the exact location of curb cut for the property. Michelle Collette interjected that curb cuts are under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and praised the applicant for bringing the issue of sight lines before Selectmen before exact location of curb cuts was determined, thus avoiding red tape further along in the permit granting process.
Selectmen voted unanimously to issue a license between the town and PCM Realty Trust effective Monday, July 29, 2013 to proceed with the trimming work along the section of Rte 119 by the golf course provided that:
-There be no trimming and brush removal higher than six feet from road height
-Full site plan review by the Planning Board.
- If errant golf balls become a problem, the applicant would consider providing protective netting.
