A three-lot subdivision on Mount Zion Road took up much of the Marlborough Planning Board’s Monday, October 16 meeting at Town Hall. The board also held a public hearing on the conversion of an agricultural building on Milton Turnpike, which is proposed to become a self-storage facility.

In a 5-2 vote the Board approved the three-lot subdivision proposal, which was submitted by Marlborough residents Caroline and Steven Santini. The Santinis seek to divide their 25.4-acre parcel at 219-219 Mount Zion Road into three lots: one 2.5 acres in size, a second four-acre lot, and an 18.9-acre lot.

The smaller lots have houses on them, while the large parcel does not. The applicants need to subdivide their 25.4 acres so they can sell the houses along with those smaller lots.

The large third lot would sit on the town’s ridgeline and would encompass some wetlands – which led to spirited discussion during this and previous meetings and at a September 18 public hearing. Following the October 2 meeting, Town Attorney Meghan Clemente drafted a letter of approval for the proposal, with several conditions.

One of those conditions obligated the Santinis – or any future owner – of the big parcels to comply with the town’s rules governing construction along the town’s ridgeline and for steep parcels.

Board member Cindy Lanzetta was one of the two Board members to oppose the application. “There are a lot of outstanding things we have to look at to do the job we’re supposed to do,” said Lanzetta. “I don’t think we can approve this.”

Member James Garofalo agreed with Lanzetta. “The issue here is that the site chosen [for a future dwelling on the parcel] seems to be in violation of the town’s ridgeline ordinance,” he said. “So much of this property is both ridgeline and wetlands that we need to be careful to be sure there is a location [appropriate for a future building].

“It’s in the applicants’ interest to get this straightened out now,” he said. “If this were to go the courts, it could drag on for years.”

The approval resolution passed by the Board included the ridgeline restrictions and imposed $2,000 in recreation fees on each of the two lots with houses. Board Chairman Chris Brand also said the Board intends to require an escrow fund to cover any future engineering costs for the third lot, should any building plans get proposed.

Agriculture to self-storage

The Planning Board also held a public hearing on Mohegan Farms, the proposed conversion of an agricultural building at 271 Milton Turnpike into a eight-unit self-storage facility. Project Engineer Nadine Carney noted that the project will mainly involve interior remodeling and will utilize an existing driveway.

A gravel parking lot will be in back, with a six-foot privacy fence at its rear. Carney agreed with a request by Garofalo to extend the fence by eight to 10 feet, thus shielding neighbors from headlights during the dark. The proposed facility will be open 24/7.

“I did a site visit there recently and a car was parked in front,” noted Board Member Steve Jennison, who was concerned about people parking so close to Milton Turnpike. Carney said that when the facility is complete, no parking will be in front. The small front yard will instead be planted with grass and other low-growing plants.

While the Board moved to continue the matter, it did hear comments from neighbors Edward and Margie Horton. They live at 267 Milton Turnpike, next door to the proposed Mohegan Farms.
“Our house is 75 feet from your property,” said Edward Horton. “Our main question is, what kinds of products are going to be stored there? Will there be any hazardous chemicals?”

Carney said the units will be used for personal household items – such as excess furniture. No chemical or agricultural items will be stored there.
Horton also said a converted agricultural building down the road is now used for refrigerated storage of hemp. “And it stinks,” he said. “Please tell us you’re not going to do that!” There are no plans for refrigeration at Mohegan Farms, Carney said, nor will it be used for any agricultural purposes.

Other proposals
The Planning Board also took the following actions:

• It scheduled a public hearing for November 20 for a proposed three-lot subdivision on Orange Street in Marlboro. One lot has an existing house, and two additional homes are proposed.

• It approved a resolution to draft a letter of approval for a transfer of property at 548 and 550 Lattintown Road. The Board needs to first determine the location of water and sanitary provisions at the two parcels, to ensure both owners retain these necessary services.

• It tentatively scheduled a public hearing for November 20 for Stralow Farm at 551 Lattintown Road. There, property owner Raven Stralow aims to use a small cottage as a short-term rental property.

• It aired a proposal by attorney Mark Blanchard to amend, to 15 feet, the separation requirement between multifamily buildings on parcels greater than 20 acres.