ZBA Slows Williamstown Youth Center PermittingBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
03:23AM / Friday, May 20, 2011 | |
 Charlie LaBatt, an engineer with Guntlow and Associates, explains the construction plans to the Zoning Board of Appeals but the board wants more specifics. |
Drainage took center stage at the Youth Center's special permit hearing and engineers will have to return next month with more specific plans. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Building a new Youth Center hit its first stumbling block Thursday when the Zoning Board of Appeals continued the special permit hearing for another month.
The hearing was suspended because the board had concerns over water drainage, construction worker parking and the hours of construction.
The center's engineering firm will have to readdress those issues. Project engineer Charlie LaBatt said it would not delay the construction.
The biggest issue was drainage; particularly with a pipe that drains water from the south parking lot to the western part of Chris Winter's property on Church Street.
Winters said that there were no drainage issues before the new school was built, but that the land around the pipes have been eroding since.
"I think [the plan] can be better," Winters said.
A drainage pipe on the east of his land is set to be repaired by the town but the west still poses a problem.
LaBatt, an engineer with Guntlow Associates who is planning the project, said while the plans increase the volume, other improvements will make the drainage flow neutral. Winter's concern was addressed somewhat by LaBatt redesigning some drainage to School Street after last week's Planning Board meeting.
"I'm trying to make it neutral in all ways," LaBatt said.
The drainage was supposed to remain the same when the new school was built but improving the infrastructure made the system more efficient, LaBatt said.
The board felt the problem should be addressed but also said it was unfair to make the youth center pay for the school's problems. A fair agreement is hoped to be reached at the next meeting.
"I think we need to do something to address Mr. Winter's concerns," Chairman Andrew Hoar said.
Additionally, the board debated if it actually had the authority to demand the upgrades.
While the youth center is a new construction, the board is actually amending the special permit for the school. The center needs to amend the special permit issued to the elementary school in regards to impervious surfaces. Because of the zoning district, only 15 percent of the total land can be impervious without a special permit. Currently 27 percent of the land is impervious and that percentage will increase with the Youth Center.
LaBatt said he could likely find a way to eliminate additional volume to that drain, but it would increase the volumes to other drains. Fixing the entire problem will come at added expenses to the Youth Center.
The board sent the engineers back to the drawing board to readdress the drainage as best as the firm could, and to create a runoff plan for the construction period – which is mandated in the new bylaws.
The board also wanted more specifics about parking for the construction workers. The workers will not be using the parking lots but instead parking in the fields by the construction site, LaBatt said. If there is not sufficient room, a shuttle will be used to bring the workers to the site.
The board requested more exact figures on the number of workers and vehicles and if a shuttle system is needed.
The board also recommended specific hours for the construction work. According to LaBatt the construction is expected to take six months after an October groundbreaking. The board voiced concerns about the safety of the students and noise.
LaBatt said he expected workers to be on the property from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., but the board wanted specific, set hours, suggesting 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.
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