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Post by Admin on Jun 9, 2017 11:32:09 GMT -7
GLA Project Review Committee Meeting on Monday, June 5, 2017
7-9 p.m. at 12 Gemini Road in North Glastonbury.
Agenda:
1. NG 51-A Dwelling and driveway applications
2. SG 84-D Completion of dwelling approved in 2004
3. SG 41-D. Addition and Set Back Variance applications
4. Project Review Checklist
The Road Advisory Group gave a well received presentation of current conditions and the structural composition of Glastonbury roads. They discussed ways in which the Project Review Committee could use GLA Road and Driveway Standards to improve roads and protect the infrastructure investment of all Glastonbury landowners. After the Road Advisory Group presentation the meeting was called due to a lack of a quorum. Directors Richard Johnson, Gerald Dubiel and Paul Ranttalo did not attend. Landowners were inconvenienced and Project Review business had to be put off until the next Board meeting.
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chris
Full Member
Posts: 175
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Post by chris on Jun 10, 2017 8:38:38 GMT -7
Sounds like dereliction of duty by certain directors to me, two of whom did not even notify the committee that they would not be attending! One's mind wanders to wonder if this was an intentional boycott by these directors to sabotage the meeting? It certainly appears that way, as well as an apparent power struggle continuing, all initiated by CUT-affiliated directors and directed against any other director or landowner who stands in their way! Related commentary here |
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Post by Admin on Jun 11, 2017 10:17:48 GMT -7
High South Project Violates GLA Standards
and puts property and lives at risk A project first proposed in 2006 and now before the Project Review committee, violates GLA Road and Driveway standards and puts community lives at risk. The owner of parcel SG84D proposes to build a 1,700 square foot house and use the existing driveway that connects to Sagittarius Skyway. As the below survey map shows, the parcel is in High South Glastonbury and abuts Hercules Road and Sagittarius Skyway. Hercules runs across the bottom of the map. The current driveway is marked in brown and one proposed by the Forum, as a much safer alternative that connects to Hercules Road, is shown in green. 
Survey map of South Glastonbury Parcel SG84DOn the above survey map roads are depicted as solid black lines bordered by dashed lines with circles. The dashed lines represent the 60 foot GLA easement, 30 feet on each side of the road as measured from the center line of the road. White circles are survey post locations. The black line for Sagittarius Skyway is broken in spots. Standards Violated, Property and Lives at Risk The GLA Road and Driveway standards require a 240 foot clear line of sight when a driveway enters a road. This is similar to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) which requires a 280 foot line of sight for vehicles entering a paved, flat road where the speed limit is 25 mph. The current driveway enters Sagittarius Skyway at a sharp downhill bend in the road. Sagittarius Skyway is not paved and requires greater stopping distances than what AASHTO recommends. From November until April, Sagittarius Skyway is usually covered in snow and ice.
The current driveway enters Sagittarius Skyway at a less than ideal angle of 60 degrees. That requires the exiting driver to uncomfortably twist their spine to see traffic coming down Sagittarius Skyway. The driver's view is uphill. Depending upon vehicle window placement and size, the view of the uphill portion of the road may be limited or blocked.
Uphill view of Sagittarius Skyway from parcel SG84D drivewayIn the above photo a white bucket was placed on the center line of Sagittarius Skyway at the point where a driver would first see a vehicle exiting or entering the current driveway of SG84D. The sight line distance from the driveway to the bucket is 158 feet; 82 feet short of GLA standards.
The below photo shows the view from the driveway towards Sagittarius Place and Hercules Road. A white bucket was placed on the center line of Hercules Road where an oncoming driver would first see traffic entering or exiting SG84D's current driveway. The sight line is just 138 feet; 102 feet shorter than GLA standards. The road to the left of Hercules and the white bucket is Sagittarius Place.
Downhill view of Sagittarius Skyway and Hercules Road from parcel SG84D drivewayA vehicle traveling at 25 miles per hour (mph) is moving at 37 feet per second. If a driver reacts quickly and hits the brakes within 2 seconds he will still have about 84 feet to bring his car to a dead stop coming down Sagittarius Skyway. Under optimal, dry road conditions he may be able to stop just in time to avoid a collision. If the road is wet braking distances are generally doubled. For snow and ice conditions braking distances increase by a factor of five. If the driver is distracted by a cell phone, deer or just the beautiful, serene view his reaction time will increase and an accident is inevitable. A collision is also imminent when the road is wet, snow or ice covered, as braking distances will not be sufficient. It is not hard to envision a winter snow storm, limited visibility, a heavy snow plow coming down Sagittarius Skyway and rounding the bend at the same time an unsuspecting motorist who also has limited visibility is pulling out of SG84D's driveway onto Sagittarius Skyway.
The Solution - How to Easily Prevent Accidents and Save Lives Parcel SG84D is also served by Hercules Road which winds in back of the property. Below is a photo that shows Hercules Road and the current house under construction on SG84D. The house sits about 15 to 20 feet higher than Hercules so a driveway should include a few turns for safer winter driving.
View of SG84D from Hercules Road in back of the propertyThe Forum proposes that the GLA Board and Project Review Committee require that a new driveway be created for parcel SG84D that connects to Hercules Road. The current driveway entrance should be blocked off so a dangerous condition would cease to threaten the lives of landowners driving past SG84D. Some Board members may object by stating that approval was already granted for this project in 2006. The Forum reminds the Board that landowner safety is paramount. The GLA Board has revisited other issues in the past and taken multiple votes to resolve them. The original Project Review property evaluation was in error and now the GLA Board has an opportunity to take corrective action that is in the best interest of all landowners. To not take action would be negligent and could be used as a basis for legal action if someone is injured, dies or property is damaged.
The Forum discovered other issues with parcel SG84D which for the safety of our community should be researched and rectified. They are:
- Setback Issues - It appears that the current setback of the building on SG84D is 8 feet short of were it is supposed to be. The outer wall sits 47 feet from the center line of Sagittarius Skyway. Given that Sagittarius Skyway has a 30 foot easement from the center line that means the house is just 17 feet from the easement line. It is supposed to be at least 25 feet from the easement. The Forum searched for easement posts to determine if the road center line was actually in the center of the easement. Some posts were missing and others appear to have been moved. A detailed survey may need to be done.
- The septic tank and system were installed by a previous owner in 1990 for a 3 bedroom trailer. The 27 year old septic system is to be reused for the new house. It is not clear to the Forum if the tank size and drain field were ever inspected, tested or verified by the County Sanitarian. The trailer was moved in 2005 and the lot has stood vacant since then. Does the system even work anymore? Usually a septic system fails when the drain field clogs and effluent backs up into the house. The dried out system could be a mouse condo with tunnels allowing effluent to leak out of the drain field. Golemeyer Creek is just a few hundred feet downhill from SG84D and could be severely polluted by a rodent burrowed and infested drain field or leaking septic tank. Unfortunately these concerns may not get addressed until the system is connected and running.
- Montana state rules allow an owner to electrically wire their own house if they are going to live in it. If the house is built for others it must be wired by a certified and licensed electrician. It is not clear to the Forum that a certified electrician will wire this house. However we do know that the state is required to inspect the finished electrical project regardless of who wires it.
- Fire is a serious problem in our community and especially so in High South. Fires can start from auto accidents and faulty electrical wiring. Will the GLA Board allow landowner's property and lives to be placed unnecessarily at risk?
- If a fire started at SG84D it could block the only escape route people have that live on Sagittarius Skyway. A simple auto accident and ensuing blaze at SG84D could trap residents in their homes while the flames approached.
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