April 7, 2009
0.0 Assembly
Members Present: Jack Sheehy, Lynn Cook, Nan Schwartz and Ken Eastman
Alternates Present: Dennis Kelly, Bill Cole
Members and Alternates absent: Tom Marshall, Fran Greene and Jim Crandall
Visitors: Chris and Carolyn Bullock, Peter Mellen, Pamela and Brian Vaillancourt, Tom Taylor, Steve Terani, Steve Hanssen, Phil Barker, Carolyn Russell, Jim Russell, Ken Tanner, Ron Jager and Jed Schwartz
Sheehy asked for a motion to have Dennis Kelly sit in for Tom Marshall. Schwartz motioned Kelly sit in for Marshall. Eastman seconded the motion, all voted in favor.
1.0 Minutes- Schwartz motioned to approved February 3, 2009 and March 3, 2009 with corrections to 4.3 that Eastman recluse himself from the subject and 3.3 the new lot # should read TM#12-117. Schwartz will correct the merger at the Sullivan County Registry of Deeds. Eastman seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
2.0
Driveway Permits-
None
3.0 Mergers- Kerry and Pamela Bertrand, 73 Lookout Point Road, TM#24-050, tract 1 and tract 2, deed provided. Schwartz asked if the fee had been paid. Cook stated that the fee had been waived; as it had been in the past. Cook motioned to approve the merger application as presented. Kelly seconded the motion. All voted in favor, the merger was approved.
4.0
Old Business-
4.1 Public Hearing- Peter Mellen (representing Jake Realty Trust) - Jake Realty Trust, minor subdivision on Faxon Hill Road, TM#15-058. Mellen reviewed the site plan with the Board. Mellen provided the previously requested current use map for the Assessors files. Eastman asked if the plan fulfills all of the needs of the Assessors regarding the current use map. Cook said yes.
Sheehy asked if there were any questions from the abutters.
Andrew Hatch, an abutter, asked to review the site plan. The Board allowed him to come to the table to review the maps and ask questions. Hatch asked if the proposed driveway location was safe. Stating that he was asked by the Public Works Director to relocate his driveway to a safer location. Hatch asked if the proposed driveway location was reviewed with the Public Works Director. Mellen stated that he did speak with the Public Works Director. Mellen advised that Thayer stipulated that there must be a culvert installed, two blind driveway signs and that the property owner must clear a line of sight. Hatch stated that the driveway location was his only concern with the subdivision application.
Kelly motioned to approve the subdivision as presented. Eastman seconded the motion. All voted in favor, the subdivision was approved.
4.2 Selectmen- meet to discuss the way forward on the Town Buildings- Eaton said that after the outcome of Town Meeting and the vote against the Town Hall he would like to see all Committees and Boards work together to move forward. Chairman Sheehy provided a charge for the Municipal Task Force, on behalf of the Planning Board.
Eaton stated that the Town has heard from the Center Station property ownerÕs family and are awaiting a formal response. Kelly stated that there had been tension between the Future of the Town Hall Committee and the Municipal Task Force. Kelly said that the Future of the Town Hall Committee refused to hear from the Municipal Task Force. Schwartz said that the Municipal Task Force has two new members and are ready to move forward. Rich Cook stated that the Selectmen would like to encourage the Planning Board to have the Municipal Task Force move forward and to hold another Public Hearing in order to provide Municipal Task Force information. Cook asked if the Planning Board received a letter from the Conservation Commission. The Board had for this evenings meeting. Cook asked for a set of priorities within the next few months. Kelly said that they are planning a Public Hearing in the summer for all taxpayers to be allowed to attend. Kelly said the Rescue Squad is in a bind with their storage issues. Kelly said no Department is in an emergency mode and the Task Force should have evaluations well before the next Town Meeting. Cook said that if we are to have an open forum the Town should participate in the delegation of the priorities. The taxpayers should be able to have a say of what is a priority. Eastman said that when I was elected as Selectmen, and appointed the ex-officio to the Planning Board, I asked almost every Planning Board meeting for the status of the Space Task Force; it seems like some of the issues on the charge should be done at this time. Eastman said that the Meetinghouse Committee was only charged to look at the Meeting House and should not be criticized for their work. Kelly said that it is very upsetting to hear that one of the other Town buildings has no effect on their charge. Eastman said that they did what they were charged. Kelly stated that there was no input allowed from the people in attendance of their Public Hearings. Taylor said until we are ready to lay out a timeline and a cost line we are not able to put forward on any one building. Taylor read 94:38 (binding decicion) the Planning Board has been charged to have a Capital Improvement Plan with a good solid long range plan. Sheehy stated that the Space Task Force has accomplished a lot that the Town is not aware of and we should start off right now and work together. Eastman stated that he would like to clear the air of the $5,000.00 the money allotted to the Space Task Force and was spent on the Future of the Town Hall Committee plans. Eastman said that he had approached the Space Task Force prior to the money being spent and asked if there was anything in the works for the Municipal Task Force. Eastman stated that he was assured that no money was needed at that time.
Schwartz stated that when the Planning Board applied for a charrette program this is to allowed the Town to know what the assets of the Town are and to come up with a use plan. Taylor said that he has just joined the Space Task Force but there has been a lot of data collected the issue is to combine the information and have it entered into a working document. Taylor if you eliminate the Space Task Force the Planning Board is still charged with Capital Improvement Plan authority and should not be discouraging the Space Task Force. Cook stated that she would like to see open communication and not to have the issue placed on the back burner. Kelly stated that he is working on a possible meeting with Matt Taylor to discuss possible grants. Kelly said that the Space Task Force feels that no one facility should overshadow another Town building and to let us do our job. Eastman said that he would like to amend #10 of the Space Task Force to report the findings to the Town in the Fall. Taylor stated CIP reviews are due in September with a final review in October. Schwartz stated that the Public Hearing would be better suited to be held in the Fall. Schwartz asked if a questionnaire be a good way to go. Cook stated that this would be a great idea and together we can get a questionnaire to the
Townspeople. Cook asked for a date to compile the questionnaire. Kelly suggested June. Jim Russell said along with Steve Hanssen he had been the longest standing member of the Space Task Force did little work for the first two years. We never got anything from the Planning Board for a mission statement. Russell said that when the Future of the Town Hall was formed he was asked to be a liason between the two committees. Russell said that it was clear to him with the interviews that he had conducted that the Town Hall should be the first priority and having been a member of the Rescue Squad and a New Englander we learn to deal with the situation around us. Russell said that he felt the Town Hall was Washington's most valuable asset.
4.3 Ed Thayer- The Town is in the process of a proposal to excavate from an abutter to the Town's existing gravel pit. The Town is proposing to use a contiguous property to excavate for Town gravel. We are asking for the Town to waive the permitting fee from the Town. Sheehy read RSA 155e-2VI.Thayer said that we have to hold a Public Hearing to hear from the abutters. Schwartz said that a Conservation Commission did perform a site walk of the property. Cook said that the Town would have to write a reclamation plan. Thayer stated that he was aware of the procedure. Jed Schwartz stated that the Conservation Commission is in support of the proposal. The secretary will send out the abutter notification for the next Planning Board meeting.
4.4 Space Needs Task Force – appointment of new members, Tom Taylor and Steve Terani and new charge. Schwartz motioned to approve the appointments of Tom Taylor and Steve Terani. Kelly seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
4.5 Chris Bullock, 312 Martin Road, TM# 08-035, Business permit for mail order business, discuss and schedule site review. The Board scheduled a site review for Saturday May 2nd at 10AM. The Bullock's will return for the May 5th meeting for a Public Hearing.
4.6 Definitions ballot thrown out because of confusion by voters. Sheehy stated that the ordinance was approved without the definitions because of confusion on the behalf of the voters. Schwartz to upload the updated LUO to the Planning Board website and will forward to the secretary.
5.0
New Business-
5.1 Pam Vaillancourt – discuss annexation TM#16-133. Vaillancourt stated that the proposed annexation would allow a land locked property necessary road frontage. The Board reviewed the proposed site plan. Vaillancourt said that this would be a way to create a legal building lot. The Vaillancourt's will forward the proper application and the secretary will send abutter notification for the next Planning Board meeting. Cook said that if a future property owner proposed a cluster subdivision the Board would not be inclined to approve the request with this type of access. Pam Vaillancourt stated that the intention is to create legal access to the building lot. Eastman asked if the Vaillancourt's objected to the Planning Board approving the annexation with the stipulation that this would create only one building lot. Pamela Vaillancourt stated that this hardly seems fair to foresee the future and that we are not asking for any waivers to the current statues. Cook stated that the Board would have to conduct a site walk. Sheehy said that he agreed with Eastman's position that there are other properties in Town that have a deed right-of-way. Vaillancourt stated that we are looking to create a legal building lot. Vaillancourt stated that if a future property owner could receive a building permit with a deeded right-of-way we would be happy to move forward without the annexation. Peter Mellen reviewed the most recent Land Use Ordinance with the Board that non-conforming lot requirements. A pre-existing lot without 200' of road frontage the Town cannot issue a building permit. Cook said that a future property owner would have to come before the Board and present a cluster development there would be road upgrades needed.
5.2 Phil Barker and Ken Tanner- presented the Board with a proposal for a annexation/subdivision on Valley Road. Barker asked Tanner for an access through his property. Proposal to an annexation and boundary line agreement. Barker asked if it would have to be survey. The Board said yes. Schwartz asked if there were any wetlands. Tanner said no. Tanner stated that his intention would be to create two building lots. Barker said that the future subdivision could be off the deeded right-of-way, which could be used as a private road. Cook said that this would leave Tanner with 292' of road frontage. Barker asked how far would the survey need to be the Board suggested that we recommend it and encourage the survey would have to be done on what is effected between the boundary line agreement. Cook said that this would be a boundary line adjustment. Tanner asked about the road frontage. Cook stated that you could always put in a Town road but it would be a major expense. Tanner stated that he could give Barker a deed right-of-way and then Tanner could keep the property and go before the Board of Adjustment for a 7-foot waiver. Tanner stated that his concern was with what had been stated by Mellen previously. The Town has probably been issuing building permits that are non-conforming with the LUO the way it currently reads. Barker asked the Board how much land would Tanner and Barker have to survey to move forward. The Board reviewed the proposed site plan. Tanner asked that the Planning Board looked at the Land Use Ordinance change in the ordinance it effects a lot of lots. 401.1. Barker and Tanner took the information provided by the Planning Board.
5.3 John Piekiwizc - Spoke with the Board for establishing a home business for massage therapy. Asking what he would need to get from the Town to run the business. Valley Road. Sheehy advised that John would need to apply for a business permit and a site plan. John was given a business permit application, a site plan review and a Land Use Ordinance. John is awaiting a law changes before coming back for a business permit. Eastman stated that he felt that this would fall under the cottage industry. Sheehy said that this is a personal service and would need to have a business permit.
5.4 Peter Mellen- provided the Board with a proposal for a annexation on behalf of Stephen G. Yusko TM#15-115 0.31 acres off TM#11-011. The annexation would create a .75 acre property. Mellen provided the Board with an application.
5.5 Election of officers for 2009 – Schwartz motioned Sheehy for Chairman and Cook seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Sheehy motioned Cook as Vice-Chair. Schwartz seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Sheehy motioned Schwartz as secretary. Cook seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
6.0 Communications:
6.1 Town and City Magazine. – Filed
6.2 Letter from the Conservation Commission supporting the continued use of the Town Hall for town offices – Filed
6.3 Letter from the Conservation Commission encouraging Planning Board to ask for a site plan for the Montfort Retreat Center from the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.- The Board will review what is on file to see the completeness.
6.4 LGC – Local officials Workshop
7.0 Adjournment- Cook motioned to adjourn at 10:34PM. Seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned. The next Planning Board Meeting will be held May 5, 2009 at 7:00PM
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Dagesse