ANTRIM PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of the September 12, 2006 Site Walk
Tyler Small Engine Service
Members & Staff Present:
Mary Allen Bradley Houseworth Renee Rabideau Ed Rowehl Brian Sawich Alex Snow Paul Vasques Kathi Wasserloos
Members & Staff absent:
Fred Anderson Scott Burnside Bob Edwards Mike Genest Andrew Robblee
Public Attendees:
Pamela Caswell Jim Tyler Mrs. Tyler
Members met at 20 Concord St. at 5:30 PM to conduct a site walk regarding Mr. Tyler’s application for a change of use to allow the rental o f trucks and trailers at his existing facility. Mr. Tyler had staked out the area in which he proposed to park the trucks and trailers. The area measure 50’ parallel to Concord St. and extends 50’ perpendicular to Concord Street.
Mr. Vasques asked about the status of the area he had begun to clear in the northeast corner of the lot. Mr. Tyler said he believed that Meridian had made application to the state for a wetland crossing which would allow him to install a new driveway off Elm St. onto his property. (Note: Mr. Vasques spoke to Tim Ferwerda on 9/14. Mr. Ferwerda said that all he had done was give Mr. Tyler drawings for final approval before submittal to DES. He proposes to file the application with the town clerk sometime the week of September 18th). Ms. Allen suggested the possibility of another curb cut onto Route 202 which would provide a circular drive on the property. She felt that this would be a better alternate to having a driveway come in from Elm Street and that Mr. Tyler should approach the State with such a request.
The area Mr. Tyler staked out would start 26’ from the northeast corner of the existing driveway and extend 50’ parallel to Concord Street and then 50’ perpendicular to Concord Street thus creating a 50’ x 50’ area for the rental vehicles. Mr. Tyler did state that he could live with a 50’ a 40’ area if that is what the board requires. He added that he may want to angle the parking area off Concord Street as he felt that would better display the vehicles and keep the area further away from the wetland buffer. Ms. Wasserloos suggested that he consider planting trees and shrubs between the parking area and Concord Street as a buffer zone. Mr. Tyler was asked what he planned to do with the rest of the lot where he had cleared trees. He responded that he cannot do anything until he has a response from
DES. When asked about his intentions, he explained that tractor-trailers have trouble getting up the existing driveway in the wintertime because of the slope and he felt a relatively level driveway off Elm Street would alleviate the problem. Ms. Rabideau suggested that an alternate would be for Mr. Tyler to change the grade of the existing driveway. There was some discussion as to whether a driveway for commercial vehicles should be allowed off Elm ST (a residential street). Mr. Vasques explained that there were no specific driveway regulations which distinguished between a residential or commercial curb cut. He said that he would consult with the Road Agent to ascertain his position.
Ms. Rabideau referred to the zoning ordinance which requires that 50% of the front yard set back be landscaped and reminded the board members that this matter should be addressed as part of the site plan review. Mr. Tyler was questioned about the mounds of soil that were on the property and he explained that it was loam he was storing to finish grade the property after he found out what would be permitted by the planning board and the state.
Ms. Caswell, who was not at the public hearing on September 7th, asked if the concerns she had phoned into Mr. Vasques had been addressed. She was advised that they had been. Most other questions she raised had to do with matters that were under the jurisdiction of the zoning board of adjustment, not the planning board.
Ms. Rabideau measured the distance from the edge of the driveway to where she believed the wetland buffer was according to the survey drawing submitted by Meridian. She calculated that the distance is approximately 90’. She also determined that the northeast edge of the area for the rental vehicles would be 76’ from the driveway thus not disturb the buffer zone and not require a special permit from the planning board.
The site walk was concluded at 6:30 PM and Mr. Tyler was advised that the public meeting was continued to September 21, 2006 at 7:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul L. Vasques
Town Planner
Cc: Conservation Commission
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