ANTRIM PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of the December 7, 2006 Board Meeting
Work Session
Members & Staff Present:
Mary Allen |
Bob Edwards |
Bradley Houseworth |
Joseph Koziell |
Andrew Robblee |
Ed Rowehl |
Brian Sawich |
Paul Vasques |
Members and Staff Absent:
Fred Anderson |
Scott Burnside |
Mike Genest |
Renee Rabideau |
Alex Snow |
Kathi Wasserloos |
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Public Attendees:
None
Chairman Edwards opened the public meeting at 7:05 PM for the Board’s ‘Work Session,’ reviewed the agenda with the Board, and suggested a time limit for the meeting at 9:00 PM. He appointed Ms. Allen to sit for Mr. Anderson and asked the planning staff to go through the items on the agenda and lead the discussions.
Torino Development Co. - Continue the Public Meeting to 1/4/07, File # 2006-23PB: Mr. Vasques advised the Board that Brown Engineering and Torino Development will not appear before the Board tonight because they have not prepared new plans incorporating the recent wetlands delineation that was conducted on Monday, November 27, 2006. Mr. Vasques suggested that the Board officially continue the public meeting to January 4, 2007 since the public meeting was continued to tonight’s meeting. He also reminded the Board that the application has not yet been accepted or rejected. Ms. Allen suggested that the Board table the public meeting to January 4, 2007, Chairman Edwards agreed.
Mr. Vasques explained that the Board asked for three specific items from the applicants: 1) a new lot yield calculation plan based on a conventional subdivision, 2) a cluster housing subdivision design taking into account the requirements of the Wetlands and Steep Slopes Overlay Districts, and 3) their proposed cluster housing subdivision design, not necessarily adhering to the requirements of the Wetlands and Steep Slopes Overlay Districts. He explained that he spoke with Ms. Karen O’Rourke from Brown Engineering and she stated that they will provide to the Board a new lot yield calculation plan based on a conventional subdivision and their proposed cluster housing subdivision design, but will not be providing a cluster housing subdivision design that strictly adheres to the requirements of the Wetlands and Steep Slopes Overlay
Districts. Mr. Vasques explained that the applicants are essentially trying to ‘sell’ their proposed cluster housing subdivision design to the Board and are hoping that the Board will give them a favorable recommendation to go in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a variance to the Wetlands and Steep Slopes Overlay Districts. He stated that the applicants have been advised to provide the plans one week in advance of the January 4, 2007 meeting and was told by Brown Engineering that the planning staff will have the new plans by the week of December 18, 2006.
Mr. Sawich moved that the Torino Development Co. public meeting be continued to the January 4, 2007 Planning Board meeting, which was seconded by Mr. Robblee and unanimously passed. Mr. Houseworth advised the Board that he had spoken with C.R. Willeke from the NH DOT about a potential access from the existing NH DOT state rest area along Rt. 202 to the Torino Development CO. lot behind it. He explained that Mr. Willeke didn’t seem to be receptive of the idea and stated that NH DOT has some concerns about the activities that have been already happening at the rest area and they are concerned that a trail system and connection between to the two lots will only exacerbate the situation. Mr. Houseworth explained that there were also concerns regarding parking and safety issues expressed by Mr. Willeke.
Administrative/Approve Planning Board Minutes: Mr. Sawich made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 30, 2006 meeting as presented, which was seconded by Ms. Allen and unanimously passed.
CIP: Mr. Vasques advised the Board that the next Capital Improvement Plan Committee Meeting will be on December 13, 2006 at 6:00 PM. He stated that the next meeting will be the last time to make final changes to the Capital Improvement Plan before the Committee presents the entire plan to the Planning Board.
Master Plan: Chairman Edwards asked Mr. Sawich if the Planning Board will receive a copy of the draft of the Master Plan to review and critique. Mr. Sawich explained that it is his understanding that Missy Taylor has compiled all of the drafts of the individual chapters and sent them together as one file to Mr. Steve Whitman. He explained that upon receipt back of the draft of the Master Plan from Mr. Whitman, Ms. Taylor will provide copies to the Board to review and critique. Chairman Edwards asked Mr. Sawich if there has been a date set when the Board will receive a draft copy of it, he replied that he is not aware of such a date.
Open House Holiday Party: Mr. Vasques advised the Board of a Holiday Open House party that will be hosted by the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator on Friday, December 15, 2006 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the Maplehurst Inn, across the street from Town Hall. He explained that all Town employees and members of Antrim’s Boards and Commissions are invited to come and are encouraged to bring an appetizer or dessert, a beverage of your choice, and a gift (no more than five [$5] dollars) for the Gift Grab Bag.
Ordinance & Regulations - Home Based Occupations/ Businesses: Mr. Sawich advised the Board that based on discussions from the last work session with Mr. Robblee and Mr. Burnside, he has amended his draft revising the definitions and criteria for both ‘Home Occupations’ and ‘Home Based Business,’ as they are currently defined in Article III - Definitions and Article XIV - Supplemental Regulations sections of the Antrim Zoning Ordinances. The Board reviewed the document, dated December 5, 2006, making corrections as needed to help differentiate between ‘Home Occupations’ and ‘Home Based Business,’ including text which outlines when a site plan review is required. After a lengthy discussion regarding Mr. Sawich’s proposal, the Board made numerous changes to the
language and decided to continue the revision of his proposal to a future Board meeting.
Ordinance & Regulations – Sign Ordinance (Mr. Vasques Suggested Revisions): Mr. Vasques advised the Board that he has prepared a revised draft of Article XVII, titled ‘Sign Ordinance,’ of the Antrim Zoning Ordinances. He stated that his revisions are based on eighteen years of experience of running a sign shop business in Connecticut. After a lengthy discussion between Mr. Vasques and Ms. Allen regarding what size signs should be permitted in the Village Business and Highway Business Districts, the Board decided to continue the review of Mr. Vasques’ draft of the sign ordinance to a future meeting.
Ordinance & Regulations - Driveway Permit Application Form: Mr. Vasques provided the Board with a copy of the current driveway permit regulations from Section IX- General Standards and Requirements of the Antrim Subdivision and Site Plan Review Regulations. He asked the Board members to review the existing driveway regulations and provide input on ways the Board can grant the authority to the Building Inspector and/ or Road Agent to waive any one of these requirements if they cannot be met due to site specific conditions. After a short discussion about the matter, Mr. Vasques suggested to the Board that more time be spent by the Planning Staff to review other New Hampshire town’s driveway regulations and revise the existing driveway regulations to essentially allow the Building Inspector and/ or Road
Agent to waive any of these requirements if they simply cannot be met.
Mr. Sawich moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Rowehl seconded the motion which unanimously passed. Mr. Edwards adjourned the meeting at 9:45 PM and stated that the next Planning Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Bradley Houseworth
Planning Technician
Antrim Planning Board
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