Berlin City Planning Board
April 1, 2008
Members Present: Vice Chair Dave Morin, Lucien Langlois, Richard Merrill, Ralph Collins, Aline Boucher Laura Jamison, Ernie Allain, Councilor Tom McCue, Sue Tremblay, Richard Cassidy
Members Excused: Fran Cusson, Aline Boucher, Nicole DeCosta, Andre Duchesne
Members Absent:
Others Present: Tim Cayer; Pamela Laflamme, City Planner
Call to order: Acting Chair Morin, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. He appointed both Ernie Allain and Richard Cassidy as voting members for this evening.
Changes to the agenda included adding two lot mergers and a driveway permit discussion.
Public Comments: none
March 4 and 12 Minutes: Mr. Merrill moved to accept the minutes from both meetings; Mr. Collins seconded and the motion carried.
Lot Mergers
Cornerstone Housing North, Inc., Main Street proposes to join Map 119 Lot 40 and Map 118 Lot 124. Mr. McCue moved to join the lots; Mrs. Langlois seconded and the motion carried.
There was discussion that the tax map looked incorrect and it was suggested that the survey that was done for Moxie Alley be sent to our mapping company so that the layout can be updated to reflect accurate lot lines.
Robert and Marguerite Lafrance, 199 East Mason Street proposes to join Map 130 Lot 318 and Map 130 Lot 319 for tax purposes. Mr. Merrill moved to merge lots 318 & 319 on Map 130; Mr. Allain seconded and the motion carried. Ms. Tremblay recused herself from the vote and indicated to the board that she is related to the applicants.
Lot Line Adjustment
Acting Chair Morin verified that the application is complete. Councilor McCue moved with a second from Mr. Merrill to accept the application. So moved, the motion carried.
Ms. Laflamme explained that the application involves a parcel of property owned by the City at what is known as Ramsey Hill Park. The City Council has reviewed this request and approved a plan that adjusts the boundary line between the City's property and Leo & Collette Caron's property. A public hearing was held last year and a resolution was passed allowing the City Council to sell the property. Ms. Laflamme answered a few questions from the board about the location and the difference between subdivision and boundary line adjustments.
Public Hearing
Acting Chair Morin opened the public hearing at 6:39; there being no comments, the public hearing was closed at 6:39. Mr. Langlois moved to approve the lot line adjustment, with the condition that all deeds and necessary transactions are recorded; Mr. Merrill seconded and the motion carried.
Mr. Langlois made a motion to have Acting Chair Morin sign the plans, Mr. Merrill seconded the motion, and the board all voted in favor.
Driveway Permit
Mr. Allain (as a consultant for the City in the Public Works Department) presented a permit application from Tom & C Realty for a curb cut permit on Cates Hill. Mr. Allain had concerns regarding the request specifically the width of the curb cut. He also indicated concerns regarding two proposed 36 inch culverts and the amount of water that it would be routing across the property.
There was discussion about what the road really is, whether a fire lane or access road, etc. Acting Chair Morin clarified that they were asking for a waiver from the driveway regulations. Mr. Allain indicated that was correct, but that this was not actually a driveway, but more of private roadway into the development. As the application/issue was not appropriate, Mr. Merrill made a motion seconded by Mr. Collins to deny waiver request.
The discussion then turned to the actual curb cut. Mr. Allain remarked that the roadway will actually be a gated fire lane for emergency access as requested by the Fire Department. He recommended that the Planning Board require pavement for this first fifteen feet of this roadway from the existing pavement on Cates Hill into the entrance. Mr. Morin made a request for the letter from the fire department requesting the curb cut to be attached to the minutes. There was discussion reiterating that this roadway is never intended for public access as a public way. Mr. Langlois made a motion to relay this conversation to the engineers for the project, the motion was seconded by Mr. Cassidy and all voted in favor.
Master Plan
The board had a brief discussion about the next master plan chapter which will be the natural resources chapter. Ms. Laflamme noted that the consultants will be adding the Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Wildfire Plan to the appendix of the plan. There was some discussion about the changes to the Shoreland Protection Act. The board then talked about significant natural resources in the community including Mount Jasper, Mount Forist, the river, and the Dead River wetlands.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Member Comments
Mr. Langlois expressed the need to redefine the wellhead protection zone noting that it can be better documented.
A board member asked about the GeoInsight report and progress with the site plan conditions for the wood pellet plant, Ms. Laflamme indicated that no one had came back yet with updated plans.
Planner Comments
Ms. Laflamme reminded the board that the next Master Plan committee meeting would be held on Wednesday April 9, 2007 at AVH.
There being no further information to come before the Board, Mr. Langlois moved to adjourn Mr. Allain seconded and the motion carried. The meeting ended at 7:50 p.m.
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