Berlin Planning Board Minutes
December 2, 2008
Members Present: Chair Fran Cusson, Dave Morin, Ernie Allain, Tom, McCue, Richard Cassidy, Jen Boucher, Laura Jamison, Lucien Langlois, Sue Tremblay and Ralph Collins
Members Excused: Aline Boucher, Julie Cooney, Dick Merrill, and Andre Duchesne
Others present: Pat MacQueen, City Manager, Pam Laflamme, City Planner
Ms. Cusson told the board that she was adding a vote on the Capital Improvement Plan to other on the agenda.
Public Comment: None
November minutes: Mr. Allain made a motion to accept the November minutes to the agenda; the motion was seconded by Mr. Morin. The motion passed.
Minor Subdivision - Small Pond Land Holdings, LLC: Ms. Laflamme indicated to the board that when the original major subdivision was drawn, lot number 5 was meant to be two separate parcels. Small Pond had trouble getting the state permits needed for the parcels due to lot sizing and septic systems. Since the time the Planning Board approved the major subdivision, the State has signed off the original design, which would separate lot number 5 into two smaller lots, numbered 5 and 6 respectively.
Mr. Morin made a motion to accept the application as complete, seconded by Mr. Langlois. The motion was passed.
Mr. Morin asked if there were any other issues. Ms. Laflamme replied that there were no other issues. Each new parcel had adequate road frontage and lot size. State approval had been granted in relation to State Subdivision approval and wetlands. The presence of wetlands likely precludes any further subdivision.
Mr. Langlois made a motion to approve the request for a minor subdivision, seconded by Mr. Allain. The motion passed.
Mr. Langlois made a motion for Chair Cusson to the sign the plan on behalf of the board, seconded by Mr. Morin. The motion passed.
Minor Subdivision - Constance Guay, et. al: Ms. Laflamme told the board that this application was for a parcel on Cates Hill. The request was to divide the parcel into two parcels. The new parcel would be twenty acres. Both the new and original parcel had more than adequate road frontage and lot size. There was a short discussion about soil types, but the board agreed that was relevant to the request in front of them.
Mr. Langlois made a motion to approve the minor subdivision, seconded by Ms. Tremblay. The motion passed.
Ms. Tremblay made a motion for Chair Cusson to sign the plan on behalf of the board, seconded by Mr. Morin. The motion passed.
Master Plan Updates: Ms. Laflamme let the board know that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday rather than Wednesday as normal, December 9, 2008, 6PM, at AVH in the Lecture Room. The public meeting to discuss economic development is scheduled for January 28, 2009. The January committee meeting would like focus on where the process is, what is left, and if there is anything else that needs to be addressed in the plan.
Capital Improvement Plan Vote: Ms. Laflamme explained to the board that according to the State Statute for CIP's, the Planning Board votes to adopt the plan. Mr. MacQueen had a few more projects to share with the board and spent a few minutes going over each additional project. The project additions are as follows:
1. Trail Connection for the Jericho & Success ATV/Snowmobile Trails
2. New phone system - Fire Department & Library
3. Unity Street Access to Shelby Street - Clean Power Development Project
4. School System phone replacement system - Brown & Bartlett Schools
5. School Bus Replacement Program
6. Rebuilding Hutchins Street
7. Boat Ramp - Rotary Park, Northern Forest Heritage Park
8. Consolidated Elementary School
Mr. MacQueen took a few minutes to explain that he felt the new presidential administration would likely be providing money for public works projects that were engineered and ready to go.
Mr. Morin made a motion to adopt the CIP with the additional projects as presented this evening. Ms. Tremblay seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Mr. Morin stated that he was in favor of pushing for projects to be readied. Mr. Langlois agreed and added that he thought the extension of the both the water and sewer lines along Route 110 to the Milan town line should be added. Mr. MacQueen stated that this was something that had also been recently discussed and he would add a project sheet. Councilor McCue said that it would be important to have a public meeting devoted to the CIP to educate the public about the projects we have and how the Council will prioritize them.
Ms. Cusson stated each year it gets more difficult to prioritize projects because they keep getting put off and then we reach a point where they all are high priority and need to be done.
Member Comments: Mr. Estrella asked if the ZBA would be getting the same information about the Clean Power project and it was explained that the two boards will be hearing different information based on each board's function, but that the ZBA was welcome to sit in on the Planning Board meeting.
Mr. Langlois asked about the status of the NHDOT project and Ms. Laflamme told him things were still moving along and that there would be another meeting for the historic review in early January. A public hearing will be held in January as well. Information will be sent along to the board when the details have been confirmed.
Planner Comments: Ms. Laflamme told the board that David Brooks, et. al, would be coming for conceptual consultation at either the February or March meeting to discuss his project for Jericho Mountain.
Ms. Laflamme asked the board how they liked getting electronic agenda packets. The board agreed for those members who received email, it was a good system and Ms. Laflamme will continue to send email agendas to those members.
Mr. Estrella asked who performed the wood studies that were recently released. One study was commissioned by Clean Power Development LLC and the second study was commissioned by North Country Council and the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development.
Mr. Morin made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Langlois, all voted in favor.
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