Berlin Planning Board
January 6, 2009
Members Present: Chairperson Fran Cusson, Susan Tremblay, Aline Boucher, Dave Morin, Ernie Allain, Councilor Tom McCue, Ralph Collins, Richard Cassidy, Richard Merrill, Laura Jamison, Greg Estrella, and Lucien Langlois
Members Excused: Jennifer Boucher, Julie Cooney, and Andre Duchesne
Others Present: Bill Andreas, Jonathan Edwards, Don Bouchard, Bill Gabler, Clean Power Development LLC; Tim Golde, Golde Engineering; Barbara Tetreault, Berlin Daily Sun; Sally Manikian, Berlin Reporter; Representative from Brookfield Power; Pam Laflamme, City Planner
December minutes: Mr. Estrella noted he was missing from the members present. With the correction noted, Mr. Morin made a motion to approve the December minutes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Allain and the board voted in favor.
Site Plan Review - Clean Power Development, LLC, Bill Gabler
Ms. Cusson asked if the application was complete as submitted. Ms. Laflamme confirmed it was and Mr. Langlois made a motion to accept the application as complete. Ms. Boucher seconded the motion and the board voted to approve the motion.
Mr. Gabler presented the project to the board and updated them on progress he has made since appearing before the board at the November 2008 meeting. At this point Clean Power is still looking to have a 22-27 megawatt facility located south of the City's wastewater treatment facility. The company has submitted an application to NHDES for a Title V Air Permit. The initial review is complete and at this point there seem to be no significant issues. As the review process moves on there will likely be suggestions made that may prompt some small changes in the plan. Clean Power will keep the board apprised. The application for the Site Specific permit through NHDES is also underway and the goal is to have all permits approved and in hand by the end of March. Clean Power is hoping to break
ground in the spring.
Mr. Golde from Golde Engineering reviewed the plan drawings with the board and gave a brief overview of the processes and building uses.
The board asked questions of Mr. Golde and Mr. Gabler. Mr. Langlois questioned the duration of chip storage and was told that the turnover was expected to be 30 days or less as that is all the capacity they will have room for at this point. Mr. Gabler explained that the chips will be managed to try and keep the first chips in the pile, first to be used, etc.
Ms. Laflamme asked about the changes in the drainage patterns. The plans will be drawn to direct drainage toward the river and follow natural runoff patterns. There will be an increase in runoff, but it will not stay onsite, nor will it be directed to any abutters. The river will collect the majority of any runoff.
Mr. Langlois asked about the leachate from the chips being stored on the property. He was told that NHDES had no concerns about the onsite chip storage as it was really not much different from forest decomposition patterns.
Mr. Allain recalled that the there is a 48" pipe near the site that could easily collect the proposed runoff from the site.
Ms. Jamison asked about Shelby Street and what would happen to pedestrian traffic. Ms. Laflamme told Ms. Jamison Shelby Street is not technically a City street. However, the project is not proposed to impact or move the current trail location. The street layout process will be handled further into the project.
Mr. Estrella asked about ash storage and was told that the storage would be in an enclosed shed that will house a dumpster which will be moved by trucks and not stored on site.
A board member asked about the stack heights and Mr. Gabler indicated at this time that the highest stack is proposed to be about 130 feet. NHDES will be reviewing the sufficiency of the height in their air permit review. The diameter is proposed to be only eight feet.
There is a lighting plan which is night sky compliant. For the majority of the lighting, it will be controlled by the plant operator on an as needed basis.
The facility will be a 24 hour operation and will be secured completely by chain link fencing.
Councilor McCue asked about the truck traffic and Mr. Gabler indicated that there would trucks delivering chips to the property five days per week between the hours of eight and five. There will be an average of 28 trucks per day. No deliveries will be made on weekends or holidays unless the plant has an urgent/emergency need for chips. This is not foreseen to be an issue as the silos will be able to keep a three day supply of chips.
Mr. Morin asked about the onsite parking and was told that there would be space for the largest shift of staff as well as visitors. There will be two lots on the southern end of the property as well as spaces near the chip storage area.
Mr. Gabler indicated that the goal was to be operational in December 2010.
Mr. Morin asked about snow storage and was told that they will do what is necessary to manage the snow in order to allow for adequate chip storage on the property.
Chair Cusson opened the public hearing at 7:20PM
Ms. Tetreault, Berlin Daily Sun asked if the project impacts the river shoreline. Mr. Gabler told her that a small amount of the project is affected by the shoreland rules, but there are no anticipated problems.
A representative from Brookfield Power asked about the ISO process. Mr. Gabler briefly explained Clean Power's position in the ISO queue and the five options they are looking at to connect to the grid.
Ms. Tetreault asked if Clean Power had any agreements with PSNH to sell power. Mr. Gabler indicated that PSNH had not agreed to buy any of their power. Clean Power has been talking with a variety of purchasers in the merchant market.
The public hearing was closed by Chair Cusson at 7:26PM
Councilor McCue asked about the mitigation plans for any wetland impact by Clean Power and was told that they intended on submitting a payment in lieu of mitigation to NHDES.
Ms. Laflamme told the board that while the application was complete and the conditions that the board should consider were fairly standard; Clean Power will need four special exceptions from the Zoning Board of Adjustment first.
Mr. Morin made a motion to table the application until the next meeting, seconded by Ms. Boucher and the board voted in favor of the motion.
Lot Merger: Ms. Laflamme told the board that Coos County Family Health Services recently acquired an adjacent property. They demolished the structure on the property and now wish to merge the two properties together. There were no issues with zoning and it was a straightforward application.
Ms. Boucher made a motion to merge Tax Map 118 Lots 289 and 290, seconded by Mr. Morin. The board voted in favor of the motion.
Public Comments: Ms. Tetreault asked for the date of the next ZBA meeting and was told it will be Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
Member Comments: Mr. Morin asked if the board should be requiring a liability or bond payment for the project.
Councilor McCue shared a letter from a property owner along Route 110. The owner mistakenly thought the Councilor supported Alternative 2.
Councilor McCue also expressed concern over the slow movement on the former pulp mill property as it is a year since the lot line adjustment was approved.
Mr. Merrill indicated he was glad to be back to the board and that he likely won't be teaching Tuesday night classes next semester.
Mr. Langlois asked if any decisions had been made on the wellhead protection grant and he was told that NHDES had not finished their review yet.
Councilor McCue asked about the Mt. Forist ridgeline zoning and indicated he will approach other councilors.
Planner Comments: Route 110: There will be a public meeting regarding Route 110 Phase II on February 5, 2009 in the City Hall Auditorium. We need the same turnout and comments that we had last summer. This is part of the NEPA process.
Regional Economic Development
There will be a Visioning Session on Regional Economic Development on Wednesday January 28 at 5:30 at the Community College. There will be a panel of presenters to include a speaker on the sustainable economy; Coos Branding; economic action plan and one other one.
ZBA
There will be a ZBA meeting Tuesday, January 27 at City Hall for the Board to consider the Special Exception on Energy for Clean Power
Next Meeting
At the next Planning Board meeting, a conceptual plan will be heard from the new owners of the wind farm that was formerly Loranger.
Clean Power will be coming in for Site Plan Review and there is a minor subdivision.
There will be an historic review of Route 110 on January 22.
Adjournment: Mr. Morin made a motion, seconded by Mr. Langlois to adjourn. The board voted in favor of the motion.
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