Town of Buxton Planning Board
Minutes
Monday, April 27, 2015, at 7 p.m.
Recorded by Hilda Lynch
Board Members Present: Chad Poitras, Jeremiah Ross, III; Keith Emery, Christopher Carroll, Mark Blier, Chris Baldinelli, and Lawrence Curtis
Absent: None
Others Present: Henry Huntley, Fred Farnham, Geoff Trott, Nuno Antunes (Sweden), Louise McGinley, Anne Williams, J.D. Williams, Nancy Pierce, Paul Salacain, Ray McGinley and Cliff Thomas
Chairman Keith Emery called the April 27, 2015, meeting of the Buxton Planning Board together at 7 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Review of site walk held on Wednesday, April 16th, at 6 p.m. for Geoffrey Trott of EOS Design,
LLC, who is requesting a Conditional Use permit for a Light Manufacturing Research Facility
(for composting toilets for boats) to be located at 306 Simpson Road. Tax Map 11, Lot 31-1.
Keith asked if they’ve talked with the Fire Chief. A meeting has been scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m.
Discussion: Chad wasn’t with the group for the site walk but went a few days afterwards. What percentage of the large facility are they planning to use? Geoff said they’re planning to use the 2nd floor as the manufacturing area. Are they planning to grow the business other than the 2nd floor usage? Geoff hasn’t made any plans; it just sort of formed, he says. He’s asking for ten people as that is what he is looking at now. If it were to grow, he would have other options. This is a nice area, he says; and he respects it. He
believes there’s a lot they could do with ten employees.
There’s concern about the growth creating more truck traffic and things like that. Geoff has
mentioned that he is a bit of a reluctant manufacturer. He’s a product designer. He has to strike
a balance between what he feels is healthy. He thinks maybe there is a better way to do things.
His viewpoint is philosophical. He thinks that the business is well suited for the rural district.
He’s not an imposing individual and has a conscience. He is aware of potential problems and is
making sure he is a good neighbor.
Another concern is raised about the traffic that goes down that road - wondering how many
trucks they are anticipating. The traffic has to go through one of Buxton’s historic districts. The
building has been used before--back in the 80s. There is some question of noise. One has to
wonder how the noise will affect the homes near it. It sounds like Geoff is amenable to working
with everyone. Geoff thinks this is a good opportunity for his company and for Buxton. He has
been doing this work for 15 years. One could check on his
internet site. Geoff thinks he’s doing something very positive. The concern was raised about
things that are beyond Geoff’s control. Geoff has laid out what he thinks it will be. They can’t
keep up in their present facility. They’re shipping 10-20 units at a time, which he doesn’t believe
takes up much space. For efficiency, he will ship 200 or 400 at a time to keep the costs down. One
Board member thinks Geoff has a good plan for getting trucks in and turning them around. He
mentioned that there was a pretty good space for removing screening on the corner as one drives
in. As far as the business growing and getting bigger, he believes that there is a mechanism to
control that by only allowing ten employees. Geoff would have to come back before the Board for
growth.
Larry is excited about the business, and he welcomes it into the Town of Buxton. As he was
leaving the site walk, he was thinking about the impact on the neighbors. There are deliveries every
day in his neighborhood. The two main points he thought about was the truck traffic. He doesn’t
think there will be more than one or two deliveries a week. Geoff said they brought in less than
12 trucks (more like six) - less than one a month last year. There was less than 12 going out. He
would also have FEDEX and UPS deliveries. He ships everything through the mail system right
now. The outgoing international shipments will diminish to about two containers a year.
The other concern is the noise. There are times when it is not quiet, but most of the time this Board member’s neighborhood is quiet, he says. There will be power tools used. Has Geoff given any thought to insulating for noise? Geoff has given this some thought - providing some insulation to one wall. Today, they ran a router for two hours. Generally, they may run one loud machine a day. There is a barn on the north side. He says he’s aware that there would be a requirement of under 55 decibels at the property line during
the day. Fred would have to go out with the decibel meter if there was a concern. The noise would have to be continuous for a certain length of time. Jere read from the ordinance the requirements. Geoff wants to know if they can have the windows open during the summer? Chris B. has been involved in a study with decibel reading. A truck going down Rt. 202 full speed would be about 80 decibels. He doesn’t foresee the routers being 80 decibels. Geoff mentioned that Buxton has some experience with a wood shop on Rt. 117 with about 20 employees. He asked if there has been any problems? The Board said that there hasn’t; but there isn’t a home there as close as the Anderson’s is. The question was asked about what Geoff’s plan is for the land surrounding the building? Geoff is requesting a composting toilet. They would be utilizing that. They don’t have a need to do anything outside at this time.
Keith asked Fred to speak about the setback. This property was divided up in 1985 into three lots. One of the lots has this building that they’ve been listening about on it. They came before the Board of Appeals for a variance to make sure it was going to be OK. The dividing line didn’t meet the 50 ft. setback. They went to the Board of Appeals to try and get a variance. The variance was denied by the Board of Appeals. It might be one of the considerations to reconcile. The setback is 50 ft. Fred says he thinks it is 33
ft. to the line. Fred said the building was there before 1985. Is that lot a conforming lot in that district - rural? Fred says it is. Was there any talk about taking down the building? Fred says, “no.” Is it still the owner’s responsibility to reduce the building or relocate the property line? Chris asked. Is Mr. Anderson’s barn nonconforming, also? It would be, Fred says. Jere clarified that the use is fine. If someone were to want to build on that lot, would it be nonconforming? Yes, says Fred. Chris asked if they had an opinion. Fred said it was just denied by the Board of Appeals. Keith says they’ll get a response from the attorney to see what they have for options. Jere asked what the question would be. How do they deal with a setback that came in after zoning came in? Does the setback violation affect the future use of the property? Nullify the use? The
attorney would need to know that this was divided in 1985 and that the Board of Appeals denied the variance.
Keith says the building couldn’t be used for anything unless they cut off 12 ft. There was some discussion about the original owner and how this affects the Anderson’s lot.
Do they have enough information to set a public hearing? Jere asked if this was a time sensitive issue. Geoff says only if his seller gets antsy. They could set it for the 11th and continue it. Is that agreeable to the applicant? It was
- Motioned by Jere, seconded by Chris, to set a public hearing for the above on Monday, May 11, 2015, at 7 p.m. Seven voted in favor
CEO Report: No report.
Approval of Minutes:
April 13, 2015 –
- Motioned by Chris, seconded by Larry, to approve the minutes as amended. Seven in favor
Approval of Bills: None
Communications:
The Legislative Bulletin
Service Connection - Maine Drinking Water
Notice for the public hearing
A couple of warrant articles for May 11
MSPDC - May 1st at 12 Noon
Board of Appeals - May 5
Maine Townsman
Southern Maine Planning - shoreland zoning
Other Business:
~There was agreement to wait until the next meeting to change the May 26 meeting.
Conceivably, there may not be one.
~Keith and Chris are the two that have turned in papers for the Planning Board.
Attendees may address the Board on the evening’s business: None
- Motioned by Chris B., seconded by Larry, to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Seven voted in favor.
Approval Date: ___________
________________________ ___________________
Keith Emery, Chairman Date
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