Chichester Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting
February 2, 2012
Members Present: Chairman Kevin Mara, Vice-Chairman Tom Jameson, Ex-Officio Jeffrey Jordan, Allen Mayville, Richard Moore, Thomas Houle, and Secretary Jamie A Pike.
Others Present: Matthew Monahan, CNHRPC
Chairman Mara called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.
The minutes of the January 5th meeting were reviewed. A motion was made by Mr. Jordan and seconded by Mr. Mayville to approve the minutes as written. Motion passes.
Pursuant to RSA 673:11, Chairman Mara appointed Mr. Houle as a voting member for the purposes of this meeting in the absence of Mr. Brehm.
Public Hearing: Zoning Amendment – Workforce Housing District
Mr. Pike presented the Board with updated numbers with respect to the affordable housing threshold. As of December 2011, the revised affordable home value is $290,912.48. The average value of a single family home in Chichester is $211,436.87, far below the affordable threshold.
Mr. Moore presented his opinion that regardless of the current immediate need to enact such an ordinance, it is in the best interest of future land use protection to put this ordinance in place.
Mr. Houle countered that there is a lack of potential need for such an ordinance.
Dr. Mara agreed with Mr. Moore in that the ordinance provides an immediate security blanket for the Town.
Mr. Monahan shared his experiences with surrounding Towns with respect to workforce housing. He stated that most boards have similar differing opinions among their members.
There was no re-vote upon the approval of the amendment. The January 5, 2012 decisions stands that the Planning Board approves of the amendment as presented.
Other Business:
The Board conversed with Mr. Monahan about transitioning from soil-based zoning to an area based approach. Mr. Monahan explained that such a major change needs to start with multiple meetings with the public, and set the seed that such a change may come in the future. It would be expected that such a change would be atleast a two-year process. Starting with public forums would allow the public to express what the like/dislike about the current zoning method which would provide a starting point for future work.
Being no further business, a motion was made by Dr. Mara and seconded by Mr. Jameson to adjourn the meeting at 7:25pm. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Not approved until signed.
Jamie A Pike, Secretary Kevin Mara, DVM, Chairman
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