Chichester Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting
January 5, 2012
Members Present: Vice-Chairman Thomas Jameson, Ex-Officio Jeffrey Jordan, Richard Arell, Stan Brehm, Allen Mayville, Richard Moore, Thomas Houle, Alan Williams and Secretary Jamie A. Pike.
Vice-Chairman Jameson called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.
Pursuant to RSA 673:11, Vice-Chairman Jameson appointed Mr. Williams as a voting member in the absence of Dr. Mara.
Public Hearing: Zoning Amendment #1 – Workforce Housing Overlay District
Are you in favor of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town Zoning Ordinance as follows: amend Article II Establishment of Districts and Article XI Definitions to create the Workforce Housing Overlay District to provide reasonable and realistic opportunities for the development of workforce housing as required by NH RSA 674:58-61?
Mr. Pike gave a detailed synopsis of Workforce Housing, relevant Supreme Court case law, the 2009 Workforce Housing Needs Analysis, and the proposed ordinance. Discussion included an in-depth road map of how the correlation of these items has brought this ordinance to the table.
Questions from the audience included: what happens if we don’t have the ordinance, what affect may occur to wetlands, and the relationship to assessing. In response the members of the Board talked about the “Builders Remedy” and its award by judges in previous court cases. It was explained that with respect to wetlands, there remains a separate overriding ordinance that governs the use and impedence on wetland areas. When it comes to assessing there is a major separation. For the purposes of the ordinance, developed housing may not be sold or marketed above a certain value, but assessing has the responsibility for valuating at fair market value. The correlation of zoning and assessing is often confusing and “grey”. Further information will be required on this
subject.
The members of the audience while reviewing the proposed map requested that those areas that are restricted from further development be outlined. These areas include those owned by the town, protected by conservation and private easements. Mr. Pike shall work on completing this project for the next meeting.
One major point the Board wants the public to understand, is that this ordinance is to act as a “security blanket” from future unplanned development. The ordinance contains certain trigger mechanisms that restrict its jurisdiction and application only upon the finding of need to provide median income housing that is not available within the region.
Hearing no further comments from the public, the public hearing was recessed until February 2, 2011 at the Town Hall to receive further public input upon the amendment.
Other Business:
The minutes of December 8, 2011 were reviewed. A motion was made by Mr. Jordan and seconded by Mr. Mayville to approve the minutes as written. Motion passes.
It was moved and seconded to approve the zoning amendment as proposed pending further comment at the February 2nd meeting. Motion passes 5:2.
Being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Mayville and seconded by Mr. Jameson to adjourn the meeting at 8:36pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jamie A Pike, Secretary
Not approved until signed.
Thomas Jameson, Vice Chairman
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