TOWN OF FARMINGTON
PLANNING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday – November 3, 2009
356 Main Street - Farmington, NH
Members Present: Chairman Paul Parker, David Kestner, Cindy Snowdon, Tracy Major, Glen Demers, and Jim Horgan
Members Absent: Tim Moody
Selectman’s Rep: Charlie King
Staff Present: Fire Chief Rich Fowler
Public Present: Leo Lessard of the Strafford County Registry of Deeds
Chairman Paul Parker called the meeting to order at 6:05pm.
BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD:
1. Presentation from Leo Lessard – Strafford County Registry of Deeds:
Mr. Lessard informed the Board that the Registry is moving steadily towards a computer based registry and that the initial reason for recording plans was so attorneys could draft deeds from them. He added that signed plans are the only paper the Registry currently stores and that there is a hierarchy of what is important to them. He stated that topography, electrical poles and such make plans useless to them because they become unreadable when scanned.
Paul asked where Notice of Decisions fit in at the Registry. Mr. Lessard replied that they are willing to take site plans but that they need to be simpler to read online and that they are willing to keep Notice of Decisions as well. Charlie K asked how many sheets should be recorded with multi-sheet plans and asked if Mr. Lessard had any guidelines as to what should be recorded. Mr. Lessard replied that every town needs to make this decision for themselves but the meets and bounds are the most important to the Registry as well as, septic and driveway sites. He would suggest the Town create a checklist for what they feel is absolutely necessary for recorded plans. Charlie K. asked if they are recording site plans still and Mr. Lessard replied that they don’t really like to but they will. He explained how the fonts and font sizes on the plans often do not translate well when they are scanned.
Dave Kestner motioned for a short recess, 2nd Charlie King. Motion carried at 7:03pm.
Meeting reconvened at 7:13pm.
2. Review Fire Protection Regulations:
Rich Fowler informed the Board that he reviewed the revised policy and he only has three concerns; 1. under II. B. (definitions) he cannot relinquish authority to the Planning Board according to the NFP, 2. Section IV – he would like to compromise to 5 lots and 3. in Section D. (a) he would like to compromise the distance to 1200ft.
Cindy asked if the Chief provided any verbage for fire ponds and sprinkler systems to be included in this document. Rich replied that he did not but he would be willing to develop something using the NFPs to forward to the Board.
The Board addressed Rich’s comments. Under Section II. B. the Board and Rich were in consensus to remove “with recommendation by” and add “and.” Rich then explained that the NFPA has a formula to determine the amount of water needed for fire suppression and it basically works out to be 10,000 gallons per 3 lots so he would be willing to compromise to five lots under Section IV. A. The Board discussed their reasoning behind the seven lots noting that there is not regulation now and 3 lots would be a remarkable change. They also discussed leaving the requirement at 7 lots but changing the gallon requirement to 15,000 gallons because it might be more cost effective and workable. The consensus between the Board and Rich was to leave the requirement at 7 lots and
change the requirement to 15,000 gallons. Charlie K. pointed out that the regulation does not address what the requirements would be for subdivisions over 7 lots.
Rich then explained that for Section IV. D:1 (a) he has 1000 ft. of supply hose on the truck but he is willing to compromise to make the requirement for 1200 feet and carry an additional 200 ft. of hose. Many different scenarios were considered and it was discussed to maybe have the location of the cisterns approved by the Chief. No conclusion was made on this section and the Board agreed to do some research and discuss again at the next workshop meeting. Dave then asked the Chief why he is not proposing public cisterns in the Town CIP plan and Rich replied that he would like to do just that.
Charlie King motioned to table the fire protection regulation discussion to 12/1/09, 2nd Tracy Major. Motion carried.
At 8:30pm, Dave Kestner motioned for a short recess, 2nd Charlie King. Motion carried with all in favor.
Board reconvened at 8:39pm.
3. Discussion of Subdivision Regulations:
Cindy asked if the Board can review the Table of Permitted Uses and definitions at the next workshop meeting since there has been so much conflict over them lately. The Board was in consensus to do this. Charlie K. stated that he recalled the Board set three priorities for their work list after Dan Merhalski left and he thinks the Board should stick to those accomplishable goals.
Jim Horgan motioned to table the review of the subdivision regulations to 12/1/09, 2nd Charlie Doke. Motion carried.
4. Other:
A. Charlie Doke motioned to accept the 2010 Planning Board schedule as written, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried.
B. The Board reviewed the RFP for engineering services. Paul suggested an addition to #4 in that the companies present to the Board and the Board was in agreement this would be a good idea.
Charlie King motioned to accept the change suggested by Paul to #4 and review the amended Request for Proposal for engineering services in two weeks at the regular meeting on 12/17/09, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried.
C. Paul provided the Board with a copy of the powerpoint presentation on Small Wind Ordinances from the OEP conference. He stated that he would like to see the Board create an ordinance for this. Dave commented that he feels it is over zealous for the Board to take this on and Paul replied that he would be willing to put together a draft ordinance. Cindy asked if the Board could wait on this until they have finished the current work in progress. Charlie K. stated that it would be better to start this as a regulation instead of a ordinance because it would be new and give the Board more flexibility to get it right.
At 9:00pm, Charlie King motioned to adjourn, 2nd Cindy Snowdon. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
___________________________ _________________
Paul Parker, Chairman Date
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