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Planning Board Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2011
Memorial Town Hall
Members Present:
W. Ritter, D. Lindberg, O. Lies, M. Wronski, J. Head
Members Absent:
A. Bonofiglio
Others Present:
P. Harding, Town Planner, D. Sciascia, Recording Secretary, Mark Archambault, Nashua River Watershed Association
7:00 PM: W. Ritter called the Planning Board meeting to order, welcoming the members of the Conservation Committee to the meeting.
Planning Board and Conservation Committee members introduced themselves: Mark Archambault, NRWA, Dan Nason, DPW, Planning Board members; W. Ritter, D. Lindberg, O. Lies, M. Wronski, and J. Head. Conservation Commission Members; Mark Helfrick, Robert Lowell, Anthony Costello, and Michael Scott.
JOINT MEETING WITH CONSERVATION COMMISSION, NASHUA RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION: Mark Archambault, NRWA, conducted a presentation / answer question period. There will be an April 27th free detailed workshop, at Devens, geared more toward engineers.
Workshop Topics:
- The downside of conventional, high impact developments
- The upside of low impact development, both large scale open space design and small-scale (stormwater)
- The key principles of low impact development
- Brief history and status of LID to date
- The ‘How’ of Low Impact Development
- Features of open space residential design
- Circumstances conducive to LID stormwater approaches
- LID techniques for managing stormwater
- Performance and benefits to various LID stormwater practices as compared to conventional stormwater management techniques
- Practicing LID at the Local Level
- Getting LID into local bylaws and regulations
- Educating local developers and engineers on LID
- LID information resources
- Question and Answer Period
Question / Answer Period:
- M. Wronski inquired about the rain barrel program.
- P. Harding asked about who maintains the rain gardens. This would be included in the owner’s deed.
- M. Archambault will check with the town of Townsend to see if they’ve had any problems with a 5 year old subdivision where they’ve incorporated LID.
- O. Lies inquired about commercial area’s utilizing porous pavement. The University of New Hampshire has a porous pavement area.
- R. Lowell said there is an older (1970’s) parking lot at Walden Pond utilizing the porous pavement idea.
- O. Lies stated that developers always look at the bottom line dollar figure, and asked if there were any recommended incentives to use LID. Examples: Density bonuses and increase square footage bonuses for commercial projects.
- W. Ritter mentioned that it’s already difficult to get developers to do what they’re suppose to, without strict enforcement mechanisms requiring them to clean the porous surfaces etc.
- M. Archambault will also try to locate a copy of the rain garden planting guidebook, and if there are any porous surface parking lots in the area that can be visited by the Board.
- Mike Scott inquired if the Open Space Cluster By-law has passed. It was adopted at the annual Town Meeting. He went on to relay his experiences with LID projects.
Documents presented during review:
Nashua River Watershed Associated workshop handouts)
(These documents can be viewed at the Town Planners Office)
APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED
- Surrey Lane / Erin’s Way - Stephen Puffer / Sean Xenos: J. Head recused himself from the discussion and vote. Additional notes were added to describe the lot line changes. The plan is entitled to endorsement. No new lots are being created. O. Lies motioned to endorse the plan. D. Lindberg seconded. Vote 4-0, APPROVED. J. Head re-joined the meeting.
Approval Not Required, Steven W & Kathleen K Puffer, 78 Surrey Ln, dated December 3, 2010.
(This document can be viewed at the Town Clerk’s Office)
- Winter Hill Road / Winter Hill, LLC: A lot line is being adjusted in an R-1 zoning district to comply with a condition of a variance granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals. D. Lindberg motioned to endorse the plan. O. Lies seconded. Vote 5-0, APPROVED.
Documents presented during review:
Approval Not Required, John & Maureen Locke, 74 Raymond Ave., dated .January 10, 2011.
(This document can be viewed at the Town Clerk’s Office)
- Sawyer Lane / Wisniewski Estate: This plan created 6 lots in an R-1 zoning district. Three of the parcels are being conveyed to the Department of Conservation and Recreation. P. Harding recommended the applicant add a note on the plan that 6A & B are non-buildable lots. J. Head motioned to endorse the plan once the non-buildable note is added to the plan. D. Lindberg seconded. Vote 5-0, APPROVED.
Documents presented during review:
Approval Not Required, Mary Wisniewski, Est., PO Box 243, Holden, MA, dated .June 13, 2008.
(This document can be viewed at the Town Clerk’s Office)
WINDMILL BY-LAW: The Board will review the draft of the Windmill By-law, which the Board will be revisiting for the May 2011 town meeting. Abutters concerns seem to be focused on noise generation. Other items the Planning Board has been discussing include;
- If residential and commercial uses should be permitted to utilize the by-law
- Minimum lot size requirements are currently set at 2 acres
- If the Zoning Board of Appeals or Planning Board should be the permitting authority (ZBA is currently the permitting authority for cell towers)
- Required setbacks to create adequate buffers from noise generation, and how the noise generated is related to the size of the windmill
M. Wronski does not see residential windmills happening.
O. Lies said that the Board is looking to create a by-law, not promote windmills.
W. Ritter believes that a by-law would be encouraging windmills because currently windmills are only allowed by a variance. The Board discussed who would be the permitting authority; the Planning Board or the ZBA. The Windmill By-law will be put on the agenda for the next meeting.
Documents presented during review:
Draft of Wind Mill By-Law
(This document can be viewed at the Town Planners Office)
OTHER BUSINESS:
- Sign By-law: O. Lies would like to look at the current sign by-law.
- CMRPC: O. Lies informed the Board that CMRPC developed a Storm Water By-law. There will be a workshop in the spring, at Holy Cross College. Invitations will be sent out.
- Technical Assistance Money: O. Lies updated the Board. P. Harding has the forms. To be eligible, projects must be regional. CMRPC has not received enough applications that qualify.
- Planning Board Member: W. Ritter spoke to the Town Manager about recruiting another member for the vacant seat on the Planning Board. He asked that members get the word out.
- Master Plan: W. Ritter will meet with P. Harding on the Master Plan list, there will be a list for the Board to review.
MEETING MINUTES:
- December 14, 2010: D. Lindberg motioned to approve. J. Head seconded. Vote 5-0, all in favor, APPROVED.
Next Meeting: February 8, 2011, 7:00 PM.
D. Lindberg motioned to adjourn. J. Head seconded. All in favor.
Adjourned 8:50 PM.
January 25, 2011 Minutes approved: February 8, 2011
Debra A. Sciascia, Recording Secretary
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