Planning Board minutes
MINUTES – January 13, 2011 - REGULAR MEETING & PUBLIC HEARING (UNOFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED)
Chairman Scott Badger called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
In attendance: Members - Jerry Dougherty, Scott Badger, Frank Benesh, Betsey Harding, Sarah Kimball and David Treadwell; Alternates - Michael Mallett, Daren Levitt, Larry Siebert and George Howard. The voting alternate for this meeting will be Michael Mallett. Others attending - Susan Chase, Linda Dresch, Hank Dresch, David Mason, Gino Funicella, Peter Benson, Bea Davis, Shana Myers, Lisa MacAllister, Burr Phillips and Holly Lewis.
Review of the minutes of the last meeting showed two corrections. There was a spelling error in the last paragraph. The word amended was misspelled. Frank Benesh would like the record to show that he left early and did not take part in any voting. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as corrected. All voted favorably. Betsey Harding moved acceptance of the minutes, and Dave Treadwell seconded the motion; all approved.
Public Comments Concerning Items Not on the Agenda:
There were none
Public Hearing on Zoning Ordinance Proposal:
The proposed change was to amend Section 4.1.6 to read as follows, “Property owners shall assume responsibility for determining how to design and perform any Site Disturbance or Land Development in such manner as will reasonably prevent increased run-off, soil loss or Erosion from the site or lot.”
After Chairman Badger outlined the usual noticing process, Frank Benesh asked that an explanation be given for the proposal. Jerry Dougherty commented that 4.1.6 in its current form is unclear to property owners and that the Board of Selectmen were going beyond the intent of the Ordinance in what they were requiring of the property owner. The amendment, then, was intended to clarify the original intent.
Dave Mason, Board of Selectmen Chair, spoke against the amendment, stating that the Board of Selectmen were not requiring engineered plans or anything else beyond simple notice of what was being done; that they would make suggestions where appropriate, but make no requirements of the property owner. Linda Dresch of the Town Offices also stated that the Board of Selectmen is not requiring engineered plans for Site Disturbance. Dave, and others in the audience, went on to say that the proposed amendment would strip the town of any opportunity to prevent problems before they occur and would likely lead to far more costly actions, for both the town and abutting property owners, later on. Several in the audience went on to say that they would prefer to see the ordinance made more stringent, rather than less so. Dave Mason’s comments are
attached.
After consideration of these public comments, including discussion regarding current property issues and the steps being taken, Betsey Harding proposed that the amendment be withdrawn and that the Board spend more time on assessing the current Site Disturbance ordinance and whether any changes should be made.
Betsy Harding made a motion to withdraw the wording change for this year and discuss the issue in a subcommittee or at Board meetings for next year; David Treadwell seconded the motion. Scott asked for any further comments and there were none. All voted favorably.
New Business
There was none.
Old Business
There was discussion as to what initiatives the Board should focus on for 2011. After some discussion of whether to start on a new Master Plan or on other issues board members had listed at the November meeting, Betsey suggested that a straw pole be taken. Of the poll, the three topics that received the most votes were, 1) Site Disturbance, 2) Frontage requirements and 3) Building Permits & Inspections. It was then decided to continue the Board’s discussion of Site Disturbance at the next meeting.
As there was no further discussion, Chairman Scott Badger made a motion to adjourn the meeting; David Treadwell seconded the motion and all voted favorably. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan G. Way, Secretary
January 18, 2010
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