Lyme Planning Board Minutes
February 23, 2006
Board Members & Staff: Present: Jack Elliott, Jeanie McIntyre, Don Dwight, Dick Jones, Dan Brand, and Victoria Davis Absent: Freda Swan, Ben Kilham
Public: Bill Wohlforth, Applicant; Stephanie Clark
Presenters for Presentation: David Wunsch, NH State Geologist; Chad Wittkop, NH Geological Survey; Christopher Covel, Covel & Associates
Public for Presentation: Ross McIntyre, Put Blodgett, Mike Smith, Garry Thrasher, Tom Morrissey, Steve Campbell, Deb Robinson, Jay Cary, Catherine Hopper, David Perlman, Brian Cook, Earl Strout, Ben & Patricia Hudson, Greg Spitz, Lee Larson, Nancy Grandine, Alan Greatorex, and Colin Robinson
Jack Elliott, Acting Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm at the Fire Station Training Room. He appointed Dan Brand to sit for Freda Swan.
Item 1: Approval of Minutes: Jack Elliott made a motion to approve the February 9, 2006 meeting minutes as written. Dick Jones seconded the motion, and unanimous agreement followed.
Item 2: Public Hearing for Revised Minor Subdivision: Benedictine Congregation Map 414, Lot 9; 60 Pout Pond Lane; Application #06-02:
Dick Jones recused himself as an abutter to the property. A previous application for this subdivision had come before the Board, and it was approved in October 2005. The applicant since adjusted a property line, and this new hearing was required. Victoria Davis reviewed the application list with the Board. Waivers were required for showing the septic system at an existing building on an adjacent parcel considered part of the lot. The Board determined the building was not near the development area, and the utility information was not necessary. A waiver was needed as the surface waters within 200’ of the property lines on adjacent properties were not shown. Dick Jones stated the sources for the water on the lot are not within 200’. Again, the Board determined this
information was not needed. Waivers were required for V. Surface Water Runoff… and VI. Preservation of Significant Natural and Historic Features. The Board determined this information was not needed for this application. There are no known significant features to be shown. Don Dwight made a motion to deem the application complete and approve the waivers. Jeanie McIntyre seconded the motion, and unanimous agreement followed. There was no further public comment. It was noted the driveway had been moved as suggested on the curb cut permit and changes to the map had been made as required on the notice of decision for the previous application.
Jeanie McIntyre made a motion to approve the application with the following conditions: 1.) Zoning permits and special exceptions form the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be obtained prior to construction of driveways and structures; 2.) All development shall take place within the building envelope except for driveway; and 3.) Septic systems to be built per state subdivision regulations at the time of construction. Don Dwight seconded the motion, and unanimous agreement followed.
Item 3: Geology and Aquifer Presentation: Jack Elliott introduced the presentation stating the Planning Board would like to inventory significant resources in Town and determine how best to protect them. Water is a critical resource for which we have little information. David Wunsch, NH State Geologist provided a power point presentation. He reviewed basic geology and distinguished between surficial geology and bedrock geology, the uses of geology maps, the need to locate potential contaminants, and the information needed to effectively respond to catastrophes such as gasoline spills. He displayed the State Geology map which is at a scale of 1:250,000. He explained the significance of providing more detailed information at a scale of 1:24,000. In the past, stratified
aquifer maps were provided for planning purposes. However, the information is sometimes over 20 years old and not mapped at a consistent quality and detail. Since that time, the State has developed a database of well drillings which provides much better geologic information. If a town has digital tax maps, his program can geo-reference the wells by lot. There are federal funds to provide this detailed mapping for towns which could be a baseline for planning decisions and which would be difficult to dispute in court. The average cost of a map might be $18,000. The State can double a town match with federal funds, and part of the match could be the submittal of digital tax maps or “in-house” mapping.
Chris Covel stated his consulting agency provides detailed information . He explained the State map shows Lyme to be mostly bedrock, and fractures along the faults through Lyme provide a higher water yield than purely bedrock aquifers. He explained that our only source of water is precipitation which provides for infiltration, evaporation, transpiration, runoff, and storage. If we overuse the storage component, we can throw off the balance of the water equation. This can also be hampered by covering infiltration areas with impermeable materials. He drew an example of wells penetrating to “sheet joints” between layers of bedrock which are more likely to go dry than wells reaching a fracture. He explained how the “dip” of a fracture is important knowledge for
runoff contamination evaluation. In response to a question, he stated dense development might be served better by a community well at a fracture. In other towns, the developer is responsible for this community provision so the towns are not responsible for the pumping or liability.
Ross McIntyre and Earl Strout gave a summary of the past Lyme cooperative water system which worked well until Federal regulations required more overview if serving a certain number of homes. The cooperative ended and several wells were drilled so the regulations would not apply. The water quality of the new wells is not as good as the original two wells at the Chaffee house of the Clark Horton house east of the country store.
In response to a question about why we need this mapping if development is already restricted, Jeanie McIntyre stated that many towns may feel they will not change, but population pressures will certainly increase development in Lyme regardless of town regulations and ordinances. She added that the mapping would help the town plan where development should occur: spread out or contained in villages.
Chris Covel invited anyone interested to visit a well drilling site at Dartmouth behind the hockey rink during the week of March 20th. David Wunsch stated there is a volunteer well monitoring program to provide the State with information, and 12-18 wells will be added to the program this summer. He suggested Lyme could add one of their town wells to the program. It would cost the Town about $600 for the monitoring meter, and they would need volunteers to check the meter. David Wunsch recommended that the Town adopt water protection regulations based on whatever information it has now.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Submitted by,
Victoria Davis
Planning & Zoning Administrator
NO MEETING ON MARCH 9, 2006
Tentative Meeting Agenda for March 23, 2006
7:30 Conservation Commission Mutual Planning Goals
8:30 Approve minutes of February 22 & 23, 2006
Appoint Don Dwight as Alternate
8:40 “Lot” definition policy discussion
9:00 Curt Vinson Site Plan Review requirement
Other Business:
* Community Attitude Survey Update
* Master Plan & Natural Resources Inventory
* Excavation Regulations
Tentative Meeting Agenda for April 13, 2006
7:30 Approve minutes of March 9, 2006 meeting
7:40 Lot Line Adjustment Hearing for Congregational Church & Guyre
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