Newton Planning Board
Minutes of WORKSESSION and public hearing
january 27, 2009
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Planning Board Minutes of January 27, 2009 Work Session
All minutes are in draft form until approved by the Planning Board. Please check subsequent minutes for approval of and/or amendments to these minutes.
1. Call to Order / Attendance: Chairperson, Ann Miles called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. In attendance were: Chairperson Ann Miles; Vice Chairman, Jim Doggett; Planning Board Members, Frank Gibbs, Barbara White, and Kim Pettit; Alternate, Fred Gundersen and Ray Thayer, BOS ex Officio. Minutes were transcribed and typed by Lisa Babcock.
Also in attendance: Circuit Rider Planner David West
2. Steven Ciambelli continuation of a Public Hearing to discuss bonding and/or revocation of the Katherine Drive Subdivision. The property is referenced as Tax Map 6, Block 9, Lot 9 and is located on Whittier Street.
Miles noted that Mr. Ciambelli (who was not present) had withdrawn his request for a public hearing via e-mails dated 1/20/09 and 1/21/09.
The Board briefly discussed the complaint from CBI regarding excess water runoff which CBI attributes to the clearing of land at Katherine Drive. The Board reviewed a letter from town engineer, Mike Vignale, dated 1/26/09. In his report, Mr. Vignale stated that he was unable to do a complete evaluation because of the snow and recommended that the complaint be further investigated in the spring.
Pettit directed the secretary to forward copies of the complaint and Mr. Vignale's report to Mr. Ciambelli.
Doggett moved to close the public hearing for bonding and/or revocation of the Katherine Drive subdivision. Second by Pettit. Motion carried unanimously.
The secretary noted that a bond reduction request for Katherine Drive had been received earlier that day. The Board will discuss it at the next meeting.
3. Patriot Drive / Joseph Ferrandi request for road acceptance: Mr. Ferrandi was not present. The Board reviewed a punch list from Mr. Vignale dated 1/26/09.
Miles directed the secretary to send a letter to Mr. Ferrandi stating that the road cannot be recommended for acceptance until all of the punch list items are completed, the deed and easements have been received and fees have been paid.
4. Dave Storey: Request for Road Acceptance – Kenwood Drive/Storey Lane. Mr. Storey was not present. The Board reviewed a letter from Mr. Vignale dated 11/26/08 in which he states that the road could be considered for acceptance subject to the developer providing all required roadway and easement deeds, an appropriate maintenance bond and the as-built plans.
The Board directed the secretary to check with Mr. Vignale to determine if this is his latest letter given the November date and to forward the letter to Mr. Storey.
5. Plan NH Application for planning charrette: West recommended submitting an application requesting design assistance for village concept or village centers.
Doggett moved to authorize the circuit rider to complete the Plan NH application for the village center concept. Second by White.
Discussion: Miles asked if this would have anything to do with zoning, because the Board had wanted to work on zoning. West said the Targeted Block Grant will focus on zoning. Miles said there should be some reference to zoning since the village center and zoning ideas interrelate.
White noted that letters of support from different committees are necessary as part of the application. She said letters from the selectmen, planning board, and zoning board would be beneficial.
The Board decided to begin discussion on the Targeted Block Grant before voting on the Plan NH application.
6. Targeted Block Grant – Update and Plan NH continued: West provided sample zoning language and updated maps showing various types of land use: businesses, conservation areas, cemeteries, elderly housing, villages, mobile home parks, etc.
The Board reviewed the maps and continued correcting and adding to them. Miles noted that she would like to see the zoning of the abutting properties in neighboring towns included on the map.
West will include the corrections and additions made by the Board and bring updated maps to the February work session. The Board will also discuss the proposed zoning language at that time.
The Board then resumed discussion about the Plan NH application. West asked if the Board wanted to use the assistance to help draw the lines of where the zoning districts are going to be.
Miles suggested having them assist with a marketing proposal to help inform the public.
Doggett suggested having Plan NH come up with guidelines for the Board to utilize in the application of zoning. For example what is and what is not acceptable, what development possibilities exist and what the look should be.
West said it sounds like the board is looking for a mix between "a plan for mixed-use development in a rural village" and "development of a cohesive town village".
Doggett suggested "a cohesive mixed use village". Pettit noted that cohesiveness will be critical since the design committee with be looking for a large amount of data of different types.
Doggett moved to have the circuit rider take his notes from the discussion above and write the Plan NH application accordingly. Second by White. Motion carried unanimously.
7. Tax Parcel Maps: West informed the Board that there is some disagreement within RPC as to whether or not this is the type of project that RPC can do. He said that he was not able to piece together the digitized files he received from the town's map maker. However, he may be able to piece a map together from scanned paper copies. The mapping company may even already have an aggregate of all those pieces put together.
The project will likely cost more than $5,000 so it will have to go out to bid. RPC can write an RFP for digitizing the maps. But there are two basic options: 1) Take what's available and cram it together as well as possible. There would be no guarantee of the accuracy and it usefulness would be limited.
Doggett suggested sending a memo to the Board of Selectmen asking them to request of the tax mapping company an aggregate map of the town's parcels to scale.
West said the second option is 2) Hire a company to professionally digitize the tax maps (for example Applied Geographic, Cartographic Associates, Sewell). He said the company does the deed research on every parcel in town and builds a database of information as well. This costs a minimum of $20-$25 per parcel. West warned that some companies create the data then license it to the town. He said to look for a deal that gives the town outright ownership of the data.
Miles asked the secretary to find out the next meeting time for each town department so the Planning Board can present their ideas for Plan NH and the Targeted Block Grant.
White moved to request letters from the Board of Appeals, Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission and for the Planning Board to write a letter in support of the Plan NH application. Second by Doggett. Motion carried unanimously.
8. Acceptance of Minutes
Doggett moved to accept the minutes of 1/13/09. Second by Thayer. Motion carried with Gibbs abstaining.
9. Manifests: There were no manifests or bills to review.
10. Incoming Correspondence:
a. Circuit Rider Contract 1/16/09
Pettit moved to authorize the chair to sign the Rockingham Planning Commission Circuit Rider contract for 2009. Second by Doggett. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Letter from DTC – deeds & easements re: Foy property 1/9/09: The Board reviewed the deeds, no action necessary.
c. Letter from S. Kalman re: NFIP warrant article 1/20/09: The Board noted that the Floodplain Development ordinance is too long for the warrant. Copies will be made available to the public on the web site, at town hall, at the deliberative session and at the polls.
d. Letter from S. Kalman re: Philip Way deed 1/20/09
Motion by Pettit to send a certified letter to DC Development stating that a road deed for Philip Way must be submitted within 30 days or the town will use the bond money to have legal counsel write the deed. Second by Doggett. Motion carried unanimously.
e. Letter from Wharton re: survey 1/7/09. The Board did not express interest in completing the survey.
f. E-mail from Rob Peterson dated 1/23/09 re: ordinance clarification. Miles and Pettit took copies of the e-mail to review and will advise the secretary of any further actions to be taken.
11. Outgoing Correspondence: Miles noted that a reminder had been sent to the assessor for an assessed value report. She asked that a second reminder be sent. West said it would be helpful to have the report within two weeks.
12. Miles adjourned the meeting at 8:55 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Babcock
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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