NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING AND WORKSESSION
JUNE 23, 2009
1. Call to Order: Chairperson Miles called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. In attendance were: Chairperson Ann Miles; Vice Chairman Jim Doggett; Planning Board members Barbara White, and Frank Gibbs; and Alternates Rick Milner and Chuck Whitman. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant, Lisa Babcock.
Also in attendance were: Circuit Rider Planner David West and Board of Appeals Vice Chair, Alan French.
Miles appointed Whitman to stand in for Pettit.
2. Plan NH Update: The Board discussed creating a PowerPoint slide show for the July 7th meeting to showcase the town. Whitman will take photos around town for the slide show. The following locations were suggested: Town Hall, Churches, Convenience Stores, Gale Library, Grange Hall, Historical Society (Hatch Building), Marshall House, Newton Junction, Fire Stations (including the one in the Grove), Town Beach, Home on corner of Amesbury Rd & Bear Hill Road, Schools, Businesses, Fish & Game Club, Transfer Station, Rowe’s Corner, Marden Pond, Farmer in the Dell – old school house, Old roller rink, Puzzle Factory, Ice Houses, and Parks.
The secretary will get refreshments for the July 7th Plan NH meeting. Milner offered to bring in refreshments as well. An e-mail was sent to all department heads inviting them to the meeting.
3. Maplevale Builders Bond Reduction Request: The Board reviewed the bond reduction paperwork from KV Partners dated June 23, 2009. Contractor, Rick Paul was in attendance.
Doggett questioned whether the construction entrance was 100% completed as noted on the paperwork. Miles asked when the base coat will be laid. Mr. Paul said they are shooting for July 1st through 4th. Miles said no additional building permits will be issued until the road is graveled.
Doggett said a lot of dirt and mud has been tracked out of the development onto Whittier Street by trucks using the existing driveway to gain access to the site.
Planning Board member, Kim Vaillant arrived at 7:22 pm.
Mr. Paul said the old driveway is scheduled to be ripped out on Wednesday and that DOT is monitoring the construction entrance and the mud on Whittier Street.
Vaillant said she is concerned about the appearance and safety of the site. Miles commented that the Board received the bond reduction request just prior to the meeting and there was no time to review it or view the site.
West said that the Board can rely on the engineer's assessment of the site and therefore could grant the bond reduction.
Doggett and Vaillant commented that they do not want to set a precedent of accepting requests right before a meeting without time to review them. Doggett said all materials for meetings must be submitted at least 5 days prior to a meeting.
Also, since this item was not on the posted agenda, abutters would not have an opportunity to speak on the issue.
Doggett moved to schedule a bond reduction request for Maplevale Builders for the July 7th meeting at 7:00 pm. Second by Vaillant. Motion carried 5-0-1 with Gibbs abstaining.
4. Other Board Business:
- Report from Mary Pinkham-Langer of the Dept. of Revenue Admin / Board of Appeals minutes of 6/16/09: Coleman McDonough appeared before the Board of Appeals requesting a setback reduction of 110' between Walnut Farm Drive and lot 27-4 Puzzle Lane. Mr. French informed the board that there will be a site walk at Puzzle Lane on June 28th. West noted that a quorum of the Planning Board should not attend. White, Milner and Vaillant plan to attend.
Mr. French said the reason for the site walk is to allow the Board of Appeals to see what the view will be like for the residents at Walnut Farm once a building is in place at Puzzle Lane.
Gibbs said that if the back of the building will face Walnut Farm, the BOA could grant the setback reduction with the contingency that there will be no garage doors at the back of the building and no road around the building. This would reduce the amount of work conducted at the rear of the building and therefore reduce the amount of noise.
Mr. French said the BOA is also concerned that a 200' setback was maintained between Walnut Farm and Puzzle Lane, but the Planning Board allowed a reduction to 50' on the Sargent Woods side. He said all abutters should be granted the same level of protection. Miles explained that the Planning Board's position was that the property owners on Walnut Farm had purchased their property with the understanding that the setback was 200' where as the Sargent Woods property is not even developed yet.
- Targeted Block Grant – Next Round of Funding: The Board discussed options for the next round of funding for the Targeted Block Grant. West said the grant can be used for master plan chapters and ordinances. Miles said the board would want to do a $2500 match.
Doggett suggested doing an asset inventory which would then be appended to the master plan.
The Board decided on writing the grant for: 1) an asset inventory and 2) zoning documents from the results of the Plan NH charrette. West will write up the grant.
Doggett moved to accept the minutes of 6/9/09 as written. Second by White. Motion carried unanimously.
Doggett moved to authorize the chair to sign the NPREA manifest dated 6/23/09 in the amount $546.16. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
- Grant for Fire Station: Vaillant said she had looked into grant money to build a new fire station, however the town did not qualify because a full-time fire department was required for the grant.
- R. White Access Easement: The secretary informed the Board that the Board of Selectmen had denied Robert White an easement through the Gale Library. The issue will be before the Planning Board again.
- L. Smith – Sargent Woods: The Board was informed that a development company is interested in purchasing the Sargent Woods property. Mr. Smith asked the board to consider allowing implementation of the 80/20 rule in place of the 100% 55+ requirement for the property.
White wanted to know if the town would be obligated to extend the 80/20 rule to all existing senior housing.
West said it would require a zoning change and therefore a warrant article. Mr. Smith will be informed that the Board will seek legal advice before making any decisions about implementing the 80/20 rule.
5. Adjourn:
Miles called the meeting adjourned at 9:01 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Babcock
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
| 
