NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING AND WORKSESSION
JULY 28, 2009
1. Call to Order: Chairperson Miles called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. In attendance were: Chairperson Ann Miles; Vice Chairman Jim Doggett; Planning Board member Barbara White, Kim Pettit and Kim Vaillant; and Alternates Rick Milner and Mary Allen. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant, Lisa Babcock.
Also in attendance: Circuit Rider Planner David West and Resident Cheryl Killam.
Miles appointed Allen to stand in for Gibbs.
2. Plan NH Update: Miles informed the Board that she met with the Board of Selectmen. The selectmen did not have any issues with the Planning Board's plans for advertising the charrette. A portion of the town web site will be used to update the public; a photo slide show will also be added.
The Board will continue discussion later in the meeting.
3. Town of Newton, NH continuation of a public hearing for proposed amendments to the Subdivision Regulations, Site Plan Review Regulations and the Policies and Procedures Manual regarding fees.
The Board reviewed the updated fee schedule. Doggett said to change "Subdivision of fewer than 4 lots" to "Subdivisions of 3 or fewer lots". Pettit suggested moving Lot-Line Adjustments from table 4 to table 3 and noting that per lot fees are required for lot-line adjustments.
Pettit moved to add the following line to table 4 "for every 5000 sf over" the fee is $200. Doggett amended the motion as follows, the line will read "for every increment of $1,000 sf" the fee is $100. Second by Doggett. Motion carried unanimously.
Pettit moved to add "revised" after "lots" in table 3. Second by Miles. Motion carried unanimously.
Doggett moved to make the Application Fee for Site Plans $500 and $250 for Minor Site Plans. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
Doggett moved to make the initial NPREA deposit for minor site plans $500. Second by White. Motion carried unanimously.
Doggett moved to amend the NPREA deposit for site plans to read: $500 initial deposit to accompany application; fees to be determined by the Planning Board and Town Engineer. Second by Pettit. Motion carried unanimously.
Allen moved to continue the public hearing for fees to August 8th, 2009. Second by White. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Puzzle Lane Cease and Desist and Intent to Excavate: Coleman McDonough was in attendance to address the Board. He said that the intent to excavate applications have been submitted to the town administrator.
He also informed the Board that he will be meeting with the town administrator and Mary Pinkham-Langer from the NH DRA at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 30th. Miles said she would attend the meeting.
Mr. McDonough said he had met with Ms. Pinkham-Langer about 2 years ago and he was under the impression that the alteration of terrain permit covered the excavation of the project.
Miles recommended that Mr. McDonough review the estimates of cubic yards to be excavated on the applications and be sure they are correct.
Miles also informed the Board that Ms. Pinkham-Langer will attend a Planning Board meeting to explain the Board's authority and responsibility regarding excavation permits.
White and Vaillant will also visit the site on Thursday.
5. Acceptance of Minutes:
Doggett moved to accept the minutes of 7/14/09 as written. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
6. NH Economic Revitalization Zone Program: Miles will meet with the town administrator to discuss this tax incentive program. The Board thought that the Puzzle Lane development might qualify.
Frank Gibbs arrived at 7:58 pm.
7. RPC – Technical Advisory Committee:
Allen moved to recommend that the Board of Selectmen appoint Frank Gibbs and Barbara White to represent Newton on the Technical Advisory Committee. Second by Vaillant. Motion carried unanimously.
8. Safe Roads to School Committee:
Pettit volunteered to represent the Planning Board on this committee.
9. Credit Card Policy: The secretary informed the Board that the town administrator requested that everyone read the policy and sign the agreement form.
10. Sargent Woods: Miles informed the Board that Restoration Capital is no longer interested in the property. She expects another interested party to contact the Planning Board office soon.
Doggett asked how long the developer has to be considered in "active and substantial development". West said 4 years unless another agreement was made. West said he felt this project would be considered an abandoned project since it was started but no work has been done recently.
Pettit said the NPREA bill needs to be reviewed to determine how much bond money can be applied to the outstanding invoices.
Vaillant asked if the occupancy permits are still valid. Miles asked the secretary to contact the building department to ask about the status of the occupancy permits.
11. Street Lights at Storey Lane / Kenwood Drive: The Board asked the secretary to draft a memo to the Board of Selectmen to accept the street lights – they may be in the right of way – and they can then be shut off if the selectmen decide to do that.
12. Plan NH: The Board discussed several ideas for advertising the Plan NH event. The charrette is scheduled for September 25 & 26.
The Board decided to purchase about 3 banners at $400 each. They will try to get sponsors to defray the costs. Suggestions for hanging the banners: near
Gibbs' house (he has the necessary equipment), at the grange hall.
The Board will have to plan for the following meals: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast & lunch. Doggett said the Grange will provide coffee. Miles said the 108 Store has offered to provide beverages.
The Board will look into smaller signs. Miles will staff a table at Kingston Days.
The Banner will say: "Come Plan Newton's Future – September 25th & 26th" www.newton-nh.com and will include the Plan NH logo and the town seal.
Other ideas include: bumper stickers, posters and flyers posted around town, bookmarks at the library, banks and stores. Miles said we should provide babysitting and entertainment for the children during the charrette.
The churches will be contacted.
A Planning Board member will attend each of the town department's meetings to discuss the project. The secretary will send out the list of meeting dates and get on the agendas.
Flyers will be created and each member of the Board should try to hand out about 50 of them.
Milner said the dates, times and locations must be determined so that flyers can be printed out.
The Board decided to use the Carriage Barn – there is plenty of room inside and outside. The Town Hall is too small and the school is a problem since part of the charrette will take place during regular school hours.
Resident Cheryl Killam said she wants to be involved and wants to make sure the event is accessible to the handicapped. She said she will contact Acios about a donation – possibly pizza for the Saturday lunch.
A list of contributors will need to be maintained.
Doggett said that maybe high school students could help out – they need community service hours. Pettit suggested the Girl Scouts could help with babysitting.
Miles said there should be door prizes. She suggested tours of SPE Real Estate's sports memorabilia collection as one prize.
If any member contacts a business or organization, please inform the secretary so that a central list of contacts can be maintained.
13. Circuit Rider: White thanked David West for his service to the town. He will be leaving the Rockingham Planning Commission.
14. Maplevale Builders Bond Reduction Request / Katherine Drive: The Board reviewed the bond reduction paperwork from KV Partners dated July 28, 2009.
The Board was informed that the town engineer said he should have submitted the paperwork sooner and he accepted responsibility for the late submission of the paperwork. The Board decided that since the late submission seemed to be due to an error on the engineer's part and the paving had been done over a week ago, they would vote on the bond reduction.
Doggett said the developers appear to still be using the driveway from the existing home to access the property. Miles said that was probably due to the extremely wet weather – they probably don't want to ruin the new road.
Gibbs said they are benefitting the town by staying off the new road until things dry out.
Allen moved to grant a bond reduction in the amount of $21,073 for Katherine Drive leaving an amount of $60,917. Second by Vaillant. Motion carried with Doggett opposed and Gibbs abstaining.
Miles said to send a memo to the town engineer asking him to be prompt with his paperwork in the future and include a list of deadlines for his reference. She also said to add that if the delay was due to a vacation, Mr. Vignale should have a co-worker fill in if necessary.
15. Adjourn:
Miles called the meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Babcock
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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