NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING
May 11, 2010
1. Call to Order:
Chairman Jim Doggett called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. In attendance were: Chairman Jim Doggett; Vice Chairman Barbara White; Planning Board members Frank Gibbs, Ann Miles and Kim Vaillant, Alternate Rick Milner, and Ray Thayer, BOS ex officio. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant Lisa Babcock.
Doggett appointed Milner to stand in for Kim Pettit.
2. Karl N. LaCroix, of Newton, NH continuation of a public hearing for a 2-lot subdivision at 44 Whittier Street. The property is referenced as Tax Map 5, Block 5, Lot 5.
Dennis Quintal of Civil Construction Management was present to represent the applicant. Mr. LaCroix was also present.
Vaillant moved to take jurisdiction of the plan for a 2-lot subdivision at Tax Map 5, Block 5, Lot 5. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
The board reviewed revised copies of the plans. Mr. Quintal explained that the proposed lot line between the two lots was moved on the plan to accommodate the required 25' setback for the driveway to the trailer. The lot-size-by-soil calculations were also revised. The second driveway on proposed lot 5-1 was removed from the plans.
Mr. Quintal said the bounds need to be set and they still need to get state subdivision approval; the subdivision approval number will be printed on the mylar.
Gibbs asked what happens to the state permit for the driveway that was dropped from the plan. Vaillant said the driveway should be abandoned and that should be noted on the plan.
Mr. Quintal said that although the state allows three driveways, Mr. LaCroix is comfortable with having two driveways and is willing to give up the third driveway. A note will be added to the plan stating that the third driveway will be abandoned.
Miles asked about the excavation that was occurring at the site. She suggested that no building permits be issued until the processing of materials stops.
Mr. Quintal explained that Mr. LaCroix had been removing debris that had been buried in the yard by a previous owner and that the top soil will be spread on the lot when a house is built there in the future. Excess soil will be removed from the site.
Doggett asked about the wetlands section within the radius of the proposed well. He asked if the area had been loamed. Mr. LaCroix said he dug some rocks out of there so that the area could be mowed.
Vaillant suggested conducting a site walk at the property.
Vaillant moved to conduct a site walk at 44 Whittier Street on Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 am. Second by White. Motion carried 6-1-0 with Gibbs opposed.
Vaillant, Milner and Doggett will attend the site walk.
Vaillant moved to continue the public hearing to May 25th. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Elizabeth Lewis and Wesley Gundersen of Newton, NH request a public hearing for a Lot Line Adjustment at 3 Nordic Woods Lane and 19 Gale Village Road. The property is referenced as Tax Map 9, Block 3, Lots 15-1 and 14.
Mr. Gundersen was present. Doggett read an e-mail submitted by Mr. Gundersen requesting a continuance.
Vaillant moved to continue the public hearing to June 8th. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Acceptance of Minutes:
Gibbs moved to accept the minutes of 4/27/10 as written. Second by Vaillant. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Thayer abstaining.
5. Manifests:
Motion by Gibbs to authorize the chair to sign the operating budget manifest dated 5/11/10 in the amount $5.50. Second by Vaillant. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by White to authorize the chair to sign the NPREA manifest dated 5/11/10 in the amount $382.55. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Town of Newton, NH continuation of a public hearing to review a proposed addition to the Newton Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Village District Zoning. Circuit Rider Planner, Brian Groth arrived at 7:26 pm.
Glenn Greenwood of the Rockingham Planning Commission was also in attendance. He said that the board should work on defining the village district areas and also work on the list of permitted and non-permitted uses for the zones.
Mr. Greenwood also questioned the maximum building size under section 3.d of the proposed ordinance (6,534 square feet). He said that might limit certain uses. Vaillant said the measurement is based on the largest barn in the area and that the board doesn't want to see any larger buildings in these areas.
Miles said she didn't think there was enough input from the public yet to define the bounds of the districts. She also asked what grant money is available to fund the project.
Milner said the board should discuss the limits of the districts but could be flexible and change them after getting more input from the public. Groth said the board should develop a set of draft boundaries for the districts as a starting-off point.
Mr. Greenwood said the best way to fund the project would be with a federal transportation grant which requires an 80/20 match. The application process is simple and there are significant funds available. Towns can apply throughout the year.
Miles said an engineering/planning grant is needed. Mr. Greenwood said the transportation grant could still be used but an RFP would be needed.
The board then reviewed maps of the proposed village district areas. Groth took notes of the discussion.
The hearing was continued to May 25th.
7. Agricultural Commission: Doggett announced that the Grange has agreed to sponsor an Agricultural Committee start up meeting on Sunday, June 13th, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. This will be a 2-hour drop-in meeting. Copies of the handout material will be made and light refreshments will be served. It will be held at the Horace Williams Hall.
8. DC Development Maintenance Bond Release Request: DC Development (developers of Philip Way) has requested a release of their maintenance bond. However there is an outstanding balance in the NPREA account.
Miles suggested finding out where the money is held since Butler Bank no longer exists.
Gibbs moved to recommend that the Board of Selectmen release the Maintenance Bond for Philip Way as soon as the outstanding NPREA balance of $10,605.53 is paid. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Miles abstaining.
9. Technical Review Committee Meetings: Doggett asked if the board wanted to disband the TRC or continue having meetings when needed. White and Milner felt the meetings were helpful to the applicants. Vaillant felt the committee should be disbanded since there isn't a lot of development going on at this time. Miles said many other towns use the TRC to help applicants prepare for the public hearing and gives other departments the opportunity to discuss applications.
Doggett asked for volunteers to be on the subcommittee. White and Miles volunteered.
Doggett moved to appoint Miles and White to serve on the Technical Review Committee. Second by Vaillant. Motion carried unanimously.
10. Metro PCS mylars: Metro PCS had submitted the entire plan set on mylar. It would not be possible to record this. Doggett suggested they submit only the page that shows the site plan with the structures at the base of the tower for recording.
11. Trails Committee: Miles asked what the status of the trails committee is. Milner said a meeting had been scheduled but no one was at the town hall when he went to the meeting.
Sandy Estabrook said she had received a phone call that the meeting had been cancelled. She suggested noting in the minutes that the town is looking for volunteers to serve on the committee.
Miles said she wanted to clear some trails. Ms. Estabrook said Miles should request permission from the Conservation Commission.
Doggett asked Ms. Estabrook if she would bring up the Trails Committee issue at the next Conservation Commission meeting.
10. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Babcock
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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