NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF WORK SESSION
JULY 26, 2011
1. Call to Order: Chairman Jim Doggett called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm.
In attendance were: Chairman Jim Doggett; Vice Chair Barbara White; Planning Board members Frank Gibbs and Ann Miles; Alternates Mary Allen and Charles Melvin; BOS ex-officio Trisha McCarthy; and Circuit Rider Planner Brian Groth. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant Rick Milner.
Doggett appointed Allen to stand in for Vaillant.
Doggett appointed Melvin to stand in for Miller.
2. Town of Newton, NH preliminary consultation and pre-application review of proposed changes in land use.
a. Keith Hart – 5 Crane Crossing Road. Permitted uses in Village District Zone.
Doggett informed the Board of Mr. Hart's request to have an official record of the Board's determination regarding the property at 5 Crane Crossing Road. Mr. Hart had not yet arrived. Doggett suggested taking up the matter later in the meeting after Mr. Hart arrived.
3. Other board business.
a. Acceptance of minutes
Gibbs stated that he wanted to re-phrase his motion from the June 28 meeting regarding restrictions on construction activity at Puzzle Lane due to possible lack of adequate bonding. Doggett suggested that Gibbs make a motion to reconsider his previous motion after the minutes have been accepted.
Allen moved to accept the minutes of the June 28 meeting. Second by Gibbs. Motion carried unanimously.
Gibbs moved to reconsider his June 28 motion regarding restrictions on construction activity at Puzzle Lane. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
Gibbs moved to send a letter to the Building Department requesting that no more inspections be conducted and no permits or certificates of occupancy be issued for any units on Puzzle Lane until all bonding issues are resolved to the satisfaction of the Planning Board. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Town of Newton, NH preliminary consultation and pre-application review of proposed changes in land use.
a. Keith Hart – 5 Crane Crossing Road. Permitted uses in Village District Zone.
Mr. Hart arrived. Doggett stated Mr. Hart's request that the Board take an official vote regarding its preliminary consultation and pre-application review of a proposed change in land use at 5 Crane Crossing Road.
White moved that the Planning Board will take no action regarding 5 Crane Crossing Road until notified by the Board of Selectmen that all matters regarding this property have been resolved to their satisfaction. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously with Melvin abstaining.
5. Other board business.
a. Review of road bonds
Doggett asked Milner to update the Board on the status of the Walnut Farm Road bond.
Milner stated that the road bond connected to the Walnut Farm Road subdivision has been renewed for an additional year. The bank has secured the funds and is currently processing the paperwork.
Doggett presented the letter authorized by the Board at its June 28 meeting that was sent to Rt. 125 Development NH Corp/Coleman McDonough notifying Mr. McDonough of the expiration dates of three Puzzle Lane performance bonds. Doggett informed the Board that no response had yet been received from Rt. 125 Development NH Corp or Mr. McDonough.
White moved that the Planning Board send a certified overnight letter to Rt. 125 Development NH Corp/Coleman McDonough notifying Mr. McDonough that, if all bonds connected to the Puzzle Lane commercial subdivision project are not renewed prior to their expiration dates, the Town of Newton will issue a cease and desist order for all construction activities connected to the Puzzle Lane commercial subdivision project. Second by Melvin. Motion carried unanimously.
Melvin moved that the Planning Board send a memo to the Board of Selectmen requesting that the Selectmen be prepared to act at their next meeting on the issuance of a cease and desist order for all construction activities connected to the Puzzle Lane commercial subdivision project, if all performance guarantee bonds connected with the Puzzle Lane commercial subdivision project are not renewed prior to their expiration dates. Second by White. Motion carried unanimously.
Doggett presented the invoice from KV Partners for work performed creating the construction cost estimate for the Puzzle Lane road bond. He noted that this invoice would be paid from the consultant fees line in the Planning Board's operating budget.
b. Manifests
Doggett presented an operating budget manifest to the Board. The invoices reflected payment of second installment of circuit rider contract, Puzzle Lane road bond re-evaluation estimate, telephone bill, office supplies, and copy fees.
Gibbs moved to pay the operating budget manifest amount of $7,355.08. Second by White. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Cell tower update
Doggett presented the application packets for the upcoming August 9 public hearing regarding the modification of the antennas on the cell tower at 85T South Main Street to the Board members.
Gibbs suggested that the Board contact Newton Police Chief Lawrence Streeter to confirm that the addition of the new antennas will not affect the Town's proposal to install a repeater site at the top of the cell tower to improve emergency communications.
Melvin suggested that the plans for the cell tower area be reviewed to ensure that there is enough room to enlarge the fall zone to accommodate the additional four feet of antenna height without crossing onto abutting properties.
d. Correspondence
White presented documents from the NH Preservation Alliance detailing NH RSA 79-E Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive. The goal of the program is to encourage the rehabilitation and active use of under-utilized buildings within village centers. White also presented possible grant options to help fund the proposed Rowe's Corner road improvement plan.
Doggett thanked Board members for their attendance at the recent RPC training session.
6. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rick Milner
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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