NEWTON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING
JUNE 10, 2014
1. Call to Order: Chairman Barbara White called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. In attendance were: Chairman Barbara White; Vice Chairman Jim Doggett; Planning Board members Roger Hamel and Sandra Estabrook; Alternates Mary Allen and Jim Holland; and Circuit Rider Planner Jennifer Rowden. Minutes were transcribed by Administrative Assistant Rick Milner.
White appointed Allen to stand in for Miller.
White appointed Holland to stand in for Blanchette.
2. 125 Development NH Corp. in Plaistow, NH – continuation of a public hearing for a site plan review (site plan for Lot 27-4 Phase II construction) at the Southern New Hampshire Industrial Park commercial subdivision located on Puzzle Lane. The property is referenced as Tax Map 14, Block 1, Lot 27-4.
Hamel and Holland stepped down from the Board.
Attorney Christos Valhouli was present to represent the applicant. Mr. Valhouli addressed the Board. Mr. Valhouli stated that:
- notes have been added to the plan detailing the hours of operation restriction
- lighting plan page was revised to correspond to the position change of the smaller building on the plan
- landscape plan page was revised per the Board’s and Circuit Rider Planner’s comments
- the applicant has no objection to the Town Engineer’s recommendation to remove suggested tree plantings from the wetlands areas.
Mr. Valhouli asked for suggestions regarding the landscape page of the site plan.
Doggett suggested that the Board conduct a site walk of the property to ascertain the current conditions of the property in order to make an informed judgment regarding plantings on the landscape page.
White suggested that the existing mature trees referenced in the Circuit Rider Planner’s and Town Engineer’s comments should be indicated on the landscape page. She concurred with Doggett’s opinion that a site walk was necessary.
Mr. Valhouli agreed that a site walk would be beneficial.
Milner suggested that the current existing tree line for the entire property be represented on the landscape page.
Rowden stated that the applicant has addressed all previous comments regarding the site plan except the landscape plan.
Abutter Roger Hamel asked for clarification regarding the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) requirement for a berm with additional tree plantings that appear to have been eliminated from the site plan.
Mr. Valhouli stated that the original location for the ZBA required plantings needed to be moved because that area was needed for snow removal.
Rowden noted that placing trees on the landscape plan closer to the 50 foot undisturbed buffer area on a berm between the storm water management areas would satisfy the ZBA requirement.
Abutter Jaimie Fitzpatrick asked for clarification regarding the spacing of tree plantings on the site plan and clarification of the slope along the Walnut Farm Road border of the property.
Doggett explained that the indicated spacing of the trees was necessary to allow room for the trees to grow to their mature dimensions. Doggett noted that the steepness of the slope has been reduced along the Walnut Farm Road border.
Doggett moved that the Planning Board conduct a site walk on Lot 27-4 at 10:00 am on June 12, 2014. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
White moved that the existing tree line and vegetation for the entire property be represented on the landscape page of the Lot 27-4 Phase II site plan. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
Allen moved that the Planning Board require an erosion control and reclamation bond be established for the Lot 27-4 Phase II site and authorize the Town Engineer to prepare an estimate for the erosion control and reclamation bond. Second by Doggett. Motion carried unanimously.
Abutter Nancy Harland asked for clarification regarding night time lighting and whether the site plan could be revised at a later date.
Rowden stated that the lights noted on the lighting plan page were downcast and dark sky compliant.
White stated that the site plan could be revised at a later date through the amended site plan process. This process would require a public hearing.
Doggett moved to continue the public hearing to the June 24, 2014 meeting. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Other Board business.
a. Sargent Woods expansion project performance guarantee review.
Joshua Manning of Lewis Builders, Inc. addressed the Board. Mr. Manning requested that the Board allow the existing erosion control/site restoration bond in the amount of $47,475.00 established for the original Sargent Woods project (Phases 1-4) to be applied to the Sargent Woods expansion project (Phases 5-6). Instead of the existing two five (5) acre disturbed areas covered by two bonds, there would be one ten (10) acre disturbed area covered by one combined bond. The amount of the disturbed area between the two sites will be calculated on a rolling basis so that no more than 10 acres will be disturbed at any one time between the two sites. This would allow for a more efficient construction process on the new expansion site.
Doggett moved that the Planning Board allow no more than 10 acres disturbed area at any one time between the original Sargent Woods project and the Sargent Woods expansion project. Construction on both sites is subject to monitoring by the Town Engineer to ensure that the 10 acre limit is not exceeded. Second by Allen. Motion carried 3-1 with Estabrook opposed.
Doggett moved that the $94,950.00 currently held by the Town of Newton for erosion control and site restoration for the original Sargent Woods project and the Sargent Woods expansion project is sufficient to cover the proposed 10 acres of disturbed area. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
Hamel and Holland returned to the Board.
b. Acceptance of minutes.
Doggett moved to accept the minutes of the May 27 meeting. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Manifests.
White presented a NPREA manifest to the Board. The invoice reflected payment of legal ad.
Doggett moved to pay the NPREA manifest in the amount of $52.88. Second by Hamel. Motion carried unanimously.
White presented an operating budget manifest to the Board. The invoices reflected payment of post office box fee, copier service fee, and legal research fee.
Doggett moved to pay the operating budget manifest in the amount of $676.50. Second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rick Milner
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
| 
