NOTTINGHAM PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
AUGUST 31, 2005
PUBLIC SESSION
APPROVED BY THE BOARD SEPTEMBER 7, 2005
PRESENT: ABSENT:
Mr. Dave Smith, Chair Mr. Jon Caron
Ms. Sandra Jones Ms. Mary Bonser, Selectmen's Representative
Mr. Peter Gylfphe Mr. Bill Booth
Mr. Scott Curry
OTHERS PRESENT:
Ms. Kelly Tivnan, Planning Board Secretary
Mr. Skip Seaverns
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
SIGN PLANS:
The present Board members signed the plans for the Gerrior Drive subdivision project.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Mr. Curry made a motion that the Planning Board approve the minutes from August 3, 2005. Ms. Jones seconded the motion. The present members of the Planning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Gylfphe made a motion that the Planning Board approve the minutes from August 10, 2005. Ms. Jones seconded the motion. Mr. Gylfphe, Ms. Jones, and Mr. Smith voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Curry abstained from the motion. The motion passed 3-0 with 1 abstention.
Mr. Curry made a motion that the Planning Board approve the minutes from August 17, 2005. Mr. Gylfphe seconded the motion. The present members of the Planning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Curry made a motion that the Planning Board approve the minutes from June 16, 2005 as amended. Ms. Jones seconded the motion. Mr. Curry, Ms. Jones, and Mr. Smith voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Gylfphe abstained from the motion. The motion passed 3-0 with 1 abstention.
SIGN ORDINANCE:
Mr. Gylfphe said that the Board should talk about signs. He asked what size sign would be visible on rural highways. Mr. Smith said that there should be a distinction between commercial and residential zones. Mr. Gylfphe said that he was concerned about computerized signs where the words moved. Mr. Smith noted that lighted signs were allowed. Ms. Jones asked if they wanted to limit people to 19th century signs. Mr. Gylfphe said that they wanted to limit people to 19th century signs if they wanted to keep the feel of a 19th century town. Mr. Curry talked about the different zones in Farmington. Mr. Seaverns noted that there were different sign requirements for each zone. Ms. Jones noted that the illumination ordinance covered computerized signs. Mr. Curry said that some of the
numbering in the ordinance did not make sense. Mr. Seaverns said that the Planning Board could put a sign ordinance section into the regulations. Mr. Smith said that he thought signs in commercial zones could be up to 16 square feet. Ms. Jones asked if the town had restrictions on private announcement signs. She noted that people put up signs giving their opinions on certain issues. Mr. Curry noted that there was limited enforcement of the sign restrictions. Mr. Seaverns said that it was difficult to try to find and apply the rules. He said that rules were in separate sections and he said that it was hard to determine who was legal and who was not. Mr. Curry said that the Planning Board needed to take a consolidated view. He said that the regulations needed to be more consistent and easier to understand. He said that there needed to be a way to do cross referencing. He said that if there were not going to be
consequences for not following the rules he didn't know why they had regulations. Mr. Seaverns noted that the present regulations were not set up for economic development. He said that all sign ordinances should be on one page of the regulations. Mr. Gylfphe said that brought them back to the question of enforcement. Mr. Seaverns said that job belonged to the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Curry said that the Planning Board was supposed to apply the rules. Mr. Seaverns said that the Planning Board could only apply building codes. He said that the Planning Board did not make judgements on zoning. He said that the Zoning Board of Adjustment was tasked with that.
Mr. Gylfphe made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm. Mr. Curry seconded the motion.
Mr. Smith asked if the Planning Board could rearrange the ordinances within the building code without changing the wording or going through town meeting. Ms. Jones said that there would need to be changes to the wording in the ordinances. Mr. Smith asked if the Planning Board was going to look at what changes needed to be made or if they were going to ask the Strafford Regional Planning Commission to do it. Mr. Curry said he thought they should ask the Strafford Regional Planning Commission. Ms. Jones said that she also thought the Planning Board should ask the Strafford Regional Planning Commission to review the zoning ordinances. Mr. Gylfphe said that the headings in the ordinances should be the major topics. Mr. Smith said that he would ask Ms. Copeland to be at the next Planning Board workshop.
Mr. Seaverns said that he would look further at the sign issue. Mr. Gylfphe said that he would talk to someone he knew who was a sign expert.
Mr. Gylfphe made a motion to contract the Strafford Regional Planning Commission to review and start to reorganize the zoning ordinance. Mr. Curry seconded the motion. The present members of the Planning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Gylfphe noted his motion to adjourn. The present members of the Planning Board voted unanimously in favor of that motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Tivnan
Planning Board Secretary
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