MARCH 9, 2005
PUBLIC SESSION
APPROVED BY THE BOARD APRIL 20, 2005
PRESENT: ABSENT:
Mr. Dave Smith, Chair Mr. Peter Gylfphe
Ms. Kay Kyle Mr. Rolfe Voltaire
Mr. Skip Seaverns Ms. Judi Thibault, Alternate
Mr. Bill Booth, Alternate
Mr. Scott Curry, Alternate
Mr. Jon Caron, Selectmen's Representative (Arrived 7:20pm)
OTHERS PRESENT:
Ms. Mary Bonser, Selectman
Ms. Kelly Tivnan, Planning Board Secretary
Ms. Cynthia Copeland, Strafford Regional Planning Commission (Arrived 7:30pm)
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:10pm.
The Chair asked Mr. Booth to sit for Mr. Gylfphe and Mr. Curry to sit for Mr. Voltaire.
DISCUSSION OF HOYT:
Mr. Smith read out loud a letter the Board had received from Rockingham County Conservation District regarding the Hoyt bond reduction request. It stated that because of snow cover there was no way to verify that all work was completed. The letter noted the calculations for the total value of the work remaining.
Mr. Seaverns made a motion to reduce the bond for Phase 1 of the Richey and Yegan subdivision on Route 152 to $26,770.16 with 10% for contingencies and to reduce the bond for Phase 2 to $9,176.85 with 10% for contingencies. Ms. Bonser seconded that motion. Mr. Seaverns, Ms. Bonser, Mr. Smith, Ms. Kyle, Mr. Booth and Mr. Curry voted in favor of the motion. The motion passed 6-0.
DAY CARE DISCUSSION:
The Board received a memo from the Building Inspector asking about the procedure for a resident who wanted to open a licensed day care in her home. Mr. Caron said that if the person wanted to open a home business they needed to fill out a small home business application. He said that the person did not need a site plan review. He said that the Board would like some information about the property and the number of employees. He suggested that the resident come to a Planning Board meeting. He said that if the resident came to a meeting they could get advice about procedure and the Planning Board could ask for more information.
DISCUSSION OF PROCESS:
Mr. Caron said that he thought the Planning Board should have 5 types of applications for the different projects people wanted to do. He talked about applications for major and minor subdivisions as well as small businesses and lot line adjustments. Mr. Seaverns said that he thought the Planning Board should set aside specific meetings for acceptance hearings. Ms. Bonser said that the Planning Board should have time limits so one case did not take hours. Mr. Caron said that the Board needed to have time to ask questions. Mr. Seaverns repeated his opinion that the Board should have one night that they set aside for acceptance of plans. He said that they should also have at least 2 hearings on plans.
Ms. Copeland said that she had concerns about USA Springs and the numbering of documents. She said that the checklist table was the basis for their documentation and it needed to be tracked.
Mr. Curry said that there were specific issues which needed to be resolved by the Planning Board and he said that they should vote on those. Mr. Seaverns said that more Planning Board votes needed to appear as notes on plans.
MASTER PLAN:
Ms. Copeland said that the Strafford Regional Planning Commission was working on standardizing the land use programs in the state. She brought a map that the Strafford Regional Planning Commission had made up of land use in the area and she asked the Board members to look at it and verify that it was accurate. She said that the map would give the Planning Board information on the land use type coverage and they could use it to look at future use possibilities. Mr. Caron and Mr. Seaverns said that they would meet with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission about the map.
Ms. Copeland showed the Board a copy of some New Durham planning procedures. The Board members had a discussion about cluster development. Mr. Caron said that in cluster development it was important to look at whether they wanted to use a mathematical formula or an engineering formula.
Mr. Curry asked how they should do a Master Plan. Mr. Caron said that they should have a public hearing about it and they should talk to other committee Chairs and department heads. Mr. Smith said that they should think about the community profile.
Ms. Bonser asked how they could protect the little people but not the big developers. Mr. Seaverns said that they needed to allow people the capability to do what they needed to do with their property and he said that required some flexibility.
Mr. Smith asked if there was an example of a good cluster development. Ms. Copeland said that there was one off 101 in Exeter called The Woods. She said that it had variable lot sizes, affordable housing, power lines and they were next to a forest. Mr. Smith said that he would like to see a plan. Ms. Copeland said that she would try to get one. She said that another good example of a cluster subdivision was on Islington Street in Portsmouth.
Mr. Caron said that land use would always change. He said that any regulations they could do regarding land use would quickly go out of date. Mr. Seaverns said that the Planning Board needed to try to base their regulations on what they wanted.
Mr. Seaverns said that the Police Chief would write up comments on the Gerrior Drive subdivision. He said that the Police Chief had some concerns about it.
Mr. Caron made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:20pm. Mr. Booth seconded the motion. Mr. Caron, Mr. Booth, Mr. Smith, Ms. Kyle, Mr. Seaverns and Mr. Curry voted in favor of the motion. The motion passed 6-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Tivnan
Planning Board Secretary
| 
