NOTTINGHAM PLANNING BOARD
April 7, 2011
PUBLIC SESSION
Approved & Amended
Type of Meeting: Workshop
Method of Notification: Posted at the Nottingham Municipal Building & Nottingham Post Office
Meeting Location: Nottingham Municipal Building
PB Members Present: Arthur Stockus, Chair; Peter Gylfphe; Susan Mooney, Secretary; Cheryl Smith, Alternate; John Morin; Robert “Buzz” Davies, Alternate Member.
PB Members Absent: Rick Bacon, Vice Chair; Gary Anderson, Selectmen’s Rep.; Traci Chauvey, Alt. Member.
CC Members Present: Deb Stevens; Celia Abrams, Noel Carlson; Cheryl Smith and Susan Mooney already noted.
CC Members Absent: Sam Demeritt, Chair; Deb Kimball; Peter Landry.
Others Present:
Others Absent: Lisa Sears, Land Use Clerk
Chair Stockus called the meeting to order at approximately 7:10 pm, Mr. Davies was seated for the open seat. Ms. Smith was not seated for the PB but represented the CC as a member. Mr. Carlson sat in for the CC.
The purpose of this workshop is for the CC to update the PB on current conservation projects in Nottingham and to discuss other topics of common interest.
Conservation Projects:
The CC brought a trifold with tax maps assembled on it to illustrate the conservation easements completed and in progress along the North River from the Rouke property on Garland Road south to the Bear-Paw property across from the Municipal Office Building. CC members explained each of the properties in turn, noting the conservation value, acreage, river frontage that will be protected the supporting financial entity (WRP, Wetland Reserve Program of the NRCS, National Resources Conservation Service, a federal program under the Department of Agriculture), what restrictions are imposed by the easement deeds, and the financial, and other commitments made by the CC on behalf of the Town of Nottingham.
The Butler Farm property on Nottingham Square is moving toward a conservation easement financially supported by the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP, also under NRCS). That easement requires matching funding from the community.
When all of these easements and projects (including reposting Highlands, see below) are completed, the Conservation Fund will have paid out $273,300 leaving a balance of $83,310.
Mr. Stockus and other PB members inquired about how these easements would fit into the Four Generals’ Greenway through Nottingham. There followed an explanation of how the Greenway is a conceptual and voluntary commitment made by landowners and the community to conserve and protect properties in a way that protects natural resources. The Wildlife Action Plan (WAP), recently completed by NH Fish and Game, along with partners in the conservation community, has noted that Nottingham contains some of the highest value natural resources in this area of the state. Some of those values include large unfragmented land blocks that provide habitat for large animals and those requiring large ranges, special plant communities within some of these blocks, and providing greenways to other conserved lands in abutting
communities and Pawtuckaway State Park.
Questions from the PB asked how the Butler Property and the recently proposed development on Ledge Farm Road would contribute to the Greenway and the WAP. The Butler Farm is the tip of a large block that extends beyond Nottingham into Raymond and Epping, connecting to large conserved properties in those communities. The Ledge Farm Development will protect over 50% of that property by following the Open Space Ordinance development plan, will abut to easement properties in another development and will conserve mature hardwood upland forest. Medallions recently ordered by the CC to repost easement boundaries were shown to PB members. These medallions would be of practical benefit if new easement properties are to be noted by residents and are to be monitored by the town. Mr. Gylfphe question asked what the cost was
for the medallions. The answer was not immediately available but would be sent to Mr. Gylfphe after the meeting. It was suggested to the PB that the cost of medallions and the annual monitoring be supported by the developer through a Stewardship Fund to cover these expenses. As an example, the conservation easement boundaries in the Highlands Development are being reposted at a cost of about $3300 from the Town’s Conservation Fund
There followed brief discussions:
- On road upgrades when development proposals are brought to the PB;
- The value of Pawtuckaway State Park both in natural resource protection, but, on the other side, how it generates no tax income for Nottingham as do privately owned properties in current use or easements, and how it requires services from the community in police and fire protection and road maintenance.
- The percentage of conservation land in Nottingham (private, 9%, and State parks and lands, 16%), and is there a target percentage goal to conserve (no, it’s what the community values.)
Ms. Smith reminded the PB and CC that HB 409 was passed by the House and has gone to the Senate. This bill amends RSA 673:7 and, if passed by the Senate, would not allow a CC member and CC alternate or a member of another land use group to be members of the town’s planning board. The Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee will hear the bill but no date has been set as yet. Senators Barnes (Chair), Forrester (V. Chair), Boutin, Merrill and Stiles are members of the committee.
Chair Stockus asked if there was any further business.
MOTION by Mr. Gylfphe to adjourn at 8:18pm.
SECOND by Mr. Morin
VOTE 6-Aye. 0- Opposed 0- Abstained MOTION PASSED
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan P. Mooney, PB Secretary and Conservation Commission Acting Secretary
These minutes are subject to approval at regularly scheduled Planning Board and Conservation Commission meetings at which time the above minutes are corrected or accepted.
| 
