Town of Nottingham, NH - Planning Board Minutes 09/28/2011

Planning Board Minutes 09/28/2011


	NOTTINGHAM PLANNING BOARD September 28, 2011 PUBLIC SESSION Approved & Amended Type of Meeting: Regularly scheduled meeting Method of Notification: Posted at the Nottingham Municipal Building & Nottingham Post Office Meeting Location: Nottingham Municipal Building PB Members Present: Rick Bacon, Vice Chair; Peter Gylfphe; Susan Mooney, Secretary; Troy Osgood; Gary Anderson, Selectmen’s Rep; Robert “Buzz” Davies, Alternate Member (seated), PB Members Absent: Arthur Stockus, Chair; John Morin; Traci Chauvey, Alt. Member; Cheryl Smith, Alt. Member; Also Absent: Paul Colby, Building Inspector/ Code Administrator; Lisa Sears, Land Use Clerk. Others Present: Kyle Pimental, Strafford Regional Planning Commission; Janet Horvath, Nottingham Recreation Director. Vice Chair Rick Bacon called the meeting to order at 7:00. The meeting was broadcast on Channel 22, the local access channel. Vice Chair Bacon noted that Mr. Davies would sit for Mr. Stockus. Introductions were made. The Board tabled the minutes until later in the meeting. Kyle Pimental of Strafford Regional Planning Commission gave a Power Point presentation entitled “Local Planning Considerations and Cost Effective Strategies to Reduce Fluvial Erosion Hazards”. He also distributed an Environmental Fact Sheet prepared by DES titled Fluvial Erosion Hazards and River Geomorphic Assessment Program. The presentation was an overview of the Lamprey watershed erosion hazard plan. Fluvial erosion is the wearing away of riverbeds by action of water and can be caused by a number of factors such as topography, water velocity, size and design of culverts, for example. There were 16 slides in all, several showing recent road and bridge damage in Vermont caused by hurricane Irene. Following are the sixteen slides and their titles, some with comment: Fluvial Erosion, definition and causes. Photo of damaged bridge to Loon Mountain taken 9/2/11. Suncook River in Epsom in 2006. A map showed how the river cut a new channel and caused $75.6 million in damages. Cost associated with amount of paid losses in Strafford and Rockingham counties between 2005 and 2011. Cumulative in Strafford County: $2,210,057, in Rockingham County: $16,184,333. State wide fluvial erosion program has become a high priority. The program in NH was begun with an assessment of the Exeter River watershed in 2008. The program is similar to the one that was begun earlier in Vermont. What are geomorphic assessments? These are site-specific measurements of a stream channel and other factors that would contribute to potential disturbance. Photo of Warren Brook in Alstead that washed out a road in 2005. Example of field notes, “Rapid Stream Field Notes” data sheet, one of 12 total for each assessment. Fluvial Erosion Hazard map showing the Isinglass River at the Barrington Rochester town line. Fluvial hazard zones are indicated from (1) moderate to (4) extreme in a colored key for stretches of the river. Where has fieldwork been taking place? The Lamprey River watershed, 2011: NH Departments of Safety and Environmental Services is partnering with the Lamprey River Advisory Committee and the Lamprey River Watershed Association to conduct a geomorphic assessment to identify areas most at risk and to develop a long term watershed plan. This is part of a larger project to assess tributaries including the Little River and North River (in Nottingham), and others. Examples of culvert mapping done (photos) in Rochester. Information gathered includes culvert type, structure material, height and length, diameter, and condition. What are communities going to receive? The final delineated Fluvial Erosion Hazard (FEH) Maps will be given to SRPC and made available to interested communities. There may be funding available to develop a Watershed Management Plan to protect public health safety and community prosperity. What are the financial benefits? Reduction of the cost and repair of roads and infrastructure, buildings, recreation and tourist base, etc. Photo of washed out road and bridge. Fluvial erosion hazards and hazard mitigation planning to identify community goals and objectives, plan for emergency routes, etc. Municipal considerations and other mitigation strategies such as native vegetation regeneration and plantings along riparian corridor and improvement of storm water management. Also on the slide is a document of Dover NH National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Status from Dover Code, Floodplain Development, Chapter 113. Remember that fluvial erosion hazard zones oman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;color:#000000;">Pimental: Culverts direct and accelerate the flow of water into larger streams and rivers and often make the situation worse “downstream”. Mr. Anderson: Have there been any studies on culvert design so this information can be used in assessment? A: (Mr. Bacon) DES would review the engineering design for the culvert size and design appropriate for each site. Mr. Gylfphe: Comment that road design itself should be looked at. Roads that are lower profile rather than raised up would function as sluiceways to direct water across the road to an area where it could disperse. A: Pimental does not know if DOT is part of this discussion. Ms. Mooney: Could the PP presentation be posted on the SRPC’s website so a resident reading the minutes of this could link directly to the presentation? A: The presentation is not posted yet but will be and SRPC will contact Ms. Sears when it has been done. Ms. Mooney: When will assessment be done for Nottingham and how long does it take from start to finish? A: When the 5-year FEMA plan runs out then the update can begin. The assessment would only take a few weeks or so but the permitting phase is expected to take several months. Mr. Pimental will email Ms. Sears and let her know when the 5-year plan has expired for Nottingham. There were no more questions and comments for Mr. Pimental. The Board thanked him for his time and information. Mr. Pimental left the meeting at 7:50. Janet Horvath distributed copies of the Ten Year Recreation Plan to the Board that has been prepared by Ken Costello of Hoyle, Tanner Associates, Inc., & Ken Costello, LLC, with direction from the Recreation Department. Ms. Horvath reviewed some of the content of the Plan which covers the Physical Redevelopment, Development and Acquisition Recommendations, Management, Funding and Permitting Requirements. Each year of the ten-year plan was outlined in the document. Year One was for the construction of a new baseball field at the school. The Town Complex fields keep flooding and need to be reclaimed before they can be used at an expense of time, labor and funds. Mr. Gylfphe asked if the Plan was based on population growth experienced and predicted for Nottingham. The school population has not risen significantly enough to account for the increase in participation. A: Yes, even with increased population the recreation program has grown due to increased participation by residents already in town. She stated that the soccer program started with 90 participants but now has expanded to 190 and they are using the same number of fields. More adult programs have been added lately due to resident requests. Space is getting to be an issue even with the Old Town Hall in use for some activities. Mr. Anderson asked how much collaboration has there been with the school? There has been some discussion at the Budget Committee meetings about a second gym at the school to accommodate increased programs. A: There are many activities taking place at the school already. All adult basketball is at the school, often into the evening starting after 9 pm. Mr. Davies commented that parking is already available at the school so would not have to duplicate that area elsewhere. A: There is not enough parking at the school and often the adjacent field is used for parking from time to time, and she again stated that there is a need for additional facilities elsewhere in town. Ms. Horvath indicated that Ken Costello would be at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on October 11 during which time he will be available to present the Master Plan for the Recreation Department. The Board thanked Ms. Horvath for the overview and rationale for the development of the 10-year Plan. (Note: There was a woman who arrived at 7:50, during Ms. Horvath’s presentation. she did not sign in. She sat and began to text, her phone beeped with each tap. Mr. Gylfphe asked her to stop. She left then at 8:00.) MOTION by Ms. Mooney to postpone the minutes of the previous meeting to the next meeting. SECOND by Mr. Gylfphe. VOTE: 6- Aye; 0-Opposed; 0- Abstained. MOTION PASSED. Mr. Anderson stated that he and Mr. Morin had attended a multi-town (Candia, Fremont, Raymond, Epping and Nottingham were in attendance) invitational Planning Board meeting in Raymond earlier in the evening. He had a discussion with a Raymond Board member about a propane depot facility that is in Raymond. The Board member indicated that he would be able to secure an individual who was knowledgeable on the subject to come and speak with us if we wished. Mr. Bacon also said that he could contact someone in Brentwood about the DeFeo propane depot on Route 125 in that town. MOTION by Mr. Gylfphe to adjourn at 8:17 pm. SECOND by Mr. Bacon. VOTE: 6 –Aye; 0- Opposed; 0- Abstained. MOTION PASSED. Respectfully Submitted, Susan P. Mooney, Secretary These minutes are subject to approval at a regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting at which time the above minutes are corrected or accepted.