Town of Otisfield
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2016
1. Call to Order: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM by Chair – Karen Turino.
2. Attendance: Members present were Chair -Karen Turino, Recording Secretary- David Hyer, Herb Olsen, Stan Brett & Beth Damon - Alternate. (Absent - Vice Chair, Rick Jackson) *Beth moved up as a voting member.
Code Enforcement Officer: Richard St. John
Planning Board Secretary: Tanya Taft
3. Announcement of Quorum: Board had a quorum.
4. Approve Secretary’s Report:
A. Regular Meeting Minutes from August 16, 2016. *Motion to accept minutes. HO/SB– Unanimous.
5. Discussion & Comments from public:
A. Austin Reimers, DBA Barefoot Marine – Tax Map R-03, Lot 039. Re: Sign Issue / size restriction complaint made by David Hyer. Reference Site Plan Review Ordinance, Section 3.B.6.h., Residence Based Business exclusion provisions. CEO contacted Austin and told him to remove sign. Austin explained he made the sign for his business before it was up and running. It says shrink-wrap and storage. It’s a seasonal sign, September 1st – November 1st. He now realizes the sign exceeds the Ordinance size restrictions, but explained it draws attention and he could use the business. While PB members understand and want to see a small business in Town succeed, they have to abide by the Ordinance voted on by the towns people. KT read the sign dimensions and Austin said he would
comply. All agree that a registered vehicle or boat placed behind the rock wall of his property can have whatever he wishes on it as long as it’s off the right of way. *Motion that he removes the existing sign in a week. SB/DH- Unanimous.
B. John Mefford, Oak Hill Road. – Wants to store a used mobile home on his property for the winter because it is too late in the season to get everything ready for occupancy. He will be renovating and getting the septic and power hooked up in the spring. Nobody will be living in it until renovations are complete. Currently no power, but a temporary service pole may be put in at some point. CEO: Building Code says this falls under PB guidelines. A building permit cannot be given until a septic permit is given. John stated that this is going to be stored only for the winter and plans to start working on it in the Spring and hoping to have it done by the Fall. Ordinance says PB can put stipulations or conditions if granting approval. *Motion that we issue a permit for 1 year to put the trailer on his property
with no occupancy until CEO has given him the occupancy permits. HO/SB – Unanimous.
6. Residence - Based Business Applications:
A. None.
7. Shoreland Zoning Applications:
A. None.
8. Site Plan Applications:
A. None.
9. Subdivision Applications:
A. None.
10. Upcoming Dates:
A. Planning Board Meeting October 18, 2016 at 7:00 PM.
*Discussion: TT will be on vacation that week. All agree that if there is no business to discuss or items for the Agenda the meeting will be cancelled. CEO will provide Agenda information to TT by October 7th so that an agenda or cancellation posting can be generated.
11. Discussion & comments from Code Enforcement Officer:
A. 95 Loop Road - No expansion within 100’ of water. Garage is outside of the setback.
B. The Wedding Barn. CEO: They have started their parking lot. The driveway entrance has been relocated. This will save considerable amount of fill and less area will be disturbed. Safety wise, the people leaving the venue will be beyond the parking lot so this appears to be safer. The size and elevation will remain the same. CEO stated that after driving in (4) times this week to do inspections, this relocation is a good thing for them to do. There will be an open house, Sunday, September 25th from 4 – 7 pm. Tammy Ray is offering catering and music and inviting all town employees to attend.
12. Discussion & comments from Board:
A. Town of Otisfield Planning Board Policies read and approved with edits made to #2 and #4.
(SEE SEPARATE DOCUMENT for REVISED POLICIES to date) TT will post on website after BOS approval.
# 2. No new Agenda items will be taken up after 9:00 PM unless a majority of the Board “votes” to do so. *Motion that we change #2 so that it reads “votes” to do so instead of “agrees” to do so. DH/HO – Unanimous.
# 4. All recordings “will” stay in the possession of the town of Otisfield and be available for review with an appointment with the CEO or Town Office Employee. *Motion that we change # 4 so that it reads “will” stay instead of “should” stay. HO/BD – Unanimous.
B. Frequently Asked Questions: (SEE SEPARATE DOCUMENT for FAQ’s to date)
#2. All agree that this is adequate but TT suggested removing names and leaving titles on 2nd question. Planning Board Secretary and Code Enforcement Office are sufficient. *All agree.
#3. Change the Answer to read as our Policies # 6 is worded. *All agree.
#7. Add Section 5,B,9 after Site Plan Review Ordinance. Remove Page #’s. *All agree.
#10. Remove TT name and read as; The Board of Appeals Secretary and. *All agree.
#11.Change “...our Subdivision Ordinance...” to “...the Subdivision Ordinance...”. Remove comma between “website” and “or”. Add “contact” after the word “or”. *All agree.
#12. Remove commas and put “existing lot of record” in quotes. Change “...road frontage or...” to
“on”. ANSWER: Add “Outside of a Shoreland Zone Otisfield has a 2-acre minimum building
lot requirement with a 200’minimum...” . Add 2nd ANSWER to read: “Within a Shoreland Zone it is
a 1 acre minimum requirement with 200’ frontage”. Change the “Questionable lots can be addressed
with CEO.” sentence to be a separate paragraph. *All agree.
# 13. NEW QUESTION: Add the question : “What is the Shoreland Zone?”. ANSWER will be to use the Shoreland Zone definition: SHORELAND ZONE - The land area located within two-hundred fifty (250') feet, horizontal distance of the normal high-water line of any great pond or river; within two-hundred fifty (250') feet of the upland edge of a freshwater wetland rated “moderate” or “high” value by the MDIFW; within seventy-five (75') feet of the upland edge of a freshwater wetland rated “low” or not rated by the MDIFW; or within seventy-five (75’) feet horizontal distance of other wetlands identified in the Otisfield Comprehensive Plan; or within seventy-five (75’) feet of the normal highwater line of a stream and/or outlet stream. *All agree.
The PB will review these changes and additions at its next meeting, add additional questions and answers as determined, and approve the final FAQ Sheet.
13. Unfinished Business:
A. Sign clarification/verbiage in RBB and Site Plan Review. (TT sent to OPRC).
B. Planning Board Frequently asked Questions (FAQ’s) *Changes to be reviewed and approved.
C. Site Plan Review Application
14. Adjournment: With no further business, the regular meeting was adjourned at 8:59 PM. SB/HO-Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by: Karen Turino, Chair
Otisfield Planning Board
Approved on: November 15, 2016
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