Town of Plaistow, NH
Office of the Planning Board
145 Main Street, Plaistow, NH 03865
PLANNING BOARD
September 20, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 6:38 p.m.
Roll Call: Tim Moore, Chairman; Steve Ranlett; and Barry Weymouth present. Robert Zukas, Vice Chairman and Michelle Curran, Selectmen Ex-Officio were excused
Also present: Leigh G. Komornick, Planning Coordinator and P. Michael Dorman, Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer.
A Public Hearing on a Site Plan Application for the redevelopment, redesign and renovations to the Stateline Plaza including the demolition and construction of buildings, drainage, parking and utility improvements and associated landscaping. The property is located is 4 Plaistow Road, Tax Map 24, Lots 44, 45, 46, and 47 totaling 14.96 acres and the frontage is 2,358 (+/-) feet. The owner of record is Plaistow Project, LLC.
Jennifer Viarengo, Appledore Engineers Inc., was present for the application. She noted that they had been waiting for a number of permits and approvals which had been received and she would be asking for acceptance of the plan; approval of one final waiver and the conditional approval of the plan.
J. Viarengo submitted a number of documents including:
- State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) site specific permit
- Letter from City of Haverhill, MA, noting that all requirements for approval from that city had been met
- Letter noting the once the plan is conditionally approved and the appeal period has passed that all lots involved will be consolidated
- Letter from Steve Ireland (NHDOT – District VI) authorizing work to begin as long as nothing is done in the right-of-way
- It was noted that the driveway permit from New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) was still pending
T. Moore asked if there were any questions from the Board. He asked if there was anyone in the gallery wishing to ask questions for make comments. There was no one.
 S. Ranlett moved, second by B. Weymouth, to accept the plan for the redevelopment of Stateline Plaza at 4 Plaistow Road, as complete. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 3-0-0 U/A.
It was noted that there was a waiver request for the amount of trees to be located along the Route 125 side of the parcel.
S. Ranlett asked if the landscaping plan was reviewed by Bill Bartlett.
L. Komornick noted that there are landscaping architects on staff with the Board’s engineers (CLD) where the complete plan was reviewed.
M. Dorman added that B. Bartlett’s services were not used for plan review but more in the field to make sure that the trees are planted properly and are the right kind of plantings for the area and were more likely to survive our climate.
J. Viarengo explained the waiver request is for the number of trees, not the variety. She added they would comply with whatever landscaping requirements the Board wanted them to.
 S. Ranlett moved, second by B. Weymouth, to approve the request to waive the number of plantings along the Route 125 side of the plaza at 4 Plaistow Road. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 3-0-0 U/A.
J. Viarengo asked if the previously approved waivers needed to be voted on again as they were done before the plan was accepted as complete.
T. Moore replied that they did not as those voted were part of the record of previous meetings. He added that if the plan had significantly changed it would have been appropriate to re-approve the waivers.
 S. Ranlett moved, second by B. Weymouth, to approve the plan for the redevelopment of Stateline Plaza at 4 Plaistow Road, with the following conditions:
- Approval and receipt of the NHDOT driveway permit
- Voluntary signing and submission of a lot line merger form at the end of the appeal period
T. Moore noted that the appeal period still fell within the 45-day period allowed for the meeting of all conditions of approval.
There was no further discussion on the motion. The vote was 3-0-0 U/A.
Continuation of a Public Hearing to consider a Site Plan Review Application by Duane Skofield for a 5,280 square foot office and retail building containing four units located at 207 Main Street, Tax Map 30, Lot 57, totaling 1.31 acres and 403.10 feet of frontage in accordance with RSA 674:41, I (d).
Charlie Zilch, SEC Associates was present for the application. He noted that he had addressed the four points brought out by CLD. Two he felt were easily addressed and the other two he felt he had also addressed but wanted to make sure the Board was satisfied.
The issues brought out by CLD and addressed by C. Zilch were:
- Temporary stock piles of materials and the installation of silt fencing on the down stream side, now noted on the plans
- Relocated of the temporary “punch” pool during construction
- The functioning of the detention pond – adjustments to the depth and location of the detention pond were noted to answer the concerns expressed in the letter from CLD
- The driveway entrance –The abutters were concerned that too much traffic would use Walton Road to exit and enter the site. It was noted that the driveway had been curved to direct traffic to the Main Street intersection. Concerns were still expressed by CLD and Dan Garlington, Highway Supervisor that this would limit the ability to direct traffic to Walton Road in the case of construction or emergency. C. Zilch noted that the plan now called for “delineator posts” that could be removed in the instance that traffic needed to be legitimately rerouted to Walton Road.
C. Zilch noted that there were not other State or local permits outstanding and no requests for waivers.
It was noted that the plan had already been accepted as complete at a previous meeting.
T. Moore was if there were any questions from the Board. There were none. He asked if there were any abutters who had questions or comments. There were none.
 B. Weymouth moved, second by S. Ranlett, to approve the site plan for 207 Main Street. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 3-0-0 U/A.
S. Ranlett noted that it was nice to have a site plan come in with no requests for waivers or variances.
Discussion with representatives from “Industrial Tower and Wireless” (James George and Donald Cody) regarding proposed Cell Tower in Plaistow
Donald Cody and James George, Industrial Communications a division of Industrial Tower and Wireless, LLC, were present for the discussion.
Presentation packets were distributed to the Board which outlined plans to place a cell town off Main Street on the McCormack properties on Mt. Misery. The colored presentation outlined the existing conditions, where the tower would be placed, areas of coverage the towers would provide compared to what is available currently, aerial views of the area, test drive data, as well as some pictures of similar tower sites.
A history of the company and its involvement in the cell tower industry was presented. It was noted that the properties involved would be bought outright and owned by the company. There was discussion regarding landlocked properties surrounding this area and what could be done to preserve the area, such as limiting the size of any easements so that they cannot become roads and opening the area to huge developments.
There was a discussion of the technologies involved in cell phones and towers and what advancements had been made over time as well as the coverage map that was provided in the information packets.
There was discussion as to whether or not this would be a project of regional impact and what kinds of notifications would be required. It was noted by the presenters that they would be notifying most all the towns in Rockingham County and others.
D. Cody requested that they be allowed to make application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) for a variance, as cell towers are not an allowable use in any residential district.
M. Dorman reminded that the Board had previously authorized this matter proceeding to the ZBA.
Approval of the Minutes of September 6, 2006.
 S. Ranlett moved, second by B. Weymouth, to approve the minutes of the September 6, 2006, meeting. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 2-0-1 (Ranlett abstaining).
OTHER BUSINESS - Bond Interest Refund Request by Ethan Allen
A letter requesting the interest that had accumulated on the bond being held for Ethan Allen (24-26 Plaistow Road) be released was read for the record.
 S. Ranlett moved, second by B. Weymouth, to release the interest only on the bond being held for Ethan Allen. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 3-0-0 U/A.
OTHER BUSINESS - Discussion Regarding Barn on Crane Crossing (Cox Farm)
M. Dorman noted that he had received a request for a large barn and riding arena on the property located at 30 Crane Crossing. He noted that it would be a residential use.
There was a discussion regarding the ordinance for oversized barns. It was noted that the intention of the ordinance was to limit the size of barns on smaller properties.
L. Komornick noted that it was important that it not be a commercial barn.
M. Dorman replied that he had talked to the applicant about it and they had assured him, and the permit would be marked as such, that the barn and riding arena would be residential.
T. Moore asked if there was any conflict with the conservation easement.
M. Dorman answered that it was out of the easement.
OTHER BUSINESS - Baron’s – Proposed Addition (Variance Needed)
There was a discussion of the Baron’s site at 12 Plaistow Road and their request to close in a loading dock area and whether or not a relief would be needed from the ZBA for the expansion of a non-conforming lot or the lot coverage. It was consensus of the Board that if staff reviewed the plan and determined that such action was needed the applicant could be sent directly to the ZBA.
OTHER BUSINESS – Weiner’s Building Condo Amendment Plan – internal construction issues
L. Komornick noted that the property was converted to condo in 1987 and they would be looking to come in and amend that plan. She noted there was no current site plan on file. L. Komornick offered there would be some internal construction approved and they would be coming in with an as-built plan and associated condo docs.
OTHER BUSINESS – Request for Occupancy at 140 Main Street
L. Komornick noted a letter from Chuck Kendrick requesting to put a photography studio in at 140 Main Street.
It was noted that septic requirements would be checked before an occupancy permit would be issued. It was also noted that a new State approved septic had been recently received.
OTHER BUSINESS – Request for One-Time Event at Remax Alliance at 176 Plaistow Road
A letter was read requesting the Board’s permission to hold a one-time fund raising event at 176 Plaistow Road.
T. Moore, noting that there would be food served, stated that they would also need to talk to Dennise Horrocks (Health Officer) for additional permission otherwise there were no objections.
OTHER BUSINESS – Bond Releases
Letters from Underwood Engineers Inc. (UEI) recommending bond releases on 175 Plaistow Road and 187.5 Main Street were read.
 S. Ranlett moved, second by B. Weymouth, to release $43,250 from the bond being held for 175 Plaistow Road as recommended by UEI. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 3-0-0 U/A.
 S. Ranlett moved, second by B. Weymouth, to release $98.077.50 from the bond being held for 187.5 Main Street as recommended by UEI. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 3-0-0 U/A.
OTHER BUSINESS – Correspondence
It was noted that there was a letter from Gerald Coogan requesting to attend any workshops where Elderly Housing and changes in the ordinances would be discussed.
The chairman adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dee Voss
Recording Secretary
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