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PB Minutes 10/3/12

Town of Plaistow, NH
Office of the Planning Board
145 Main Street, Plaistow, NH 03865


October 3, 2012

Call to Order:  6:35 P.M.

Item One:

ROLL CALL:  Present was Vice Chairman; Charles Lanza, Selectman Ex- Officio; Robert Gray and Tim Moore.  Excused were Chairman; Steve Ranlett and Gennifer Silva.  Both will arrive late.

T. Moore left the meeting to get his laptop for the workshop.  He will return later.

Also present was Alternate; Geoff Adams, Town Planner; Leigh Komornick, Chief Building Official; Mike Dorman and Recording Secretary; Laurie Pagnottaro.

S. Ranlett appointed G. Adams a voting member for the meeting.

Item Two:

Minutes of September 19, 2012  

 R. Gray motioned to approve the minutes of September 19, 2012, second G. Adams.

There was no discussion on the motion and the vote was 3-0-0 U/A.

G. Silva arrived at 6:38 P.M.

Item Three:

An Application for a Minor Site Plan Review by Charles Hibbert for the Temporary Sale of Christmas Trees at 127 Plaistow Road, Tax Map 29, Lot 58 (Existing Location of Hope’s Diner).  The owner of record is Hope Pentoliros.

Present for the application was Charles Hibbert.  He explained that he has been selling Christmas trees in Plaistow for years at 96 Plaistow Road; the location of the new Tractor Supply.  He would like to change location to the Hopes Diner location.  

C. Lanza read from the application noting that the dates will be from November 19, 2012 until December 27, 2012; from 9 AM until 9 PM seven days a week.

R. Gray asked if the property owner has signed off on the application.

C. Hibbert answered yes, it is in the file.

R. Gray asked if this would interfere with the area used for snow removal at the Hopes Diner location.

M. Dorman replied no as this will be to the right and the snow storage is in the back.  He added that they will not be using the paved parking lot as well.
C. Hibbert said they will be working with M. Dorman for the signage and added that there will be a trailer for a temporary office use.

R. Gray motioned to approve the Minor Site Plan amendment for the temporary sale of Christmas trees at 127 Plaistow Road, second by G. Silva.

There was no discussion on the motion and the vote was 4-0-0 U/A.

T. Moore returned at 7:45 PM.

The Board took a recess at 7:41 PM.  They will return at 7:00 PM for the Workshop.

The Board reconvened at 7:05 PM

Item Four:

Workshop on Plan NH Final Report and Main Street Study

L. Komornick gave a presentation on the Plan NH Charrette.  She explained that the BOS held a meeting after the Final Plan NH report was done and had a Plan NH Representative come in and give a brief presentation. She has incorporated more of the conceptual plans and recommendations into that presentation to make-up tonight’s presentation.  She presented the following information:

Goals of the workshop:
  • To look at Village Center District Boundaries
  • Present findings and recommendations of both studies
  • Solicit the public’s input on the studies
  • Identify project priorities and put in order for implementation
  • Input received will be used to update the Master Plan and will be forwarded to the BOS
Review of Plaistow’s Village Center zoning ordinance objectives

Presented and explained a map of the Village Center Zoning District Boundaries

Permitted uses of Village Center District:

  • Retail business up to 2,000 sq. Ft. per lot
  • Places of worship
Owner occupied /business professional offices
Funeral establishments
Public use
Single family / duplex residences
Accessory uses (ex. Utilities)
  • Multi-family
Mixed use where business or residence is owner occupied
Fraternal service / charitable uses
Daycare facilities

Allowed with special exception are home occupations and in-law accessory apartments.


Map of Plan NH study area overlaid on Plaistow’s zoning

Public listening session (two sessions from Charrette) comments:

  • Town Hall has a lot of local Town services
  • Town Green is epi-center of community
  • Too much traffic; too loud and too fast
  • Issues with day to day parking; primarily in front of town Hall and during community events
  • Strong traditional architecture
  • Not many places for pedestrians or bicyclists
  • Feeling that Main Street is a Rte. 125 bypass
  • Significant lack of small business retail
  • Nice place to drive-thru; no reason to stop
  • Public wants to take back Main St.
  • Want Main St. more walkable / crosswalks
  • Would like Smith Farm to become Town recreational resource / found trails on farm; possibly open them up
  • More uniform signage/ gateway signage
  • More reasons to visit, ex. Cafes (do not want chain businesses)
  • Recreation Center
  • Better aesthetics
  • More police enforcement of speed limits
  • Found out original RR was privately owed
  • Main St. owned by state/ changes need approval
What a vibrant village center is vs. Plaistow Village Center

Overview of Village Zones:

Open Recreation; includes Smith farm, Penn Box 7 Chart Sites (including Ingalls Terr.)
Village Core; Town Hall/Green & north with commercial & mixed use area
Village Center; Town Hall and south with mixed use and residential
Civic; Police & Fire Center, Court House, Pollard School, Historical Society & Library

Map of Gateways & Transitions Recommendations:

  • Gateway signage, streetscape treatments & roadway modifications (pedestrian pathways and parking)
  • Between gateways; uniform streetscape vocabulary used
Pedestrian’s First Circulation; recommendations:

  • Need for separate vehicle & pedestrian zones to limit conflict
  • An increase of crosswalks & clearly marked walkways
  • Year round maintenance
Plan NH vision for streetscape/ recommendations:

  • Village/mixed use; separate lanes for parking & travel, curbed edge with planting strip between curbed & paved walkway
  • Village Core; clear bicycle lane, greater separation between curb & walkway (used for benches, etc…), and formal & human scale street lighting
  • North/East of Village Core; narrower treatment for transition points, paved walkways would abut curbing,
Recommendations:

  • Open Recreation; pedestrian pathways on both sides, create 2 pedestrian crossways, 1 gateway sign, acquire & modify old train station, convert Penn Box into parking and acquire Smith Farm (L. Komornick noted that acquiring the Smith Farm will probably not happen).
  • Village Core North; establish clear hierarchy by narrowing & defining vehicular traveling, define angled & parallel parking and clearly defined pedestrian pathways adjacent to Main St. building.
  • Smith Farm & Penn Box Sites;  proposed a pocket park which would include historic train station as public facility, paved parking for community events and over flow parking provided in field.
  • Village Core recommendations; pedestrian pathways on both sides, create a controlled intersection at Elm & Main Streets, create six pedestrian crossways, Narrow main St. travel lane, improve parking definition, remove Elm St. slip lane, close horseshoe driveway, add street lighting, put benches between curbs and pathways, add bicycle path, allow parking on both sides of Park Ave and narrow crossing in front of Town Hall
Plan NH Conceptual Plans / recommendations:

  • Main St. / ElmSt.; controlled intersection with island (L. Komornick noted that the trial period for the barrels in the slip lane on Elm Street will soon be reviewed by the BOS).
Handicap parking in front of Town Hall;

M. Dorman explained the proposed curb line that will define the 3 new van/car accessible handicap parking spaces and the curbing would be clay brick.  He added that the funding is there and the project will start in a couple of weeks.

L. Komornick added that they looked into a cross walk there as well and the state replied that it would result in the elimination of 4 parking spaces so the decision was made not to pursue it at this time.

  • Civic Zone; create pedestrian pathways on both sides, 3 crosswalks, 2 gateway signs and narrow Main St. at the library entrance.
  • Main St. / Westville Rd.; create a zone of parallel parking and pedestrian walkways on both sides of Main St.
Plan NH’s Concluding Thoughts:

  • Plaistow has good foundation for Village District
  • Traffic issues have impacted the peaceful enjoyment of community
  • Small businesses co-exist comfortably with residents
  • Concerns of Town history slipping away can be address by returning pedestrian presence to area
  • Great potential for village center
Tools for Implementation

  • There are funding options to explore; ex. Grants
  • These reports from studies can be used when seeking funds
  • Consider enacting RSA 79-E: Community Revitalization Tax Incentives
R. Gray stated that the BOS has taken no official position regarding this RSA on tax incentives, but it is his opinion that anything they can do to off-set taxes should be seriously looked at.  If the PB recommends it the BOS should look at it.

L. Komornick gave a presentation on the Main Street Traffic Calming Study.  She explained that this study was done by the Planning Commission and completed in April, 2011.  The Town wanted to look at how they could slow traffic down and discourage trucks.  They looked at Rte. 125 down Main Street to the Stateline boarder. The following was discussed:

Map showing existing sidewalks along Main Street

L. Komornick noted that the sidewalks where made possible by funding from a grant called the Transportation Enhancement Funding.
They are working with Pollard School on a Safe Routes to School Travel Plan to apply construction money to implement the Main St. /Elm St. Intersection.

Conceptual Plan for Main St. /Elm St. Intersection & Recommendations

  • Plan showed two concepts; roundabout and T’d off intersection.
L. Komornick noted that the roundabout was discussed and is not the ideal plan.

Conceptual Plan for Main St. in Front of Pollard School & Recommendations

  • Want to enhance traffic calming by moving the road over and creating more green space.
  • Add a textured/colored material to the road to slow traffic down.
Conceptual Plan for Main St. Bittersweet Dr. / Library Entrance & Recommendations

  • Narrow street
  • Define entrance into Library and Bittersweet Drive
  • More trees planted all around to give a more pedestrian type area.
Conceptual Plan for Main St. and East /West Pine St. & Recommendations

  • Roundabout recommended.
L. Komornick noted that the Town has a request in to NHDOT for stop signs to be installed but they are still waiting for a reply.  They conducted counts and have been analyzing it

Conceptual Plan for North Ave. / Main St. & Recommendations

L. Komornick stated that NHDOT is aware of the Towns safety concerns for this area and have been out there doing some work to make it safer.

In-Between Areas & Areas south of North Ave.

  • Discussions with Haverhill regarding Closing  the end of 121A /Main St. were noted
New Walgreens approval includes improvements made to the intersection
Walgreens has proposed a three-way stop at intersection; still waiting for NHDOT approval
Traffic calming should be implemented in a regular pattern of 300 to 400 feet apart to be effective
This means installing 8 to 13 additional measures in addition to what was conceptualized in the report

Recommendations for Implementation:

  • Gain plan approval
  • Set priorities
  • Find funding
  • Involve public in the design
L. Komornick stated that is what they are doing tonight; hoping to gain consensus so they can go after funding.

Present for the workshop was Jim Unger, 141 Main Street.  He explained that he lives in the house right next to the slip lane.  It has taken time to get used to the barrels but they have worked to slow traffic down and the eighteen wheelers need to almost stop to take the turn.  The change has made the Town Center a lot safer.

R. Gray asked J. Unger if he would be in favor of bumping the island out to T it off as shown in the conceptual plan.

J. Unger replied that he thinks it would work; it would force people to come to a ninety degree angle with Main Street when turning onto it.  

Present was Ed Thurston, 51 Newton Rd.  He is concerned with the speed on Main Street.  He stated that the study was done in April 2011 and it is now October 2012; nothing has been done to improve getting traffic to slow down.  He added that if it is the same engineers that are working on Rte. 125 he is not impressed; the flares and angles are terrible.  He feels the study is contradictory; they want to increase parking but also want to narrow the road and put in more green.  He said they cannot do it both ways.  He suggested implement stops signs, they are cheap and do not need studies.

M. Dorman replied that they are working to get stop signs at East and West Pine Streets but it is a state highway and they need NHDOT approval.  If they cannot justify the stop sign they will not approve it; that is why this study will help.

E. Thurston stated concern over the planting of the additional trees and asked who will pay for taking care of them.  Who will do the clean-up and plowing with all the islands they propose to put in.

T. Moore followed up on the comment regarding extra parking and additional green space.  He stated that the thought was to have angled parking around Park Street which would give more parking than the parallel parking does.  To narrow the traffic lanes on Main Street would be an attempt to slow down traffic.  The sidewalk curbing will be eliminated in front of Town Hall for the handicap spaces to allow the ground to be level.  He added t hat the diagrams with the islands are just a concept; they need to do the engineering drawings to see how it would work out.

Present was Richard Coleord, 11 Center Circle.  He stated that he agreed with E. Thurston regarding the planting of the trees; trees have been dying on Main Street for years.  He is concerned with the narrowing of the roads.  If the roads are narrow people will not be able to get out of the way of emergency vehicles.  He agrees that the best way to slow traffic down is to put  in stop signs.  He added that they need to decide; does Plaistow want to grow or shrink.  They cannot have both.

C. Lanza stated that the concerns are all valid.  He reminded the attendees that these are all conceptual plans and may not actually happen but are intended to be a starting point to get the Town’s input so they can work towards the right approach.  

Present was Owen Justin, 61 Main St.  He stated that he also agrees with E. Thurston.  They need to take Main Street over.  He asked what the cost would be for the Town to take over the road and what the cost will be in maintenance.  He stated that these changes would be easier for the Town to tackle if they owned Main Street; they would not be at the mercy of DOT.  

M. Dorman replied that they cannot pick and choose (which roads they want to take over).

L. Komornick added that there was a warrant article a few years back asking people if they would fund a study for the taking over Main Street and it got voted down.  

T. Moore stated that they can find out (the cost).  They can look at two options; taking over Main Street entirely or just from the Haverhill line to Rte. 125.

Present was Daniel Garlington, Highway Supervisor.  He explained that the biggest issue is not highway maintenance but it is the cost of the infrastructure; the bridges, drainage and RR crossings for example.  To try to figure everything out is a challenge.  He added that if you take over one road it can lead to more.  He agreed that speeding is an issue.  

M. Dorman added that enforcement is stepping up.  

E. Thurston asked what the process for working with NHDOT is; what is their response time.

T. Moore answered that it depends on what it is.  If it is a minor repair then it may be fairly quick; one year.  For larger projects that have a substantial cost they get ranked regionally first and then ranked state wide and then it is a scramble for funds.  It could be 25 to 30 years depending on the priority.  

L. Komornick added that the Walgreen’s project will be making some up-grades to the south end of Main Street as well.  She said it is fully understood with DOT that if further development should occur at the old Shaw’s plaza, DOT will be looking for them to provide an engineered plan on how to up-grade that area.

J. Unger noted that they had the barrels in the slip lane in 1996, the state engineers came and said there was no money and it went on the 10 year plan.  Now 15 years later we are discussing it again.  He said he does not know how long these projects will take.  

L. Komornick added that DOT does not make recommendations unless something like a fatality triggers it.  They look to the towns through the Regional Planning Commission and other programs to submit these projects and go after funding.  That is why they are holding this workshop, they need to all agree that something needs to be done and then go after the funding.

Present was Sean Fitzgerald, Town Manager for Plaistow.  He stated that tonight they are here to talk about the vision for Plaistow and get input from the citizens.  He came to the Workshop to listen and hear the thoughts of the citizens, and use those thoughts to guide decisions.  He stated that the Safe Routes for Schools System is a very important program that the State of NH funds; part of a Federal strategy to help pedestrian safety.  He commented on the concerns about the trees saying that they Town can plant trees and manage traffic safety.  He added that trees have been shown to calm traffic; it helps people realize they are not on a highway as well as clean the air and other environmental benefits like clean water.  They are strategies that are part of sustainability.  He stated that part of the efforts discussed tonight are not about getting bigger or smaller, but to figure out how to support the community; a busy community with a lot of important roadway systems.  All the roadways require unique strategies.  They need to work with state and federal regulations.  When they put up a stop sign they need to count traffic many times to be sure that the traffic stop is falling within engineered standards that are based on science and data; that takes time to incorporate.  He said the Town has a good relationship with NHDOT; they come in and work with the PB.  They have helped them work out many intersections and help to get grant funding.  They are currently working with the State on the Westville Road Bridge.  They may get a couple $1,000 to hopefully fix once and for all the Elm Street intersection.  He is encouraged that the PB would take the time to hold this public workshop.   He hopes this is the beginning of many specialized discussions.  He’d like to have more specialists come before the PB.  He stated that he understands the citizen’s frustrations but solutions are out there.  Both of these studies will help to win State and Federal support; it is part of the due diligence they need to do.  He added that his door is always open to the citizens if they wish to come in and discuss these issues.  

G. Adams noted that the public gets frustrated because it takes so much time to do the studies then they come up with a solution like the Kingston Rd. Intersection for example.

S. Fitzgerald replied that he is right, but that some decisions made in Concord do not trickle down into Plaistow.  The Town does not always get a chance to comment on the decisions.  He said they can probably invite them in and work with them in regards to how the Town would like to see that intersection change.  He has heard a number of complaints about that intersection.  In general, if you look at the investment that is happening on Rte.125 it is a good thing; it is a safer road system; but the process can be frustrating.  

There was more discussion regarding the Kingston Road intersection and what the next steps are for the Rte. 125 widening project.

L. Komornick noted that the jug handle turn around (on Joanne Drive) was supposed to be temporary but will be there longer now.  She added that if they invite the project manager, Alex Voight, to come down and look at the intersection and discuss the Town’s concern things will happen.  This is why they want the public’s input tonight; to keep this process moving and to prioritize.  She asked that people go home and think about how they would prioritize these issues and e-mail her with their ideas; even if they are not part of tonight’s presentation.  She stated that a lot has been done in the last five years and the Town is working with NHDOT.

Present was Mark Harding, 1 Elm Street.  He asked if and when they would be taking out the barrels (on the Elm St. slip lane).

S. Fitzgerald answered that they will not be keeping those up though the winter.  He added that they needed to put them out to get supportive data; to evaluate for a short period of time the effect of blocking the slip lane.  It was just an evaluation period; they can report to the State that the Town was so serious in its concerns for that intersection that they tried the barrels; to support the due diligence.  They can also use that information when applying for grants to help the Town’s application be more successful.  These are all pieces of the puzzle they have been diligently trying to weave together, including the workshop tonight.  They the keys to calming traffic are: Education, Enforcement and Infrastructure.  Before they spend hundreds of thousands for dollars they want to educate and get information out to those concerned and then enhance enforcement.  Lastly they want to look at infrastructure; they only want to do that once, being careful how they spend their money.  

R. Gray noted that the conversation (regarding the removal of the barrels) has not yet come before the BOS.  He added that he has not heard any negative comments from the public about the barrels and everyone has been in favor of eliminating the slip lane.  He stated that he will try anything to slow traffic on Main Street down.  He is not interested that the trucks are having a hard time turning on Main Street; he would like to eliminate truck traffic altogether.  To get people to stop using Main Street as a cut through to Rte. 125, they will have to stop.  It is the first he has heard of the barrels being removed, but it is more ammunition to use in the removal of the slip lane.  

G. Adams asked if there was a timeline for the removal of the barrels or could they leave them as long as they want.

S. Fitzgerald replied that they needed approval from NHDOT when putting in the barrels and the District Engineer had expressed concern over leaving them out during the wintertime; concerns with snow and plowing.  They had wanted to get back to the Board with a recommendation before snowfall with a couple of months of evaluation.  

There was more discussion regarding the removal of the barrels.  They will be moved for the wintertime.  

Present was Harlan Cheney, 11 Meditation Lane and Victoria Czara, 1 Lewis Lane; both of Atkinson NH.  H. Cheney stated that it is obvious that there is a speeding problem on Main Street.  He suggested camera systems that can detect speed and take a picture of license plates; sending fines through the mail.  He believes that technology is available today.  

C. Lanza has heard of those capabilities.  He added that it would be an issue for the BOS.

R. Gray replied that the BOS have not discussed it; they can take it under consideration for this study.

C. Lanza thanked everyone for coming and summarized the concerns noting the following:

  • Look for permanent solution to barrels
  • Incorporate tonight’s comments into designs
  • Need for stop signs
  • Tree plantings could be problematic
  • Concern over narrowing roads for safety vehicles
  • Concern that more businesses will bring more traffic
  • Look at a cost benefit analysis for taking over Main St.
Item Five:

Other Business/Updates: Misc. Notices, letters, and other Correspondence from Dept. of Building Safety, Planning Department and ZBA; Status of Projects

There was no other business before the Board.

Item Six:

Adjournment

There was no further business before the Planning Board and the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.

Respectfully submitted as recorded by Laurie Pagnottaro.


Approved by the Planning Board on ______________________________________

_______________________________________  
Steve Ranlett, Chairman