Members present: Terry Silverman, Chairman, Carole Beckwith, Suzanne Gray, Macreay Landy, Carlotta Lilback Pini, and Margo Best, Selectmen’s representative.
Others present: Paul Grasewicz, alternate; Nancy Carney, Fire Department Representative.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
Public hearing: Site Plan Review for Maliszewski home, Richmond Road, Map 11, Lot 17-4, Rural District (Spicer subdivision).
Andrew Walters, GV Engineering, and Alan Maliszewski presented the site plan. Mr. Walters designed plans based on advice from the Planning Board. The Road Agent, Gene Cuomo, reviewed the driveway plan and had no concerns; the Conservation Commission reviewed the plans and also had no concerns. Mr. Walters assured the Board that no stone walls will be disturbed and the tree buffer along the road will remain as is.
Silverman asked about water drainage from the driveway directly across from the Maliszewski driveway. Mr. Walters explained he drove the road every day on his way to work and had not noted water running across the road. He believes, and David Spicer confirmed, there are culverts and ditching that takes care of the problem. Gray asked him to describe the driveway landing. Mr. Walters explained there will be some fill done to level out the landing, and a driver on the landing can see 250 feet in each direction before leaving the driveway. He noted areas to be filled and cleared on the plat.
Landy noted there were several areas along the driveway and the leach field that would be filled. It is a steep lot and fill will be necessary. Mr. Walters said test holes indicate no ledge at 48 inches near the leach field and perc tests indicate a perc rate of 8 inches per minute, which is a good rate. A septic plan is completed and will be filed as soon as the property transfers to Mr. Maliszewski. The leach field is Enviro-Septic and uses clean sand not stones.
Looking at the plat, Pini confirmed that the landing for the driveway was within the road right of way. Landy asked about driveway swales and Mr. Walters said there would be swales to direct water, adding they tried to select the flattest area on the property for the house. Beckwith asked if there had been any studies on unique habitats in the area. Mr. Walters said he knew of none, but all building is outside the wetlands protection overlay district and there are no plans for any additional buildings or expansion.
Silverman moved, Pini seconded and the Board accepted the application as complete. Hearing no opposition to the plans and no other questions, Pini moved, Gray seconded
and the Board unanimously approved the site plan as presented. A Notice of Decision will be sent to appropriate parties.
Public hearing: Site Plan Review for Bissette home, Richmond Road, Map 10, Lot 83-05, Rural District (Spicer subdivision).
Mr. and Mrs. Bessette and their builder Orin Poland presented the site plan. Mr. Poland indicated the house site, verifying it is within all setbacks. Grasewicz noted there was no grading information for the driveway on the plans. Mr. Poland said the lot was in a field and there was very little slope to the driveway; he plans to take off the loam and use the existing slope. The drive way will also use existing slope to extend the driveway below first floor level into a two car garage entered at the side of the house.
Grasewicz asked about protecting the old maples that were discussed with the subdivider, Mr. Spicer. Mr. Bessette said two trees were dead or nearly dead and may be removed, and another had to be removed to enter the driveway. Mr. Bessette showed pictures of the trees to the Board. Landy asked about the line of sight for leaving the driveway and Mr. Poland assured him a driver could see over the low stone wall. Mr. Poland indicated that four feet of the stone wall will be removed to widen the driveway for equipment.
Mrs. Bessette described the 2-section, modular home as a one level, three bedroom home with a foundation and two car garage below. The septic system is approved for a four bedroom home. Landy asked about the septic and leach field; Mr. Poland noted the existing slope puts both units below the house level.
Silverman moved, Beckwith seconded and the Board accepted the application as complete.
Mr. Walters, an abutter, asked for clarification about the maple trees to be removed. Mr. Bessette indicated on the plat where the trees are that will be removed, adding they plan to cut as little as possible.
Silverman moved, Pini seconded and the Board unanimously approved the site plan, noting two conditions: 1) only three maple trees will be removed along the east side of Richmond Road, as indicated, and 2) the stone wall, also on the east side of Richmond Road, will be widened no more than four feet. A Notice of Decision will be sent to appropriate parties.
Public Hearing: Boundary Line Adjustment for property located on Dunton Road and Templeton Turnpike, Map 7, Lots 32, 28-2 and 28-11, Rural District.
Grasewicz presented the plat to the Board for review. Silverman moved, Beckwith seconded and the Board accepted the application as complete.
Grasewicz noted the parties were before the Board a long time ago, and now were ready to proceed. Basically James and Peter Kates are transferring acreage of 4.2 acres to the Moran family and 12.5 acres to the Heald family, keeping 36.4 acres.
When Gray wondered if obtaining frontage was the reason, Grasewicz responded the resulting lots already have homes on them and the transfer just increases acreage. The net result is two larger lots and one smaller lot; no new lot is created, nor is the land made more sub-dividable than it was before.
Beckwith moved, Pini seconded and the Board approved the boundary line adjustment unanimously. A Notice of Decision will be sent to appropriate parties.
Public Hearing: Boundary Line Adjustment for property located on Dunton Road, Map 7, Lot 31 and 42, Rural District.
Grasewicz presented the plat. Silverman moved, Gray seconded and the Board accepted the application as complete. The Rakowskis will transfer 36.2 acres to the James and Peter Kates property.
Silverman asked if there were any objections. Hearing none, Landy moved, Gray seconded and the Board approved the boundary line adjustment.
Public Hearing: Doris Johansson to review signage for her self-storage business located at 883 NH Route 12 South, Map 4, Lot 55-06/07, Rural District.
Silverman noted Ms. Johansson received a special exception from the Board of Adjustment to have two signs that are larger than her current sign for her business. Ms. Johansson was not present and the Board could take no action without seeing the proposed signs. The hearing will be continued to the next meeting, September 6, 2005 at 7:50 PM.
Public Hearing: Amy Calandra with a major site plan review application to expand her business, Fitzwilliam Self Storage, located on NH Route 12 South, Map 12, Lot 7-2, General Industrial District.
Grasewicz and Amy Calandra presented plans to expand the self-storage business by adding four new buildings on the property, making a total of five buildings.
Silverman moved, Landy seconded and the Board accepted the application as complete.
One building is open and operating. Pini asked if there was a study that indicated the need for this expansion and Ms. Calandra said that in the last two months it has become clear to her that the need is there. She plans to phase in the buildings as needed, but wanted the whole plan approved so they could move forward when the time comes.
Grasewicz noted the buildings are different sizes due to the condition of the land. There are a lot of wetlands on the property. Pini noted all the buildings are in the wetland protection overlay district (WPOD), and Grasewicz agreed that at least part of each new building will be in the WPOD. The first building received a variance from the Board of Adjustment for its front setback.
The Planning Board, in reviewing the site plan for the first building had asked that a vegetative buffer be left to screen the building from Route 12. However, Public Service of NH cleared for utility wires and removed trees and vegetation from the site.
Beckwith noted the buildings sprawl all over the property, and added that if they were clustered security would be easier. Grasewicz explained the buildings would not be seen from Route 12 since they are so far back on the property.
The Board discussed drainage and runoff. Ms. Calandra explained there is a trench inside the current building that leads to a dry well, but she hopes not to have to trench the next buildings. She is concerned that an open trench poses a security risk, health hazard, or safety risk. However, she conceded other solutions may be cost prohibitive.
Gray said she wanted to do another site walk of the back area. Cheryl Davis, representing the Conservation Commission, asked which building would be next online. Ms. Calandra indicated the 30 X 100 foot building closest to the current building.
Silverman proposed a site walk and referral to the Conservation Commission for wetlands evaluation. The site walk was scheduled for Monday, August 22 at 5:30 PM. The public hearing was continued to the next Planning Board meeting, Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 8:00 PM.
Preliminary consultation: Anna Schierioth to discuss opening an HKS Realty office in the Crossroads, Map 34, Lot 27, General Business District.
Ms. Schierioth explained HKS plans to open an office in the Crossroads that will be open by appointment only, at least for now. HKS has offices in Jaffrey and Keene, with agents in the area, and this is a convenient meeting place.
There will be no parking issues or signage issues. HKS will have a name plaque on the current approved hanging sign for the business complex.
Pini noted a real estate office is an allowed use in the General Business District and Silverman told Ms. Schierioth she was all set.
Minutes: The Board reviewed minutes of the August 2, 2005 meeting. Beckwith moved, Gray seconded and the Board approved the minutes with one change.
Silverman read the Notices of Decision from the Board of Adjustment.
Preliminary consultation: Edward Methe, dba Nick’s Used Cars, to discuss site plan for property located on NH Route 12 South, Map 8, Lot 20, General Industrial District.
Michael and Edward Methe presented their plans, noting they had met with the Board in April. Using a diagram, Mr. Methe indicated setbacks and the three proposed buildings they plan to build to EPA specifications for stripping and crushing automobiles. There was some discussion about the way the buildings will be constructed and precautions taken to contain spills. Liquids will be carried by hand or on a payloader, depending on quantity, between the stripping building and the storage building.
Beckwith expressed concern that the only way to insure quality is to monitor a program and asked how they plan to monitor the clean-up. Michael Methe said Edward Methe would be responsible for documenting all liquid stored. Pini asked if the EPA would insure the buildings are built to EPA standards and Mr. Methe said he thought that EPA would inspect the area regularly. Gray asked for a narrative of EPA specifications.
Pini asked about fencing and Mr. Methe said the state put up an eight foot fence in the early 1970s, but now they don’t require fencing in an industrial area.
Silverman asked them to provide the following information: construction plans for the buildings; wetlands flagged and located on a plat; other buildings, well and septic located on a plat; and documentation for how they comply with EPA guidelines and specifications.
Gray asked if the Fire Department had concerns and Nancy Carney said they would review the site plan when it was prepared.
Mr. Methe said the buildings were pre-engineered and he’d get the plans. He noted the EPA guidelines seem loose and he applies common sense. When asked about lighting, he remarked they had no plans for lighting as this was a daytime business.
Public Hearing continued: Arnie Filipi proposes a nine-lot cluster subdivision of property located on the north side on NH Route 119W, east of Kemp Brook, Map 10, Lot 68, Rural District.
Mr. Filipi attended the hearing. Silverman read a letter to the Selectmen requesting a 90-day extension for decision making that is a part of these minutes. He also read notes on private v public roads from A Hard Road to Travel and comments by the Road Agent, which are also attached.
Silverman then commented it seemed to him that plans should meet the full subdivision regulations regarding road specifications so any road could be readily acceptable by the town, and that includes paving the road. Pini said she had agreed but now thought that gravel may be acceptable. Grasewicz thought it was premature to make a decision on surfacing when the slopes are not known, emphasizing that slopes of 8 – 10 % would be hard to maintain if gravel. Silverman noted the research seems to support paving.
Pini asked Grasewicz if an engineer determined the slopes were acceptable would gravel be OK. He answered no, if the Board creates a road for frontage it should be paved. Silverman added we’re also creating precedent for what we expect from every other developer in town. Landy noted the subdivision regulations require common driveways to be paved, therefore roads should be.
Grasewicz also discussed specifications for storm water runoff and advised Mr. Filipi to discuss these issues with an engineer. Mr. Filipi indicated he would like a commitment from the Board about the proposal before incurring costs of engineering roads. Grasewicz said that if a road is built to subdivision regulations it could be approved. Pini interjected the Board has already said they liked the cluster development proposal. Silverman responded that if the road is engineered to specifications where it is currently located on the plat, the Board won’t make him move it.
Silverman reiterated the five items the Board will need to consider before approving the subdivision: 1) a site plan for each lot, specifying house site, well, septic and site work including drainage, 2) foliage and land sculpting plans, 3) plans for handling building permits under the Growth Management Ordinance (allocated five per year on a first come first served basis), 4) road cost and bonding for the road, and 5) agreement on the disposition of the common land.
Pini added the Board would like to see the homeowner’s road maintenance agreement, in whatever form it will take – covenant, deed or association.
Nancy Carney said the Fire Wards did review the plat, found the fire pond to be in an acceptable location, and stipulated that the pond should be capable of producing 15,000 gallons per minute and be fitted with a dry hydrant.
Mr. Filipi asked about options for the common land. If the Town doesn’t want it, Beckwith suggested making contact with a conservancy. Silverman said the Board needed something legal to look at.
Mr. Filipi submitted a letter from Sharon Monahan, wetland soils scientist, indicating an area of concern to the Board was dry not wetland. The letter is part of these minutes.
Hearing no additional questions, Silverman continued the hearing to the next Planning Board meeting, September 6, 2005 at 8:20 PM.
Pini moved, Landy seconded and the Board adjourned at 9:30 PM.
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