Members present: Terry Silverman, Chairman, Suzanne Gray, Robin Haynes, Macreay Landy and Carole Beckwith.
Others present: Paul Grasewicz, alternate, Carmen Yon, Chair of Conservation Commission.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. Macreay Landy chaired the meeting until 7:25 when Terry Silverman arrived.
Preliminary consultation: Craig Bourque to discuss retail consignment and crafts shop in Crossroads, Map 34, Lot 27, General Business District.
Mr. Bourque passed out a description of the business he plans to open, The Ladybug” Lair, A Crafter’s Cranny. He is planning to rent the center space in Crossroads where an antique ‘mall’ now exists. Signage will be as allowed in the Crossroads. No exterior, illuminated or window signs are contemplated. He plans to be open for retail sales Thursday through Sunday from 10AM to 6PM, however craft classes may be held on any day of the week and in the evenings. Craft instructors will rent space from him and he will inform them of any relevant restrictions.
If ceramics crafts are taught, firing will be done off site. Any paints or solvents will be properly disposed of and he will put his disposal/recycling policy in writing for the Board.
Minutes: Haynes moved, Gray seconded and the Board voted to approve the minutes of the October 4, 2005 meeting as amended.
Administration: The Board reviewed a notice from the Royalston Conservation Commission regarding a plan for a driveway into property that abuts the Town of Fitzwilliam, which is owned by the same people who own the Royalston property. These people have come before the Planning Board for a preliminary consultation on a proposed subdivision of the land that abuts the Royalston property. They do not have sufficient frontage on a Class V road in Fitzwilliam to subdivide. The Royalston Conservation Commission wrote that “…before we can issue an Order of Conditions for your proposed driveway, we will need to see a plan for construction activities in the adjacent lot.”
Informational Meeting: Jack Calhoun, Project Director of the Vision-To-Action Forums, Antioch New England Institute, will discuss the Community Vision-To-Action Forum. Forums bring together a broad cross section of residents to discuss key community assets and issues, develop a collective vision and identify specific projects to improve the community.
Silverman introduced Dorothy Zug, a co-chair of the Steering Committee planning the Forum and she in turn introduced Jack Calhoun. His presentation emphasized that he was not here to tell the town what to do, but to help the town do what it wanted to do, and the Forum is the process. Forums are successful to the extent they involve a broad and diverse cross section of town residents – he urged the committee to continue to ask “who else needs to be here,” so that all town stakeholders are represented. He said the long term effects of having a Forum are that new connections among townspeople are created, trust is built and a stronger sense of ownership is created.
Mr. Calhoun told the fifty people present about his experiences in conducting Forums in New England and in Eastern Europe. He said a Forum enables people to share their best ideas and aspirations, identify common priorities and take action on those priorities. They usually run Friday evening and all day Saturday. He distributed documents that outlined a Forum schedule and answered questions. Interested participants will be contacted for future involvement.
Public hearing continued: 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.
Amy Calandra and Paul Grasewicz presented revised plans with new Notes that include conditions from the wetlands permit approved at the wetlands hearing, October 4, 2005. The Board reviewed the notes and agreed all items were included. Silverman is concerned about the design of the trenches that will encircle the perimeter of the interior of each new building. In the existing building they are 24 inches in from the exterior wall. [Ms. Calandra called 10/19/05 to confirm that measurement.] He would like to see details of the trench design on the plans, and have trenches located so no products can be stored on the side of the trench near the walls, or have the lip sloped so any spill will go into the trench.
Silverman asked how the driveway fared in the recent rainstorms. Carmen Yon, Chair of the Conservation Commission walked the circumference on October 16, 2005 after the rain stopped and said the driveway was fine, noting the new silt fence and hay bales retained any sediment and no gullies had been created by runoff.
Nancy Carney, Fire Department, did not have any safety concerns about the plans.
Silverman continued the public hearing and site plan approval to the next meeting, November 1, 2005 at 7:45 PM. It was the consensus of the Board that asking for the perimeter trenches design to be in the Notes on the plan would be the last thing they asked for, and Ms. Calandra did not need to come back to the November 1 meeting. Her engineer, Paul Grasewicz, will present the revised plans.
Public hearing continued: Francis Hodgman Site Plan Review application for a business at his home, 809 Templeton Turnpike, Map 3, Lot 31-03, Rural District.
Silverman read a report from Mark Sweeney, Code Enforcement Officer, to the effect that Mr. Hodgman has removed all unregistered vehicles except one, which will be towed away on October 19, 2005. The plumbing was dismantled in the mobile home so it can no longer be used as a dwelling. Mr. Hodgman will also seek permits for the two trailers on his property that he uses for storage.
Silverman noted that since conditions of the cease and desist order from the Selectmen have been met, the Planning Board can hear the site plan review application, and asked Mr. Hodgman to elaborate. Mr. Hodgman used diagrams to show where various storage units and registered vehicles are located on his property. He indicated plans to build a 40 X 40 foot garage which will enclose his equipment, eliminate the carport storage units on the property, and give him space to do maintenance on his equipment.
Landy asked about disposal of oil and other wastes and was told it would be stored in 5 gallon can and taken out for recycling. Mr. Hodgman noted the new garage will be on a concrete slab with raised sides to contain any spills. Haynes asked if he sharpened blades and he said he only repaired and maintained his own equipment and there was very little noise generated by his machinery.
Silverman asked abutters for comment. Mr. and Mrs. William Barefoot were present and said they had no objection to Mr. Hodgman running a business from his home as long as it was done legally according to zoning regulations. They had concerns about surface runoff of pollutants contaminating their well and the wetlands in back and about the atmosphere of the neighborhood, which they feel is negatively impacted by the business.
Haynes asked how far away the wetlands were and Mr. Hodgman said it was well over 500 feet to the wetlands and Priest Brook. Mrs. Hodgman said their personal vehicles will be parked in the driveway, ‘like everyone else’s,’ and the plow trucks and flat bed trailers will be parked on the side of the property away from the Barefoot’s boundary.
Silverman asked the Barefoots if they would be satisfied if all the equipment was stored in a garage and they said yes. Mrs. Hodgman noted the fifth wheeler on the property, which is located 30 feet from the boundary line, has been sold and will be removed from the property. She noted that they only cut down eight trees for a garden and didn’t take down anything within 10 feet of the boundary. Mr. Hodgman added they have new trees to put in. Mrs. Barefoot said cutting the vegetation exposed the view of the yard and all the equipment, noting she had erected an eight foot fence on the property line but their deck was high and they could still see the Hodgman yard.
Silverman noted the Hodgman’s business has expanded beyond what current storage can handle and that the Board wants to handle this problem the best way possible.
Silverman moved and Beckwith seconded a motion to grant conditional approval of the site plan application to continue the landscaping business, with the following conditions:
Ø Building a 40X40 foot garage that encloses all equipment except the flatbed trailers and other registered vehicles;
Ø Obtaining proper permits for two storage units and verifying such;
Ø Maintaining the property as visually pleasing as possible.
Landy asked what would happen if the Hodgman’s aren’t able to secure financing for the garage and Mrs. Hodgman responded that it will be no problem; they were just waiting for the Planning Board decision before approaching a bank.
Mrs. Hodgman noted that if she can’t grow vegetables she will have chickens and pigs. Silverman encouraged her to go ahead and have her garden. He also noted that at some point, if the business continues to expand, the business may not be an accessory use at the residence and they would need to come back to the Planning Board with a new plan.
Budget: There was some discussion about the proposed 2006 Planning/Zoning Board budget and it was agreed to remove the line item for a consultant to develop a fee schedule for an impact fee ordinance. At this time the Board does not feel an impact fee ordinance is appropriate. The budget discussion will continue at the next meeting.
The Board adjourned at 9:30 PM.
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