Town of Fitzwilliam, NH - Planning Board Minutes 10/03/06

Ms. Zug presented the Board with copies of the Community Forum Report, and invited them to attend the Community Forum Reunion potluck supper. She said the action groups have been meeting and will make a progress report that evening.

Preliminary consultation with Ed Hewey regarding a tractor sales and repair business on Route 12, Light Industrial District.

Mr. Hewey and his business partner bought Ken’s Tractor Sales, Inc. in Troy last year. They want to increase their service area and are looking at property on Route 12 in Fitzwilliam. They plan to continue to provide retail sales and service for tractors of all types, ranging from homeowner tractors to construction tractors, including snow blowers and lawn mowers.

They are planning to set the business back from the road to give some room to their business and to allow for road snow removal. The property has 600 feet of frontage and is partially cleared. It is flat and dry.

Silverman noted this business was an allowed use in the Light Industrial District and he asked Mr. Hewey to bring in a site plan for the Board. He suggested they rough out a plan and come for another preliminary consultation to expedite the application procedure.

Site Walk: Because several members of the Board were not in attendance, two dates were suggested for a site walk of the Hancock property. The Board will be polled and a final date set. The two dates are Thursday, October 12^th at 10:30 AM or Friday, October 13^th at 1:30 PM. (Scheduled for Friday, October 13^th at 1:30 PM)

Appointment with Fire Department representatives. Bill Prigge, Fire Chief, Nancy Carney, Deputy Fire Chief, Wendy Carney and Ed Mattson, Fire Wards attended.

Chief Prigge said the department wanted to know how best they could help the Planning Board, without driving the agenda, to give input as the Board considers site plans and subdivision plans, particularly around access issues.

Silverman expressed the Board’s appreciation for any and all of their input. He said the Board agreed the more room the better for fire and rescue equipment.

Chief Prigge said it is good to know what’s on the Planning Board docket and invited the Board to let them know if there is anything else needed.

Deputy Chief Carney mentioned a couple of driveways in new subdivisions that are very difficult for fire and rescue equipment to enter. Silverman acknowledged the driveways in question and suggested the Fire Department work with the Road Agent, since the Planning Board cannot do site plan reviews for single family residences. She said developers need to be educated.

Pini said that the subdivision regulations do not address driveways to any extent but that other towns do have extensive driveway regulations, suggesting the Board may want to look at adding driveway regulations to the subdivision regulations.

Both Prigge and Carney agreed that since the town does not have a fire code, the fire department needed to look at site plans for commercial endeavors and at least advise businesses on safety procedures. Silverman noted the Board tries to get the developer to agree to implement some things that can’t be regulated.

Growth Management Ordinance: Silverman asked if the Board wanted to extend the growth management ordinance by eliminating the sunset clause, per advice from NHMA. Pini suggested looking at the exemptions as well. Rindge has a growth management ordinance with an exemption for 55+ housing and they are receiving a lot of applications for that kind of housing. She wondered if we should look at the definition of elderly housing and clarify what the town means. She felt that elderly housing may be defined more strictly than 55+.

Silverman asked how the continuity of the housing was insured, to maintain it as elderly or affordable. Pini referred to USHUD definitions and to RSA 354 A:15 as possible sources of information.

Pini asked if the town had any subdivisions that had vested but were not completed, or if there were any that hadn’t vested and should be revoked.

Cluster ordinance: Gray has been working on refining the town cluster ordinance. Silverman believe this is the kind of subdivision the town will see more of in the future. For cluster subdivisions, he’d like to see stricter setbacks and wooded buffers. Buffer zones should start at the state right of way and extend into the property to preclude the state ‘cutting the buffer.’

Impact fees: Silverman said he worried that impact fees would lock the town into spending money that wasn’t planned for. Pini reminded the Board that the town can always assess for off site improvements without an impact fee ordinance.

Aquifer ordinance: Eleanor Vander Haegen reported that the Conservation Commission is interested in pursuing this ordinance and will work on it with the Planning Board in time for the 2008 town meeting.

Pini thought the Board needed to focus on land use, planning for commercial development and residential development for the Master Plan revision in 2008.

Silverman raised the issue of increasing lot sizes in the rural district and in the outskirts of the village center. Pini thought the Board could consider that once the Master Plan was finished. Schott thought increasing lot sizes needed to be carefully considered and have a sound rationale that can withstand legal scrutiny.

Wetlands ordinance: Following the 2006 town meeting that approved the amendment prohibiting any new construction in the WPOD, Silverman believes another amendment is in order to address additions to existing properties in the WPOD. The Planning Board would like to review all such cases. Currently they are exempt. Decks and porches would continue to be exempt.

Stone walls: Research is needed to determine the extent to which stone walls that are not boundaries can be regulated/protected.

Meeting tapes: The Board considered the need for a policy on destruction of tapes. After some discussion, Silverman moved, Schott seconded and the Board approved a policy to destroy tapes of meetings after the written minutes have been approved by the Board. Gillis will contact NHMA on procedural questions.

Broadband internet access: Pini raised the question of broadband and high speed internet access. She has been working both in Rindge and with the Community Forum action group on the issue. It appears the only option for Fitzwilliam, and rural towns, may be wireless connections, which mean monopole towers. Since wireless transmission requires clear line of sight, many poles will be necessary to cover the town. Poles can be either co-located, concealed in structures, or free standing, but must be located in high places. A receiver dish would also be necessary for each house receiving service.

She added that Verizon has no plans to extend their lines into town, and in fact may be selling their lines to the state. PTCNH cable does not have the resources to extend their service. Pini wondered if the Planning Board would consider siting towers in areas outside the wireless overlay district, suggesting researching locations proposed on previous tower applications.

Minutes: Silverman moved, Pini seconded and the Board approved the September 5, 2006 minutes as written (a typo will be corrected).