APPROVED
Town of Fitzwilliam
Planning Board Meeting
November 3, 2009
Members present: Terry Silverman, Mac Landy, John Tommila, Carlotta Pini, alternate, Paul Grasewicz, alternate
Others present: Nancy Carney, Deputy Fire Chief, abutters.
Call to Order: 7:00 PM
7:00 pm Natural Resources Inventory presentation.
NRI subcommittee members Dorothy Zug, Paul Kotila, Barbara Green and Carol Ann Rocheleau presented the NRI Report. Nick Noyes and Jean Ibelle were unable to attend. Ms. Zug said the goal of the NRI was to define and record the town’s natural resources and design a plan to protect them.
Kotila highlighted the geology of Fitzwilliam, saying the bedrock of Fitzwilliam is very old metamorphic and igneous rock; it’s very hard, making it impermeable. It is slow to erode, accounting for the shallow soils in town. Areas of farmland and the stratified drift aquifers are results of glaciation. He said most of the soils will support forests. The small areas of farmland soils should be protected for agricultural use in the future.
Green said most of the water in town originates in town. Water in only one of the five watersheds in Fitzwilliam runs north. Once water begins to run underground you can’t predict where it will go, which is why it is important not to contaminate surface water.
Because the town is at the headwaters of the watersheds our flood plains are narrow, since the steams are small at this point.
Rocheleau noted that wildlife surveys completed by residents over a two year period confirmed that the town has the wildlife predicted by the NH Wildlife Habitat Study. The highest ranking wildlife habitats are peat bogs. She said the state knows of seven deer yards in Fitzwilliam, but there are actually many more.
There has been a 6,000 acre decrease in the number of acres in current use since the last NRI study was completed 12 years ago. One hundred and forty seven houses have been built in that time. Several invasive plants are especially noteworthy since they are becoming widespread. They are the Japanese Knotwood, the Autumn Olive, and the Burning Bush. She cautioned not to bring invasive plants into NH.
There was discussion about plans for the open space committee. The first meeting is Dec. 9th. The committee urged the Planning Board to include NRI recommendations in the master plan.
Silverman thanked the group for the presentation and for the Inventory.
Public hearing: Roger Keilig site plan review to make improvements to the retail building (State Liquor Store) and surrounding area located at 11 Route 119 W, Map 34, Lot 2-1, Residential and Historic Districts.
Silverman seated Carlotta Pini and Paul Grasewicz as alternates for Robin Haynes and Suzanne Gray.
Mr. Keilig presented revised erosion control and lighting plans to the Board, based on recommendations made during the last Board meeting and site walk. Silverman said at the site walk they found conditions favorable for the project. He added that even with the interruption of the wetlands buffer, this plan is an improvement to the property. Mr. Keilig said he’d added two areas for native shrubs suitable for the rain garden-like situation. Silverman said augmenting the existing buffer on the corner of Route 12 and 119 would be good.
The filled slope area will now be covered in grass, rather than stone and it will be mowed at least once a year. Mr. Keilig said he has a preliminary lighting plan, proposed sign location and will update his driveway permit with the state when he has a better idea of what business will occupy the building. Right now he is concentrating on the political work necessary to try to keep the liquor store open.
Grasewicz asked if there were enough accessible parking spaces. Mr. Keilig didn’t know, since the State Liquor Commission determined the parking needs when the building first opened as a liquor store. He will research this further and review ADA requirements.
Perusing the lighting plan, Silverman asked that the manual switch controls for the delivery area lights are put on a timer. He asked for a more specific version of the lighting plan when Mr. Keilig comes back. He’d also like a note on the plan concerning use of native shrubs. Both Pini and Silverman thought the proposed sign location might interfere with sight lines, and asked that a mock up of the sign be used to determine location.
Silverman moved, Tommila seconded and the Board voted to approve the physical improvements and spatial configuration sections of the site plan, noting that the final lighting and sign plans and driveway permits are pending. Mr. Keilig can begin work surfacing and landscaping the parking area per the plans submitted to date.
Silverman moved, Pini seconded and the Board voted to continue the hearing to February 16, 2010 at 7 PM, at Mr. Keilig’s request.
Grasewicz left the board at this time.
Public hearing: Mulcahey Land and Timber, LLC application for a boundary line adjustment and a four lot subdivision of property located between West Lake Road and Webb Hill Road, Map 11, Lot 5-1 and Map 27, Lot 13, Rural District.
Grasewicz presented the revised plans for the subdivision that were presented at the last meeting. Silverman asked if the lot line adjustment was a separate application from the subdivision. It is not, Grasewicz said they were combined as a matter of economy.
Grasewicz said all four lots meet subdivision requirements for lot size, slope, contiguous upland, and moderate to better draining soils. Referring to a soils analysis of the property done by staff, he said the soils were, with one exception, all well or moderately well draining soils.
Silverman read a letter from Robin Haynes stating that she agreed with the lot line adjustment but had concerns about the delineation of wetlands and the method of timber harvesting that may have impacted wetlands. This letter is attached. Silverman added that he understood Grasewicz had made changes to the plans, correcting some issues and that this site has been a challenging one to work on. However, he too would like a second opinion regarding the wetlands.
Silverman asked if perc tests had been done. Grasewicz said no. There was some discussion of driveways with Grasewicz indicating 600-700 foot driveways for two of the lots. Each lot will have its own driveway.
Abutter Wes Whitham said he still thinks there are more wetlands than indicated, and he has real concerns about the steepness of the slope for the driveway to lot 5-3. Winston Roy said Webb Hill Road needs to be updated – it is not wide enough for traffic and there are rocks sticking out of the roadway. Bob Handy asked what responsibility the town has for the road. Once you leave the paved portion it gets rough. Pini said it is very muddy or like a washboard in the spring.
Pini moved, and Landy seconded a motion to engage another wetlands scientist to evaluate the property, pending any other steps taken by the town. This person would be engaged by the town and paid by the applicant.
Pini said there are real drainage issues off that hill. Residents’ basements are flooded – her sump pump runs 24/7. Mr. Whitham said that this is the nature of the area – that his well is 300 feet deep while the Pini basement is flooded.
Mr. Handy said he thinks the water drains into Laurel Lake and any contamination would impact the lake. Grasewicz disputed that claim because Laurel Lake is higher than this lot. Mr. Handy would like another water specialist to look at the land. Pini said the property reminds her of the subdivision on Upper Troy Road, in that there is water everywhere. She wondered if a wetlands scientist was appropriate.
Grasewicz said construction of four houses on the property will create some impervious surface but the site has great filtering capacity. He said the water flows on the surface and then underground and back again.
Pini said the question is will the construction impact properties downhill from the site. Tommila asked if the land can support four houses. Grasewicz said that is why there are only four houses on 40 acres. He added that anyone building on the lots will need driveway and wetlands permits for them and the Board’s concerns can be addressed then. He said these aren’t finished designs and the owners may change them. He said new technology and methods allow building foundations that stay dry. New technology allows septic systems to be 3 feet above the water table.
Silverman said the problem for the Board is seeing the land after it has been cut, with slash left everywhere. Grasewicz agreed that it is hard to delineate the wetlands with the slash – adding it is tough to survey too. Pini asked if it was all right for her to go onto the property alone, since she was not able to go on the site walk – Grasewicz said it was OK. Pini and Landy withdrew their motion.
Silverman moved, Pini seconded and the Board voted to continue the public hearing to December 1, 2009 at 7:15 PM.
8:45 pm Preliminary consultation: Sharon Esper to discuss home bakery/café in her home located at 22 Richmond Road, Map 32, Lot 25, Village Business District, Historic District.
Ms. Esper said she’d like to have a café/tea house in her home. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate in thermoses, wrapped baked goods. She discussed the idea with the state and found she could do this much without having a commercial kitchen or refrigeration.
A café sign would hang below her current barber sign. The barber shop is separate from the house. The café will be in her kitchen. She may have some tables, but will use only disposable utensils and dishes. She plans to be open only when her boarder is away, which is every day from 8 am to 4 pm. Nancy Carney asked that due to the multiple occupancy of the property, the fire department would like to see a simple floor plan showing the entrances and exits for the various rooms used for the businesses.
Silverman asked the Board if Ms. Esper needed a special exception too. Pini said, for consistency’s sake, a special exception was needed since this additional business use was not discussed when she got a special exception for the barber shop business in her home.
There are fire/smoke detectors throughout her home. She didn’t think parking would be a problem, but the Board would like a specific parking plan with measurements. Landy added that she can’t count on street parking in the winter.
Silverman suggested Ms. Esper go to the ZBA for a special exception and then come back to the Planning Board for a minor site plan review with a moderately scaled plan for parking, a floor plan to meet the fire department need for information about entrances, exits and smoke detectors.
The Board reviewed the minutes of the October 20, 2009 meeting. Tommila moved, Silverman seconded and the Board approved the minutes as written.
Tommila noted that it was wonderful to see the Inn open for business and noted there was great support from the town for the Halloween party at the Inn on Saturday.
Silverman reviewed the 2010 budget. The 2010 budget is 1.27% over the 2009 budget in keeping with the Selectmen’s request to present a budget that is as close to the 2009 budget as possible.
The Board adjourned at 9:55 PM.
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