TOWN OF WILTON

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

Approved 10/17/07

 

DATE:            September 19, 2007

TIME:            7:30 P.M.

PLACE:          Wilton Town Hall Courtroom

PRESENT:     Chairman Jeff Kandt, Brian Sullivan, Neil Faiman, Alternate Member Bill Condra, Matt Fish, Recorder Heather Loewy Nichols, Board of Selectman Representative Dick Rockwood and NRPC Representative Steve Wagner.

 

ABSENT: Alec MacMartin

 

Chairman Jeff Kandt opened the public hearing at 7:30 p.m.

 

Alternate Member Bill Condra joined the board for Alec MacMartin.

 

Chairman Jeff Kandt asked for public comment on the following proposals:

 

1.) AMEND the Pre-application sections 3.1 of the Subdivision and Site Plan Regulations to remove the reference to Design Review, leaving Conceptual Consultation as the only remaining optional pre-application review.  Furthermore, to:

 

2.) REPEAL the Design Review sections 3.1.2 of the Subdivision and Site Plan Regulations.

 

In response to a question from the public, Jeff Kandt noted that the purpose of these amendments is to strike the Design Review process due to a state change in the law and because, to the Board’s recollection, Design Review has never been used before.

 

The Board discussed that if a landowner were to take advantage of the Design Review process then this change would be a negative to them, however in the past landowners have not been taking advantage of this option and the conceptual pre-application review is still available.

 

A MOTION was made by Neil Faiman and SECONDED by Brian Sullivan to approve the proposed amendment to the Pre-application sections 3.1 of the Subdivision and Site Plan Regulations

Voting: 6 ayes; motion passed.

 

A MOTION was made by Brian Sullivan and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to repeal the Design Review sections 3.1.2 of the Subdivision and Site Plan Regulations as proposed.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

A MOTION was made by Brian Sullivan and SECONDED by Dick Rockwood to close the public hearing.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

1.      Household of Faith– Subdivision - Lot J-038, 16 Maple Street.  Applicant is proposing four (4) condominium units in the Residential District.

           

Jeff Kandt stated that he had received an email from the applicant explaining that they have had some issues with vendors but that they foresee being able to complete the application in October.

 

A MOTION was made by Neil Faiman and SECONDED by Brian Sullivan continue the application to the October 17, 2007 meeting.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

2.      Release of Excavation Permit Renewals  - Tom Quinn conditionally approved pending Site Walk – received 8/15/07

 

Matt Fish stated that he was scheduled to visit the pit in question on Friday.

 

A MOTION was made by Matt Fish and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to continue the permit renewal application to the October 17, 2007 meeting.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

3.      Minor Site Plan Amendment – High Mowing School approved May 16, 2007

 

Cary Hughes appeared before the Board and requested an extension to the permit which was given to the High Mowing School in June, explaining that they will not be able to move the kitchen back into the main building until mid November due to construction issues.

 

In response to a question from the Board, the applicant stated that there are no students working in the temporary kitchen, however he would like to request that four students at a time be allowed in the temporary kitchen to help with meal clean up as is tradition at the school.

 

After some discussion the Board stated that they were unconvinced that the structure would be safe for students to be in.

 

A MOTION was made by Brian Sullivan and SECONDED by Dick Rockwood to extend the permit to operate the temporary kitchen through December 1, 2007.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

4.      Cluster Subdivision – First Light Farm, LLC – Lots F-095-02,03,07,13,14 and 15 on Isaac Frye Highway in the Residential/Agricultural district. Applicant is proposing 22-unit cluster subdivision:

 

Ray Shea, of Sanford Survey, stated that, per the Board’s request, they had submitted their plans to the engineer for preliminary review and the Board should have a letter from the engineer. He noted the letter mentions drainage, fire hydrants and whether the road will be public or private. He further explained that they may upgrade a culvert and use the owner’s adjacent property as drainage and also that they are looking at the possibility of putting in a guardrail on a section of the access road.

 

In response to a question from the Board, the applicant stated that they had not met with the fire chief recently but previously they had discussed the addition of a fire pond and hydrants, which the applicant added, and noted that they are still in negotiations with regards to the width of the road.

 

The Board discussed logistics issues and how to move forward on the plan.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Bill Condra to give Preliminary Plan Approval to the applicant.

Vote: 6 ayes, motion carried. 

 

The Board stated that they will work on a site walk date and get back to the applicant.

 

The applicant stated that in a few months the applicant will be back with a final plan.

 

A MOTION was made by Brian Sullivan and SECONDED by Dick Rockwood to continue the application to October 17, 2007.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

5.      Caveat Lot Consolidation – Walter S. Zuber &  Carolyn Briglia – Lots H-083-01 and H-083-04 on Stephens Road in the Residential & Agricultural District.  Applicants are proposing to merge said two (2) lots into a single lot.

 

No applicants were present.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to strike the item from the agenda.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

6.      Cluster Subdivision - Cluster Subdivision – Westview Farms, LLC – Lots B-020 on Dale Street in the Residential & Agricultural, Wetlands and Flood Plain District.

 

Dawn Tuomala, of Monadnock Survey, presented a newly designed subdivision plan noting that there were still 29 units but that she had tried to take all the comments from the Board into consideration and adjust the plan. She explained that she had removed the duplexes, added a fire pond, which she has already dug test pits for, added 110 foot setbacks, moved houses around, and tried to create green space within each area. She also noted that she is proposing using an existing 8 foot wide trail as the fire lane and making it 16 feet wide and creating a contiguous trail across the property. 

 

The Board and applicant discussed the fact that this trail would be not accessible to snow mobiles.

 

The Board stated that they thought this plan was a much better use of the cluster subdivision.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Brian Sullivan to continue the application to October 17, 2007.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

7.      Non-Residential Site Plan – Timothy LaFreniere/340 Gibbons Highway LLC – Lot F-026 on Route 101 in the Commercial District.  Applicant is proposing a hot dog stand.

 

Mike Carter, from Todd Land Use Consultants, explained that this is a new application which includes a 10x16 hot dog stand, a 10x16 storage unit, 3 picnic tables, customer parking towards the back of the lot, and parking for towing equipment. He further explained that an initial concern from Steve Wagner was whether the tow trucks would be able to get in and out of the lot safely. As evidence that they could, Mike Carter presented a diagram which showed where each piece of equipment would park and how they would safely be able to exit, noting that he had taken the individual turning radiuses into account.  He also noted that the zoning ordinance requires a 50 foot set back for buildings, and not parking, which this plan is in compliance with. Also he noted there is no parking in the aquifer district. He explained that this proposal includes not using salt in the wetlands, but that he feels that it is unreasonable to expect a commercial property to not use salt in the non-wetland areas as this would open the company to liability.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to accept the application.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

The Board noted that a sign application will need to be submitted.

 

A MOTION was made by Brian Sullivan and SECONDED by Bill Condra to approve the application with the condition that landscaping be added to the plan. Voting; 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

Fees to be paid:

     

NRPC fees: $406.25

 

8.      Change of Use Site Plan - House by the Side of the Road:– Gibbons Highway

Applicant is proposing changing use of commercial building to a convenience store.

 

The Board discussed possible changes in parking and agricultural frames, with regards to the State building setback and right of way, with the applicant.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Brian Sullivan to table the application until later in the evening.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

At 10:20 p.m. the applicant was recalled and she presented a modified sketch of her proposed site plan.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Matt Fish to accept the application.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to approve the application conditional upon the Board receiving 6 final copies of the plan which reflect the sketch presented to the Board this evening.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

Fees to be paid:

 

            NRPC fees: $276.25

 

9.      Home Occupation Application – 195 Isaac Frye Highway proposed daycare

 

The applicant explained that she was looking for the appropriate permissions, as required by the state, to open a daycare in her home. The Board explained that she must first see the Zoning Board for a special exception and then she needs to come back to the planning board with a site plan.

 

10.  Preliminary Site Plan for expansion of parking. Lot L-27 - E & T's United Venture, Inc.

 

The Board clarified that this agenda item was not a preliminary site plan review but rather a non binding pre-application discussion.

 

Neil Faiman left the Board as a voting member at 9:46 p.m.

 

Dawn Tuomala, of Monadnock Survey, presented a plan which included 16 extra parking spaces and a bus parking spot for the current limo business. The Board had a discussion with Dawn Tuomala, as to whether this new plan would involve a change in use to the site. The Board also noted that less parking should be considered.

 

Neil Faiman returned to the Board as a voting member at 9:50 p.m.

 

11.  Preliminary Site Plan revisions to existing site conditions Lot  F-170 - Premier Concrete

The Board clarified that this agenda item was not a preliminary site plan review but rather a non binding pre-application discussion.

 

Dawn Tuomala, of Monadnock Survey, explained that the property was purchased a year and a half ago but that the owner did not come in for a change of use. She also noted that the owner has put up a chain link fence, in the set back, and has pored a concrete wall to put the forms against inside the fence and she is here to determine what needs to be done now.

 

The board discussed the definitions of structures and ordinances with regards to setbacks.

 

Bill Condra noted that there is a substantial amount of stone dust by the side of the brook and there is no fauna there.

 

12.  Other Business - Robert Bragdon

 

 Robert Bragdon stated that he was not notified as to when the meeting was last month and his sign application was denied. The Board discussed the fact that the Board is unaware of the fact that Mr. Bragdon has a home occupation exception and therefore they denied the sign application. After more discussion the Board directed Mr. Bragdon to see the Zoning Board for a home occupation special exception and for permission to use the connecting driveway.

 

13.  CIP Update

 

The Board discussed their progress on the Capital Improvement Plan and future assignments.

 

14.  Other Business

 

The Board discussed the need for a work session.

 

A MOTION was made by Brian Sullivan and SECONDED by Matt Fish to hold a work session on October 3, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

Voting: 5 ayes; motion carried (with Neil Faiman abstaining as he will not be at the meeting.)

 

Jeff Kandt stated the fall OEP conference is on October 20, 2007.

 

The Board discussed the fact that the November meeting is scheduled on the day before Thanksgiving.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Matt Fish to reschedule the November 21, 2007 meeting to November 28, 2007.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED by Brian Sullivan to hold a public hearing for Caveat Lot Consolidation & Application fee schedule on October 17, 2007.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

A MOTION to adjourn was made by Dick Rockwood and seconded by Matt Fish.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

 

Chairman Jeff Kandt declared the meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.

 

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