TOWN OF WILTON

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

Approved 3/19/08

 

DATE:            February 21, 2008

TIME:            7:30 P.M.

PLACE:          Citizen’s Hall Lyndeborough, NH

PRESENT:     Wilton Planning Board Members: Chairman Jeff Kandt, Alec MacMartin, Neil Faiman, Brian Sullivan, Alternate Bill Condra, NRPC Representative Kerrie Diers, and Clerk Heather Loewy Nichols.

Lyndeborough Planning Board: Chair Tracey Turner, Steve Brown, Mike Decubellis, Bill Ball, Tom Chrisenton, and Clerk Pauline Ball.

 

The Wilton Planning Board joined the Lyndeborough Planning Board to hear:

 

1.       Subdivision Application - Provost 1993 Trust –for Lot B-014 Cram Hill Road in the Residential/Agricultural and Wetlands Districts.  Applicant is proposing a 14-lot subdivision

 

Lyndeborough Chair Tracey Turner stated that the Board would hear the applicant’s presentation, then take questions from the Boards, and then take questions from the public.

 

Jeff Merritt from Keach Nordstrom appeared before the Board and re-summarized the proposed project stating that it is on a 70 acre parcel; 9 acres of which is in Lyndeborough with 61 acres in Wilton. He explained that all the structures will be in Wilton. He noted that the original plan called for 19 lots with 4 wetland crossings involving 9500SF of impact; however they have reduced the plan to 14 lots and 1 wetland crossing with only 2703SF of impact. He further explained that the Wilton Zoning Board has granted a special exception permitting the wetlands impact. He explained that the there was concern on behalf of the Boards and the Conservation Commission with respect to the culvert which the NH DES had requested. However since the last meeting the state has directed the applicant to proceed with a box culvert with baffles in the bottom which allows one to fill the bottom with round stone and mimic the behavior of a stream while reducing storm water velocity. Jeff Merritt noted that Dennis LaBombard has done an initial review of the project. He stated that he has spoke to the Wilton Police, the Lyndeborough Road Agent, the Wilton Road Agent and the Wilton Fire Chief with respect to the project. In response to a question from Jeff Merritt, the Lyndeborough Planning Board stated that he did not need to contact the Lyndeborough Chief of Police.  

 

The Lyndeborough Planning Board explained that they have soil based regulations and only allow one driveway access for every two lots. They discussed the driveways and access to the lots with Jeff Merritt. He explained that the structures will all be located in Wilton with only the roads and driveways in Lyndeborough and he noted that he did speak to the Lyndeborough Road agent and he did not express any concerns about the proposal.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that it is his position in accordance with Regulation 6:74:53, paragraph 3, which states that all uses of land or structures shall follow the ordinances of the town in which they are in, that he is required to follow the regulations of Wilton and not Lyndeborough as all the structures will be in Wilton.

 

The Wilton Planning Board noted that the original lot numbers should be stricken from the plan and new lot numbers should be assigned.

 

Jeff Merritt continued his presentation stating that there is 2200’ of roadway frontage off of Cram Hill Road, and except for a 22 acre field the majority of the site is wooded with a number of small wetland pockets. He explained that the wetland which bisects the property feeds a larger wetland off site. He further explained that the plan is to create two new roadways, Chenery Road and Provost Road, both of which will be less than 600’ and will terminate in cul-de-sacs. He stated that three of the fourteen lots will be accessed off of Cram Hill Road, six will gain access from Chenery Road, and five will gain access from Provost Road. He noted that the lots range in size from 2 to 24 acres and three of the lots are reduced frontage lots ranging in size from 6.3 acres to 11.4 acres. He explained that the reduce frontage lots will allow homes to be built farther back to create a more rural environment. He also explained that the proposal will provide a diversity of options with field views, a small rural neighborhood, and more private lots.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that Chenery Road is proposed to be 20’ wide pavement terminating in a cul-de-sac with mostly open drainage and roadside ditches on both sides where all the storm water from the road and abutting parcels would be collected and then discharged from detention basins. He noted that before the storm water would be discharged it would go through treatment swales. He explained that the detention basins allow for a slower discharge of water noting that the water goes out slower then it comes in.

 

The Lyndeborough Planning Board stated that they would like to see a full built driveway on the plan, not just a stub.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that Provost Road is proposed to be less than 600’ long, terminating in a cul-de-sac, with 20’ wide pavement, roadside ditches on both sides, and two storm water basins. He noted that this road would have a wetland crossing with 2703SF of impact, which the Wilton Zoning Board has approved. He stated currently the plan is to use a box culvert. In response to a question from the Lyndeborough Board, Jeff Merritt stated that this culvert will allow amphibians to cross under the road better then the previously proposed culvert.

 

The Lyndeborough Board requested that Jeff Merritt show the town line on all of the drawings.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that each roadway will have a combination of closed and open drainage and each lot will have individual well and sewer systems. He noted that underground utilities will service the entire roadway but individual owners will decide what they want for utilities once they reach private property.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that he has not addressed Dennis LaBombard’s comments as he is getting input from everybody before changing the plans, but he noted that he did not see anything in the comments which they can not deal with.

 

The Boards and Jeff Merritt discussed the three reduced frontage lots noting that they are abutted on both sides by regular lots.

 

The Lyndeborough Board discussed other possible driveway locations.  They stated that they would prefer to have the shared drive be longer and the flare off be closer to the houses.

 

In response to a question from the Lyndeborough Board, Jeff Merritt stated that he is not planning on lighting the roadway.

 

Chairman Tracey Turner opened the floor for public questions.

 

Brendon Philbrick, of Cram Hill Road in Lyndeborough, stated that the applicant is putting as many houses up as possible and getting rid of the second oldest road in Lyndeborough. He stated that the applicant has only proposed 200’ of frontage with leach fields in Lyndeborough. He stated that Lyndeborough has five acre zoning because the area is clay. He also noted that this plan would call for Lyndeborough to receive all of the abuse but none of the taxes.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that the areas depicted on the plan are not leach fields but rather 4K areas. The Lyndeborough Board stated that if they are depicted on the plan in Lyndeborough they should comply with Lyndeborough regulations.

 

Bob Johnson, of Cram Hill Road, questioned whether the cul-de-sacs would be a private or town roads.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that all the roads will be designed so they can be town roads but in all likelihood they will be private roads and are likely to stay private forever.

 

The Lyndeborough Board questioned how the maintenance issues will be handled. Jeff Merritt stated that, should the roads be town owned, the Wilton Road Agent has no issue with maintaining the roads.

 

Terry Lee Golding, of Lyndeborough, stated that she does not see the benefit to Lyndeborough for approving the plan and asked why the Board would do so. Chair Tracey Turner stated that people have a right to use their land. Jeff Merritt stated that there is no Wilton access unless they crossed a major multi-acre wetland. Terry Golding questioned whether Lyndeborough will receive money to help maintain the road especially considering construction vehicles going up and down the road. She suggested that the town get a bond to cover any damages. The Lyndeborough Planning Board noted that impact fees can be imposed for these types of issues.

 

Dan Bauerle, of 185 Cram Hill Road, stated that it looks like the road will be directly across from his driveway. He noted that this is at the base of the hill and that it is very slippery. He also noted that the wetland behind his house handles all the water from the fields on the proposed site and currently it does not flood. He questioned what he should do if the wetland floods after construction is complete.

 

Spencer Brookes, of the Wilton Conservation Commission, stated that the wetland on this site is the Souhegan River Watershed Dam Site 33 and is very significant. He stated that it is a key amphibian breeding ground, a key vernal pool, and he stated that he would like the Boards to hire a biologist to look at the  new culvert and the plan as a whole.

 

Bob Johnson, of Lyndeborough, questioned whether a traffic study has been performed and suggested that it not just look at Cram Hill but back off and look at the corner of Wilton Road and Center Road also.

 

Lois Kenick, of Lyndeborough, stated that she had been looking at the maps on the Granite State website and she noted that the wetland on this site connects to the Lucas Flat wetland. She wondered if the applicant had considered this.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that they had not considered this because the proposed wetland crossing is so minor you can step over it. He also explained that they had a wetland scientist do a vernal pool study and the study stated that the crossing would not adversely affect the wetland as it is laid out.

 

Chair Tracey Turner stated that she is also concerned about the impact of changes on the Lyndeborough side of the site and the neighbors across the street.

 

Jeff Merritt stated that there will be no increased flow from the site and in fact the construction will improve flow for neighbors. He also stated that he is proposing the culvert which the Conservation Committee suggested.

 

Mike Decubellis stated that, speaking on behalf of the Lyndeborough Conservation Commission, he would also support a hiring a biologist. There was a question from the Lyndeborough Planning Board as to what the biologist would look at.

 

Chairman Tracey Turner stated that the applicant needs to address the reduced frontage lots, but suggested that maybe he should not change them yet. She also stated that she would like to see the report which shows that there is no flow off the site. She also noted that if there are leach fields in Lyndeborough that the Board needs to see the full plans on them.

 

The representative from NRPC stated that also to be decided upon are mutual aide agreements, the road alignment, the status of the road, and off site improvements.

A MOTION was made by Mike Decubellis and SECONDED by Neil Faiman to continue the application to March 5, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Wilton Town Hall.

Voting: The motion passed unopposed.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Heather Loewy Nichols

Wilton Planning Board Clerk

 

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