TOWN
OF
PLANNING
BOARD MEETING
Approved
DATE:
TIME:
PLACE: Citizen’s Hall
PRESENT: Wilton Planning Board Members: Chairman Jeff Kandt, Alec
MacMartin,
Lyndeborough
Planning Board: Vice Chairman Bill Ball, Bob Rogers, Tom Chrisenton,
Mike Decubellis, Board of Selectman Representative
Steve Brown, and Clerk
Chairman Jeff Kandt called the
meeting to order at
1. Subdivision Application - Provost 1993 Trust –for
Jeff Merritt, and Steve Keach, of Keach Nordstrom,
appeared before the Board accompanied by Lura
Provost, owner of the site.
Jeff Merritt explained that last
month he had the opportunity to discuss the plan in detail with the Boards and
the public and receive comments. He stated that he had compiled a list of comments which he would like to address this evening. He
noted that Attorney Robert McKenney would be joining
the meeting later to discuss RSA 674:53 with the Board. He then presented a
driveway feasibility plan, noting that the driveways shown are not set in stone
but merely a representation of how the lots could be accessed
and where homes could be built.
Jeff Merritt explained that the
proposal has three reduced frontage lots; B-014 and B-014-2 off
of
Alec MacMartin noted that the driveway on Lot
B-014-2 runs along the edge of the wetland and noted that with wetlands such as
this the state recommends a buffer of up to 300’ and this plan calls for the
driveway to dance along the edge of the wetland. In response, Jeff Merritt
stated that they placed the driveway on an existing trail way and noted that
this would allow them to stay with the existing landscape. Alec MacMartin
stated that there is a difference between a woods road and a driveway
which will be used year round and he doesn’t think that it is beneficial
to place the driveway along the wetland even though he understands the benefit
of the back lot. He noted that lots B-014-3 and B-014-4 are not reduced
frontage lots but they have the same wetland/driveway is
In response to a question from Brian
Sullivan, Jeff Merritt stated that the roads are less than 600’ long.
In response to a question from Chairman
Kandt, Jeff Merritt stated that they placed the road where they did on the
plans because if it was moved further away from the
wetlands one would need to clear a significant amount of trees and grading to make
it feasible.
Steve Merritt asked the Board to recall
their site walk from the spring and the woods road they walked on which they
are proposing to turn into a driveway. He noted that placing the drive on the
trail would remove the need to do a significant amount of clearing. In response
to a question from Dick Rockwood, Lura Provost stated
that the land was selectively cleared 30 years ago. Steve
Keach stated that the other side of the proposed
drive is a large area of Beech trees which would need
to be cleared if the driveway was moved. He also explained that the current
proposal would provide for the best possible alignment to connect the street
with the building envelope and noted that conservation conveyances would be prepared to provide not only supplemental
wetland buffering, but to protect the area entirely.
Alec MacMartin explained that the
Board is charged with looking at how the development would occur with and
without the reduced frontage lots and see whether the
reduced frontage lots serve the neighborhood. He noted that these reduced
frontage lots allow for greater density closer to the wetland.
The Lyndeborough Planning Board, Steve
Keach, and Attorney Robert McKenney
then discussed RSA 674:53 and their interpretation of the regulation. Attorney McKenney sited NH Supreme Court decision in the case of
Churchill Realty Trust v City of
In response to a question from
Bill Ball, Steve Keach stated that more than two
dozen test pits have been dug and they were consistently “not great but not
horrible” throughout.
Tom Chrisenton
stated that personally his only is
The Boards discussed what the
Lyndeborough Planning Board has done in the past with regards
to impact fees. The Lyndeborough Board noted that they have not had
subdivisions in the past so they have had rare occasion to deal with the is
Jeff Merritt suggested that the
is
The Boards and Steve Keach then discussed the need for a traffic study. Steve Keach stated that they estimate that the subdivision will
create 11 additional trips in morning and 14 trips in the afternoon with 90% of
them coming from or going to the east. He stated that he doesn’t
think that a traditional traffic study would be appropriate because the is
The Boards and the applicant then
discussed the proposed reduced frontage lots. Chairman Kandt stated that
currently the placement of the driveways are of concern for two of the three
reduced frontage lots and he noted that including them forces some of the other
lots to also have drives near the wetland. He noted that some of the building
locations end up close to the wetland also and he is not sure that this is a
benefit to the neighborhood.
Jeff Kandt stated that at the
last meeting there was discussion about hiring a biologist to evaluate the
plan. Attorney McKenney stated that he spoke with Spencer
Brookes with regards to the scope and information
which the Wilton Conservation Committee is looking for. He stated that he will to follow up with Spencer Brookes.
In response to a question from
Chairman Jeff Kandt, Attorney McKenney stated that
the Wilton Road Agent had no is
The Boards and the applicant
discussed the proposed culverts and the impact of the project on the wetland with regards to “critter” passage and salt. The Board
directed the Wilton Conservation Committee to discuss their needs with regards to the biologist and to respond back to the
Board about their decisions.
A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and SECONDED
by Bill Ball to continue the application to
Voting: The motion passed unopposed.
A MOTION was made by Dick Rockwood and
SECONDED by Bill Ball to adjourn.
Voting: The motion passed unopposed.
Chairman Jeff Kandt thanked the
Lyndeborough Planning Board for the accommodations and declared the meeting
adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
<Return
to Planning Board Home Page>