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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Mrs. Donna Chisholm, Chairman, Mr. William Limbacher, Vice Chairman, Mr. Donald Walter, Mr. Robert Vogel, Dr. Nico Afanasenko and Mr. Thomas Yardley

Members Absent: None

Others Present: Ms. Laura Harbottle, Town Planner

See Sign-in List for names of others present at this meeting.

Location of meeting: Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall

Mrs. Chisholm called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Mr. Limbacher moved to accept the agenda as written. Mr. Walter seconded the Motion and the vote was unanimous.

Public Hearing: Stormwater Regulations (See draft dated 9/17/2009 on file with Town Clerk and Planning Board)

Mrs. Chisholm opened the Public Hearing. Ms. Harbottle said she spoke with Mr. Duggan, Building Inspector. He thought the Conservation Commission would be the one to administer the Stormwater Regulations. She said that the bylaw states the Planning Board. Ms. Harbottle feels it would be best to change the language regarding administration in the Regulations to better define the roles.

Ms. Harbottle said that if there were anything altering property within 100’ of the wetlands it would go to the Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission would not have looked at stormwater volume prior to the Stormwater Bylaw. Since the Bylaw was passed, they can look at that now. Therefore, if the project is subject to their jurisdiction then they also have to do a stormwater review. Mr. Vogel asked if the Conservation Commission has adopted the regulations yet. Ms. Harbottle replied they had not but are aware they should.

The Board continued discussion on some language changes to the regulations. They also discussed the need for input from the Conservation Commission and their adoption of the regulations. The Board made suggestions to Ms. Harbottle on language changes to the Stormwater Regulations draft and the Checklist/Application draft.

MOTION: Mr. Vogel moved to continue the Stormwater Public Hearing to October 22, 2009 at 8:00. Mr. Walter seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Old Business, New Business, Correspondence, Administrative Items, Updates

Mr. Limbacher updated the Board on the progress of the Zoning Bylaw review. He said they have had two meetings to date. At the first meeting they went through each section and separated which sections are fine, which need to be eliminated and which are causing problems. At the second meeting they talked about changes and reviewed some preliminary changes Ms. Saint Andre had made. The two major issues they have come up with are the Flood Plain Special Permit and the Site Plan process. They are proposing that the ZBA be the Flood Plain Special Permit authority for those applicants that have to go before the ZBA anyway. Others would continue to come through the Planning Board. Ms. Harbottle stated that she thought Ms. Saint Andre said that you couldn’t legally have two different Boards handling these permits. Mr. Limbacher and Mr. Walter did not recall Ms. Saint Andre saying this.

Mr. Limbacher said that regarding the Site Plan Review, they would like to better define the process. They would like to combine sections 730 & 770 to strengthen the standards of review.

Ms. Harbottle said they also talked about allowing residential uses in the commercial zone. She feels this raises the question that getting the Bylaw changes through town meeting with just streamlining will be hard enough without making changes that could hit some hot buttons. Mr. Walter agreed. Mrs. Chisholm stated the only thing the Board discussed adding was inclusionary zoning. Mr. Vogel said that he would like the Board to address FAR (Floor-to-Area Ratio) but that would have to be a stand-alone issue that would be discussed outside of this review.

Mr. Walter asked the Board how they feel about ZBA being the authority for Flood Plain Special Permits. After a brief discussion the Board agreed they were OK with it.

Approval of minutes 7/9/09, 7/23/09, 8/13/09, 8/20/09, 8/27/09, 9/10/09

MOTION: Dr. Afanasenko moved to approve the minutes for 7/9/09, 7/23/09, 8/20/09, 8/27/09 and 9/10/09. Mr. Limbacher seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. Mrs. Chisholm, Mr. Limbacher, Mr. Vogel, Dr. Afanasenko and Mr. Yardley voting on the motion. Mr. Walter abstained, as he was not present at the 9/10/09 meeting.

MOTION: Mr. Vogel moved to approve the minutes for 8/13/09. Mrs. Chisholm seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. Mrs. Chisholm, Mr. Limbacher, Mr. Vogel and Mr. Yardley voting on the motion. Mr. Walter and Dr. Afanasenko abstained, as they were not present at the 8/13/09 meeting.

Accounting

MOTION: Mr. Limbacher moved to accept the FY10 budget reduction of $641.00. Dr. Afanasenko seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

MOTION: Dr. Afanasenko moved to approve the following purchase orders. Mr. Walter seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

1. WB Mason - $46.86
2. Petrini Associates - $360.00

Motion to Adjourn: Motion duly Moved by Mr. Limbacher seconded by Mr. Walter and voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:03 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Maureen Galvin
Secretary
Planning Board

Dr. Nico Afanasenko, Clerk

Date Approved: