Town of Warner –Planning Board

Meeting Minutes

May 3, 2010   7:00 PM

Warner Town Hall , Lower Level  
 

Members Present:     Barbara Annis, Paul Violette, Rick Davies, David Hartman,                                             Hank Duhamel, and Dan Watts.

Members Excused:    Ed Mical

Members Absent:      None

Members Arriving Late: None

Alternates Present:    J.D. Colcord

Alternates Excused:  Peter Wyman

Alternates Arriving Late: Aedan Sherman  

OPEN MEETING AT 7:00 PM

ROLL CALL  

Barbara Annis opened the meeting at 7:00 PM . The roll call was taken.  

Barbara Annis asked the Board if they wished to approve the Planning Board minutes of April 5, 2010 and April 19, 2010 at this time or postpone approval until after the conceptual consultation. Hank Duhamal made a MOTION to approve minutes after conceptual consultation. Paul Violette seconded the motion. The majority of the Board agreed to approve the meeting minutes after the conceptual consultation.  

1. CONCEPTUAL CONSULTATION  

            Applicant: Elizabeth Desmarais (LizzyStitch Quilt Shop)

        Property Location: 25 East Main Street (Map 30, Lot 001, Zoning District B-1).

            Description: Proposed Quilt Fabric Shop  

Paul Violette and J.D. Colcord recused themselves and sat with the audience.  

Barbara Annis introduced Ms. Desmarais. Barbara Annis read an excerpt from the Town of Warner Site Plan Review Regulations :  

Site plan review by the Planning Board is required for all proposed industrial, commercial or multifamily developments; for the change or expansion of use of all industrial, commercial or multi-family uses, ……….  

Barbara Annis explained Ms. Desmarais is here for a change of use. Ms. Desmarais stated she is proposing to open a quilt shop at 25 East Main Street . It will be a retail shop for high end material that quilters use to make their quilts. A long arm sewing machine will also be available for the quilters to use. Ms. Desmarais will have classes for all levels  

 

on Thursday nights from approximately 5pm to 8 or 9pm. Ms. Desmarais stated her hours will most likely be Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm.   

Hank Duhamel asked if Ms. Desmarais had a target date to open. Ms. Desmarais stated if all goes well the opening will occur the last Tuesday in June. Hank Duhamel stated he felt there would be ample parking because of her days and hours of business.  

Rick Davies asked if there was handicap access. Ms. Desmarais stated yes there is. Rick Davies asked if any other changes would be made. Ms. Desmarais said no she would not have any changes other than the addition of a sign.  

Mr. David Hagrtzog owner of the building stated the handicap ramp is in place and everything is to ADA compliance.  

Rick Davies made a MOTION to APPROVE application without a Full Site Plan Review. Dan Watts seconded the motion. All were in favor that a Full Site Plan Review is not required.  

Ms. Desmarais thanked the Board and left the meeting.  

Paul Violette and J.D. Colcord rejoined the Board at the table. Aedan Sherman arrived and joined the Board at the table.  

Barbara Annis formally introduced Aedan Sherman and J.D. Colcord to the Board as Planning Board alternates.  

Aedan Sherman apologized to the Board for arriving late.   

Barbara Annis elevated Aedan Sherman to a full member to vote in place of Ed Mical.  

2. MINUTES  

Approve minutes of April 5, 2010

Approve minutes of April 19, 2010 Work Session  

David Hartman made a MOTION to APPROVE April 5, 2010 meeting minutes. Rick Davies seconded the motion all were in favor. April 5, 2010 meeting minutes were APPROVED.  

Paul Violette made a MOTION to ACCEPT the April 19, 2010 work session minutes. David Hartman seconded the motion. All were in favor. The April 19, 2010 work session minutes were APPROVED.  

3. FIRST READING OF THE PLANNING BOARD BYLAWS AND RULES OF  PROCEDURE  

Barbara Annis explained any changes made to the Planning Board Bylaws and Rules of  Procedure must be read at two consecutive meetings before a vote can be taken to accept the changes.  

The proposed changes read are:  

            1. Notice of decision will be made available for public inspection at the Board’s office in the
Warner
Town Hall
within 5 business days after the decision is made, as required in RSA 676:3.  

            2. Section A under officers to read: The following officers shall be elected annually in the month of April by majority vote of the Board members present  including alternates:  

Paul Violette made a MOTION to CONTINUE with the two changes. Rick Davies seconded the motion. All were in favor.  

The changes will be read again at the June 7, 2010 meeting.  

3. SUBDIVISION CHECKLIST APPENDIX A  

The Board agreed unanimously to approve the proposed change to the verbiage in Preamble to read:  

 Applicants should familiarize themselves with the Warner Subdivision Regulations as well as any other pertinent Ordinances and Regulations prior to filing ……..  

After reviewing the letter received from Martha Mical, Assessing Clerk, in regards to parcel numbering and a short discussion of the verbiage the Board unanimously agreed to the new proposed verbiage that reads:  

(V.A.8) Tax map and parcel number. The numbering is to be approved by the Accessing office BEFORE the plans are brought to the Planning Board.  

Paul Violette made a MOTION to ACCEPT the verbiage as proposed. Dan Watts seconded the motion and all were in favor.  

4. SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS  

Section V. A. #8 regarding parcel numbering as requested by the Assessing Clerk. The proposed verbiage reads:   

            8. Tax map and parcel number. The numbering to be approved by the Assessing                    office before the plans are brought to the Planning Board. The parent lot                      should survive in the subdivision. The parent lot should be the lot with the                existing building on it or if all the land is vacant it is the larger of the new lots.  

After a brief discussion the Board agreed to the proposed verbiage.  

Paul Violette made a MOTION to ACCEPT the verbiage as proposed. Rick Davies seconded the motion and all were in favor.  

5. SUBDIVISION APPENDIX B STREET AND ROAD SAMPLE DRAWINGS  

Dan Watts stated he finished working on the sample drawings.  

A. HAMMERHEAD TURNAROUND  

The Hammerhead Turnaround was revised to show the changes Allan Brown had clarified (standard bounds; tails of the T are now clearly shown as deeded easements).  

B. SIDEWALKS  

Dan Watts stated he is waiting for Allan Brown to provide some additional information in regards to slope if 2% =3/8” per foot.  

Dan Watts also asked Allan Brown to let the Board know the definition of pavers so it can be added to the definitions.  

The secretary will get with Allan Brown to have the answers to Dan Watts’s questions before the next meeting.  

David Hartman asked to clarify that no driveways are permitted on the easement area of the hammerhead, however they are permitted on the Lollypop and Teardrop. Dan Watts explained yes that is true because the diameter of the Lollypop and Teardrop allow plenty of room for driveways.  

David Hartman questioned the Hammerhead Turnaround illustration having dotted lines and what they are. Dan Watts explained they are to delineate measurements on the diagram and are used as an architectural drawing notation. David Hartman asked if the dotted lines infer that there is a potential future street involved. Dan Watts explained they do not infer any future streets. Paul Violette asked if they are meant to be a termination device.  Dan Watts explained the lines are just a standard notation dot dash dot dash to show the center line of where the measurements are taken and lines bounds up.  

A brief discussion was held regarding placements of driveways and future roads in regards to the Hammerhead Turnaround. Rick Davies read a statement to explain the use of a Hammerhead Turnaround from the Subdivision Regulations:  

          This type of turnaround shall be used only when the possibility of extension is        evident. (See Appendix B)

The Board agreed to postpone approving the illustrations until Allan Brown provides the requested information to the secretary to forward onto Dan Watts.  

There was further discussion on the sidewalk illustration in regards to grass buffer, curb patch and pavers. A short discussion was held regarding curb patches and how to keep the pavers and curbs from shifting due to erosion and frost factors.  

Dan Watts suggested inviting Allan Brown to another work session to answer any further questions from the Board.  

Dan Watts said he will work on cleaning up the illustrations and once he has the information from Allan Brown he will forward the illustrations to the Planning Board secretary.  

6. WHAT PROJECT WILL WE TACKLE NEXT  

Barbara Annis sent an e-mail requesting the Board to compile a list of projects they would like to work on.  

One of the most popular projects listed was expanding the C-1 District in Davisville. Barbara Annis stated she felt it would be the most timely and involved project. Barbara Annis asked for any suggestions.  

Paul Violette stated he would like to see the C-1 District be expanded into the area owned by David Harrick that is in OC-1 District presently. A brief discussion was held regarding this area in regards to not being feasible to have residential homes, the gravel pit and whether to make it a C-1 District so commercial development could take place in the area. Paul Violette stated currently only 2% of Warner’s total land area is designated as Commercial District. The Board all agreed the most practical thing to do would to be to just expand the C-1 District and look at it at a later time to see if creating a C-2 District at a later time would make sense. It would be more time consuming trying to make a new C-2 District and coming up with the allowed uses. Rick Davies agreed it would make sense to do the expansion in two parts. Hank Duhamel agreed and stated it would be best to get some suggestions of what that area could be used for before going onto step two.  Hank Duhamel suggested having the Chamber of Commerce make some suggestions.  

A discussion was held regarding having more buildings permitted on larger lots if certain incentives would be met to fit into the architectural character of the Town in the Commercial District. An example that was brought up was the Market Basket property. Dan Watts stated he would like to see separate small buildings to mimic the Downtown Village District with separate parking lots for each building on the larger lots in the C-1 District.  

Rick Davies suggested creating a subcommittee to review the Use Table and various Zoning items to compile a list of what is needed.  

A brief discussion was held regarding Agricultural farm stands in regards to District location and the amount of time a stand should be allowed and if the Use Table should be changed to eliminate the 3 month limitation.  

A brief discussion was regarding different limitations for home occupations such as no outside storage equipment allowed; the five year re-subdivision rule; etc. Paul Violette suggested looking at the regulations and Use Table to see what may need to be changed or updated. Barbara Annis stated some of the issues are Zoning and cannot be changed until March 2011. The Board agreed that the majority of projects on the comprised list were related to Zoning.  

Paul Violette suggested prioritizing the list and setting a limit of 5 to 10 projects to focus on. Rick Davies suggested starting with 10 projects.  

The sign ordinance was discussed including temporary sign regulations. David Hartman agreed the sign ordinance could be re-examined and possibly re-written. Rick Davies stated that in the R-3 a 4 square foot sign is hard to read when traveling at 50 Mph.  David Hartman said the Board of Selectman could work on further defining the sign ordinance for the Planning Board if nothing more relevant comes about.  

Paul Violette stated that the Telephone Museum is not eligible to have a sign off the highway because the state will not allow it since the business is not open five days a week. The Board agreed it would be beneficial to be able to have a sign off the highway directing people towards the Downtown businesses.  

A brief discussion was held on the prepared food restaurants no closer than 2,000 feet apart ordinance. The Board agreed they would like to look into this further whether to remove or change this regulation. Parking location at businesses was also discussed. The Board agreed that having parking only behind a building can be misleading.  

The Board agreed to compose a prioritized list of the top ten projects to work on for the next work session.  

Barbara Annis suggested cleaning up the Site Plan Regulations. Barbara Annis and David Hartman agreed to work together to gather information and compile a list of things to work on and then present the list to the Board at the next meeting  

Dan Watts asked to be excused from the remainder of the meeting at 9:00PM .  

Paul Violette and Rick Davies agreed to work together gathering information and compiling a list for the Board regarding the proposed expansion of C-1 District in Davisville.  

A brief discussion was held regarding conceptual consultations in regards to whether abutters should be allowed to speak, should the Board make decisions at a conceptual consultation and should there be another step that is between a conceptual and Full Site Plan Review.    

7. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS  

Paul Violette stated that Vanessa Bittermann has compiled all the information regarding the Economic Development Survey. Paul Violette will check with Vanessa to see when she would like to be scheduled to come back at a Work Session to discuss all the information gathered at the Visioning Session on April 19, 2010 .  

Barbara Annis stated she appeared before the Board of Selectman Tuesday April 27, 2010 and they gave the Planning Board the okay to continue as the Transportation Committee in regards to the safety issues at Exit 9. Ed Mical and Paul Violette agreed to continue on the committee with Barbara Annis.  

Barbara Annis stated she was invited to be 1 of 16 individuals to be on a Committee to by DES called Innovative Technical Assistance Coordinating Initiative. The committee is being formed to give DES some suggestions and feedback. DES is going to start preliminary meetings with developers and applicants.   

8. MISCELLANEOUS AND OTHER  

Hank Duhamel brought up the dividers that were suggested in one of the suggested Site Plans for exit 9 area. He stated that the Board may want to check out the new dividers that were installed at exit 11 in New London at the top of the hill near the Flying Goose.  

David Hartman stated the Board of Selectmen have decided to go in with the Town of Webster on enforcement activities at Map 3 Lot 76. The preliminary hearing at the Superior Court is scheduled for Monday May 17, 2010 at 10AM .  

David Hartman made a MOTION to ADJOURN. The motion was seconded and all were favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:20PM .