MARCH 8, 2011                       OFFICIAL  ZONING  BALLOT                          WARNER  NH

 

QUESTION 2.           

Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 1 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town Zoning Ordinance as follows:  Article II - Districts, by revising the “official zoning map” to change land on Warner Tax Map 3, lots 48, 51-2-1, 51-2, 51-1, 58, and 84-10A, or portions thereof, from Open Conservation District OC-1 to Commercial District C-1?                         YES [ 224 ]     NO [ 132 ]  

REASONING:  Warner land currently zoned C-1 is approximately 730 acres, or        2.1% of Warner’s total area of approximately 35,500 acres. This Amendment will change approximately 70 acres in the Davisville area north of Route #103 East, from OC-1 to C-1 to provide more opportunity for future Commercial      development.  The majority of the land affected is currently a gravel pit or permitted for a gravel pit. Adjacent lot #59 will remain as OC-1 as a buffer to the Warner River toward the north. Adjacent lot #62 will remain part of the R-2 District. Wetlands Regulations, NH Shoreline Protection Act, NH Department of        Environmental Services, and other agencies and ordinances will regulate development.


QUESTION 3.           

Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town Zoning Ordinance as follows:  Article XII -Sign Regulations, paragraph A.5. to have temporary signs regulated by the Board of Selectmen?                         YES [ 257 ]     NO [99  ]

 

REASONING: The Selectmen’s Office has requested that temporary sign regulations be administered by their office instead of by the Planning Board. This should help streamline permitting and control of temporary signs.


QUESTION 4.           

Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 3 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town Zoning Ordinance as follows:  Article XI - Commercial District C-1, paragraph “F” to allow Retail and Service buildings to have a maximum gross floor area of 40,000 square feet. In addition, if certain separation, setback, share drives, cross lot traffic, landscaped green open space, and building design criteria are met, then multiple buildings each with a maximum gross floor area of 40,000 square feet shall be allowed on one lot. New and existing building’s maximum gross floor area shall be allowed to increase an additional 20,000 square feet if similar criteria are met and a Zoning Board of Adjustment Special Exception is obtained?                         YES [ 200 ]     NO [ 158 ]

REASONING: Currently the maximum gross floor area of a Retail or Service use building is 20,000 square feet, with multiple buildings allowed on a lot up to a total gross floor area of 40,000 square feet. This amendment is designed to be less restrictive while also providing opportunity for new and additional business to locate in Warner. Proposed revisions are based on the Planning Board’s research in other towns for typical moderate sized buildings for Retail and Services uses.  For clarification; uses other than Retail and Services listed in Table 1 – Use Regulations are not currently restricted under this maximum gross floor area paragraph. “Gross floor Area means the sum the horizontal area of the floor or floors of a building as measured from the exterior walls ……..” as defined in the Zoning Ordinance.


QUESTION 5.           

Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 4 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town Zoning Ordinance as follows:  Article III - Definitions, “Major Subdivision” to be a subdivision which creates 4 or more lots within a 5 year period?                       YES [229  ]     NO [ 133 ]

 

REASONING:  Land owners have been penalized for subdividing one additional lot that would not have been Classified as a major subdivision if they had done the subdivision in one single step. i.e., subdividing into three (3) lots whether done on a single date or on two dates should be recognized as the same classification of subdivision.


QUESTION 6.           

Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 5 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town Zoning Ordinance as follows:  Table 1 - USE REGULATIONS, section titled “Agricultural”, by allowing a temporary greenhouse or stand for 6 months of the year?
                    
YES [322  ]     NO [ 38 ]

REASONING:   The existing wording limits temporary greenhouses and stands operation to only 3 months per year. In recent years some farms have become more diversified and have utilized technology to lengthen their seasons. Year-            round greenhouses and stands also indicated on Table 1 are not affected by this proposed amendment.