TOWN OF WALPOLE

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

DECEMBER 10, 2013

Presiding:        Jeffrey Miller (Chair); Robert Miller (Vice-Chair); Henry Fletcher, Jamie Teague (Selectboard Representative)

Alternates:      Steve Dalessio, Ed Potter, and Jeff White

Recording:      Regina Borden, Recording Secretary

These Minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the January 14, 2014, meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Meeting Opened:  Mr. J. Miller, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.  He advised that meetings are tape recorded therefore asked anyone that wishes to speak to identify themselves.

Roll Call:  Mr. J. Miller noted that regular members, James Aldrich, Dennis Marcom and Eric Merklein, were not present therefore he called upon alternate members, Steve Dalessio, Ed Potter and Jeff White to sit on the Board.

Mr. J. Miller introduced the PB members as six students from the Walpole Leadership Academy were present.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING on November 12, 2013:  Mr. Fletcher moved to approve the Minutes of the regular PB meeting on November 12, 2013, as printed.  Seconded by Mr. Potter.  With six members in favor, the Minutes were approved.  Mrs. Teague abstained as she was not present at this meeting.

The PB did not hold a Workshop Session on the 4^th Tuesday of the month due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mr. J. Miller opened this Public Hearing on this application at 7:09 PM.

Subdivision – One Lot Into Two Lots:  Martha Kingsbury, 170 Kingsbury Road, Tax Map #008, Lot #120-1, Rural Agricultural Zoning District:  Mr. J. Miller advised that this Public Hearing was advertised in the Keene Sentinel, posted, the fees were paid and abutters were notified by certified mail.

Mr. R. Miller moved to accept this application as complete.  Seconded by Mr. Potter.  With all members in favor, the motion was approved.

Clayton Platt, Licensed Surveyor, was representing Mrs. Kingsbury.  Mrs. Kingsbury is proposing to annex her land to her children.  This proposal is to subdivide 24.5+/- acres on the land opposite her house into a 10.98 acre parcel and a 13.47 acre parcel.  It is hay and forest land.  They both have 200-feet of frontage along the road.  It is more than five acres so test pits are not required.

Mr. J. Miller closed this Public Hearing at 7:18 PM.

Mr. J. Miller opened this Public Hearing on this application at 7:19 PM.

Minor Subdivision and Lot Line Adjustment:  Martha Kingsbury, Tax Map #008, Lots #118 and #118-1 & William L. and Patricia D. Kingsbury, Tax Map #008, Lot #119, Rural Agricultural Zoning District:  Mr. J. Miller advised that this Public Hearing was advertised in the Keene Sentinel, posted, the fees were paid and abutters were notified by certified mail.

Mr. Fletcher moved to accept this application as complete.  Seconded by Mr. R. Miller.  With all members in favor, the motion was approved.

Clayton Platt, Licensed Surveyor, was representing Mrs. Kingsbury and William L. & Patricia D. Kingsbury.  This property is on the other side of the road.  They are proposing to add 9.79 acres to TM #008-118-1 resulting in a total of 10.90 acres.  They are proposing to add 3.27 acres to TM #008-119 resulting in a total of 8.53 acres.  This proposal creates a proposed second lot of 27.84 acres, TM #008-118-2 with a pond.  All the lots meet the road frontage.

Mr. J. Miller closed this Public Hearing at 7:31 PM.

Mr. R. Miller moved to approve the application for a Subdivision for one lot into two lots, Tax Map #008, Lot #120-1 for Martha Kingsbury, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. Fletcher.  With all members in favor, the motion was approved.

Mr. Ed Potter moved to approve the application for a Minor Subdivision and Lot Line Adjustment for Martha Kingsbury, Tax Map #008, Lots #118 and #118-1 & William L. and Patricia D. Kingsbury, Tax Map #008, Lot #119, as submitted.  Seconded by Mr. R. Miller.  With all members in favor, the motion was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

A request was received from Joe DiBernardo, Licensed Surveyor, to postpone the following New Business until the January meeting:

• Boundary Line Adjustment:  Raymond Aumand in North Walpole;
• Boundary Line Adjustment/Subdivision: Southwestern Community Service in Drewsville.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Workshop Session – There will be no Workshop Session on Tuesday, December 24, 2013, in observance of the Christmas Holiday.

Site Plan – Notification:  During the last meeting the PB members discussed the issue that upon acceptance of the Site Plan the applicant would have one year to make a vested interest in the development or come back to the PB to provide an up-date.  Mr. J. Miller was asked to contact Attorney Hockensmith about the legal language that would have to be used.  Attorney Hockensmith is formulating a line of rational and procedures. We should have something in writing in the near future.

Excavations – Regulations and Taxation:  Mrs. Mansouri said at the last meeting she discussed Excavations.  Mr. J. Miller was going to contact the Regional Planning Commission and/or Town Counsel to ask for legal advice and clarification for the language that is required for the Site Plan Review.  If somebody moves more than 100,000 cubic feet of dirt the question comes up as to how they integrate that into the Site Plan Review?  Mr. J. Miller will follow-up on this before the next meeting.

Walpole Leadership Academy – Mock Planning Board Site Visit:    Mr. J. Miller opened the PB meeting to discussion with the students from the Walpole Leadership Academy.  At the last meeting Dr. Peter Bowman came in for a preliminary consultation on moving his dental offices into the Reel-to-Real building.  It was basically for interior changes as the footprint of the building was not changing.  The PB did not feel that a Site Plan was needed.  Mr. J. Miller explained that to begin with Tractor Supply Store came in with their preliminary plan on the property off Route 12.  The Site Plan for the Walpole Tractor Supply Store was displayed and Mr. J. Miller reviewed each page as it was submitted by the developer.   The PB can waive certain things.  Tractor Supply had to receive approval from the Department of Transportation for the curb cut off Route 12; visibility is an issue.  Their outdoor speaker was something that the PB missed but after it was approved the speaker became loud and some of the neighbors were complaining.  The PB went to Tractor Supply who was very helpful and they switched to walkie-talkies.  The Fire Chief, Police Chief and the Water and Sewer Superintendent looked at the project and made comments.  There was a lot of detail.  Walpole does not have a Building Inspector.  Each project brings different issues such as drainage, and whether or not a sprinkler system is needed.  There are criteria and road specifications.  The PB has the authority to go to third party consultants.  The developer usually pays for the studies required.  Any zoning regulations have to be voted on by the Town.  There was time for comments and questions about various projects and responsibilities.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. R. Miller moved to adjourn this meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Fletcher.  With all members in favor, the motion was approved.  The time was 8:21 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Borden, Recording Secretary