The Walpolean

Walpole Planning Board

Workshop Session

September 26, 2017

Town Hall

Present: Chair Jeff Miller, Co-chair Robert Miller, James Aldrich secretary, Jason Perron, Dennis Marcom, Cheryl Mayberry Selectboard Representative, Alternates Joanna Andros, Ed Potter, Selectboard member Steve Dalessio, Guest Ray Boas.

Suggestions to the Selectboard – Complete Streets The following Complete Street recommendations were discussed and it was decided that they would be sent to the Selectboard and the Board would let the Planning Board know which recommendations they considered feasible now and why and which might be good ideas for the future. The people at the workshop also voted to accept the Walpole Complete Streets Planning and Design Guidelines, drafted in July 2017, as their policy. Both the recommendations and policy will become part of the Master Plan.

The recommendations came from monthly meetings beginning in January and ending in August.

The following recommendations were selected to send to the Selectboard for their implementation.

Walpole, NH Complete Streets Recommendations

The Planning Board is making recommendations to the Selectboard for implementation now are in the future. They are being made after nine months of meetings and input with Planner Mari Brunner and other representatives of Southwest Regional Planning Commission and Walpole Police Mike Paquette.

Speeds: The speed limit, which is 25 mph, should be clearly marked and enforced in the Village. Consider installing a speed limit sign on South Street as drivers enter the village and another sign on Main Street near Costume Ladies or before Edward Jones.

Walkway/sidewalk near Jakes and Mascoma Bank: The painted walkway on the northwest corner of the Westminster St/Main St. intersections should be restored to a sidewalk. When the gas station and convenience store changes hands in the near future might be a good time to do this.

Shared Bicycle Lane Markings (i.e. “sharrows): Consider adding sharrows to Main Street and other roads in the village to indicate that motorists should share the road with bicyclists. For roads with parallel parking, sharrows should be placed outside the “door zone” of parked cars. For roads with diagonal parking, sharrows should be placed in the middle of the travel lane (closer to the yellow line) to direct bicyclists away from cars backing out of angle parking spaces.

Fountain on Westminster St.: Consider continuing adding roadway markings and signage to clarify how motorists should navigate around the fountain in the intersection of Westminster St. and Main St.

Main St. connection from school to Walpole Village: Consider traffic calming by adding sharrows and/or a bike lane for students who bicycle to school, and education to raise awareness among students and drivers about how to safely share the road and decrease incidents of students walking in the travel lane. Keep overhanging brush cut.

Main St. connection from school to Mill Pond: Consider widening and improving the surface condition of the shoulders along this stretch of road where space allows. In addition consider placing signage that says “Pedestrian Crossing Ahead” to alert motorists to likely pedestrian crossing location.      While this may be a large expense, consider in the future making a sidewalk from the school up to where the neighborhoods are.

Library Crosswalk: Add yield signs on the pavement before the crosswalk on both sides of the road.

NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE

Crosswalk on Killeen St./Route 12: Consider working with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to install a pedestrian crosswalk near Stateline Grocery where the sidewalk ends on one side of the road and continues on the other side of the road.

Informal pedestrian railroad crossing from Church St to Center St.: According to Chief Paquette, some students cross the railroad tracks to get from the bus stop on Church St. to Center St. as a shortcut to get home. Consider working with School Bus company to change the location of the bus stop, improve the fence to block children from crossing at this location, or working with the police dept. to identify other strategies to address the situation.

DREWSVILLE VILLAGE

Check with state to keep a 35 mph speed consistent from the cemetery through the village.

September 2017

            Amended DADU: On the advice of the town’s attorney, Jeremy Hockensmith, the     following amendments were approved at the meeting. At it’s next regular meeting, the Board will discuss whether or not it wants to hold a Public Hearing in November or December to place it on the ballot for the voters to approve.

Here is the document. The additions are in bold.

Are you in favor of the following changes to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance?

Add under Article IV General Provisions Section O Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit as
permitted under RSA 674:73 (Effective June 1, 2017)

            DADU – As defined as a residential living unit that is with the same single-family lot and provides independent living facilities for one or more person, including provisions for     sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation on the same parcel of land as the principal unit it accompanies.

1. One Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) shall be allowed in all zoning districts                          that permit single-family dwellings. The following requirements apply: No change in frontage or setbacks shall be required for a DADU, however, the minimum lot size for any given Zoning District shall be the following:

1. Residential District Type A minimum lot area shall be 80,000 square feet
2. Residential District Type B minimum lot area shall be 50,000 square feet
3. Rural/Agricultural minimum lot area shall be 80,000 square feet
4. 4.Timberland  not permitted                                                  

1. The maximum area for a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be 900 square feet of living space.  A larger living space may be permitted by a variance granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

1. No more than Three (3) bedrooms may be permitted in a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit.
2. Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit must be within 150 feet of the principal dwelling unit.
3. Occupancy of the accessory or principal unit is limited to family members related by blood, marriage, adoption, foster children or, if unrelated, not more than two (2) unrelated individuals.  (See 3C for maximum occupancy.)
4. No conversions to condominiums and must remain in common ownership.

2. The Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit may be within separate detached building on the     property (such as a garage or barn).        

3. Unless otherwise provided for herein, all existing regulations applicable to single family dwellings shall also apply to the combination of a principal dwelling unit and detached accessory dwelling unit, including the following:.
   1. the state building code
   2. applicable sections of the state fire code
   3. the standards for maximum occupancy per bedroom consistent with policy adopted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
   4. only one DADU per lot
   5. Must comply with town ordinances and regulations.

4. Adequate provisions for water supply and sewage disposal for the detached accessory dwelling unit in accordance with RSA 485-A:38 shall be demonstrated by the applicant. Separate systems, including but not limited to plumbing, heating, electrical and sanitary disposal systems, are not required for the principal and detached accessory dwelling unit provided that occupants of both units have access to the electrical panel and circuit breakers serving their respective units.
5. All applications to create a detached accessory dwelling unit shall demonstrate to the Zoning Board of Adjustment that the property has ample parking for both the principal unit and DADU.
6. When the creation of an DADU requires an addition to or modification of the exterior of the existing detached structure, or the creation of a new detached structure, the design and details to be used shall be aesthetically compatible with and maintain an aesthetic continuity with the principal dwelling unit as a single-family dwelling.

1. An addition to or exterior modification of an existing detached structure shall be designed to match within reason the architectural style, detail, and materials of the existing structure.
2. When constructing a new detached structure to accommodate an DADU, the exterior design may either reflect the architectural style, detail, and materials of the existing single family structure, or it may reflect the architectural style, details and materials that are commonly found in detached accessory structures associated with a single family dwelling, such as a barn, or a garage with      apartment over.                           
3. The owner of the property shall occupy either the principal dwelling unit or the detached accessory dwelling unit as their “Principal Place of Residence.” Whichever dwelling unit is not the property owner’s principal place of residence may be rented to a person(s) unrelated to the property owner
4. The owner shall demonstrate to the Select Board that one of the units is his or her “Principal Place of Residence” prior to issuance of a Building Permit by the Select Board for the accessory dwelling unit.
5. The term “Principal Place of Residence” for purposes of determining owner occupancy shall mean the location where the property owner is domiciled and has a place of abode, and the location where the property owner has, through all of his or her actions, demonstrated a current intent to designate said residence as his or her principal place of physical presence.

Such an intent on the part of the property owner is evidenced by, among other things, his or her voter’s registration, vehicle registration, driver’s license, or the placement of his or her children in local public schools.

Any temporary lapse of owner occupancy in the primary residence caused by the death of a property owner shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 1 year.

1. The property owner shall submit to the Select Board a signed and notarized “memorandum of adequate notice”, to be recorded at the registry of deeds at the applicant’s expense.
2. The notice shall identify the property on which the detached accessory  dwelling unit is located by source deed, and serve as a notice to successor owners that the accessory dwelling unit is subject to the provisions of this section of the zoning ordinance, and that owner occupancy of one of the two units is required by this subsection. This  notice shall be recorded upon issuance of a Building Permit.
3. If the owner of the property is a trust, the term “property owner” shall mean the creator or beneficiary of the trust. If the owner of the property is a corporation, the term “property owner” shall mean the principal stockholder.

Under Section XVII,  P. Add after “A one or two family dwelling will share the same foundation per lot.”
Effective June 1, 2017 Attached Dwelling Units are to comply with RSA 674:71 – RSA 674:72

Legal education – the Board decide that the Ruggiero decision brought up many questions about what Planning and Zoning Boards could and couldn’t do. But since the Ruggiero case is still under appeal, it cannot specifically be discussed by the Board. But there are some general questions that can be. The group expressed the desire to have Mr. Jeremy Hockensmith, the town’s attorney, come to a workshop with the Boards and answer some questions the Planning Board will prepare about gray areas. This questions to be discussed will be decided at the regular meeting. Mr. Hockensmith will hold the workshop at a regular Planning Board workshop time.

Respectfully submitted, Marilou Blaine

Walpole Planning Board

September 12, 2017 Minutes

Town Hall

7 pm

Presiding Members: Jeffrey Miller (Chair), Robert Miller (Vice-Chair), James Aldrich, (Secretary), Jason Perron, Cheryl Mayberry (Selectboard Representative). Alternate: Joanna Andros.  Absent:  Board members Jeff White and Dennis Marcom, Alternate Ed Potter.

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the October 2017 meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Meeting Opened: Mr. J. Miller called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 

Roll Call: There were enough Board members present for a quorum.

Minutes: Mr. Aldrich made a motion to approve the minutes of the August meeting. Mr. R. Miller seconded the motion and it was approved by the Board.

Public Hearing No. 1: Lot Line Adjustment for Trebor Properties LLC, Map 13, Lots 3-1 and 9, Valley Road, rural/ag.  Add 10 acres to Trebor Properties to make a larger parcel of 12.32 acres, leaving Madden property with 49.10 acres. Property owners Glenn and Laura Madden, Hayes Road.

Mr. Joe DiBernardo, surveyor, represented Trebor Properties, which is owned by Robert Palmer. Trebor Properties wants to acquire 10 acres from the Maddens and add it to property fronting on Valley Road. Mr. DiBernardo showed a map with Mr. Palmer’s property being a triangle and touching a point in the middle of the 10-plus acres. There is a power line easement of 125 feet running the length of the newly acquired parcel on the western side of the property.

Mr. Aldrich asked how large was the area where the point was on the map. Mr. DiBernardo said abut 10 feet. Mr. Aldrich asked about road frontage. Mr. DiBernardo said 224.75 feet. Mr. Aldrich asked if it encroached on the driveway of the abutting property. Mr. DiBernardo said yes but that the property belongs to his son Douglas. Mr. DiBernardo added that he is buying the property for protection for his children’s abutting lots.

At about this point Alternate Joanna Andros walked in and Mr. Aldrich recused himself from voting because he is an abutter. Mr. J. Miller asked Ms. Andros if she would act as a Board member in in his place. She agreed.

Abutter Mike Hayes went to look at the map more closely. He said he was interested in where the property line was between his property and the property being acquired. He was concerned he might lose some property if the pins weren’t in the right place. Mr. DiBernardo said the pins hadn’t been placed yet but he could accompany him when he was doing so. He also invited Mr. Hayes to his office to see the map and boundary lines on Goggle Earth. He was assured by Mr. DiBernardo and Mr. J. Miller that he wouldn’t lose any property.

Mr. Jason Perron made a motion to approve the Lot Line Adjustment as presented. Mr. R. Miller seconded the motion and it was approved by the Board unanimously.

Public Hearing No 2: Site Plan, Commonwealth Construction in North Walpole, Manager Yohbel Brosseau, Map 23, Lot 4, Industrial Zone, Church Street. Changes to original site plan, build new warehouse, 13,000 square feet in place of demolished wooden building, new driveway.

Mr. J. Miller asked if he had a permit for the driveway from the NH Department of Transportation. Mr. Brosseau said yes.

Mr. Brosseau introduced himself and stated he was there to show where the current warehouse was being built. He said the previous wooden structure, which was to be the warehouse, was found to be not as structural sound as thought for this purpose so the company was building a new 13,000 square-foot space that is 75-feet-by-160-feet long structure for the same purpose. The building is a little shorter than the other building and abides by the 20-foot setback rule that the other building did not. There is also a change to the driveway, which Mr. Brosseau said would work better for trucks.

Mr. Don Lennon, an owner of the abutting Len-Tex building welcomed Brosseau to the commercial district and said his construction was enhancing that zone and it was a good thing for North Walpole. He said the Len-Tex business is the last stop along the water line on Route 12. He asked him about water consumption and discharge at the manufacturing site.

Mr. Brosseau that the discharge papers were in progress of being completed and that an engineer from Bellows Falls was helping him. The pipes were 71/2 -inches, which would be sufficient, and 8-inch wide pipes. He was mainly doing the paperwork.

Mr. Brosseau added that all plans for the manufacturing operation were approved in 2015. Both buildings are sprinkled and permission granted from the North Walpole Fire Department.

Mr. Lennon then asked if he had an engineered plan for runoff from the roof of the new warehouse.  Mr. Brosseau said that the runoff was onto grass and it was 20 feet from the abutting property. He added that the slope of the parking lot was away from the building.

Ms. Mayberry, a previous commissioner for North Walpole, said that she thought Len-Tex opted not to hook up to the Route 12 water line. She said that is the way it looks on the waterline map. Mr. Lennon was adamant that his company was last on the Route 12 water line. Ms. Mayberry said she would look into the matter.

Mr. Brosseau was asked to come before the Board and update his site plan when it was discovered he had started building an additional building without coming back to the Planning Board to change the original site plan. Some Board members noticed the structure going up as they drove by and as one person noted – it’s hard to miss a 13,000 square-foot building.

Mr. Brosseau had a building permit from Mr. John Foster. A discussion ensued about permits being issued without following the correct process and without going through the proper channels.

Mr. Lennon said he was concerned about this as projects seemed to be allowed without going through the right steps. Mr. Brosseau added he was also concerned.

Mr. J. Miller remembered when Aubuchon was being built. He said all of a sudden this building was going up at the corner of Route 12 and Route 123 and he stopped in and inquired what was happening. The builders said they had permission from North Walpole. But there had been no site plan or permission from the Walpole Planning Board.

The situation is unique. North Walpole has its own commissioners and a Zoning Board. But it does not have a planning board so anyone in North Walpole needing a subdivision, lot line adjustment or site plan must go before the Walpole Planning Board.

Ms. Mayberry suggested inviting the North Walpole Village Commissioners and Zoning Board to meetings that involve property in their district.

Mr. Perron made a motion to accept the site plan as presented but discharge plans need to be sent to the secretary. The building process of the warehouse may continue while the water discharge plans are being finalized.

Mr. R. Miller seconded the motion and it was approved by the Board.

New Business:

Mr. DiBernardo requested a Public Hearing for October for James Mort on Brewery Road for a Subdivision and Lot Line Adjustment. It is Map 14, Lot 11, Residential B.

A motion was made to hold a Public Hearing in October. The motion was seconded and approved by the Board.

The Amended DADU – Discussion and Complete Streets Discussion will be held at a September workshop on Sept. 26 in the downstairs conference room at 7 pm.

Mr. J. Miller would also like all Board members to read the decision by the judge regarding the Ruggiero litigation. He is concerned about the state overriding local decisions.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Town of Walpole

Planning Board Minutes

August 8, 2017

7 pm

Presiding: Jeff Miller, Chair, Robert Miller, Vice-Chair, James Aldrich, Secretary, Jeff White. Alternates: Ed Potter and Joanna Andros. Cheryl Mayberry, Selectboard Representative. Absent: Board members Jeff Miller, Chair, Dennis Marcom, Jason Perron.

Recording: Marilou Blaine, Recording Secretary. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the September meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions

Meeting Opened: Mr. R. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm.

Roll Call: Because a couple of Board members were absent, alternates Mr. Potter and Ms. Andros were needed to fill in.

Minutes: Mr. Aldrich made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular Planning Board’s July meeting, as well as the July workshop meeting, as written. The motion was seconded  and approved by the Board.

New Business:

Yohbel Brosseau, manager Commonwealth Construction in North Walpole.

Mr. R. Miller said that the Board asked him to appear because some Board members had noticed changes at the North Walpole site that were not originally proposed in 2015 when the Planning Board approved his site plan. There is a second new building going up in back, and a new building has replaced the one that was going to be used as a warehouse. There is no record nor did Mr. R. Miller recall Mr. Brosseau ever coming back to the Planning Board to modify his original proposal. Mr. R. Miller asked if he would like to explain what has happened on the site.

Mr. Brosseau said that when they investigated the original structure for the warehouse, he realized they couldn’t proceed with the construction and that that building couldn’t really serve its original purpose. So, he said, the decision was made to take that down and putting up a building that has a similar footprint for the same exact purpose for which it was proposed.

Mr. R. Miller said what should have happened is that he should have come back to the Board and told them of his new plans to modify the proposed plans. He read from the Walpole Site Plan regulations, Section VI Procedures, Part C.

“If at any time before or during the construction of the Site Plan, unforeseen conditions make it necessary or desirable for the applicant to modify the location or design of any of the required work or previously submitted plans, the Planning Board may, after a duly noticed Public Hearing with notice to abuttters and general public, authorize such modifications providing such modifications comply with all regulations and requirements of the Site Plan Review Regulation.”

Technically, Mr. R. Miller said, that should have happened on your end. You should have come back to the Board.

Ms. Mayberry asked what Mr. Brosseau should do now. Is the Board requesting a revised site plan to show the changes that have been made?  She asked.

Mr. Miller said that would be appropriate.

Ms. Mayberry said that means any changes that vary or deviate from the original request should be noted in the revised site plan application. Mr. Aldrich noted that It would require a Public Hearing. Mr. Aldrich made a motion to set up a public hearing for next month. It was seconded and approved.

Doug Palmer – storage facility project on commercial land behind Ocean State Job Lot in Ames Plaza requested information on how to proceed.

Mr. Palmer said he was interested in purchasing property next to his current business to put in storage units. He didn’t own the property but before he purchased the property he wanted to know if the plan was possible. The land is owned by William Carmody.

Mr. R. Miller said his thoughts were that the project wasn’t listed under permitted uses for a commercial zone, it would need a special exception from the Zoning Board.

Mr. R. Miller read from the Uses Permitted in a Commercial Zone from the Walpole Zoning Ordinances, Article VI, B.

1. Any use permitted in Residential District Type B under the same provisions as apply to residences in said district.
2. Lodging houses, hotels, motels, inn and tourist cabins including such retail businesses within these building as is conducted for the convenience of the guest herein.
3. Shops, restaurants and other retail buildings not exceeding 40,000 square feet in gross floor area.
4. Theaters, halls, clubs and amusement centers.
5. Greenhouse and florist shops.
6. Undertaking establishments.
7. Business and professional offices and banks.
8. Multi-family dwellings subject to the following conditions.

Mr. Palmer asked what was the proper procedure. Mr. R. Miller said to meet with the Zoning Board.

Some one asked where the land was. Mr. Palmer next to his shop on Upper Walpole Road – an email business that sells sports equipment – that located at the rear entrance to Ames Plaza. The property in question adjoins his land.

Mr.  Miller said once you purchase property, not less 30 percent of the total parcel must be in green space. The Board would also like to see some prints of your proposal, in color if possible. Mr. Palmer asked if two-scale drawings with pictures of the storage unit in color would be admissible. Mr. Miller said yes.

Mr. Aldrich asked how many storage units he intended to have. Mr. Palmer said between 35 and 40 units.

Mr. Miller wanted to know the size of the parcel of land. Mr. Carmody said .6 acres. Mr. Miller said when he came back he should also have plans for lights, a landscape plan, and any control of water roll off, considering it is on a hill.

Ms. Myra Mansouri, chair of the Zoning Board, said since he doesn’t own the property, the property owner has to come to the Zoning Board to get a Special Exception. Mr. Palmer asked if the Special Exception would transfer to the owner. Ms. Mansouri said yes. Mr. Palmer asked to be put on the ZBA agenda.

Mr. Jed West, representing Bernardo Associates, requested a Public Hearing next month for a lot line adjustment for Glenn Madden to sell 10 acres to Trebor properties in the rural/agricultural zone.

Mr. Aldrich made a motion to hold the hearing in September. The motion was seconded by Mr. Potter and the Board approved the motion.

Complete Streets Workshop. Some suggestions to be sent to the Selectboard for review and comment. Which suggestions do you want to keep? Would you like to meet with the Selectboard or have them comment on each suggestion?

Mr. Miller suggested this topic be postponed until next month because not all of the notes were present.

The notes were a combination of suggestions at the July Workshop and ones that Ms. Mari Brunner of Southwest Community Planning Commission put together from the various workshop held since January. Ms. Mayberry was also waiting for another document about streets in rural areas from Ms. Brunner.

Mr. Ray Boas asked if there will be a chance for the public to have input. Mr. Miller said yes. He added that there have been many, many workshops on the subject.

Mr. Aldrich made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was approved by the Board.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

WALPOLE PLANNING BOARD AGENDA

TOWN HALL

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

                        7 pm                           

Roll Call – Appointment of alternates if needed.

Minutes – Review minutes of the July meeting and workshop.

New Business:

Yohbel Brosseau, Commonwealth Construction in North Walpole. Commonwealth received a demolition permit from NW commissioners. Mr. Johm Foster said he saw the blueprints signed by the Planning Board for new construction.

Request for a Public hearing. Doug Palmer – storage facility project on commercial land behind Shaw’s.

Complete Streets Workshop. Some suggestions to be sent to the Selectboard for review and comment. Which suggestions do you want to keep? Would you like to meet with the Selectboard or have them comment on each suggestion?

Next meeting Tuesday, Sept. 12,  2017

No workshop this month.

If you do your “homework” here on the Walpolean, you have been hearing a lot about the Complete Streets.  Here is the report of recommendations from SRPC to the Planning Board. – Lil

Note:  The recommendations listed below were developed by the  with input from Southwest Region Planning Commission staff and Walpole Police Chief Mike Paquette.

1. VILLAGE OF WALPOLE
   1. Speeds: The speed limit, which is 25 mph, should be clearly marked and enforced. Consider installing a speed limit sign on South St. as drivers enter the village and another sign on Main St. near Mascoma Bank.
   2. Crosswalks:  There should be more crosswalks in the village to make it easier for pedestrians to get around.  Recommended locations for crosswalks include near Jake’s/Mascoma Bank (across Main St.) and at the intersection of South Street and Main Street (across South St. to connect sidewalk on Main St. to sidewalk on Old Keene Road).  Crosswalks should be combined with signs that say “Pedestrian Crossing Ahead,” signs in the crosswalk that say “State Law: Yield to Pedestrian in Crosswalk,” and/or painted markings that say “Yield to Pedestrian.”
   3. Walkway/sidewalk near Jake’s and Mascoma Bank: The painted walkway on the northwest corner of the Westminster St./Main St. intersection, should be maintained regularly with fresh paint to ensure the walkway is visible to motorists.  In the long term, part or all of this walkway should be converted to a sidewalk.
   4. Shared Bicycle Lane Markings (i.e. “sharrows”): Consider adding sharrows to Main Street and other roads in the village to indicate that motorists should share the road with bicyclists.  For roads with parallel parking, sharrows should be placed outside the “door zone” of parked cars.  For roads with diagonal parking, sharrows should be placed in the middle of the travel lane (closer to the yellow line) to direct bicyclists away from cars backing out of angled parking spaces.
   5. Fountain on Westminster St.: Consider adding roadway markings and signage to clarify how motorists should navigate around the fountain in the intersection of Westminster St. and Main St.
   6. Middle St.: Consider removing parking on one side of Middle Street to improve safety & ease for two-way traffic.
   7. Elm Street near Town Hall: Consider changing Elm Street to a one-way street, or changing the on-street parking to not be angled.
   8. AREAS NEAR THE SCHOOL
      1. Main St. connection from school to Walpole Village: Consider traffic calming, adding sharrows and/or a bike lane for students that bicycle, and education to raise awareness among students and drivers about how to safely share the road and decrease incidents of students walking in the travel lane.
      2. Main St. connection from school to Mill Pond: Consider widening and improving the surface condition of the shoulders along this stretch of road where space allows.  In addition, consider placing signage that says “Pedestrian Crossing Ahead” to alert motorists to likely pedestrian crossing locations.
      3. NORTH WALPOLE VILLAGE
         1. Crosswalk on River St./Route 12: Consider working with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to install a pedestrian crosswalk near the Stateline Grocery where the sidewalk ends on one side of the road and continues on the other side of the road.  In addition, consider placing crosswalks
         2. Lighting on Arch Bridge: Consider maintaining lighting on Arch Bridge for pedestrian and driver safety.
         3. Informal pedestrian railroad crossing from Church St. to Center St.: According to Chief Paquette, some students cross the railroad tracks to get from the bus stop on Church St. to Center St. as a shortcut to get home.  Consider working with the School Bus company to change the location of the bus stop, improve the fence to block children from crossing at this location, creating a pedestrian tunnel, and/or working with the police dept. to identify other strategies to address the situation.

2. DREWSVILLE VILLAGE
   1. Traffic Calming on Whitcomb Rd.: Work with the NHDOT to implement traffic calming strategies to slow drivers as they enter Drewsville Village.  Strategies could include, but are not limited, to narrowing the travel lanes by moving the fog lines in and more clearly defining the edge of the travel lane throughout the village.

Town of Walpole

 Planning Board Workshop Minutes

July 25, 2017

7 pm

Present: Robert Miller, Vice-Chair, Dennis Marcom, Cheryl Mayberry, Selectboard Representative, Alternate: Joanna Andros, Mari Brunner, planner with Southwest Regional Planning Commission, Ali Gilleran, an intern at SWRPC.

The purpose of this meeting was to come up with several recommendations to present to the Selectboard. Mr. Miller reminded everyone at the meeting that these were only recommendations and the Planning Board had no power to implement them.

Here are some of the suggestions:

Crosswalk at the library: Paint picture of person walking with the words YIELD. Also add signage about state law of pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Slow traffic coming into the Village: Sharrows in the road closer to the village near Dave and Ellen Adams home. Another 25 mph sign.

Put back sidewalk around Jake’s Variety Store: It is believed that Sandri removed the sidewalk when they did modifications to fuel tank. Sidewalk should be 5 feet at Sandri’s expense.

Sidewalk around Mascoma Bank.

Signage at Hooper Institute to Be Aware of pedestrians crossing.

Middle Street: Consider parking one side only.

Make Elm Street a one-way street.

Keep arrows on the road around the fountain permanent.

Educate students walking to and from the school about walking in the road. The first responsibility of this safety feature should come from the parents. Maybe a notice from the school should be sent home. Another possiblity is the principal points out the dangers in a school meeting. A third approach  is to have someone from the police department talk about safety while walking to school.

Signage at Mill Pond about pedestrians.

Crosswalk at South Street going from Main Street to sidewalk on Old Keene Road.

Drewsville – line painted in front of the store should be painted yearly because road edge disappears as you come around the curve due to cars going in and out of store’s parking lot. Perhaps someone from the store could do this when the white line disappears.

North Walpole – changes on Church Street must have state approval. Add a crosswalk at Stateline Beverage store.

Something to consider long term – Sidewalk from the school to Agway.

This list will be discussed at the next Planning Board meeting to get input from Board members who could not make the meeting. It will then go to the Selectboard and the Planning Board would like the Selectboard to respond to the Planning Board by saying if the Board is going to follow through on each item and, if not, why.

Town of Walpole

 Planning Board Workshop Minutes

June 27, 2017

7 pm

Present: Robert Miller, Vice-Chair, James Aldrich, Secretary, Dennis Marcom, Cheryl Mayberry, Selectboard Representative, Alternate: Joanna Andros, Mari Brunner, planner with Southwest Regional Planning Commission, Ali Gilleran, an intern at SWRPC and Walpole Police Chief Michael Pauquette.

The Planning Board decided earlier this year to take on the Complete Streets project to look at the transportation system in the town. This included transportation by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. SWRPC is facilitating this project by showing the Board some ideal situations for different streets depending their use.

Police Chief Paquette was at the meeting to discuss streets in town that have the most accidents.

Mr. Paquette asked if we were concerned about foot traffic. Those present answered yes and added that the Board was interested in all kinds of transportation issues. He started talking about trouble spots in North Walpole.

He mentioned three that were the worst: the Arch Bridge; the area by State Line, where there is no crosswalk; areas of Church Street where kids get off the bus.

Chief Paquette said coming across the Arch Bridge he had concerns about lighting. This played into the fact that Liberty Utilities wanted the town to pay the cost for lighting for the past several years and the company is planning on turning off the lights. The town refuses to pay for the past few years but if it takes on the utility bill in the future it will cost $160 a month or $1900 a year.

Regarding the area by State Line there is a lot of foot traffic, he said. It needs a crosswalk, Ms. Mayberry said but the state won’t put one in and the town needs to get a grant to do so.

As far as the kids go, they get off the bus on Church Street and cross the tracks where there is no fencing to go home. These kids live towards the end of Center Street. He didn’t know if the railroad would fix the fencing along that portion of the tracks.

He also mentioned that the tunnels under the tracks were closed about 10 to 12 years ago because of incidents of shooting there. There was also concern for kids going down there unattended where there were transients who got off the train. It was thought to be a dangerous situation so the tunnels were closed.

The underpass was closed about 5 or 6 years because of flooding.

Walpole Village – One of his concerns was the sidewalk from the school to the village. It’s not very wide. The town spent a lot of money putting a guard rail so the students would not go over the embankment. But they are spilling out into the street when they walk home, he said. If they walk up to the village as a class, such as on Halloween, they are six or seven abreast. They also walk up to the Historical Society. He realized it could be expensive, but, he asked, what would be the cost of putting some kind of guard rail along there, he asked. Chief Paquette said it would good to find out how many kids walk up from the school. What is the percentage of students who use that every day?

Ms. Andros said maybe the kids should be educated on this topic. She remembers walking it every day as a child. It could be something the principal could talk to the kids about, she said.

When the school has a function and everyone leaves at the same time, a lot of people walk up to the village and they are out into the street, Paquette said. Maybe if it’s a really big function, they need some adults there to make sure this doesn’t occur, Andros said.

There’s also a question about Elm Street. The bridge across the brook has no sidewalk so you have to cross by the blue house. But kids walk up Elm Street where there is no sidewalk and meet the sidewalk at Pleasant Street.

Mr. Aldrich said he saw something that was good. Up at the Hooper Golf Course people had parked their cars. Then were two orange cones on the right of the road and two on the left side of the road. Adults were standing by the cones and helping children cross the road from the Hooper Institute, which is in the process of having its summer camps. The orange cones really caught his eye. He said it worked pretty well. It was like a makeshift crosswalk.

Also, the cones or signs might be a good idea when school gets out and there are lots of kids on that sidewalk. And, when possible, he or another officer could sit near the school in a police car and that slows down traffic.

Chief Paquette said he has had complaints and one or two Board members agreed that people go too fast on the busiest part of Main Street especially from where they turn the corner near Edward Jones to South Street. Because of the complaints, he said, he used his personal vehicle and sat in the car with radar and most were going 30 mph or less. But that 30 mph in the village sometimes seems as if the car is going faster, more like 50.

The speed limit is now 30 mph. Should the speed limit in the village be lowered to 20 mph? The state has rules so the Selectboard should check into it.

Bicycles should not be on the sidewalks and have to follow the same rules as a car.

The fountain. One of the demonstration projects was to put arrows indicating lanes by the foundation. People who observed it said they were helpful and drivers stayed in their lanes.

Chief Paquette said the last accident was in 2014. It was a fender bender, not a serous injury. Someone was coming up Westminster Street and someone was coming from the south. The car slowly moved out onto Main Street and got hit. So if you pause going around the fountain, he said, and a vehicle is coming too fast, there could be an accident. The one prior to that accident was a year and a half.

If the arrows stay as they are, there should be signage at eye level. He suggested making sure the markings that were put in meet the NH guidelines so it would be good to check with Mike Rau, the road agent.

Ms. Andros said she always treated the fountain as a roundabout. She stops and goes around the fountain on the right when she wants to had toward North Main Street. Someone was coming from the south and turning into Westminster Street, he/she should go around the fountain.

The observations are that people are driving around the fountain as marked and others are treating it as roundabout and there have only be two minor accidents in six years. So maybe things are okay the way they are.

Other major priority areas are the intersection of the Plaza and the turn into Walgrens, Westminster Bridge, which is called Dwinell Street, and by Agway or at the end of Main Street where a car has to merge onto Route 12.

Chief Paquette said the department has gotten a lot of grants – for cell phone use, STEP grants for radar use, DUI patrol.

Drewsville has speeding on Route 123 through the area where the store is and on the corner going down the hill. The Chief gets calls from the store owner asking for someone to monitor traffic.

Chief Paquette said that with the construction on Route 12 the police have to maintain a presence there so it will cut down on some of his current routine work.

When giving a ticket a police officer considers: What time of day is it? What the infraction is? How fast someone is going over the speed limit? What’s the reaction of the person being stopped?

He also said cell phone use and texting is like blindfolding yourself for five seconds while you driving. And cell phone use is not just kids, but adults too. It’s dangerous.

Complete Streets:

The Board received copies of remarks from people about the demonstrations over Old Home Days.

It was decided that maybe more remarks could be received from townspeople, so Ms. Andros will try to have something put in The Clarion with a link to SWRPC and Ms. Mayberry will make up cards with the questions on them and the cards will be put at the library and the Town Hall.

 Priorities for implementing Complete Streets. The Board was unaware that they had to come up with priorities so they decided to discuss the topic more at the next meeting. The Board at its regular meeting will be told to come prepared.

However, the Board did agree these were definite priorities: 

Walk from Walpole school to the Village

Crosswalk at State Line Store in North Walpole.

Bike Rack Installation has not been done because the Road Department is still dealing with problems from last week’s storm.

The next Complete Streets meeting is July 27.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Town of Walpole

 Planning Board Minutes

June 13, 2017

7 pm

Presiding: Jeff Miller, Chair, Robert Miller, Vice-Chair, James Aldrich, Secretary, Jason Perron, Jeff White, Cheryl Mayberry, Selectboard Representative. Alternate: Joanna Andros. Absent: Board member Dennis Marcom and alternate Ed Potter.

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the July meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions 

Meeting Opened: Mr. J. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm.

Roll Call: Mr. Marcom was absent so Ms. Andros was asked to fill his place.

Minutes: Mr. R. Miller made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular Planning Board’s May meeting, as well as the workshop meeting as written. Mr. Aldrich seconded the motion and the Board voted to approve the motion.

Complete Streets Demonstration Setup. After some discussion it was decided that the setup will take place on Thursday, June 22 starting at 1 pm. The project will take 3 to 4 hours. Any Board member who can, please meet at Jakes at 1 pm. Some Board members are coming later around 3 pm to finish up. Please try to persuade a friend or family member to volunteer at one of these times. The more the merrier. SWRPC will supply the materials.

Commonwealth Construction. Ms. Mayberry said that the North Walpole commissioners were concerned that there was more building going on at Commonwealth Construction LLC in North Walpole than the site plan called for. The secretary retrieved the file from June 2015. After looking at the map and drawings, it was decided that the construction was sticking to the original 60-foot-by-105-foot plan proposed for the new building.

There being no other business, Mr. Aldrich made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and approved by the rest of the Board.

Reminder – Workshop meeting There will be a workshop meeting in the basement conference room on Tuesday, June 27, at 7 pm. Police Chief Michael Paquette will talk about where the most accidents occur in Walpole, North Wapole and Drewsville for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Ms. Mari Brunner will also be there to evaluate the demonstration.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Recording Secretary

Walpole Planning Board Workshop

May 23, 2017

Town Hall -7 pm

Present: Robert Miller, Vice-Chair, James Aldrich, Secretary, Dennis Marcom, Jason Perron,  Cheryl Mayberry,  Selectboard Representative, Joanna Andros.

Also at the meeting were and Mari Brunner, planning technician with Southwest Regional Planning Commission, who was there to work with the Board on the Complete Streets Project, and Henry Underwood, GIS specialist with the organization, who is replacing Liz Kelly on the project.

Ms. Brunner received a copy of the Complete Streets Policy signed by the Selectboard members Cheryl Mayberry and Peggy Pschirrer.

Demonstration for Old Home Day. The Selectboard turned down two of the three projects planned for Old Home Days. The Selectboard thought the crosswalk from High Street to the other side of the road was too dangerous. They gave the speed cars driving up from the school as a reason for turning it down. They also thought the trial for back-in parking may be too confusing.

The Planning Board didn’t quite agree with the Selectboard saying that during the parade, there will be more people milling around that area than going fast down Main Street and around the corner from the Old Home Day Committee viewing stand and it was simply trying out the crosswalk to see if it would be an improvement because so many people cross the road there anyway. Both Mr. Aldrich and Ms. Andros remember a crosswalk there when they walked to school. The proposed faux sidewalk going around the corner from Westminster Street to the end of the Mascoma parking lot will stay.

The group talked about several alternatives: a bike lane on the east or west side of Main Street in the Center of Town, a bike lane going down to the school,a strategy for slowing down cars coming up Main Street from the school to the center of town. Ms. Brunner will send three alternatives to each Planning Board member and then the members will choose the one he/she thinks best. She’d also like that member to explain what elements of the plan they like.

Ms. Brunner passed out booklets about Complete Streets Planning and Designing Guidelines. The pamphlet contained information on the type of streets (slow streets, connector streets, transition zones and rural streets). There was also information on parking, travel lanes, bicycle lanes and sharrows (painted bicycle symbols that serve as a visual reminder to motorists that bicyclists share the road).

Also included was information on design considerations for sidewalks, lighting, street furnishings including bicycle racks, trees and signage. After reading the booklet, there’s a section on implementation. The 30-page booklet will be the topic for the next meeting.

It was suggested that the secretary contact the Police Chief to see if he could come to the next meeting to discuss trouble spots on streets in Walpole.

Bike Racks: The delivery date for the bicycle racks is Wednesday, May 30, between 2 and 3 pm. The racks for the town will be delivered to the Walpole Town Highway Department. The racks slated to go to businesses or other addresses will be delivered directly to those addresses.

The next Complete Streets meeting will be June 27 at 7 pm in the basement conference room.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine, Recording Secretary