PLANNING BOARD

MEETING

Monday, September 9, 2002

Belmont Town Hall

Belmont, New Hampshire

 

Members Present:  Chairman P. Harris; G. Flack, C. Patten, J. Marden and W. Brunkhardt.

Members Absent:  J. Pike and W. Peterson.

Alternates Present:  C. Shibles.

Alternates Absent:  G. Bolduc.

Staff:  C. Daigle, R. Ball and E. Murphy.

Master Plan Subcommittee Members:  Chairman L. Frawley; J. Bolduc SEA and K. Knowlton.

 

The chairman opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

 

MASTER PLAN – SECOND MONDAY: Monthly Master Plan Session.

 

            J. Bolduc explained that he has compiled the third revised edition of the Master Plan. He explained that tonight they are finishing the review of Chapters 5, 6,7 & 8.

 

CHAPTER 5 LAND USE:

 

W. Brunkhardt had some concern about the assessed value of manufactured units being extremely low. C. Daigle explained that the figures came from the town’s assessing system. W. Brunkhardt stated it seems low compared to the ones that he is aware of. C. Daigle stated that she would check the figures to see if they are correct. She explained that they took the average unit value for the town.

 

C. Daigle stated that there are a couple of incidents that refer to Environment Inventory and it should be Natural Resource Inventory. J. Bolduc noted the corrections.

 

CHAPTER 6 RECREATION:

 

C. Daigle stated that Community Facility should include a Community Center as well as the Recreation Chapter. It would fit under the objectives not under goals or strategies. This could give the responsibility to Park & Recreation Department or the Board of Selectmen to do a feasibility study for funding and need. Ms. Frawley stated that it was done as part of the Community Profile in 1995. J. Bolduc stated that the study is in the Community Facilities in the third draft. J. Marden stated that it could be added under goals and objective in recreation section goal four and added to Community Facility. P. Harris wanted to know if the 4H fairground is listed under any categories. Ms. Frawley stated that it is included in the Conservation and Preservation Chapter or the Land Use Chapter. P. Harris suggested that under the Recreation Chapter there be a section on creating a tourism center. Mr. Bolduc stated that it could be included under Goal 3 and expanded on. This could also be included as part of Objectives 3 & 4. Ms. Frawley stated that Nancy McCurry referred to Belmont having a gateway under the transportation section Goal VIII. Ms. Frawley stated that the more information you provide the better. C. Shibles stated that in Lincoln and in Woodstock they have information centers and they are not manned. J. Marden stated that this is informative information but should not be included as part of transportation. Ms. Frawley stated that they were considering creating a park & ride area.

 

CHAPTER 7 TRANSPORTATION:

 

C. Daigle stated that the term Road Agent should be Public Works Director. Mr. Bolduc stated that he would make those corrections.  K. Knowlton suggested that horseback riding be included as part of the multiple modes of transportation. Horseback riding needs to be recognized when designing road regulations. C. Daigle stated that it could be included in the introduction after biking.

 

The Board discussed betterment policy listed under strategies. C. Daigle explained that you don’t do betterment on an existing town road. They agreed to strike that bullet under Objectives 11-1 Strategies.

 

CHAPTER 8 UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES:

 

J. Marden wanted to know if under existing conditions the committee looked at how many people have alternative power sources. W. Brunkhardt stated that they are not part of municipal services. J. Marden explained that people using alternative power sources can get paid for excessive energy produced and should be considered. They can add it under the goal section. C. Daigle stated that it has to be tied into a municipal goal. J. Marden stated that it should be considered as an alternative for the future. Ms. Frawley stated that it could fall under smart growth management.  K. Knowlton stated that the town is open to the possibility of alternative energy but it has to be up to the developer or PSNH not the Town to go looking for grants.  C. Daigle stated that it is not prohibited now.

 

W. Brunkhardt stated that the verb tense on page 8.3 needs changing. The Board agreed to eliminate the sentence “The tank is scheduled to receive preventative maintenance in 2002” from paragraph two page 8.3. Ms. Frawley wanted to know if the committee should be researching the rates of water suppliers and do an inventory on the suppliers. C. Daigle explained that the private water suppliers cannot sell water to others outside the property that the supply is intended for. Ms. Frawley stated that if the water rates are high then it discourages commercial development.

 

THIRD DRAFT OF MASTER PLAN:

 

Mr. Bolduc passed out the third draft of the Master Plan. He explained that the Vision statements have been drafted. He explained that the changes are a result of LRPC comments. There are separated chapters for the Goals, Implementation, Plan Development & Format, which have been drafted. These are included in the front section of the Master Plan to make it easier to read. The goals, objectives & strategies are all in one area. The Planning Board’s review and comments for chapters 1-4 have been incorporated in the third draft. He also incorporated the comments from the ballots of the June meeting. He replaced the generic photos with the ones submitted by the Town. He incorporated comments from interviews with the Town’s Department Heads and Officials and added maps and exhibits.

 

            C. Daigle explained that the Community Design, Neighborhood Plan, Natural Hazard and Economic Development chapters are used as a place card for future development. They are included as part of House Bill 650 Plan for development and format. Mr. Bolduc explained there is section that documents the process that the town went through to develop the Master Plan and the methods and effort the town went through to reach out to the community. Ms. Frawley stated that she has two pages that are a chronological summary of what has been done. C. Daigle stated that the resources and references for any table or graph will be included in a supplement in the back of the Master Plan.

 

Mr. Bolduc stated that after the next second Monday meeting they will be completing the final draft so that it will be ready by Nov 6th. The next meeting will be the last chance for input before adoption. K. Knowlton wanted to know if there would be a small brochure for the public to review. C. Daigle stated that they are already considering that.  He also wanted to know why the Conservation & Preservation Chapter title has changed. C. Daigle explained that it is because of House Bill 650 recommendation.

 

Ms. Frawley handed out brochures on how to create a survey to get the best response.

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION WITH COUNSEL:

 

MOTION:      P. Harris moved to recess the public meeting at 8:05 to meet with Counsel. C. Shibles seconded.  Carried. (6-0)

 

MOTION:      C. Patten moved to come out of recess at 8:47. G. Flack seconded. Carried. (6-0)

 

CAULFIELD PROPERTY EVALUATION TAX LOT 215-003:

 

C. Daigle explained that they are evaluating the 19 acre parcel of the Caulfield cluster development. The lot is 52% buildable. She highlighted J. Marden’s evaluation response sheet stating that the benefits would be open space, wildlife habitat, recreation and a trail at no cost to the Town. Some of the cost and impacts could be re-planting, signs, markers and loss of taxes. She explained that there would not be any loss of taxes because the common area is not taxable except for timber revenue. J. Marden recommended a trailhead, forestry and access for hunting and fishing as uses for the property. The restrictions should be no housing construction and no resale. C. Daigle explained that they can’t restrict the sale of property but it couldn’t be build on. He recommended that volunteers that live in the area, the Conservation Commission and the Land Use Office manage the land and check it yearly. He also recommended that trees be planted to be harvested by future generations.

 

C. Patten stated that there used to be an old shack with 55 gallon drums in it located on the property. C. Shibles stated that he had walked the property and any barrels that where there have rusted out and the contents gone.

 

MUNICIPAL LAW LECTURE SERIES:

 

C. Daigle handed out of the Municipal Law Lecture Series.

 

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT:

 

C. Daigle explained that Belmont doesn’t specifically regulate adult entertainment which means that it can go into any area where similar activities take place. She explained that the Board of Selectmen is concerned about it be allowed in any area with similar activities. They would like Atty. Walter Mitchell to draft something for review to include in the Town Ballot. The Board agreed that it cannot prohibit adult entertainment but would like to be able to regulate its location. It was the consensus of the Board to have Atty. Mitchell draft an ordinance for the Planning Board to review.

 

RICHARD GAGNE TAX LOT 238-004:

 

C. Daigle clarified that as part of the Gagne Subdivision condition Mr. Gagne was to purchase two 48” culverts for Sargent Lake Road. It was the Town’s responsibility to install them. R. Ball stated that the culverts have been installed.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

 

BOARD'S ACTION-MINUTES:

 

MOTION:      On a motion by C. Patten, seconded by J. Marden, it was voted to approve the minutes of the August 26, 2002, meeting with the following changes. (6-0) 

 

Page 2 the last paragraph third line should read “C. Daigle stated that when the applicant withdrew his retail sale there is no longer a need for the system because no habitable structures are proposed for the site.”

 

Page 9 first paragraph will include the following addition: “J. Marden suggested trading the Deyarmond site for the Huckin’s Oil site and putting the Town Forest parking next to the new access road to the Town Forest.”

 

STAFF REPORT:

 

SITE WALKS:

R. Ball explained that the Mirski site walk was to find a suitable location for a new ROW because they want to discontinue the Class VI and V road. They did find a suitable location to relocate the road.

 

R. Ball explained that Ms. Jan Hooper attended the Town Forest site walk and had some suggestions on how to get funding for the walkway. She feels that the Boardwalk has an educational value even if it does not connect to the upper part of the forest. Ms. Hooper suggested that the walkway be built up to let wildlife pass under it and vegetation grow.

 

R. Ball stated that he has looked at the Duggan property with the Board of Selectmen. They looked at the two vacant parcels with the active pit on it. The recycling committee did not attend this site walk.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOTION:   On a motion by C. Patten, seconded by W. Brunkhardt, it was voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:18 p.m. (6‑0)

 

 

                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                Elaine M Murphy, Administrative Assistant