PLANNING BOARD & HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES
May 12, 2010

APPROVED:
__________________

AGENDA:                   JOINT HEARING:  MINOR SITE PLAN & SIGN APPLICATION, IT’S ALL
                                    RELATIVE, LLC, 24-26 Central Square, #114-127

                                    CONTINUED SUBDIVISION:  MILDRED A. RENT/ALAN BARNARD,
                                    West Shore Road, #108-042

                                    SPECIAL USE PERMIT:  JOHN & CATHERINE MESSINA, Holiday Hills
                                    Drive, #110-049

                                    LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT:  LINDA S. KOHN/COLIN BROWN,
                                    141 Hemlock Brook Road, #205-001 & -002.1

ATTENDING:             PLANNING BOARD:
                                    Dan Paradis (Chairman), Elizabeth Seeler (Vice Chairman), Phil Dion (Selectmen’s Representative), Murray Campbell, Janice DellaCroce, Denice
                                    DeStefano, Clay Dingman
                                   
                                    HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION:
                                    Clay Dingman (Chairman), Don Milbrand (Selectmen’s Representative),
                                    Dorcas Gordon, Sandra Heaney

ABSENT:                    PLANNING BOARD:
                                    Alternate: Steve Favorite (still in R.I.)

                                    HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION:
                                    Larry Douglas (Vice Chairman - away)
                                               

OTHER:                       Applicants

The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with Mr. Paradis presiding.   He stated that he was glad to welcome Ms. Laferriere back and sent thanks to Michelle Bonsteel, Land Use Officer for her part in filling the position while Ms. Laferriere was out on sick leave.

JOINT HEARING:  MINOR SITE PLAN AND SIGN APPLICATION:  IT’S ALL RELATIVE, LLC:
Mr. Paradis then introduced the Planning Board members and Mr. Dingman introduced the Historic District Commission.
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HDC & PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
5/12/10

CONT. JOINT HEARING:  IT’S ALL RELATIVE, LLC:
Ms. DellaCroce asked if she should step down as Ms. Pellegrino is her nutritionist.  The Board determined that she could stay as it was felt that her relationship would not interfere.  Ms. Laferriere read the application, the abutters notified, and where advertised.  There were no calls nor correspondence in this regard.

Ms. Pellegrino stated that the building was a Boarding House.  Mr. Paradis stated that, according to correspondence from the Water Dept., they showed it as two apartments and 1 business.  At any rate, Ms. Pellegrino explained that she and Ms. Shattuck wish to have a bakery and retail business on the ground floor, 5 offices and storage for them on the 2nd floor, a 3-bedroom apartment on the 3rd floor, and a deli in the basement.  Mr. Paradis said that the problem is that the Planning Board has no jurisdiction for two or less residences.  Ms. Pellegrino stated that the Town Office shows 8 Boarding Rooms.  Mr. Paradis explained that they shall have to talk with the Water Dept. and he read a statement from them. 

Ms. Shattuck asked about the parking.  She stated that she went to the Town Administrator’s Office and was told that she needed to talk with the Police Dept.  They, in turn, stated that they only deal with winter parking.  She is confused about this issue.  Ms. Pellegrino stated that, at the PCC they had, it was felt that they need 2 spaces for the 3rd floor and 1 space if they put in a studio apartment.  Ms. DeStefano mentioned that there is no parking regulation for retail and office space.  Ms. DellaCroce felt that the renovations to be done to the downtown will also need consideration.  Mr. Paradis felt that there is no change for the residential parking and Ms. DellaCroce added that it is going from 8 spaces to 2.  The Board then calculated what was there and felt that the offices and businesses were covered and the apartment would need 2.  They requested a written parking requirement be done (as is required in the check list).  They will need to know where the 2 parking spaces will be.  Ms. Seeler added that this is because the Board does not know where the 2 residential spaces are coming from.  Mr. Paradis and Ms. DeStefano concurred.

Mr. Paradis called for public comment and there was none.
 
Mr. Paradis then read the Zoning Ordinance requirement of seeing the Selectmen for a parking permit or spaces could be rented from a private source.  If spaces are permitted by the Selectmen, this must go before the public vote at the next Town Meeting.  A discussion followed.  Ms. Shattuck stated that, when she was located downtown previously, the Police told her that the owners must park behind their facilities or away from the square.  Mr. Milbrand and Mr. Dion will check into the downtown parking  situation.  Again, Mr. Paradis stressed that there is no change for the offices as they are equivalent to the boarding house and are grandfathered.  Two spaces were calculated and must be shown as to how they will be filled. 

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HDC & PLANNING MINUTES
5/12/10

CONT. MINOR SITE PLAN:  IT’S ALL RELATIVE, LLC
Mr. Paradis then read statements from the Fire Dept. and more of the Water Dept. which were received previously.  Ms. Pellegrino stated that they met with the Fire Chief and Ms. Bonsteel and were told that they can rent (until 2012) but not have any area of assembly until they put in a sprinkler system.  Ms.
Shattuck added that they plan on doing that by mid-winter.  Ms. DellaCroce added that the statement from the Fire Chief said that they will get the sprinkler system. 

When asked if HDC had comments, Mr. Dingman explained that the HDC only deals with the sign(s) and appearance so Planning needs to determine all else.  Ms. Shattuck stated that they are only looking for 2 signs for now and know that they will have to go to the ZBA later when they want to add the other 2.  Ms. Seeler stated that the Board has designated Ms. Bonsteel to oversee signs.  Mr. Dingman, speaking as a Planning Board member, stated that the Ordinance allows 1 exterior sign per business and of 32 sq. ft. per side.  Ms. Shattuck explained that they plan a staggered move to the building and that is why they only intend to have 2 to begin with.

With no other comments, C. Dingman made a MOTION, second by D. DeStefano, to CONTINUE THE MINOR SITE PLAN FOR IT’S ALL RELATIVE, LLC TO JUNE 9th.    The motion CARRIED.

HDC PORTION PERTAINING TO SIGNS:
Ms. Pellegrino stated that they will eventually want the Blue Skies sign plus 2 business signs and a directory sign for the second floor offices.  Mr. Dingman explained that they will need drawings of the signs.  Ms. Shattuck stated that the signs they have now are all of wood and painted.  The Directory sign will also be of wood and to be slotted so that office business names can be inserted &/or removed.  They plan on using the existing frame.  Mr. Dingman mentioned that the building is large enough to handle several signs.  The only question mark is the Directional sign.  Ms. Gordon stated that the Board previously worked well with Ms. Shattuck and she is glad to see the return to downtown.  Mr. Milbrand agreed that the Directory sign is the one to determine.  Mr. Dingman mentioned that the Land Use Officer has jurisdiction and he is comfortable with that.  He feels that the proportion of the signs to the building is fine.

Ms. Heaney made a MOTION, second by Ms. Gordon, to APPROVE THE LOOK AND PLACEMENT OF ALL 4 SIGNS BUT THE CATERING AND BLUE SKIES SIGNS WILL NEED A VARIANCE.  The motion CARRIED.

Ms. Shattuck asked about extra signs on the back side of the building and whether Ms. Bonsteel could approve them.  Ms. Heaney answered that she could as long as they are within the measurement.  A discussion followed as to the meaning of 32 sq. ft. per side meant.  Mr. Paradis and Mr. Dingman feel that the 4 sides of the building are not in the Spirit of the Ordinance.  They need to talk with Ms. Bonsteel.

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
5/12/10

CONTINUED SITE PLAN:  IT’S ALL RELATIVE, LLC
Ms. DellaCroce asked if they will be changing any lighting of the signs and Ms. Shattuck answered that the lighting is pre-existing.  Mr. Dingman explained that, if they should change any lighting in the future, this is under the Planning Board’s purview.  At this time, the applicants were thanked for their input and the HDC stepped down.

CONTINUED SITE PLAN:  MILDRED A. RENT/ALAN BARNARD:
Mr. Barnard had called Mr. Paradis to say that they wish to continue as they are still waiting on DES.
C. Dingman made a MOTION, second by M. Campbell, to CONTINUED THIS CASE TO JUNE 9, 2010.  The motion CARRIED.

CONTINUED SPECIAL USE PERMIT:  JOHN & CATHERINE MESSINA
Mr. Messina stated that he and Ms. Hinds met with DES last Thursday and were told to file an application.  Ms. Hinds will do this.  They need to apply for access.  The present culvert may come out and possibly be replaced by a cement culvert.  The state has only 2 people working on applications so it may take an average of 78 days, he added.

Mr. Paradis asked if they met with the Conservation Commission as they had been asked to do.  Mr. Messina said that Ms. Hinds sent them the necessary information. 

Mr. Paradis felt that Mr. Lobdell did not submit a map of the wetlands to the Board, which makes their determination harder.  Ms. DellaCroce felt that we need to go back and get further information.  Mr. Messina stated that someone with a long pole was on the property recently.  He continued to say that originally this was a 43 lot subdivision (34 quarter acre lots and 9 ½ to 2 acre lots).  Two were designated as unbuildable.  Mr. Messina has been there since 1976, he added, and said that the brook used to dry up until people built up above and empty their sump pumps out.  He has 20’ of culvert and the water is bubbling out of the ground.  The Water Dept. has seen this.

Mr. Messina also alluded to past minutes which a Mr. Dumont was mentioned as being an abutter and spoke.  Mr. Messina explained that he is not an abutter but lives up the hill.  Mr. Paradis stated that past minutes cannot be changed but these minutes will reflect Mr. Messina’s concern.

C. Dingman made a MOTION, second by D. DeStefano, to CONTINUE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE MESSINA’S TO JUNE 9TH.  The motion CARRIED and Mr. Messina was thanked for coming in.

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
5/12/10

LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT:  LINDA S. KOHN/COLIN BROWN
Ms. Laferriere read the application, those notified, and the advertising.  There were no calls nor
Correspondence received.  Mr. Brown explained that the lots in question are on the north side of Hemlock Brook Road.  He distributed papers in which 1 deed was highlighted in blue and another, in Bristol, in yellow as the property lies in both Bristol and Bridgewater.  A discussion followed in trying to determine what happens in the case of the adjustment placing lot -002.1 into 2 zoning districts (Rural and Lake) as lot -001 used to be Lake and -002.2 was all Rural.  It was felt that it will be an Assessing issue only.

No abutters were in attendance.  Bridgewater has approved the plan and James Kohn stated that there will be no development of the property on the Bristol side.

D. DeStefano made a MOTION, second by C. Dingman, to APPROVE THE LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT FOR LINDA S. KOHN AS PRESENTED.  The motion CARRIED and the Board signed the plan and the Notice of Decision.  Mr. Brown asked that we do as Bridgewater has done and let him record the mylar and send us back the confirmation that it has been done.  This was thought to be fine and Mr. Brown was thanked.

MINUTES OF APRIL 28, 2010:
The following amendments were made:
Page 1, next to last paragraph, 1st line, insert “and” following “Officer”.
Last page, 1st line, replace “poison” with “position” and in the next dotted paragraph, 2nd line, the monitoring should have been shown as a subscript.

C. Dingman made a motion, second by D. DeStefano, to APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.  The motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS:
The “Development Activity in the Lakes Region annual report from LRPC will be held in the office.
An LGC seminar on Practical Steps for Planning Community Transportation will be held Thurs.,
May 27, 2010 from 9 am to 12:30 pm.  Registration deadline is May 20th and can be done via e-mail
registration@nhlgc.org.  There is no cost.  The Spring edition of The Source will also be held in the office for awhile.

OLD BUSINESS:
The secretary was asked if we have received anything from Cliff Lodge and she stated that we have not.
Ms. DeStefano distributed packets for our next workshop meeting.

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Planning Board Minutes
5/12/10
REPORTS:
Selectmen’s Report:
Mr. Dion stated that they will be discussing the Town Administrator position tomorrow night.  Ms. DellaCroce asked if there is an update on the cell tower and was told that nothing has happened.  Mr. Dion added that we only were awarded 45% for the grant for Sewer to the Lake.  As for the roadwork on Lake St., he said that they are only doing a skim coat.  When asked if there is anything new on the Downtown grant, Mr. Dion said that nothing has come to them.

HDC Report:
Mr. Dingman had nothing to report beyond the meeting tonight.

CIP Report:
Mr. Campbell stated that the TAC is trying to find out the next step in the process.  They need to go after these funds (to pursue and secure what we have won).  The committee held their first meeting with Water and Wastewater and this department has presented their requests.  Some were to do with Sewer to the Lake and will need adjusting.  The Storm Center well and the pump well are well under way.  The committee met with the Budget Committee to go over philosophy.  They would like the CIP to be more aggressive; more thought as to how to work with them.  We are to visit the Fire Dept. tomorrow and the Selectmen tomorrow night.

Mr. Campbell also visited the DES station in Laconia (with Mike Little).  They monitor wind speed, temperatures, precipitation and measure the ozone.  They are looking at the rebuilding of salt sheds and designate that they must be built so that no water can reach the salt and filter out of the shed.  Mr. Campbell mentioned that Center Harbor’s new building is being built to a quarter of a million dollars.  Ours will be stick built.

Our next meeting will be a workshop on the forms we were given this evening and will be held May 26th.  With no other business, E. Seeler made a motion, second by C. Dingman, to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jan Laferriere, secretary