TOWN OF EPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANNING BOARD MEETING THURSDAY May 26, 2011 PRESENT Mike Morasco, Steve Colby, Dave Crowell, Dave Reinhold; Selectmen s Representative Bob Jordan; Alternate Brian Reed; Planner Brittany Howard; Secretary Phyllis McDonough. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Morasco called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. DISCUSSION: Cheryl Killam Farmer s Market (Providence Baptist Church) Location: 410 Pleasant Street, Map 026 Lot 032 Cheryl Killam came before the Board on the proposal for a Farmer s Market at the Providence Baptist Church every Tuesday from 2:30 6:30 beginning June 21 and continuing through early October. Killam presented a letter from Reverend Adam Houston giving Killam permission She explained there will be approximately 100 cars with 12 to 20 vendors. Killam stated everyone will have their own insurance. Chairman Morasco explained the Planning Board doesn t take any jurisdiction over this event and that Killam is before the Board more for informational purposes. Killam thanked the Board and left the meeting DISCUSSION: John Gufstason Farmer s Market (Walgreen s) Location: 14 Main St., Map 029 Lot 294-002 Paul Gufstason came before the Board on a proposal for a Farmer s Market at the Walgreen s parking lot, went to the Board of Selectman for farmers market and will have at Walgreen s on Friday s from 3:00 to 6:00, starting July 1. Gufstason explained they would like to have approximately 12 vendors. The Board had no questions. Gufstason and the owner of the property, John Grammas thanked the Board and left the meeting. PUBLIC HEARING: Site Plan Owner/developer: David Kennedy Location: 56 Main St., Map 029 Lot 239 Chairman Morasco read notice of a Site Plan hearing by David Kennedy. Abutter present: Amanda Desjardins. David Kennedy came before the Board to explain the site plan and the removal of the building down at 56 Main Street. He informed the Board that no work has started on taking that building down, and stated there will be certain trees that will not be removed. He explained he talked with Bruce Chapman for layout of the parking lot and leaving a remaining an emergency egress off the end of the property to get it May 26, 2011 Page 1
further to Railroad Avenue. Kennedy spoke of the change the grade at Main Street for better visibility up Main Street. Kennedy explained the lighting design will have no major impact on the neighbors and will have the same lighting at the Grail. He stated they may do a new sign in the future and will come back before the board for that. Chairman Morasco asked if they will leave as many trees as possible. Kennedy stated they will leave the two big trees across the Granary and try and save what they could. Howard stated the 18 inch tree needs to go for the visibility on Main Street. Colby moved, Selectman Jordan seconded the motion to accept the plan with the removal of top left corner light and the 18inch tree. The motion carried unanimously. Chairman Morasco opened the public hearing. Abutter Amanda DesJardin asked how close the entrance will be to her driveway. Kennedy explained there will be a fence and any headlights will not shine into her home, and assured her the entrance will only be used if a large function happens. DesJardin s asked about planting shrubbery along the fence. Colby explained he would like to see shrubbery along the driveway side and on the other side of the fence to block any lights. Howard explained if there is any shrubbery put along the fence on the Grail side, Kennedy will have to come in for technical review and it will have to be added to the plan. Kennedy explained he doesn t have a problem but noted where there is shrubbery along another part of the site people use it for litter. DesJardin s also asked about a specific area for parking motorcycles because of the noise. Kennedy stated he will look at specific parking for motorcycles closer to the Grail building. Chairman Morasco closed public hearing. Howard advised the striping and elimination of the two parking spots need to be added to the plan. Colby moved, Crowell seconded the motion to approve the site plan with the landscaping along fence and moving the parking spaces. The motion carried unanimously. The LUPF was duly signed. PUBLIC HEARING: Yield Plan Owner/developer: Porter Holdings, LLC Location: Depot Road Map 027 Lot 137 Chairman Morasco read notice of a Yield Plan hearing by Porter Holdings, LLC. Abutters present: Robert Robinson, Daigles, Barbara Kassabian, Valerie Hart, Francis Juarez, Perkins, Martin, Garrick Clark, Glen Bagley. Joe Coronati from Jones & Beach came before the board to explain the yield plan. He stated there is approximately 600 feet of frontage on Pleasant Street and 140 feet of frontage on Depot Road. He explained there was a boundary survey done in 2005. Coronati explained this property is 77 acres May 26, 2011 Page 2
consists of uplands and wetlands throughout the site taken from soil maps and site visits and USGS TOPO on the site, and the wetlands on the property are well defined. He explained there s a beaver pond with the majority off the property. Coronati explained there are two streams, one about three feet wide and the other approximately six feet wide. He stated the property was logged in 2005 and has numerous trails on the property that are well defined. Coronati explained the uplands layouts are in two major chunks of the property and stated they have dug seven test pits. Coronati explained the lower is much sandier soils and the northern half change. Coronati stated there are a couple aquifers on the property which require 75,000 square feet lots. He explained this is a laid out conceptual yield plan to show in case of a conventional subdivision with open space which would be approximately 30 acres. Coronati noted the Town requires two entrances and stated there will be a loop road going from Depot to Route 27 along the northern section to stay out of the beaver. Coronati informed the Board that the cul-de-sacs have less than 15 homes, and stated the plan shows 35 lots and there are two frontages lots on Route 27. Coronati explained Lot 2 was laid out with a house, septic and well and a 4,000 square feet reserve area for the septic and well. Next he showed shown 2 lots with the wells and driveways and a house 24 x 36 are allowed to be in the well radius, and lot 33 would require a longer driveway because of the size. Coronati noted all homes will have individual septic and well. Howard informed the Board she walked the site with Coronati and expected the site to be wet with the rains that have happened, and was surprised at how dry it was. Chairman Morasco asked if there is any consideration on combining lots one, two and three because of the wetlands. Coronati noted they could consider doing something in that area. Chairman Morasco opened the hearing to the public. Abutter Glen Bagley explained he is concerned with the wetlands, where the road will come in off Depot Road, and how many lots are going to be acceptable. Chairman Morasco stated if this subdivision happens they will make sure that any water crossing they do are culverted properly. Abutter Valerie Hart stated her concerns are with the increase traffic volume on Depot Road and how much trash is on the ground. She also asked if there s a minimum on how many acres. Howard explained there is a minimum size lot although this type of proposal can do smaller lots. Hart stated Jenness Road is a tough area with accidents and also this property abuts the Tim and Joni s site and may have an issue with drinking water. Howard explained this cannot be approved unless the water quality is okay. Abutter Rob Robinson explained he is concerned where the road will be and noted it is right on the stone wall and asked how close a road can be to a property line. Howard explained there will be a right-of-way and then will need approximately 15 feet from the property line. Robinson asked the Board to require the developer to leave some sort of buffer. Robinson explained where the culvert is crossing 27 it drains onto the Thompson s property and with a new road is concerned on how much more water will drain onto their property. Chairman Morasco explained 27 is a State road. Francis Juarez of 10 fuller lane asked if any watershed study was done on this area. Juarez also spoke of the drainage and the possibility of damage to his property and well. Howard explained if the subdivision is approved it will go to a third party review. Juarez inquired about the landscaping that will be done on this site. Chairman Morasco noted this will all be discussed during the actual subdivision application. May 26, 2011 Page 3
Abutters Lloyd & Joan Perkins asked about buffers, and setbacks from property lines. He stated when they cut trees they cut every tree, and asked if they will ever get those trees back. Chairman Morasco explained the board has no authority to make them put up 200 year old trees. Mr. Perkins explained he bought his property to enjoy and stated he also gives hay and sleigh rides. Chairman Morasco advised he would need to speak to the Selectmen. Abutter Clark commented where lots 1 & 2 are it is virtually impossible to build as it is 75 percent wetlands. Abutter Todd Daigle asked if the Town would require a traffic study. Howard explained it is a state requirement for a traffic study and the Town will also look at that. Chairman Morasco closed public hearing. John Krebbs explained the developer was not responsible for logging and if anyone would like to visit Porter s subdivisions they will see how well done they are. Krebbs explained he is willing to speak with the abutters on any issues they may have, such as shifting the road, pulling house lots back, and explained all drainage issues will be thoroughly looked at. Chairman Morasco noted the plan is showing 35 lots and asked if they are all set with 34 lots. Coronati noted they have not wetland flagged the entire property and realize there is quite a bit of damp areas. Colby stated he is just concerned with the wetlands and conservation area. Selectman Jordan will address the abutters concerns at the Selectmen s meeting. Chairman Morasco what is being looked at is road volume, water quality, trucks on the road, wetland impacts, impacts to abutters, impacts to the rural quality of the area, well quality for the abutters, lot size, four wheelers, and lot size. Colby moved, Selectman Jordan seconded the motion to accept plans. The motion carried unanimously. Colby moved, Crowell seconded the motion to approve the plans as stated with the reduction from 35 lots to 34 lots. The motion carried unanimously. The LUPF was duly signed. MINUTES OF 3/24/11 FOR APPROVAL Colby moved, Crowell seconded the motion to approve the minutes. The motion carried unanimously. MINUTES OF 4/28/11 FOR APPROVAL Crowell moved, Selectman Jordan seconded the motion to approve the minutes. The motion carried unanimously. ESCROW ACCOUNTS Howard explained there are accounts that are still open and need to be closed: INDIAN RIVER ROAD -- open since 2006 with a balance of $825. Colby moved, Selectman Jordan seconded the motion to refund $825 to the owner. The motion carried unanimously. HL PATTON -- open since 2008 with a balance of $882.50. Crowell moved, Selectman Jordan seconded the motion to refund to HL Patton $882.50. The motion carried unanimously. May 26, 2011 Page 4
BEALS -- open since 2009 with a balance of $224.50. Crowell moved, Colby seconded the motion to move $224.50 into the general fund. The motion carried unanimously. FARNESE CONSTRUCTION-- with a balance of $224.50. Colby moved, Selectman Jordan seconded the motion to move $224.50 to general fund. The motion carried unanimously. CVS -- with a balance of $1500, $200 moved to the general fund and $1300 returned to the CVS. Selectman Jordan moved, Crowell seconded the motion to move $200 into general fund and $1300 to be refunded to CVS. The motion carried unanimously. CIP A letter to go to each department to update the CIP was signed by Chairman Morasco. WALMART Howard explained she received a letter from Barbara Stewart requesting permission to have a temporary tent on the left side of WalMart which will take up approximately 13 spaces for approximately three months. Chairman Morasco explained conceptually he has no problem with the request but offered that Stewart needs to contact the Police and Fire Department on this proposal. Howard noted she would contact Stewart to let her know the Board is fine with the request and for her to follow up with the Police and Fire Departments for any input from them. Selectman Jordan moved, Colby seconded the motion to approve the request for a temporary tent at the WalMart site. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM. Respectively Submitted, Phyllis McDonough Planning Board Secretary NOTE: THE NEXT MEETING DATE IS June 23, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. May 26, 2011 Page 5