SOUTH BERWICK PLANNING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
November 20, 2007
7:00 PM
Town Council and Planning Board Workshop – 6:00 PM
Parking Suggestions
Public Hearing – 7:00 PM
MJS#07-02, Tamarack Hills (Charlotte Wilkins), Map 14, Lot 28 – 6-Lot Subdivision
Regular Meeting
To follow Public Hearing
ROLL CALL
Dennis Smith (Chairman), Richard Clough, Brad Christo, Bruce Whitney, Matthew Kenney and Jim Fisk.
Absent: Cheryl Dionne and vacant seat.
Susie Scott (Administrative Assistant) was taking minutes.
TC&PB WORKSHOP: 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Parking Suggestions
Workshop Attendees
Town Council: Robert Gagne, Michelle Kareckas, Jean Demetracopoulos and David Burke. Absent: Sue Roberge (Chairman).
Planning Board: Dennis Smith, Richard Clough, Brad Christo and Bruce Whitney. Absent: Cheryl Dionne and Matt Kenney.
Staff: Jim Fisk and Susie Scott. Absent: Jeff Grossman (Town Manager).
Guests: Tom Harmon (Civil Consultants), Dick Currier (So. Berwick Pharmacy) and Pam Capasso.
The following items were discussed:
1. Park & Ride Lots – Planning Board Chairman, Dennis Smith requested the Town Council discuss the ability to relocate these lots as a way to alleviate downtown congestion. Richard Clough stated that this was not possible due to state funding issues.
2. Signage – Both the Town Council and Planning Board agreed there was a lack of signage regarding parking and related time limits in the downtown.
3. Municipal Lots – Chairman Smith discussed overnight parking be limited to designated times in the municipal lots with a permit of $200 per space/per year for local businesses to allocate additional parking. The Planner provided Council members with a map to review current municipal parking lots. Ms. Kareckas requested the Planner provide maps illustrating parking lot size with a total number of parking spaces per lot.
4. Enforcement – Both the Council and the Planning Board agreed that better enforcement procedures need to be in place so as to monitor parking time limits as well as limit the potential for individuals parking in one spot without moving for excessive time periods.
Chairman Smith discussed the need for the Town Council to either change the current zoning ordinance or allow certain alternatives because the Planning Board has to continue to review site plan applications with parking requirements. There was further discussion of having the Town Council approach private property owners in hopes of the Town acquiring property for parking development.
Dick Currier noted that the lack of enforcement of time limits directly affects his business. He would like to see better enforcement.
Tom Harmon noted that there should be shorter parking periods for Main Street parking while municipal lots allocate longer time limits to accommodate commuters and other 2 hour parking limit needs.
There was discussion of the Town Manager, Public Works Director and the Police Chief drafting a parking policy for further review.
PUBLIC HEARING: 7:00 pm
MJS#07-02, Tamarack Hills (Charlotte Wilkins), Map 14, Lot 28 – 6-Lot Subdivision.
Nate Allison, CLD Engineers, presented the Planning Board and meeting attendees with Preliminary Plan materials. Property owner, Charlotte Wilkins was in attendance.
Chairman Smith opened up the floor for any public comments. There were no public statements in favor or against the proposal.
Chairman Smith closed the Public Hearing at 7:09PM.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Smith called the regular Planning Board meeting to order at 7:10 PM after conducting the workshop and the public hearing.
Bruce Whitney and Matt Kenney will both be voting members due to the absence of Cheryl Dionne and the vacancy.
MINUTES APPROVAL
October 16, 2007 – Regular Meeting: Motion by Mr. Clough, 2nd by Mr. Whitney to accept minutes, passed with Mr. Christo in abstention.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
- Russell Tarason requested to reserve time to speak to the following project:
MSP#07-08, Rachel Martin & D. Bessette, Map 28, Lot 168 – Change of Use.
CORRESPONDENCE
- none.
OLD BUSINESS
1. MJS#07-02, Tamarack Hills (Charlotte Wilkins), Map 14, Lot 28 – 6-Lot Subdivision: Continued.
The Planner noted that a complete preliminary plan application was received and reviewed in a timely manner. Mr. Fisk noted that abutters, Andrea Donald and Christopher Matthews came into the Planning office to review project plans. The Planning Board reviewed the waivers as requested by the applicant.
Motion by Mr. Christo, 2nd by Mr. Whitney to accept the preliminary plan as complete, passed unanimous.
There will be a final meeting when the Planning Board will sign the Mylar.
NEW BUSINESS
1. MSP#06-08, Robie Enterprises (Sunoco), Map 28, Lot 171 – Change of Use: Request for a permit extension.
Motion by Mr. Clough, 2nd by Mr. Kenney to retroactively renew the permit per the applicant’s September 20, 2007 letter for 60 days, passed unanimous.[ ]
Motion by Mr. Clough, 2nd by Mr. Christo to renew current request per the applicant’s November 8, 2007 letter for an additional 60 days (120 days past original date of permit) from granted extension date, passed 3:2 with Mr. Whitney and Mr. Kenney opposed.
Chairman Smith identified the 30-day appeal period from this date of approval.
2. SP#04-08 & SP#07-10, Keith & Marjorie Weston, Map 10, Lot 43 A1 (Boyd’s Corner Road) – Driveway/House Lot: Request for a permit extension.
Keith Weston presented the Planning Board with his request for a permit extension. Mr. Weston received a Planning Board permit that has now expired and is now requesting an extension so that they can receive a building permit. He noted that the roadway has been started but no building permit has been issued. The Site Plan permit expired October, 2005. Although, the State now has new regulations concerning vernal pools, the site does not have any vernal pool conditions.
Motion by Mr. Clough, 2nd by Mr. Christo to issue a new permit SP#7-10, passed unanimous.
Chairman Smith identified the 30-day appeal period from this date of approval.
3. MSP#07-08, Rachel Martin & D. Bessette, Map 28, [Marker]Lot 168 – Change of Use: Vacant restaurant to yoga studio.
Mr. Whitney recused himself from voting on this project.
The Planning Board discussed the parking requirements. Chairman Smith noted that the Board could waive the parking spaces for apartment since the use has not changed. However, the recreational/commercial space requires 1 space/100 sq. space for a total of 8 net parking spaces required. Currently, there are only 2 spaces provided.
Motion by Mr. Clough, 2nd by Mr. Christo to schedule a public hearing for December 4, 2007, passed with Mr. Whitney in abstention.
Mr. Tarason, abutter, discussed the ability of the Planning Board to review this application and the parking requirements in a similar fashion as was completed for The Little Hat Company.
ORDINANCE UPDATES
1. Zoning Updates – Memos (5) from Jim Fisk include: Ordinance updates revised, Accessory Apartments, Major Home Occupations, Official Business Directional Signs and General Provisions.
These updates to be discussed at the next meeting. Mr. Clough will forward his thoughts on this matter prior to the meeting since he will not be in attendance at the following meeting.
MEMBER COMMENTS
Mr. Christo stated that he was concerned about the Sunoco property, and that he appreciated the dissenting votes with regard to the permit extension. Mr. Christo stated he was also concerned about any parking fees in lieu of for the yoga studio since there is currently no mechanisms for which to charge or receive these fees.
Mr. Clough noted that the Planning Board could address site plan approval conditions by voting separately on each condition. He stated that the Planning Board could write a letter to the Town Council regarding exempting parking requirements in the downtown area.
Chairman Smith stated he was concerned about waiving large amounts of parking spaces in the downtown area.
OTHER
1. Letter from Dennis Smith to Town Council Chairman: Dated November 8, 2007. Letter received.
Dates & Times for Upcoming Meetings:
12/4/07 – 7:00 PM Planning Board Meeting/PH for Yoga.
12/17/07 – 7:00 PM Council Public Informational Meeting – Comprehensive Plan Update
12/18/07 – 7:00 PM Planning Board Meeting
Motion by Mr. Clough, 2nd by Chairman Smith to adjourn. Meeting adjourned without objection at 8:31 PM.
ATTESTED: ______________________
Susie Scott,
Assistant to the Director of Planning & Economic Development
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