Meeting Minutes
Planning Board
December 19, 2023
FINAL
Board Members Present: Darren Finneral, Chair; Chris Hernick, Vice Chair; Jim Lord, Chris Millette, Wayne Seaholm, Members; Beth Gering, Alternate; Peter Stanley, Consultant.
Town Personnel: Tiffany Favreau, Land Use Coordinator
Mr. Finneral called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
The Board reviewed the minutes of November 21, 2023.
Mr. Millette made a motion to accept the minutes with proposed changes. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Case 2023-023-Case – Conceptual Site Plan Review – Daniel Thomas, (agent), Cardinal NH 9 LLC (owner), for property located at 1386 Route 103, Newbury, NH Tax Map 007-338-200, proposing a tasting room and merchandise area for Hoptimystic Brewing in the Rosewood Barn building.
Hoptimystic Brewing is a brewery in Springfield, NH. The owner of Hoptimystic Brewing intends to do open a tasting room and perhaps at a later time do some brewing at this location (Rosewood Barn). He would like to lease the second and third floors of this property. Hoptimystic Brewing is a small brewing company that sells local craft beer serving the immediate area. They currently brew in Springfield, N.H. They bought the business in June of 2022.There is no intent of putting in a commercial kitchen. There would be snack foods but there is no intention of including a restaurant.
There will be 6-8 employees and will be open from Friday – Sunday to begin with.
Mr. Finneral asked if they have reviewed the application for a minor site plan review yet. Mr. Thomas said not in detail.
Mr. Thomas asked if he had to add manufacturing if they decide to brew. Mr. Millette said there would be a special exception needed from the Zoning Board if they decide to add brewing later.
Mr. Finneral said to look at Article 8 that has to do with waivers if needed during the application process.
Ms. Gering asked how many people they plan to sit in the tasting room and he said there are 15 parking spots and he believes there can be four people per parking spot, so he would likely plan to sit that amount.
Mr. Millette asked about the water that was mentioned in the report and Mr. Thomas said he wasn’t sure if there is a quantity or quality issue.
Mr. Millette mentioned that Mr. Thomas should look into whether the condo documents would allow him to brew onsite.
Mr. Millette asked about signage regarding the traffic flow in the parking lot area.
Mr. Thomas thanked the Board members for their time.
Other:
- Discussion of Meeting Date Changes for February and October 2024. The normal dates are unavailable due to the Board of Selectmen shifting schedules due to holidays. It was decided that the meetings will be held the following Wednesday on both of these months.
- Discussion and vote on zoning amendments and amendments to building regulations and site plan review regulations.- Mr. Finneral is proposing the flood plan in one Warrant Article because it effects the zoning regulations and the site plan review regulations. Ms. Favreau distributed a packet with all proposed changes.
Mr. Finneral said the definitions, Article 10 and the site plan review regulations pertaining to flood plain has to be written out for the public.
Mr. Stanley said there are two separate things: changes in-house and changes to include on the ballot. He said changes to the site plan review and regulations are in-house. They are both subject to the same notice requirement, but two different processes.
Mr. Stanley suggests putting them in the same notice but as separate hearings.
Mr. Millette said if the voters vote it down and they change it to the site plan review it would be in conflict. Mr. Stanley said the Planning Board could make their changes in-house until after the town meeting.
The second proposed amendment was #6 regarding the 720 sq’ ft’ living space. There had been earlier discussion to reduce it and also to strike it all together. Mr. Stanley asked why and a reason should be given. He said he doesn’t think they should just choose an arbitrary number.
Discussion ensued regarding this issue.
There was a discussion regarding paper roads.
It was decided to eliminate the housing living space altogether.
- Discussion of scheduling public hearing for amendments. – Mr. Finneral said that if there is not a lot in the agenda for the January meeting, the public hearing can be held on the same night to prevent a second night of meeting. Mr. Finneral will type up the ballot language and have it ready for the public hearing.
Renee Theall, Housing Navigator/Associate Planner of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee RPC, gave an update on housing.
Mr Millette made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna S. Long
Recording Secretary