Meeting Minutes

Planning Board

January 5, 2023

FINAL

Board Members Present:  Darren Finneral, Chair; Chris Hernick, Vice-Chair; Jim Lord, Chris Millette, Denise Mitchell, Members; Scott Wheeler, ex-officio.

Vicki Davis - Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission, Tiffany Favreau – Land Use Coordinator

Mr. Finneral called the public hearing to order at 7:04 p.m.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Mr. Finneral discussed the purpose of the public hearing.

Mr. Finneral opened the hearing at 7:04 p.m.

Mr. Finneral read the public notice.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 1

The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 1 to vote to allow the Planning Board to consider to renumber articles in the Zoning Ordinances without further approval in the future for the sole purpose of consistency and to accommodate any new sections added to the ordinances. For example, the Planning Board would like to reorder new articles, so all the overlay district articles are together, and the zoning district articles are together. This change is not substantive and is for organization and ease of reading only. This was recommended by Vicki Davis. If this gets passed, it is for administrative purposes. Mr. Finneral thinks that it is good to have it in there. Mr. Hernick agreed.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 2

The Planning Board’s Amendment No.2 to the Zoning Ordinance proposes to amend Article 7.8.2.1.2 Minimum Area in Unaltered State (Natural Woodland Buffer in Shoreland Overlay District) to remove “exclusive of impervious surfaces (refer to Article 2, definitions). Mr. Hernick explained this was proposed by him, so homeowners do not put in too much artificial impervious surfaces. He believes this would be more restrictive.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 3

The  Planning Board’s Amendment No. 3 to the Zoning Ordinance proposes to amend Article 8.3.1 to also exclude the associated wetland buffer to wetlands smaller than 10,000 square feet from the Wetland Conservation Overlay District. This is a clarification and is less restrictive than possible current interpretations. Mr. Hernick said it will be spelled out better with this change.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 4

The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 4 to the Zoning Ordinance proposes to amend Article 12.3.2 to add, “and non-residential uses were permitted by the underlying district” for consistency with existing Article 12.1 which uses that phrase. Mr. Finneral explained that only part of this passed last year. It should have been put together but was not. This is administrative to get the second part passed.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 5

The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 5 to the Zoning Ordinance proposes to amend Article 16.10.3 to change “seventy-two (72) hours” to “five business days” per NH RSA 676:3. The last sentence of the paragraph will add “to the applicant” to clarify where the denial letter will be sent. This is administrative because the State already changed this to five days. After discussion, it was decided to keep this on the public ballot.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 6

The Planning Board’s Amendment No. 6 to the Zoning Ordinance proposes to add a zoning district map (currently found in the Master Plan) and overlay district maps to the ordinance as appendices and reference them in the appropriate articles as follows within the ordinance text for easy reference and a visual guide for the user. This was recommended by Vicki Davis. Mr. Finneral asked if this would be a lot of work and Ms. Davis said no. Mr. Hernick agreed. Ms. Favreau said the Planning Board will need to decide where this cost will come from in their budget.

Shoreland Overlay District – a map showing the restricted 250’ from any restricted water bodies per State law and Article 7.3 of the Zoning Ordinance. Ms. Favreau believes it would be difficult to format some of these maps.

Floodplain Overlay District – a map showing the floodplains included in Article 10.3 of the Zoning Ordinance. Ms. Favreau said this is already an overlay on GIS.

Skyline/Hillside Conservation Overlay District – a map showing the skyline/hillside areas included in Article 18.3 of the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Finneral said 10 of them are listed. Ms. Favreau said a color-coded map of this would be amazing.

Aquifer Protection Overlay District – a map showing the  aquifer protection areas included  in Article 20.2 of the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Finneral said this would be easy to do.

There being no public. Mr. Finneral closed the public input at 7:43 p.m.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 1

Mr. Finneral made a motion to accept this proposed amendment. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All in favor.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 2

Mr. Hernick made a motion to accept this proposed amendment. Mr. Finneral seconded the motion. All in favor.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 3

Mr. Hernick made a motion to accept this proposed amendment. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All in favor.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 4

Mr. Lord made a motion to accept this proposed amendment. Mr. Millette seconded the motion. All in favor.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 5

Mr. Millette made a motion to accept this proposed amendment. Mr. Finneral seconded the motion. All in favor.

PLANNING BOARD PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 6

Mr. Millette made a motion to accept this proposed amendment. Mr. Hernick seconded the motion. All in favor.

Mr. Finneral closed the public hearing.

There was discussion regarding public notices. 

Mr. Finneral made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Wheeler seconded the motion. All in favor.

The meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna S. Long

Recording Secretary