Meeting Minutes
Planning Board
March 15, 2022
FINAL
Board Members Present: Darren Finneral, Chair; Chris Hernick, Vice-Chair; Jim Lord, Chris Millette, Denise Mitchell, Wayne Seaholm, Members; Scott Wheeler, Ex-officio; Peter Stanley, Consultant.
Mr. Finneral called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Election of Officers:
Ms. Long asked for nominations for both Chair and Vice Chair.
Mr. Lord made a motion to nominate Darren Finneral for Chair. Mr. Seaholm seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Mr. Millette made a motion to nominate Chris Hernick for Vice Chair. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Signing:
The Board members signed the Preston mylar.
Minutes:
The Board reviewed the minutes of February 15, 2022.
Mr. Millette made a motion to accept the minutes. Mr. Hernickseconded the motion.
All were in favor.
Public Hearings:
7:15 p.m. – Public Hearing – Request by Eversource, pursuant to RSA 232:158, to trim and cut trees on a scenic road: Cheney Road, Gillingham Drive and Old Province Road.
Mr. Finneral explained why this tree cutting is in front of the Board. He said it is because the trees are on the three designated as scenic roads in Newbury.
Arborist Randy Markoff spoke on behalf of Eversource. He explained that this is for maintenance, and they plan to trim 8 ft. on the sides, 20 ft. above and 10 ft. below. He said they have received permission from the landowners to trim these trees. He would also like to profile for hazard trees. If this is okay, he will mark the trees and come back into another public hearing in early summer. He would also proactively mark healthy ash trees because it is a matter a time until the emerald ash borer will likely take over and kill all the ash trees in the area.
Mr. Markoff said the wood will be removed unless the landowner wants to keep it.
Mr. Finneral opened the public input at 7:39 p.m. The hearing was left open for 30 minutes.
Mr. Finneral closed the public input at 8:11.
Mr. Finneral closed the public hearing.
Mr. Millette made a motion to approve trimming down the trees on three scenic roads and to mark hazardous trees. Mr. Finneral seconded the motion. All were in favor.
7:30 p.m. – Case 2022-002 – Conditional Use Permit – Robert Stewart of RCS Designs (agent), Allen P. Costigliola (owner) for land disturbance in the wetland buffer concerning placement of a proposed single-family dwelling located at 279 Mountain Road, Tax Map 022-239-273.
Mr. Finneral reviewed the application and found it complete.
Mr. Hernick made a motion to accept the application as complete. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Mr. Finneral opened the hearing.
Mr. Stewart said they would like to take down the existing home and replace with a new one. He showed on the map the difference between the existing house and the proposed house. He said Mountain Brook is on the property. There is also a wetland area on the property as well. Mr. Stewart said they are looking for a conditional use permit for drainage and erosion control. He said this new house will have a storm water management plan. The proposed house will be both further from the road and from the wetlands.
Mr. Finneral opened the hearing to the public. There was no public comment.
Mr. Finneral closed the hearing to the public.
Mr. Millette made a motion to approve the plan regarding drainage and erosion control. Mr. Wheeler seconded the motion.All were in favor.
Mr. Finneral mentioned they need to go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
7:45 p.m. –Case 2022-003 – Final Minor Subdivision – Eckman Engineering, LLC (agent), Marion B. DeRoche(owner), for property located at 343 South Road, Newbury, NH Tax Map 035-251-252.
Mr. Finneral reviewed and approved the application for completeness.
Mr. Hernick made a motion to accept the application as complete. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Mr. Stewart said there is an existing state approved septic on this lot.
Mr. Eckman distributed the map of the property. The current lot is a bit over 70 acres. They surveyed the area for the subdivision.
The owner wants to subdivide 3 ½ acres for where the garage is currently located. Ms. Mitchell said a driveway easement should be included in the larger lot so they can continue to use the driveway through the small lot. Mr. Stanley agreed.
Mr. Stanley brought up the fact that the pond is a wetland. He asked how many sq. ft. the pond is. He said they need to net two acres outside of the wetland. Mr. Hernick said the wetland buffer can be included, so they should be within the 2 acres.
Mr. Finneral opened the hearing to public input.
Judy Hale asked a couple of questions regarding the moving of the lot lines.
Ms. Hale said she did not receive a letter as an abutter.
Mr. Finneral said they realized the mistake and sent her a letter as soon as it was realized.
Mr. Finneral closed the public hearing.
Mr. Hernick made a motion to approve the minor subdivision with the condition that the owner receives an easement from the small lot, and the larger lot then relinquishes the rights to any prior easements across the smaller lot, and the smaller lot is granted an easement for existing driveway. Mr. Milletteseconded the motion. All were in favor.
Other Business:
Ms. Mitchell wants to add some work sessions so the Planning Board can look at the master plan. Discussion ensued about creating sidewalks in the center.
Mr. Wheeler made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Lord seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna S. Long
Recording Secretary
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