Planning Board Minutes

Planning Board

November 17, 2020

Final

Members Present:  Bruce Healey, Chair; Mike Beaton, Vice Chair; Darren Finneral, Chris Hernick, and Richard Wright,Members; Peter Stanley, Advisor; Russell Smith, Ex-Officio Member.

Town Employees: Cal Prussman, Highway Administrator

Public: Welco Enterprises (owners of Marzelli’s Deli) – Jessica Cocco and Henry Welkes

Mr. Healey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Minutes:

The Board reviewed the minutes of October 20, 2020. Corrections were made.

Mr. Smith made a motion to accept the minutes. All were in favor.

7:15 p.m. – Case 2020-005 – Conceptual Consultation – Site Plan Review – Welco Enterprises LLC dba Marzelli’s Deli for property located at 889 Route 103

- The owners gave an updated plan for their files. Mr. Healey asked the owners if they took out their seating area due to COVID, and the owners said yes. Mr. Healey asked if they are going back to seating eventually and the owners said no. They took out seating at the beginning of COVID and do not plan to return to in-restaurant seating. Mr. Healey asked if everyone always has room for parking. They said in most cases yes, and once in a while someone needs to park across the street. Mr. Healey had all of the Planning Board members sign the plat and returned one of the copies to the owners. The others will remain in their town file.

7:30 p.m. – Public Hearing – Proposed Driveway Access Regulations – The purpose of the proposed driveway Access Regulations include: 1) Ensure driveway designs and construction provide safe access for fire and other emergency response vehicles; 2) Ensure driveway designs and construction provide adequate temporary and permanent erosion control measures; 3) Ensure driveway designs and construction provide safe sight distance at the intersection with the Town street or state highway; and 4) Ensure driveway designs and construction prevent adverse stormwater drainage impacts on the street providing access.

Mr. Healey read the public notice.

There was no public present at the hearing. 

Mr. Healey suggested having a discussion pertaining to the hearing and then make a decision at 8:00 p.m., allowing the public 30 minutes to arrive to the hearing.

Mr. Healey asked if anyone needed a copy of the revised driveway access regulations. 

Mr. Wright asked if on page 5, Section III, E is to be deleted. Mr. Healey said this was in discussion last month so this verbiage is to add in the new regulations. Mr. Wright said it only discusses the driveways going down, and not going up. Mr. Prussman said the owners will need to go down, then go up. Mr. Wright asked what if they cannot do this because there is not enough room. Mr. Prussman said that is one of the problems they currently have and this should keep the owner held accountable. Mr. Hernick thinks this is what is required with the state and Mr. Prussman said a lot of the wording came from verbiage from the state. 

Mr. Beaton had a question about the width of the driveway where it meets the road. Mr. Prussman said he has set it at 20’ at the apron of the driveway, then it can taper as much as the owner wants. Mr. Beaton thinks the 20’ tapering after 20’ back is too much. Mr. Prussman said this is also to allow emergency vehicles to enter in the driveway and turn around if needed. Mr. Beaton said that Goshen and Sunapee have lower minimums. He thinks 20’ for 20’ back is adding costs to the homeowners. Mr. Prussman said it is for the safety for the emergency vehicles. Mr. Beaton does not support making the driveway that wide for that far back. Mr. Healey suggested saying 20’ from the intersection of the local road for 10’ back and then can taper back down. Mr. Wright said he does not have a problem with the 20’ width with the 20’ setback. Mr. Smith is fine with the 20’ x 20’. Mr. Hernick thinks the 20’ back is a bit far. He thinks it should be brought back to 12’ or 14’ back. Mr. Stanley suggested 20’ at the edge of the road tapering to the width of the driveway. Mr. Wright thinks it will be consistent with the 20’ x 20’. It was decided to keep the 20’ width with a 20’ setback. 

Mr. Beaton had a question about the 3” pavement for the driveway. Mr. Prussman said that is a normal amount of pavement for a driveway. 

Mr. Beaton asked if there should be a minimum width of driveway. Mr. Healey said it would be too difficult to enforce. 

Mr. Smith asked about the appeal process. Mr. Hernick explained that this is Planning Board regulations so an appeal would need to go to the Planning Board first, then the Zoning Board of Adjustment if not satisfied with the Planning Board.

Mr. Healey opened and closed public comment being there was no public in attendance.

Mr. Healey closed the public hearing.

Mr. Wright made a motion to accept the Driveway Access Regulations as newly written. Mr. Smith seconded the motion. A vote was taken. Mr. Hernick was in favor. Mr. Beaton was not in favor. Mr. Smith was in favor. Mr. Healey was in favor. Mr. Finneral was in favor. Mr. Wright was in favor. The regulations were accepted. 

Other Business

Mr. Healey discussed the option of going back to remote meetings beginning with the December 2020 meeting. Discussion ensued about the different type of video conferencing that is available. Mr. Healey said that he would like to purchase a Zoom license through the town. It was decided that the December 15 meeting will be switched to a Zoom meeting.

Mr. Smith made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Wright seconded the motion.  All in favor.

The meeting adjourned at 8:12p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna S. Long