STRATHAM PLANNING BOARD

PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES

February 7, 2007

 

Agenda:            The Town of Stratham, Planning Board conducted a Public Hearing on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at 7:00 p.m., at the Stratham Town Hall, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue, Stratham, NH to consider the following:

 

Approval of Minutes:            January 3, & 17, 2007

 

Public Hearing:         

 

1.      Map 11 Lot 36, 4 Winnicutt Road, Site Plan Review for a proposed new Fire Station by the Town of Stratham, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue.

 

2.      Review and Recommendation of 2007 Capital Improvement Program

 

Continued Applications:

 

1.      Map 7 Lot 38 – Pinewood Drive, by Dale & John Wood of 15 Brown Avenue.  Requesting a Conditional Use Permit to cross a wetland for a proposed gravel drive with parking area for recreational use.

 

Other:

 

1.      Map 5 Lot 11, by Ronald Roberts of 21R Squamscott Road for a Preliminary Discussion of a proposed Lot Line Adjustment.

 

2.      Map 1 Lot 10, by Town of Stratham, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue.  Review of survey for recording of a land transfer, formally of Zarnowski, a parcel of land off Boat Club Drive.

 

Members Present: Chair Janet Johnson; Joseph Russell, Gordon Barker, Martin Wool, Bruno Federico, Mary Jane Werner, and Charles (Chuck) Grassie, Town Planner. 

 

Ms. Johnson noted that the minutes of January 3rd and 17th, 2007 needed approval.  Ms. Werner made a motion to approve the minutes from January 3rd and 17th, 2007.  Mr. Federico noted that the Agenda shows the January 17th meeting as being 2006 incorrectly.  It should be 2007.  Mr. Wool seconded the motion to approve the minutes as written.  The motion passed with one abstention.

 

Public Hearing:

 

Map 11 Lot 36, 4 Winnicutt Road, Site Plan Review for a proposed new Fire Station by the Town of Stratham, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue:

 

Lucy Cushman, Chair of the Fire Station Building Committee, noted that there were only two members of the Committee present, and asked to be heard later in the evening.  The Board granted the request.

Review and Recommendation of 2007 Capital Improvement Program:

 

Town Administrator Paul Deschaine gave a quick overview of the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for the new members of the Planning Board and the audience.  He indicated that the Planning Board’s function is to look at the 5-year window from 2008 to 2012.  The Selectmen concentrate on 2007 as they prepare the Budget for the current fiscal year, which the Town will review on Town Meeting night.  Mr. Deschaine went through the individual items in the CIP.   Mr. Deschaine noted that on February 20, 2007 there will be a Joint Public Hearing of the Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission to consider a proposal to put a Conservation Easement on the west side of Brad Jones’ property on Winnicutt Road.  That will be the second proposal to dip into the $5,000,000 Bond.  At this point the tape machine malfunctioned, and there was no further recording of the meeting.  Balance of minutes will be from Planner’s notes and memory.  Mr. Federico made a motion to approve the CIP dated 2/7/07 as presented.  Ms. Werner seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Map 11 Lot 36, 4 Winnicutt Road, Site Plan Review for a proposed new Fire Station by the Town of Stratham, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue - continued:

 

Architect and member of the Fire Station Building Committee, Michael Keane, gave a presentation on the proposed Fire Station.  There were questions regarding traffic; drainage issues on the Fire Station site and the adjoining Historical Society building portion of the site; and signalization of Winnicutt Road.  The signalization will just be for allowing fire engines to exit quickly.  The Committee requested a Public Hearing for a site review, which means that abutter’s will need to be notified.  A Public Hearing was scheduled for March 7, 2007. 

 

Continued Applications:

 

Map 7 Lot 38 – Pinewood Drive, by Dale & John Wood of 15 Brown Avenue.  Requesting a Conditional Use Permit to cross a wetland for a proposed gravel drive with parking area for recreational use:

 

Jonathan Ring from Jones & Beach Engineers was present to represent the applicant.  He submitted a written request for a continuance to March 7, 2007.  During the discussion on the Fire Station the  request for a continuance of the Pinewood Drive application was announced.  There were a number of abutters in attendance, who wished to express their opinion on this application.  After a brief discussion, it was decided that the Board would allow the discussion to occur, but would also continue the application to March 7, 2007.  There were discussions on: traffic; noise from the snowmobiles; a concern about drinking water quality; and the letter from the Conservation Commission.  The Conservation Commission had requested that a groundwater study be done on the property.  Mr. Grassie stated and addressed the five (5) criteria listed in the Planner’s Memo dated 2/7/07 which would have to be met to grant a Conditional Use Permit for this application.  There was a great deal of discussion on the Planner’s Memo and criteria “a” in particular.  A member of the audience pointed out that there is a posting on the bulletin board in the hallway from NHDES which states that off road vehicles are not allowed to drive through wetlands or through surface waters.  The Board was asked how this use could be allowed, since it is against State law.  Mr. Grassie was asked to investigate this issue.  Mr. Wool made a motion to require the applicant to do a groundwater study of the property, as requested by the Conservation Commission.  Mr. Federico seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  Mr. Barker made a motion to continue the Public Hearing to March 7, 2007.  Mr. Wool seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Other:

 

Map 5 Lot 11, by Ronald Roberts of 21R Squamscott Road for a Preliminary Discussion of a proposed Lot Line Adjustment:

 

Ronald Roberts was present to represent himself.  Mr. Roberts indicated that he would like to subdivide his property into three lots for himself and family members.  He said he could put in a separate driveway for each of the lots along Squamscott Road, but his lot would then only have 50 feet of frontage along Squamscott Road.  He could alternatively put in a driveway for his house from Portsmouth Avenue, but it would be really long.  He asked the Board’s opinion on the possibility of having a shared driveway for all three lots.  The Board had no concerns about a shared driveway for all three lots off Squamscott Road.  No action was taken on this matter.

 

 

Map 1 Lot 10, by Town of Stratham, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue.  Review of survey for recording of a land transfer, formally of Zarnowski, a parcel of land off Boat Club Drive:

 

Town Administrator Paul Deschaine and Conservation Bond Subcommittee Chairman Roger Stephenson gave a brief presentation on the boundary survey for the Zarnowski property off Boat Club Drive for discussion and signature by the Planning Board.  After a brief discussion the boundary survey was signed by the Planning Board Chair, Janet Johnson.  The plan will be recorded at the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds.

 

 

Ms. Werner made a motion to adjourn at 9:20 p.m.  Mr. Federico seconded the motion, which carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Linda A. Beaudoin

Secretary Stratham Planning Board