March 2, 2005

Agenda: The Town of Stratham, Planning Board conducted a Public Hearing on Wednesday, March 2, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., at the Stratham Town Hall, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue, Stratham, NH to consider the following:

Approval of Minutes: January 19, 2005 and February 2, 2005

New Business: Application Acceptance & Public Hearing:

Map 11 Lots 35 & 36, Public Safety Complex Building Committee, 10 Bunker hill Avenue, Stratham, NH, Site Plan application to construct a Public Safety Complex to be located on Winnicutt Road.

Members Present: Chairman Ken Cornwell, Frank Catapano, Kirk Scamman, Tim Mason, Bruno Federico, Janet Johnson, and Town Planner, Charles (Chuck) Grassie. Mary Jane Werner arrived late to the meeting.

Map 11 Lots 35 & 36, Public Safety Complex Building Committee, 10 Bunker hill Avenue, Stratham, NH, Site Plan application to construct a Public Safety Complex to be located on Winnicutt Road:

Lucy Cushman, Chairperson and David Emanuel from the Public Safety Complex Building Committee were present to give the Board a presentation on the Public Safety Complex. Mr. Emanuel gave a history of this project and a presentation on the building itself. He indicated that because of various factors, including lot size, and funding, they lost green space and buffers. He stated that they were going before the voters at Town Meeting for additional funding.

Mr. Catapano asked if there was an existing entrance to the property off of Portsmouth Avenue. Mr. Emanuel said yes. Mr. Catapano than asked why the Committee didn’t design the site so there was no entrance off of Portsmouth Avenue. Mr. Emanuel said that one of the criteria from the Fire Chief and Operations Officers was to have multiple accesses on the major roads. Having an access on Portsmouth Avenue and Winnicutt Road satisfied that criteria. Mr. Catapano was concerned about having the two access points so close together because of the added traffic in and out of the site. There was a discussion on this issue. Mr. Catapano asked if a traffic study had been done for this project. Mr. Emanuel said no. Mr. Mason asked if the colors shown on the plans on the board were the ones that were going to be used. He was told that the colors shown were very close to what they plan on using. There were discussions on what would be used for siding on the building; whether or not they could relocate the detention area in front of the building; the lack of landscaping budget for the lot; the extra money the Committee needs for this project; the lack of parking on site; the possibility of putting in an underground drainage system; the location of the main entrance to the building; signage; some way to control the traffic light at the corner of Portsmouth Avenue and Winnicutt Road for emergency vehicles; and the possibility of a turning lane onto Portsmouth Avenue. Questions and comments from the audience included: making the flow of traffic around the building one way; reducing the size of the building; the lack of parking for the manpower needed during emergencies; the radiuses for the septic system; the removal of the trees from the site; an underground drainage system; the detention pond; drainage from the site; and landscaping.

Abutter Colleen Lake noted that she was inadvertently not notified of tonight’s meeting. She commented that every applicant coming before the Board has to abide by the Town’s rules and regulations regarding the size of the building for the site, parking, drainage, landscaping, etc. She felt that the Town should also have to abide by the rules and regulations with the Public Safety Building. Ms. Lake felt the building was too large, elaborate, and expensive for the Town’s needs. She did not believe that Town needs jail cells, because we have the County jail where prisoners are kept. Mr. Mason asked if the Committee had looked into having separate buildings for the Fire Department and Police Department. Ms. Cushman stated that they had looked into that question, but felt having them together was the best way to go. Mr. Catapano asked if it was necessary to have jail cells in the new building. Ms. Cushman stated that the Police Department was asking for the jail cells. Mr. Mason asked if the gym was necessary. Mr. Emanuel stated that the leading cause of deaths in both Fire and Police personnel is heart attacks. He said that there are minimum qualifications that both Fire and Police personnel have to meet, and they don’t always have the luxury of going to a gym to exercise. There was additional discussion on having a separate building vs. a joint building; whether or not the size of the building can be reduced; the necessity of a traffic study; the lack of parking; what is being presented vs. what will be built; whether or not coming before the Planning Board at this time was premature; whether or not it is necessary to have a hose drying tower for the Fire Department; the landscaping; and the style of the building. Mr. Cornwell asked if the funds appropriated covered the cost of furnishing the building once it is built. Ms. Cushman was not sure, since the Committee does not yet have the final numbers on the cost to build the Safety Complex. Patty Ryan-Perkins asked why the Committee didn’t recommend that the building be built in phases as the Town’s needs grow. Ms. Cushman stated that there were three departments that will be housed in this building. She said it was recommended that the structure be built, and then finish the interior as needs arise. Mr. Emanuel indicated that the Committee had originally wanted to build an addition to the existing firehouse for the Police Department, but they could not get the adjoining land they needed, nor could they get a layout that is economically feasible to build on the land the Town owns. Mr. Mason asked about the flat roof. Mr. Emanuel said they had originally wanted a pitched roof, but it was changed to a flat roof because of the cost. There was considerable additional discussion regarding the flat roof; the uncertain cost of this project; and the size of the proposed building. Ms. Cushman stated that the architects and engineers who did the plans would be at Town Meeting on March 11, 2005 to answer any questions people may have on this project. Mr. Grassie offered to draft up the Board’s and the public’s comments and recommendations for the Committee.

Other:

Mr. Grassie informed the Board about a Public Hearing on the second phase of the Sterling Hill Retirement project in Exeter scheduled for Thursday, March 10, 2005. He had handed out registration forms for Annual Planning and Zoning Conference. He stated that the Board members could also sign up on-line if they wish to attend any of the seminars. Mr. Cornwell reminded the Board members that they would be voting on a new Chair and Vice Chair at the Planning Board meeting following the Town Meeting. There were brief discussions regarding Mr. Cornwell’s suggestion that the Selectmen hold a staff meeting with the heads of the Boards, Commissions, and Committees in Town; changing the name of the Water Commission to the Board of Public Works; and about forming the Committee to study Portsmouth Avenue corridor.

Mr. Federico made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 p.m. Ms. Johnson seconded the motion, which carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda A. Beaudoin

Secretary Stratham Planning Board