STRATHAM PLANNING BOARD
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Agenda: The
Town of Stratham, Planning Board conducted a Public Hearing on
Real-Estate & Contractor Signs - To Amend Sections 2.1 Definitions and Section 7 Signs of Stratham Zoning Ordinance to address real-estate signs, contractor signs, snipe signs, yard sale signs and other off-site signage issues. The amendment would prohibit the off-site location of real-estate signage, would address other types of signage and would provide for the enforcement of the ordinance and removal of any illegal signage.
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Other:
Zoning Workshop:
NH Community College
Members Present: Acting Chair Bruno Federico, Joe Russell, Jeffrey Hyland, Gordon Barker, Martin Wool, Mary Jane Werner, and Charles (Chuck) Grassie, Town Planner.
Mr. Federico asked Mr. Hyland to act as a voting member this evening.
Real-Estate & Contractor Signs - To Amend Sections 2.1 Definitions and Section 7 Signs of Stratham Zoning Ordinance to address real-estate signs, contractor signs, snipe signs, yard sale signs and other off-site signage issues. The amendment would prohibit the off-site location of real-estate signage, would address other types of signage and would provide for the enforcement of the ordinance and removal of any illegal signage.
Mr. Grassie explained the reasons for this proposed sign
ordinance. He said he had removed signs
painted on vehicles from the ordinance, as requested by the Board. He noted the changes he made to the real
estate signs, prohibited signs sections, and to the tables. Mr. Grassie said he had forgotten to remove
painted on signs from the definitions, but would do so. He said he had gathered information regarding
painted on signs, which he had e-mailed to the Board members for
discussion. There was a great deal of
discussion about painted on signs. The Sign
Bandit, John Decker asked if there was anything that can be done about businesses
that drive up and down the roadway with signs on the tops of their vehicles,
and signs that are in the public right-of-ways of State highways. Mr. Decker said the signs in the public
right-of-ways on State highways are illegal, according to State law. Town Administrator Paul Deschaine stated that
those type of signs also violate Stratham’s proposed sign ordinance. Ms. Werner asked who is authorized to remove
any illegal signs. Code Enforcement
Officer Terry Barnes said the Code Enforcement Officer has that
authorization. Ron Laurence from
Blueberry Bay Farms asked if his seasonal agricultural sales signs that have
been posted on
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Ken Berry from
Beals Associates was present to represent the applicant. He noted that the property has approximately
16 acres. The applicant is proposing to
subdivide the property into two parcels.
He gave a brief description of the property. The new portion would have 5.04 acres, with
1.245 acres of upland. The new parcel
would use the existing driveway for access and utilities. Mr.
There were
discussions on: the location of the shared driveway; the combined easement for
the driveway, drainage, and utilities; the building envelopes; the lot numbers;
the location of the well radiuses; and the well easement. Mr. Wool asked if Mr. Grassie had done any
checking on the original Apple Way Subdivision to see if there are any
restrictions. Mr. Grassie said he had
not checked, but would do so. There were
additional discussions on: the uplands vs. the wetlands on both lots; whether
or not the building envelops are large enough for future expansion for decks,
garages, etc.; the frontages; the surveying that was done on the property;
setbacks from the property lines; the shared driveway; the well radius that
crosses the lot line; and the length of the new section of the driveway off the
existing driveway. Mr. Hyland asked if
the new house would have underground utilities.
Mr.
Zoning Workshop:
NH Community College – Flexible/Mixed Use Development Zone:
Mr. Hyland from the Zoning Subcommittee gave a report on their last
meeting. He noted that Mr. Grassie had
put together a draft Flexible/Mixed Use Development Zone ordinance. Mr. Grassie had made some changes to the draft
ordinance. He said that the Subcommittee
is trying to come up with an ordinance that will provide as much opportunity as
possible for redevelopment of
Mr.
Wool made a motion to adjourn at
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Beaudoin
Secretary Stratham Planning
Board