DUNBARTON PLANNING BOARD

WORKSHOP MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR MASTER PLAN CHAPTERS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004

TOWN OFFICES – 7:00 P.M.

 

The regularly scheduled Workshop Meeting of the Dunbarton Planning Board was held at the above time, date and place with Chairman James Marcou presiding.  The following members were present:

 

                James Marcou – Chairman

                Brian Nordle – Co-Chairman

                Alison Vallieres – Secretary

                Kenneth Swayze – Admin., Planning and Zoning Department

                Mert Mann – Selectman

                George Holt

                Michael Poirier

                David Breault, Alternate

                Lee Richmond, Land Use Sub-Committee Chairman

 

Members of the Public:

 

                Lori Davis

                Chuck Williamson

 

MASTER PLAN UPDATE:

 

Brian Nordle, Co-Chairman of the Master Plan Committee, explained that Lee Richmond, Chairman, of the Land Use Sub-Committee was present to discuss the First Draft of the Land Use Chapter.

 

1.        Lee Richmond explained the Chapter and noted that the residents of the Town have indicated they wanted to preserve the existing five, three and two acre lot zoning.  

 

2.        In addition, he noted that they had included pictures within the text of what “rural character” meant to them. 

 

3.        The Land Use Report also included pictures of commercial uses throughout the Town representing “rural character”. 

 

4.        One of the recommendations  of the Land Use Chapter was for the Town to try to address the difficulties at Gorham Pond with regard to setbacks, etc. 

 

5.        The Land Use Sub-Committee felt that by eliminating the necessity for PRD’s to be through the Special Exception process might possibly encourage developers to pursue PRD’s instead of grid subdivisions.  Five acre zoning creates “bloated” suburbs where a large house is set in the middle of a five acre parcel, thus creating “bloat”.  A PRD could be used as preservation for open fields, wetlands, etc.  The Sub-Committee recommended providing some sort of incentives for PRD’s. 

 

Chuck Williamson noted that most of the previously approved PRD’s were now defunct.  The Board noted that Old Fort Estate was a PRD.  The golf course is a PRD. 

 

Lori Davis stated that she would like to see opening up trails and buffer zones, etc. for PRD’s. 

 

James Marcou asked what type of incentives should be offered to developers to encourage them to go with PRD’s.  What would the advantages be? 

 

Michael Poirier stated that if you want developers to develop into PRD’s, you shouldn’t require them to take out the steep slopes and wetlands in the formula. 

 

Ken Swayze noted they could develop into smaller lots. 

 

Brian Nordle stated that the problem with Incentive Zoning in this Town is that Incentive Zoning will never work in this Town.  People in this Town will not accept Incentive Zoning. 

 

Lori Davis stated that she came from Dolestown, PA.  They were taking farms and making them into subdivisions with tiny lots.  I don’t think this is what we want.  It got bad and everyone was complaining that this was not why they came here.

 

Chuck Williamson stated he was not in favor of including wetlands in the formula.  Could have a 90 acre swamp with only ten acres of good buildable land.  The developer would be able to put four houses on the ten acres. 

 

6.        Kenneth Swayze asked Lee Richmond how they addressed Commercial Uses.  This is something that is necessary to a Town.  There eventually will be a need for services for residents.  What about Village Centers? 

 

Lee Richmond stated that this Town does not want any Commercial Uses, etc.

 

Alison Vallieres stated that within the Past Land Uses portion, she addressed the fact that a Commercial Zoning Committee had been established in the past.  A proposal had been overwhelmingly voted down by the residents at that time.  In addition, in the past there had been eleven “inns”, etc. 

 

7.        In addition, the Land Use Committee  suggested (based on recommendations from the Conservation Commission) that there should be encouragement for corridors linking existing Conservation Easements and Lands. 

 

8.        The Land Use Report recommends that the Manufactured Housing District be taken off the Zoning Ordinance because it is unenforceable, etc.

 

At this point in the meeting, James Marcou noted that there will be a Final Public Hearing in January for the entire Master Plan.  It will encompass eight separate chapters.   The Planning Board will continue to hold Public Hearings for individual chapters as they are completed.  This will make the final process easier.  The Final Document has to be reviewed by the Public as a complete unit in January at a Public Hearing. 

 

Brian Nordle noted the following schedule for upcoming  Master Plan meetings:

 

                November 1, 2004 – Steering Committee

November 3, 2004 – Planning Board Workshop  (Regional Concerns, Natural Resources, Introduction and Appendix) On October 14, 2004, the final above chapters will appear on the web site. 

 

Remaining Chapters will be reviewed in December. 

 

Approval of Workshop, September 1, 2004 Minutes:

 

A motion was made by Kenneth Swayze to approve the minutes of the September 1, 2004 Workshop Meeting as written.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

 

                                                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                                                Alison R. Vallieres, Secretary