GROTON PLANNING BOARD
March 25, 2009
Present: Russ Carruth, Deb Johnson, Celine Richer, Steve (Slim) Spafford, Jenny Burnett (alternate), Steve Lindsey.
Absent: Selectboard liaison, Kyle Andrews
Meeting convened at 7:04 pm.
First order of business was to elect a Chairman. Deb nominated Slim. Celine 2nd.
All voted in favor with Slim abstaining.
Minutes of Feb. 25th read and accepted. Clerk apologized for failure to post agenda on town web site. Will do that next month.
Chair moved, Russ 2nd, to appoint alternate Jenny Burnett as full board member to complete Kyle’s term. All were in approval.
Motion accepted to suspend old business and move to new business. Unanimous approval.
Alan Barnard presented informational plan for Bailey Hill Rd. subdivision of Aladdin Financial. Nine five acre lots are included. The proposed road to access all lots was 1400’ with a Y ending. Chair noted that in Masterplan, subdivision roads are required to be no longer than 1,000’ with a cul-de-sac ending, but a waiver can be granted. Deb sees no need to hold distance to 1,000’ as long as a road of greater distance does not pose a hazard to the town. Alan said he’ll return to the plan and see if he can keep to a 1,000’ road or might need to request a waiver. Alan went on to explain that in this proposed subdivision, the road will be deeded to the owner of lot 7. Remaining lot owners will be required to contribute to the cost of maintenance of said road. Deb asked Alan to show the board a copy of finished language in deeds, regarding road maintenance. He agreed to that. In the course of further conversation, board members agreed that Subdivision Regulations put pressure on developers to build their roads to town road standards. Alan noted that a few towns, Orford for one, have a private road ordinance. Board members agreed to review and discuss road building requirement language in our Subdivision Regulations. Alan asked to be informed of the results of that discussion.
Mike Ethier came before the board to ask why a building permit was issued to Roberti for a steel building, without notification to abutters, he being one of them. Chair referred him to the issuers of building permits – the selectmen. Before leaving, Mike said that contrary to what he heard in the reading of the Feb. minutes, Dave Leone is not the only property owner assessed “commercial”. He, Gordon Coursey, and John Faucher are as well.
New business completed, the board went back to old business. The chair distributed copies of data collected from surrounding towns concerning their site plan review fees. Board members agreed to study this info and return next month with recommendations for Groton’s fees.
Forming a definition of home based business was tackled again. Slim shared his conversation with the Avitar employee who’d said that a business owner who parked work vehicles at his home to later drive to job sites would not have his home taxed as a business. Deb said she’d found nothing specific in the RSAs, only recommendations. From Groton’s 1987 Masterplan, she read a definition of home based business. No definition of same appears in our current Masterplan. Board members wish to spend more time reviewing and discussing possible definitions.
Celine has spoken with Pam, our town AA, about the Planning Board having a Web site of its own. Board members decided unanimously to leave things as they are, with Planning Board minutes and agendas being a part of the town website.
After the Chair shared correspondence, a unanimous vote adjourned the meeting at 10:20 pm.
Sharon Nelson
Clerk