Westmoreland Planning Board

October 9, 2007

Present: L Bressett, W Staples, L Burt, B Smith, B Harcke, N Zeller, J Starkey, alternate W Derjue.

Lauren Bressett called the meeting to order at 7:30. As the secretary is out sick, she asked for volunteers to take minutes. With no takers, she asked for someone to chair the meeting and she would take minutes. Wes agreed to be chair.

Minutes – corrections made to Walt’s name (should be Derjue on p 1 and 3) and to change the last sentence of the third paragraph to read “Mr. Edgington was informed that once he was in the house he may need to apply for a special exception to have a home business.” Minutes accepted as corrected.

The Selectmen would like to have a joint meeting with the Planning and Zoning Boards. Issues that we would like on the agenda include:

Coordination of checklists and procedures

Clarification of what resources are available to the public at the town office

Printed copies of updated ordinances (2007 changes not in printed copies)

When is a business site plan needed?

We proposed the date of November 1. The Zoning Board indicated that this date would also work for them. We suggest that Bob Moore as Zoning Administrator and Larry Muchmore as Building Inspector also be invited. Lauren will check with Sam Bradley to see if our updated procedures will be approved by then. Wes stated that the town will mail notices of this meeting to all board members.

The Conservation Commission has asked if the board is interested in considering a steep slope ordinance. The Commission is willing to research and draft some potential ordinances if the board wishes. There was some discussion on exactly what a steep slope is. These are genrerally defined as 15% (15 foot rise in 100 feet of length). The board decided that we would first like to see some examples of other town ordinances to get an idea of what this entails, along with some examples in town of what would be considered steep driveways and what their approximate slope is, just to give us perspective. Walt will bring our requests back to the Commission.

The Conservation Commission also requested that we consider making the same additions to the site plan review checklist as we made to the subdivision checklists this past year regarding wetlands identification. The board felt that since we only see a few site plans and that all construction is reviewed by the building inspector, that this concern should be referred to him.

Bryant Robertson and Nick Gladke stopped by regarding the request for change of businesses in the first building on the north side of the Westmoreland Industrial Park. Bruce Smith recused himself due to conflict of interest. Zoning did approve their request. Since the business owner is already in the park, and the space he is moving to has in the past already been used for retail, and no external changes other than change in signage are being made, a site plan is not necessary. The motion was made by Laurie, seconded by Walter that site plan review be waived. Motion passed.

The Selectmen have received a grant regarding water protection and are required to form a Water Source Protection Group. Membership must include a representative from the Planning Board. After some discussion about what this grant would do, future costs to the town, and implications, Bruce Smith agreed to serve on this committee. He will be unable to attend the first scheduled meeting but asked to be informed by the Selectmen of future meetings.

The Selectmen are holding a public hearing Oct 25 regarding a request by Steven, John and Arthur Burt to layout and upgrade 40 feet of the Hartwell Mill Rd to class 5 status. While the planning board recognizes the duty of the Selectmen regarding layout of roadways, the board is concerned about the possible precedent set regarding frontage and access.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM

Lauren Bressett

Recorder