Standish Planning Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: 
Monday, March 5, 2018

Standish Planning Board

Meeting Minutes

March 05, 2018

 

The meeting of the Standish Planning Board was called to order by Chairman Adam Higgins at 7:00pm. Present were Charlie Brown, Deborah Boxer, Joleen Whittemore, Roland Cloutier, Bud Benson, Town Planner and Jackie Dyer, Admin. Assistant to the Planner and Planning Board. Absent were Mike Willette (excused) and Gerry Lonnstrom.

Mr. Higgins welcomed new Planning Board member Deb Boxer.

Approval of Meeting Minutes from February 05, 2018

 

Mr. Higgins asked for a motion to approve the meeting minutes from February 05, 2018 as written. Mr. Cloutier made a motion seconded by Mr. Brown to approve. All in favor.

 

Approval of Finding of Fact:

Raymond and Jolene Whittemore, 45 Wards Cove Road, Map 50, Lot 15-Shoreland Zoning Application (addition to 45 Wards Cove and removal of cottage at 47 Wards Cove)

Joseph & Virginia Untisz, 6 Jeremy Dr., Map 50, Lot 82 -Shoreland Zoning Application

Mr. Higgins asked for a motion to approve the Findings of Fact. Mr. Cloutier made a motion to approve the Finding of Fact for Raymond and Joleen Whittemore, this was seconded by Mr. Brown. All in favor with Mrs. Boxer and Mrs. Whittemore recusing themselves. Mr. Cloutier made a motion to approve the Finding of Fact for Joseph and Virginia Untisz, this was seconded by Mr. Brown. All in favor with Mrs. Boxer recusing herself.

 

Old Business:

Chris Duchaine, 525 Pond Road, Map 19, Lot 6- Preliminary Subdivision Application (Patriot Place)

Chris Duchaine was present to represent himself. He said that his engineer didn’t get in all of the information that we needed when he was supposed to. He said that there was a workshop and it really came down to the fire protection issue and he was really caught off guard that more information had not been sent to the Board for the meeting tonight. He said he has a buyer in the audience tonight for one of the lots and would really like to move this along as quickly as he can. He said with the fire protection the ordinance says they need a natural form of water like a stream or pond. He said there is a natural spring on the property and he said the Planning Board will have the final decision on whether he has to put in a dry hydrant or not.

 

He said he would like to do a special meeting in a week or so if all of the information needed is brought in. Mr. Higgins said the issue is rather they have a fire suppression system in order. Mr. Duchaine said that he will put in a hydrant and tank if he has too, but he would rather not. He said he feels that he can meet the town’s guidelines with the stream that is already there. He said he feels this is a natural resource and can be used. Mr. Benson said that the real issue is that the water needs to be there year round, not just in the spring when the water table is high. He said in the summer the water table goes down and sometimes dries out completely and then again in the fall it comes back up with the hurricanes and storms. He said there are a lot of wetlands and they typically have standing water. He said that the problem with a fire pond is they start drying up and all of a sudden when you might need it, you are pulling rocks up into the fire truck pump and potentially ruining a 30,000.00 dollar fire pump because of the lack of water.

 

Chris said that all wells and such dry up at some point and he feels that some dry hydrants dry up too, especially when we have a drought. He said he knows it has to be a natural resource. He said he can draw fire tanks on the plan and have a sooner meeting than April. Mr. Benson said any wetland has water right now anywhere and what evidence is there that there will still be water there in July. Mr. Brown said they need to do a site walk and one was scheduled for Monday, March 12, 2018 at 3:00pm.  Mr. Duchaine asked for another meeting before April and Mr. Higgins said they will go with the meeting in April. They will come to a workshop on Monday, March 19, 2018 at 6:00pm.

 

 

New Business:

Anastasia & Ron Hopkins, 25 Oak Hill Road, Map 36, Lot 12-Site Plan    Application for daycare in Standish Congregational Church (Harvard Jr. Academy)

 

Anastasia Hopkins was present to represent her and her husband. She explained that she would like to open a daycare at the Standish Congregational Church. She showed the floor plan of the church and showed where the space she would be using is located on the first floor and also would have access to the basement as well where there are classrooms.

 

Mrs. Boxer said the information before them looks good. Mr. Higgins asked for comments from the Board and there were none. He asked for public comment and Bill Tracy said he is a trustee of the church and the church fully supports this use as a daycare. He said their facilities are under-utilized and said it would be great to have this used especially during the day. He said he feels this would be a wonderful place for children to go and they are in full support of Anastasia as well. Mr. Tracy said the list of things the Board requires is very complete.

 

Mr. Tim Goodwin an abutting landowner said he is in favor of this project also and asked if any fence was going to be put up and where it would be. Anastasia said they are going to fence in a play area completely and showed on the plan where the fence would be. Mr. Tracy said they have some brush to cut and clean up and the fence would go all of the way to the stone wall on the property.

 

Mr. Benson said he felt the Board needed to go through all of the Standards of Approval and as long as all of them were met, the application would be approved. Mr. Brown made a motion to find the application complete, seconded by Mr. Cloutier. All in favor.

 

§ 181-73. Standards and conditions for approval.

No preliminary or final site plan shall be approved unless, in the judgment of the Planning Board, the applicant has proven that the plan meets all of the following standards.

A.    The provisions for vehicular loading, unloading and parking and for vehicular and pedestrian circulation on the site and onto adjacent public streets and ways will not create hazards to safety nor will impose a significant burden upon public facilities.

Mr. Brown made a motion seconded by Mr. Cloutier that Standard A has been met. All in favor.

 

B.    The bulk location and height of proposed buildings and structures and the proposed uses thereof will not be detrimental or will impose undue burdens on the public facilities.

Mr. Brown made a motion seconded by Mr. Cloutier that Standard B has been met. All in favor.

 

C.    The provisions of on-site landscaping and screening do provide adequate protection to neighboring properties from detrimental features of the development.

Mr. Cloutier made a motion seconded by Mr. Brown that Standard C has been met. All in favor.

 

D.    The site plan adequately provides for the soil and drainage problems that the development will create.

Mr. Brown made a motion seconded by Mr. Cloutier that Standard D has been met. All in favor.

 

E.    The provisions for exterior lighting will not create undue hazards to motorists traveling on adjacent public streets nor are inadequate for the safety of occupants or users of the site nor will such lighting damage the value and diminish the usability of adjacent properties.

Mr. Brown made a motion seconded by Mr. Cloutier that Standard E has been met. All in favor.

 

F.    The applicant has provided reasonable evidence of his financial capabilities to complete the development as planned and approved.

Mr. Cloutier made a motion seconded by Mr. Brown that Standard F has been met. All in favor.

 

G.    The proposed development will not create undue fire safety hazards by not providing adequate access to the site or the buildings on the site for emergency vehicles or by failure to meet other fire safety ordinances or laws. The Fire Department shall file a written report with the Planning Board prior to the hearing.

Mr. Cloutier made a motion seconded by Mr. Brown that Standard G has been met. All in favor.

 

H.    The proposed development has made adequate provision for sewage disposal.

Mr. Cloutier made a motion seconded by Mr. Brown that Standard H has been met. All in favor.

 

I.    The proposed site plan will not alter the existing character of the surrounding zoning district or division to the extent that it will become a detriment or potential nuisance to said zoning division or district.

Mr. Brown made a motion seconded by Mr. Cloutier that Standard I has been met. All in favor.

 

J.    The proposed development has made adequate provision for water supply, including an adequate supply of water for fire-protection purposes.

Mr. Cloutier made a motion seconded by Mr. Brown that Standard J has been met. All in favor.

 

 

K.    No plan shall be approved by the Planning Board as long as the applicant is in default on a previously approved plan.

Mr. Brown made a motion seconded by Mr. Cloutier that Standard K has been met. All in favor.

 

L.    Architectural drawings showing exteriors of proposed new nonresidential/commercial buildings in the Village Center District shall be compatible with a Colonial New England design. Such design can be achieved by incorporating features such as, but not limited to, broken rooflines, clapboard siding, steeply pitched roofs, roof overhangs, small pane windows, dormers, window shutters.

Standard L is not applicable.

 

M.    Within the Standish Corner District, the plan must meet all of the following additional standards:

(1) The proposed development complies with the regulating plan and the applicable SCD street frontage type standards within the Standish Corner District.

Standard M is not applicable.

 

Mr. Brown made a motion to approve the application seconded by Mr. Cloutier. All in favor.

 

 

Craig & Sue Robinson, 9 Sandy Cove Rd. Extension, Map 47, Lot 31- Shoreland Zoning Application (Proposal for a two car garage with boat storage and replacing the foundation of the cottage)

 

Brady Frick from Albert Frick Associates was present to represent the applicants. He handed out a revised site plan that had some changes from the original one submitted with the application.  He said the revised plan is up to date with impervious area and also vegetative area. He said the proposed plan is to move the structure back as far as they can and put a full basement underneath it. It will be moving back approximately 20 feet. He said the lot coverage stays the same with moving the structure back at 14.4 percent. He said the biggest change in the plan is that the garage has been removed at this time and maybe down the road they will want to build it.

 

He said that there are some trees to remove and that is because they want to avoid ruining the leach field when they move the heavy equipment in to move the structure. He said some of the trees that need to be removed will be replaced with other trees that are native to the area. He said another change is that the surveyors had the setbacks wrong and they are different with a non-conforming lot. These have been adjusted per the Town’s zoning ordinance. He said the location of the house has changed so the set back from the water and the high water mark has changed also. He said the elevation has changed and it’s now changed to the 266.5 per the Town’s ordinance.

 

Brady said there is a man-made wall which he refers to as the silk fence. He said this is for erosion control and he has added a flood zone to the plan also. They have also added the 100 year flood plain on the plan.

 

Mr. Brown asked about the basement being above the flood plain of the lake and Mr. Frick said yes. Mr. Brown asked about a pipe going directly into the lake and was the Water District okay with that? Mr. Frick said he has spoken to the Water District and also to the DEP.  He said this is a permit by rule. He said the Water District has never had a problem in the past with this and he was sure they are okay with it.

 

The Board felt a site walk is necessary and one was scheduled for Monday, March 19, 2018 at 4:00pm followed by a workshop.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45pm.