Standish Planning Board Meeting Minutes

                                                     Standish Planning Board

                                                          Meeting Minutes

                                                         October 03, 2022

The meeting of the Standish Planning Board was called to order by Chairman Charles Brown at 6:00pm. Present were Chris Struebing, Andrew Walton, Jolene Whittemore, Frank Nappi, Derek Wright, Deb Boxer, and Town Planner Scott Hastings.

Open Meeting

           a.        Call to order

           b.       Opening Statement from Planning Board Chairman Charles Brown

           c.        Declaration of a Quorum (7)

Approval of Meeting Minutes from September 12, 2022

Mrs. Whittemore made a motion seconded by Mr. Struebing to approve the meeting minutes as written. All in favor.

Approval of Finding of Fact:

• Earl Aube & Peters Construction, 435 Boundary Road, Map 12, 13 Lots                 4,5,42B,42C
• Richardson’s Boat Yard,633 Whites Bridge Road, Map 20, Lot 21 E-Site Plan Application for an additional boat storage rack building

A motion as made by Mr. Nappi to approve both Findings of Fact and seconded by Mr. Struebing. All in favor.

Old Business

• Patrick Michaud, 6 Apple Lane, Map 35, Lots 34-17 & 34-18-Site Plan Application for village housing

Mr. Brown said that no new information had been provided and asked for a motion to table this. Mrs. Whittemore made a motion to table and Mr. Walton seconded that motion. All in favor.

• R.J. Grondin & Sons, 295 Middle Road, Map 9, Lot 15 Blasting Application

Larry Grondin was present to represent himself, also present to represent the applicant was Steve Blais from Blais Engineering. He said they are here for a Phase One blasting permit. Mr. Blais said the IFWL has updated the maps and the bird habit has been removed from the Little Watchic area. He showed the habitats and where they are located, the magenta line being the deer habitat. Mr. Blais said there is also a small stream also running through. He said he added a smaller blasting area, and this is all within the approved gravel pit from last year.

Mr. Hastings said he is all set with this application and sees no issues with approving this. Mrs. Boxer asked how far away from the wetlands the blasting is and Mr. Blais said it is no further away than what it was previously. Mr. Blais showed the Board the map of the habitats that were update in June of 2022. He said that Little Watchic really has no habitats except for the deer habitat. Mr. Brown said the blasting would happen within the already approved gravel pit. Mrs. Boxer asked if the land was cleared between the blasting area and the pond. Mr. Grondin said all buffers are in place for blasting, they meet all the setbacks, requirements, etc. He said that he does not anticipate doing more than what they have asked for with a one-year permit. Mr. Grondin said they had no idea there was ledge.

Mrs. Boxer asked if they can’t just do other phases and leave this one alone the way it is. Mr. Grondin said they need flat surfaces within the pit for trucks, equipment, etc., and this is what is needed. Mr. Brown said that blasting happens in many pits and is also a safety issue. Mrs. Boxer asked how many acres of the pit are open right now and Mr. Grondin said around 15 and the pit has become more active for things like the roundabout and the Memorial Park ball field.  Mr. Brown said the blasts are very limited.

Mr. Grondin said that he realizes noise is also a concern and as far as drilling and blasting, this quarry would be minimal. He said maybe 10-to-20-foot cuts would be made. He said a drill comes in and drills the holes. He said they are not going wider or deeper, just flatter. He said the wholes are loaded with explosives and there are blasting mats that are placed. He said the blasts last about half a second to a second and they meet the standish codes in place or are below what is required. He said they are also below the vibration standards, and he expects lower blasts and vibrations as this pit is much smaller. He said he felt the blasting would only last a month or two and doesn’t see much after that. Mr. Grondin said when they are coming past Phase One, they would leave some area open and start the next phase as they are trying to plan ahead for the future.

Mrs. Boxer asked if they would be running a crusher and Mr. Grondin said they already run a crusher. Mrs. Boxer asked if she were on the edge of Little Watchic when the blast happened, would she get hit with anything. Mr. Grondin said they maintain a 1000-foot safety zone away from the blast and she should be very safe. He said they go out onto the trails and look for 4 wheelers and hikers. He said they would be covering the blast area, so no debris is coming out. Mr. Grondin said the rock would be utilized and they currently have a lot of work before them. He said they meet the State standards and are controlled by the Bureau of Mining, meeting all local, state and federal guidelines. Mr. Grondin said he compares this quarry blast to be very minimal. Mrs. Boxer asked if the Town received any tax revenue from the gravel pits and what benefit does the pit have to the Town? Mr. Grondin said they do pay taxes on the land, but no monies from the pit come to the Town as far as materials.

Mr. Brown said Staff recommends approval to the Grondin Pit for blasting. He said that he feels everything they have asked for has been submitted. Mrs. Whittemore made a motion seconded by Mr. Struebing that the application is complete as submitted. All in favor. Mrs. Whittemore made a motion to approve the Blasting Application, seconded by Mr. Struebing with the Conditions of Approval as written. Six voting yes, Mrs. Boxer voting no.

New Business:

• Mark Chartier, 905 Ossipee Trail W, Map 5, Lot 11-12-Site Plan Application for a bottle redemption center (L & M Redemption)

Lisa Plummer explained what she would like to do, open a bottle and can redemption. She said she has spoken with the Planner and looked at the parking and where the trucks will be coming in for the pickup. She said they are going to use the portion of the existing farm store and they have loading docks on the back. She said people will come through the front where the store is currently, and they would be using a lot of the existing building. Mr. Hastings showed where the entrance is and the existing parking.

Mr. Walton asked if they would have parking signs and she said yes, they will have the parking lot sectioned out. Mr. Nappi asked if there was another business there now and Ms. Plummer said no. Mr. Nappi asked if the redemption would be in the back and Ms. Plummer said yes. She said there will be no building modifications and no changes. Mr. Hastings said that given no site work or modifications are happening, he finds the site to be fine with what they are proposing to do. Mr. Brown said the truck traffic will go to the back of the building and Mr. Hastings said this is an allowed use for this zone. Mr. Hastings said he really did not see any major issues but there are a couple of waivers needed. He said there will need to be some exterior lights. Mrs. Whittemore asked if the parking signs needed to be put in as a condition. Mr. Walton asked if hours of operation are needed?

Mr. Hastings said the Fire Department Inspector had no questions at this time. Mr. Brown asked about the waiver concerning contours and the landscaping. Mrs. Boxer made a motion seconded by Mr. Wright to approve the waivers. Mr. Brown asked if anyone from the public wanted to speak, there were none. The motion and the second were voted on, all in favor. Mrs. Boxer made a motion seconded by Mr. Wright to find the application complete. All in favor. Mr. Brown said if they altered the site, they would have to come back with a new application. Mr. Brown read thru the conditions of approval:

1. All work shall be in conformance with materials and plan submitted by Lisa Plummer and Mark Chartier which consists of a site plan and supporting application materials.
2. All new exterior lighting shall be concealed source/full cutoff as required by §181-18 of the Land Use Ordinance.
3. This approval shall lapse and become void unless in accordance with §181-70.1.A which reads: “Following the issuance of site plan approval for a specified use by the Planning Board, the applicant shall make a substantial start, as defined in Part 1, §181-3, and determined by the Code Enforcement Officer, on the approved use within three years from the original date of approval. If no such substantial start is made, the Planning Board approval shall lapse and become void.”
4. This approval is dependent upon, and limited to, the proposals and plans contained in the application and supporting documents submitted and affirmed by the applicant or applicant’s agent (either orally or in writing) and that any variation from the plans, proposals, and supporting documents are subject to review and approval by the Planning Board, except for minor changes which the Code Enforcement Officer may approve.
5. Signage and no parking signs will be installed.

Mr. Struebing made a motion to approve the application with the conditions as read, seconded by Mr. Wright. All in favor.

• Daniel Smith, 169 Whites Point Rd, Map 57, Lot 9-Shoreland Zoning Application to build a new single-family dwelling

Michael Cobb from May Meadow Builders in Gray was present to represent the applicant. He said he has also hired an architect and a surveyor for this project. He said he had some incorrect information and have made the corrections. He said they conform to the needed square footage, and he is working with Portland Water District as there are some trees to be removed, the retaining wall must be repaired. He said he met with the Code Enforcement Officer about replanting of trees and other things. He said that he applied for a DEMO permit and also a tree removal, which he has. Mrs. Boxer said that she would like a site walk and Mr. Struebing agreed. Mrs. Boxer asked him if he was aware of what had happened at the site next to him? She said the stream had been moved and some things filled in, with the stream now going uphill. Mr. Cobb said that he is working with the Richardson’s next door on this.

Mr. Brown asked if this was a private road or a public road. Mrs. Boxer said this is a private road that the Town plows though a contractor, and she said this is something she is looking into. Mr. Hastings said they would need a new site plan with updated numbers and the plan with the high-water mark. Mr. Brown asked that if there was a drainage problem, would the Board need top? Mrs. Boxer said she has photos of the flooding. Mrs. Boxer said the flooding should be fixed first. She asked about the septic design, and could they change that so its parallel to the road and move the house back further? She said it seems they can get the house back further from the lake. Mr. Brown said the house would need to be redesigned because of the setbacks. He said he would have a lot less width. Mrs. Boxer said the house is supposed to be back as far as possible as this is a total rebuild. Mr. Brown said there is no grading plan, so that cannot be determined right now.

Mr. Cobb asked about topo’s, grading and a site walk. Mr. Brown said the HHE200 is not an approved and should we assume the State is going to approve that? Mr. Brown said 2-foot topo’s, normal elevation, and flood elevation because of the basement. Mr. Cobb said there is no foundation and no crawl space. Mrs. Whittemore asked about the sliding doors and Mr. Cobb said the sliding doors will come off a screened porch and there would be two steps to the lawn. Mr. Brown said that we would need to see that grade. Mr. Cobb said he has a full set of plans but did not bring them.

A site walk was scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 ,2022 beginning at 4:30pm.

Mr. Brown asked if Mr. Cobb had a list of things needed and he said yes. Mrs. Boxer asked if the trees could be left right now and not cut. Mr. Cobb said one was rotted next to the cabin and was removed. He said are three others, maybe four. Mr. Brown said there is a maple on the septic system and a big pine endangering the neighbors that may have to be removed as well. Mrs. Boxer said there are two with ribbons on them that do not look sick. Mrs. Whittemore asked about the front being staked out and would this be possible and where the septic is proposed. Mr. Cobb said he would have that done.

Mr. Struebing made a motion seconded by Mr. Wright to table this to the November 07, 2022, meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 6:40pm