June 19, 2008 Minutes

Pittsfield Planning Board

Town Hall, 85 Main Street

Pittsfield, NH 03263
Minutes of Public Meeting
DATE: JUNE 19, 2008

ITEM 1. Call to Order at 7:00 P.M. by Rich Hunsberger, Chairman

ITEM 2. Roll Call

Members Present: Rich Hunsberger, (RH), Chairman, Gerard Leduc (GL), Vice-Chair, Larry Konopka (LK), Selectman Ex-Officio, Fred Hast (FH), Robert Elliott (RE), Marilyn Roberts (MR), Dan Schroth (DS), Alternate, and Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

Members Absent:

Daniel Greene (DG), and Tom Hitchcock (TH), Alternate.

ITEM 3. Public Hearing for application for a Site Plan Review for a proposed children’s items resale shop/toy shop located at 2 Depot Street, Pittsfield, NH 03263 (Tax Map U03, Lot 109.) The property is owned by James and Michelle Trovato, 16 Dominic Drive, Barrington, NH 03825. This property is located in the COMMERCIAL Zone.

Gerard Leduc recused himself as an abutter and was seated in the audience. Dan Schroth, Alternate was seated on the Board.

Mr. Trovato began his presentation noting that he currently is the owner of the building, and denoting the location. He related that it is the former building, which housed PYW. The Clothes Closet continues to be housed there. He related that they will be selling value priced toys, party supplies and about 10% of their merchandise will include baby equipment. He related that they are hoping to have the store open and running by mid-September, 2008.

His wife and he anticipated the name will be The Toy Box & Kids Korner with Mrs. Trovato being the sole operator at this time. He presented a packet of information concerning his proposed plans including, map overview, location, exterior lighting, business signs, awnings, hours of operation, solid waste disposal, water supply & sewage disposal, and parking. The building will be painted, and the roof, which is partially done, will be completed along with new siding. He noted that there would be no anticipated large freight deliveries on a regular basis, maybe occasionally, with most deliveries coming through the front entrance. (See attached packet of information.)

PUBLIC INPUT

Jane Leduc noted that her concern is individuals parking in her driveway or at the entrance, or too close to the entrance of her driveway. Mr. Trovato assured her that no delivery trucks would be parking in that area, and if anyone illegally parked, that she or he could contact the Police Department. Mr. Leduc explained that there is a parking space on Depot, which should note that there was No Parking Close to Corner, which is currently missing but should be replaced soon.

Cheryl Caza, Manager Clothes Closet, noted some concerns regarding conflict of sales, namely both stores selling the same kind of items. Mrs. Trovato noted they would only be minimally handling baby items such as Pac’N’Plays and strollers and some resale items. She noted that possibly Halloween costumes and high-end baby clothes, games, and puzzles for adults and children might also be part of their items. Ms. Caza thought all these items would be in competition with the items sold at Clothes Closet.

Beverly Drolent related that there might be an issue regarding parking. Mr. Trovato noted that he would assume that most patrons would utilize Depot Street for parking rather than Carroll.

CLOSE PUBLIC INPUT

Interior and exterior lights was further discussed, as was awnings, and signs.

(DS) Motion to approve Site Plan Review for James and Michelle Trovato, 2 Depot Street with condition Building Inspector and Fire Chief approve certificate of occupancy. (FH) Second. Carried 6-0.

Gerard Leduc was seated on the Board.

ITEM 4. Approval of Minutes of June 5, 2008

(RE) Motion to approve Minutes of June 5, 2008. (LK) Second.

After Discussion: Carried 7-0.

Discussion:

Minutes were revised to include changes as indicated by (LF) under Members Concerns.

ITEM 5. New Business

Representative – CNHRPC

(RH) Motion to approve Tom Hitchcock as representative to CNHRPC. (DS) Second. Carried 6-1 (FH)

(GL) noted that he had given a copy of What Does the Workforce Housing Bill (SB 342) Mean? which was discussed at the recent CNHRP meeting. It basically notes, “All municipalities must provide reasonable and realistic opportunities for the development of workforce housing, including rental multi-family housing.” (RE) noted that he thought this Bill might be aimed at more “upscale” Towns. (GL) “If anyone has any questions they would like asked of the Senators, please let me know. The next meeting is September 11, 2008.”

ITEM 6. Selectman’s Report

(LK) Everything is pretty good. As you will note, we now have an air conditioning unit in this room. (FH) questioned the cost and the budget for this. (LF) noted that he had donated it to the Town.

ITEM 7. Building Inspector Report

(RH) The Building Inspector has filed a report. (LK) He has done an excellent job of informing us. (RH) We will consider his concerns when we get to that part of the revisions we are working on. We will re-write definitions and the necessary criteria. (LK) The Planning Board has the right to ask any one to build up the road to accommodate a “business.”

ITEM 8. Members Concerns

(DS) related that Tom Hitchcock has encouraged the Board to go over the Zoning Ordinance changes and look to develop a more self-sustaining village, namely: land-food-water-energy.

(FH) noted that in the Building Inspector’s Report, it was noted that the Table of Uses needs to be user friendly. How much more user-friendly can they be? (LK) noted that Mike was concerned with junkyards. He has done a good job with the report for not being here with a positive attitude.

(GL) questioned whether the individual Board members would be assigned to do different definitions. (RH) related that Board would be doing this at meetings together. I was working on the height factor – what should be exempt such as chimneys and that height is measured one-half way down from the gable.

Board discussed the distribution of CIP report from previous years and if/how Department Heads would be given timeframe for returning and presenting. Currently the schedule noted was that requests should be returned by August 7th and appointments with Planning Board would be scheduled on August 21st.

(FH) wanted to apologize to School Board regarding his comment that they had not offered anything regarding the CIP last time, but apparently they did.

ITEM 9. WORK SESSION

(RH) We can work on Article III tonight.

ARTICLE 3 – DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this Ordinance, certain terms or words herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:

ABUTTER: Any person whose property is located in New Hampshire and adjoins or is directly across the street or stream from the land under consideration. (See Persons of Standing.)

PERSONS OF STANDING: For the purpose of receiving testimony only and not for purposes of notification, persons of standing shall include any person who is able to demonstrate that his land will be directly affected by the proposal under consideration. (See Abutter.)

ACCESSORY USE/BUILDING: Any subordinate use, building, or portions of the main building, the use of which is customarily incidental to that of the main building on the same lot or premises and which is used primarily by the occupants of the main building.

ADULT BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT: means any business open to the public, including, but not limited to, any bookstore, video store, newsstand, novelty store, nightclub, bar, cabaret, amusement arcade, theater, sexual encounter center or another business which: a) Derives revenue from the sale, rental or viewing of live performances or representation in any form involving displays or materials which meet the definition of “harmful to minors” and/or “sexual conduct” as set forth in N.H. RSA 571-B:1, et.seq., and b) Denotes more than twenty percent (20%) of the total display, shelf, rack, table, stand or floor area for live performances or representations in any form of displays or material which meet the definition of “harmful to minors” and/or “sexual conduct” as set forth in N.H. RSA 571-Bl, (See Article 21).

ADULT HOUSING: Housing which is restricted to and occupied by at least one person 55 years of age or older per unit in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws which allow housing for older persons.

AGRICULTURE: Commercial agricultural activity including but not limited to orchard, market garden, nursery, dairy farm, commercial animals, poultry, livestock, including the keeping of will or domestic animals for personal or commercial use. Customary household pets such as cats or dogs are permitted throughout the town. Home farming is allowed.

AIRPORT/HELIPORT: An area used for landing and/or takeoff of motorized and/or non-motorized aircraft.

Board began changing/adding to the definition of AMUSEMENTS noting that a generic definition category making it generalized could be added. (MR) noted that it could still easily fit under AMUSEMENTS definition by adding “or other indoor amusements and assembly use.” (RH) Zoning is not for what you have but for what you do not have.

(Please note that Definition of ACCESSORY USE/BUILDING, ADULT BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT, ADULT HOUSING, AND AIRPORT/HELIPORT were not changed.)

Board agreed that at future Work Session they would address:

Senior Housing – 62 years and older – utilizing Federal and State Guidelines.

Adult Housing – Federal and State Guidelines

Amusements – Sporting Events

ITEM 10: Public Input

NONE

(RH) noted that Board would work on AMUSEMENTS definition at next Work Session and try to create a Fairgrounds and Other Athletic Fields definition as well.

ITEM 11: Adjournment

(LK) Motion to adjourn. (RE) Second. Carried 7-0.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

Approved: July 3, 2008

_____________________________ ________________________

Rich Hunsberger, Chairman Date