MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE
DRAFT MINUTES
AUGUST 11, 2014

Attendees: Ralph O’Dell – Chair, Ted Mitchell – Secretary,
Helen Schoppmeyer, Clayton Wood,
Jim Pritchard

Absent: Paul Metcalf

1. Call to Order at 7:01

2. Approval of July 28, 2014 Minutes – Changed Item 5 – Current
Article 8: — Lots….”But Not Building Height” to
Read, “ As Well As Building Height.”

3. Zoning Proposal – Article 8, Cluster Developments

– Needs Clarification Concerning Thru Streets
– Allowed in Suburban and Rural Districts
– Isn’t Practical for 2 ac Lots, Need to be 5 or 10 ac Lots
– Cal-De-Sac, Lot Frontage on Bulb Less But Greater Acreage
in Back
– When Holding Public Hearing:

— Will Meet Resistance so…
+ Clearly State Purpose for Cluster Development
+ Must Avoid Bad Developments that are Unattractive
To Residents Who Move In and that Become a Burden
On the Town and Taxpayers
+ State Misconceptions People have About Clusters
+ Use Examples From Other Communities

– Introduction to Housing Chapter Could Include:

— Reflect the Community’s Desired Quality of Life
— To Maintain and Increase the Diversity of Housing
Types and Settings in Town
— Retain the Residential Character of Pittsfield by
Encouraging Additional Businesses to Use Existing
Structures by Revising Regulations
— Encourage Mixed Use in the Village Area by Increasing
Parking Available and Proximity to Housing Units
— Encourage Mixed Building Types in New Developments,
Including Single-Family, Duplex, Townhouses, and
Condominiums Homes by Revising Regulations

4. Elderly Housing:

– Will Schedule Tours of Pembroke and Belmont
Housing in September/October Timeframe

5. Pittsfield Senior Center:

– Ralph is Still Trying to Contact Leslie Vogt for
First Hand Information

6. Meeting w/CATCH

– Ralph is Meeting with CATCH Tomorrow and if
Productive Will Arrange Future Meeting with CATCH
At One of Master Plan Committee’s Meetings

7. Article/Letter for Suncook Valley Sun:

– Information Item will be Placed in Paper that will
Include US Census Data with Graphs (Ralph will Check
W/Ross Morse to See How Paper Can Accommodate Graphs)

8. Public Information Meeting:

– Will Schedule a Public Information Meeting to
Let Residents Know What the Master Plan Committee
Has Been Working On and to Get Comments and
Feedback

9. Letter to Lot Owners Along Loudon/Pittsfield Town Line:

– Letter will be Sent to Get Feedback From Owners
Concerning the Recommendation to Zone That Area
for 5 Acre Lots (Must Identify Owners)

10. Next Meeting: August 25, 2014

11. Adjournment: 8:14

Prepared by: Ted Mitchell, Secretary

Submitted: Ralph O’Dell, Chair, Master Plan Committee