ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
TOWN HALL, 85 MAIN STREET
PITTSFIELD, NH 03263
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING

DATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

ITEM 1. Call to Order at 7:10 P.M. by Carole Dodge, Chairman

ITEM 2. Roll Call

Members Present:

Carole Dodge (CD), Chairman, John (Pat) Heffernan (PH), Vice-Chairman, Denis Beaudoin (DB), Scott Aubertin (SA), Albert Douglas (AD), Alternate, Jeffrey Swain (JS), Alternate and Delores Fritz, Recording Secretary.

Members Absent:

Paul Metcalf, Sr. (PM).

Jeffrey Swain, Alternate was seated on the Board as voting Alternate as well as Albert Douglas as a non-voting Alternate.

Chairman Dodge added to the Agenda: Election Filing Dates and Zoning Districts Boundary Line – Suburban Zone.

ITEM 3. Approval of Minutes of December 11, 2014.

(DB) Motion to approve Minutes of December 11, 2015. (PH) Second. Carried 5-0.

ITEM 4. Public Hearing with respect to an application for a Special
Exception filed by Deidre & James Daigle, 25 Crescent Street,
Pittsfield, NH 03263 (Tax Map U06, Lot 23) to allow an In-Law
Apartment in the existing structure at 25 Crescent Street,
Pittsfield, NH 03263. The property is owned by Deidre & James
Daigle and is located in the URBAN Zone.

(CD) explained the process of presentation of the Special Exception after which questions from the Board or the public will be entertained.

Deidre Daigle was present. She explained that when looking at the house, she realized it would be perfect because it would allow her daughter who is physically disable to live by herself as there was already a full in-law apartment within the structure. Her daughter being on her own helps us help her. We also have an older son who resides with us.

She reviewed the Criteria with the Board noting that she had done some updating in the house – smoke detectors, driveway regarded and repaired, and repair of some water damage. It is possible for three to four cars being parked in the driveway. My son resides there and is there when I am not there. “My husband and I like to travel,” and therefore, there is always someone there.

(PH) The house is set up as a duplex with both sides having a bathroom, bedroom and kitchen? Mrs. Daigle: Correct.

(AD) I am glad to hear that you chose to live in Pittsfield and all the work you put in the house to update it.

Public Input:

Paul Nickerson: I think it is fine. There are all houses in that area and it is fair to let her have it.

Close Public Input

(CD) So we all understand, to comply as an in-law apartment, there must be no remuneration to the owner, family is allowed as well as periodic guests, and the apartment is to support other members of the family and be subject to a yearly inspection by the Building Department to ascertain compliance with the approval status of the Special Exception. There is a yearly fee for this inspection, which has not yet been determined.

There is also a thirty (30) appeal process should this be approved.

(PH) Motion to approve the Special Exception filed by Deidre & James Daigle, 25 Crescent Street, Pittsfield, NH 03263 (Tax Map U06, Lot 23) to allow an In-Law Apartment at said address with annual inspections by the Building Inspector. (SA) Second. Carried 5-0.

(CD) reiterated the thirty (30) day appeal process. She also advised the applicant that the Statute of Limitations on utilizing the Special Exception is two years.

The Building Inspector will be contacting her.

Good luck! Ms. Daigle left meeting at 7:35 P.M.

ITEM 8: Other (Added)

a. New ZBA Member

(CD) We have a new Alternate, Jeffrey Swain, who has already been seated tonight for his first Special Exception. Welcome Jeff.

b. Elections

(CD) There are two members terms that are expiring – Pat Heffernan and Paul Metcalf, Sr. (AD) Is this the first election for the ZBA? (CD) Yes. Filing dates are January 21st through January 30th.

c. Zoning Districts Boundary Lines – Suburban District

(CD) This was brought up to the Planning Board to work on and they suggested discussing with the Master Plan Committee. We attempted to have them address several of our concerns as brought to them by the Building Inspector but they chose to address 59 definitions instead of the ZBA suggestions. The PB decided to wait another year to address zoning districts because they did not have enough information on this to proceed for this year. It was suggested at the PB that a committee be formed to address this but the members did not pass the motion.

(CD) Pat and I have put some time into this and have talked to Town Administrator about getting Matt Monahan involved in the process and it was agreed that he will do so when we are at a point where he can assist us. The definitions do not match what we have on the maps.

I am suggesting that the ZBA deals with it first. We can have a couple of Work Sessions to sit down and figure it out and have Matt Monahan assist us at some point to help us get everything in place by September so that it will be ready to be presented next year.

(DB) We will do the legwork and then present it to the Planning Board? (CD) Yes, so they can get it early enough and we can look at some other things that are a problem for Zoning. To do this, we need to start it now and straighten it all out.

Paul Nickerson: We need to change it as needed.

(CD) I tried to explain to the Planning Board that they have the authority to move these boundary lines. The process will be different should under 100 or over 100 people are affected by this. It is a process that we will need to go through.

(PH) The Master Plan is working on different projects. We need to get our “ducks in a row,” present it to the Master Plan and Planning Board. If we do not do it, it will not get done. Mostly at PB meetings, we listen to Jim Pritchard and Bill Miskoe discussing differences and we are just spinning our wheels. The PB Rules of Procedure have now been changed effective April 1st. It is going to be a lot of work and people may object, but we can work with Matt Monahan, Mike Williams and LGC.

Paul Nickerson: It is the same as Winsumvale – Wildwood Drive where they felt it had to be the Suburban Zone, not Urban.

(CD) We do not need to go a couple more years on this. It will be a fair amount of work and we will have to meet more often. I would want all Board members to be in on this. (AD) It will be a step process to do this. (CD) We have a template we can use and Mike Williams suggested deciding where our Urban and Rural Zones are and should be.

Paul Nickerson: Can State overrule any of this? (PH) Between Matt Monahan and LGC that will be covered.

(DB) Question – are we going to look at everything or just specific areas? (CD) We know where the stumbling blocks are and we can pick out the “sticky spots.” We can look at changing Suburban definitions because they do not meet the dimensions of Rural and look at Rural definitions as well. Someone questioned current use – (CD) Current use is completely different and is not affected by the zoning boundaries.

(AD) It sounds like we have no choice but to proceed. This has got to get done and Planning Board did not do it. We need to focus on this project. (SA) We need to start it now. (PH) Let’s go.

Board decided to meet for a Work Session on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 7:00 P.M.

ITEM 5. Members Concerns

(CD) This is not a concern but a comment – “I am very pleased with our Board. It is the best in Town and we work well together. I hope to keep it that way.”

ITEM 6. Public Input

Paul Nickerson: Can I get in on this process? (CD) Yes, we will have the Work Session and the Public is invited. Any complaints or information you may have can help us.

ITEM 7. Adjournment

(SA) Motion to adjourn. (PH) Second. Carried 5-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

Approved: January 22, 2015

________________________ ____________________
Carole Dodge, Chairman Date

I hereby certify that these Minutes were recorded by me on January 15, 2015, transcribed and publicly posted
On January 21, 2015.

_______________________________________
Delores A. Fritz, Recording Secretary

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