Wales Planning Board Public Hearing and Meeting

May 8, 2006

Minutes

 

 

In Attendance:  Ed MacDonald (Chair), Alice DiPaolo (Co-chair), Lori Blier (Secretary); Lyndon Spaulding (WPB), Tom Goudreau (WPB)

 

Hemlock Ridge Subdivision Presenters:  Brian Gagnon, Rick Valentine, Al Siderio (WFD)

 

Wales Citizens:  Gerald A. Nadeau, Sr.; Carl F. Delpozzo

 

Ø      Lori distributed the agenda, minutes from April 10, 2006, the draft Floodplain Management Ordinance, the draft amended Definitions Ordinance, and materials related to the research into potentially drafting a mining ordinance.

Ø      The meeting was opened at 7:05.  The minutes were reviewed by board members and approved as written.  Lori distributed the Hemlock Ridge (Cedar Lane) Preliminary Plan for Major Subdivision folders that had been provided by Rick Valentine the required 14 days prior to the meeting. 

Ø      Lori opened the Public Hearing portion of the meeting asked whether board members had any additional questions or comments on the changes made to the floodplain management and definitions ordinances which were based on state mandated updates to all model floodplain ordinances.  The board members felt the changes had been discussed adequately in past meetings.  Lori asked citizens and others in attendance if there were any questions or discussion regarding the topic.  Being no questions or comments from the floor, the Public Hearing portion of the meeting was closed.

Ø      The board invited Al Siderio, Brian Gagnon, and Rick Valentine to make presentations for the preliminary plan portion of Hemlock Ridge (Cedar Lane) subdivision review process.   Mr. Valentine distributed the additional materials that had not been included in the initial package related to road design, stormwater management, and other plan sheets providing detailed information for 1) grading and utility; 2) three profile & detail sheets for Engineering Elements – Stormwater Control Design – Erosion and Sediment Controls; and 3) updated Subdivision Plan referencing all final changes to the preliminary plan since the original plan was delivered.  Also, a letter from Terradyn Consultants was distributed later in the meeting supporting a request for a waiver from the road standards imposed by the Town of Wales Road Ordinance.

Ø      Because Al Siderio had been pulled from his scheduled meeting over at the fire house, the board recognized him to speak to the section regarding “a letter from the Fire Chief indicating that there is adequate water for fire fighting or how adequate water will be provided.  Al made a site visit to the property and walked it with Mr. Valentine.  Due to constraints involving the wetlands and DEP’s rules surrounding them, the dry hydrant idea was not going to be good fit even though the stream crossing was readily available.  He also indicated that after walking the land it was determined that the soil type would not adequately support the cistern idea that was presented at the last meeting he attended.  He indicated that the subdivision was located within 1 mile of 2 of the town’s water sources as well as the fact that the department is well schooled in shuttle method for the supply of water to the site.  He also indicated that most fire fighting for that site would likely be done from the highway or high up on the road due to the stream crossing and general road and site conditions.  He also asked if this meetings comment would be adequate to replace the letter referenced in the ordinance.  Board members assured him that this would be adequate and that his comments would be on record in the minutes of this Preliminary Plan Review.

Ø      The board then went back to reviewing the proposal in the original order.  Alice asked if this was a good time to bring up the request from the selectmen regarding the road segments on the plan.  It was as good a time as any.  To assist in the planning for 911 addresses, the selectmen would like to see the road marked out in 50’ increments.  It was stated that we would request this to be standard in all new proposals.  Board members went over the all documents provided for the preliminary plan to establish whether all items required were present.  Following determination that all items seemed to be in the package, the board began going through the binder to pose any questions or comments. 

Ø      Lori questioned the 250’ buffer referenced in the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife response regarding endangered or significant wildlife species/habitat.  This is a “significant wading bird ….” area.  Rick indicated that the building(s) on the lots should not fall into that 250’ buffer and it was also noted that while building within the buffer was discouraged it wasn’t prohibited.  Rick also indicated that the only actual construction being done in the wetland area (not inclusive of the buffer) was construction for the phosphorous control plan and the road construction.  All of this falls under the DEP review process.

Ø      Alice asked whether or not they would be spraying pesticides or using pesticides in the wetland area since, obviously, it will be buggy.  She felt that would not be beneficial to the wildlife habitat in the area.  Rick Valentine and Brian Gagnon indicated there were no plans to do any of that.  Residents will just use the standard Off etc. that other landowners use.

Ø      Lori asked whether or not they had been in contact with Horton Austin (Road Commissioner) regarding the waiver they had mentioned in the previous sketch plan meeting regarding the radius (?) for some section of either the road or common driveway.  He indicated he had not.  Specifics (clarified by Rick), they needed to reduce the radius from 200’ to 150’.  That question brought up the engineer’s request for a waiver of the requirements in the town’s road ordinance for the k values at the entrance area.  Board members read the engineers letter and agreed that it seemed like a reasonable waiver to grant.  Board members agreed, however, that along with the radius requirement waiver, we would require that Horton sign off on the design before we would grant the waiver.  It was agreed that Rick would meet with Horton to get the sign off/approval the board requires.

Ø      Ed asked about the maintenance of the stormwater and sediment control features that were being put in place for the development.  Brian and Rick indicated that the homeowners association would be responsible for that maintenance.  Apparently, the DEP now requires a 5 year inspection and ongoing maintenance of the control measures put in place.  Alice found the reference for maintenance in section 6.2 of the agreement.  Ed felt it could be more explicit to include the specific maintenance that would be required.  Rick will look at modifying the section to be more inclusive.  He also indicated it could be included on the plan.  No board members indicated that would be a requirement.  Lori asked if the existing lot had signed and was to be part of the homeowners association.  Brian indicated they had not yet signed the agreement, but that they had agreed they would be a part of it.

Ø      It was asked whether DEP had any say as to where construction would actually take place on the lots.  Rick explained that they only had jurisdiction over the permit required for the modification of wetland areas.  If an individual land owner wanted to build in any of the mapped wetland areas and said building plans involved filling of any of the wetlands, the existing DEP permit would have to be modified and upgraded to a different tier level.

Ø      Presentation and questions were completed.  Rick indicated they would like to leave with the knowledge that we will approve the plan with any changes we have indicated in this meeting so that he can present it to DEP without concerns of it being modified.  The board indicated that we require Horton’s sign off on the waivers for the road and common driveway construction.  It was also indicated that we would like to have a letter from the town’s CEO indicating he has reviewed the plan (with the modifications discussed here today) and that he believes it is in conformance with our subdivision ordinance and the goals established in the town’s adopted comprehensive plan.  Rick will speak with Ken Pratt to have that review made and a letter submitted to the board.  E-mail addresses were exchanged to facilitate the general “approval” of the board of the plan as amended after today’s recommended modifications pending road commissioner and CEO sign off as well as the approval of the DEP for their areas of jurisdiction.

Ø      Board members determined that due to the late hour (9:00 p.m.) we would defer discussion of the mining ordinance materials until a future meeting.  Meeting adjourned 9:05 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lori Blier, Secretary

 

 

Related documents:  Hemlock Ridge Preliminary Plan (Cedar Lane) and related documentation; Floodplain Management Ordinance and Definitions Ordinance drafts and revisions document