Wales Planning Board
August 12, 2003 Meeting

 

Minutes

 

 

In Attendance:  Ralph Sanborn (PB), Ed MacDonald (PB), Lori Blier (PB), Bill Parquette (CE), Tom Goudreau (PB-Alt), Selectman Paul Burgess, Glen Dube (contractor), Doug Johnson (Brian Smith Survey), some community members interested in the Glen Dube Andrews Road Sub-division were also present

 

Bullet List of Discussion:

 

·        Opening of meeting and reading and discussion of minutes

Ø       Minutes were accepted as amended – see amended minutes file copy

·        Ralph passed out the application for telecommunications facility on Oak Hill Road (addition to existing tower by AT&T) who were supposed to attend meeting but were not present.

·        Glen Dube and Brian Smith presented their updated plan on the Starlight Drive subdivision as well as the traffic study and legal description of the road which were required by the board for the plan.

Ø       Glen and Brian pointed out the items that had been added to the plan

Ø       Discussion on the natural buffers and other DEP requirements

Ø       Mary Andrews opened discussion about the common area – ownership, maintenance, etc. – this was revisited again later in the meeting also in homeowners association discussion

Ø       Discussion about the road and the water flow (check dam locations, possible culverts)

Ø       Clarification that last page was basically the dictionary for erosion control measures – they may not end up using all that are listed

Ø       Discussion on the home owners association as it relates to the road maintenance and the common area

Ø       Glen & Brian requested a conditional approval of the plan based on DEP approval and adding to note #12

Ø       Board voted unanimously to give conditional approval of the plan – no lots can be signed until the plan is signed and the earlier plan has to be vacated prior to this plan being finally approved

 

Detailed Discussion:

 

            Ralph opened the meeting.  The minutes were distributed and read.  They were accepted with amendments (see amended minutes on file).  An application for a telecommunications facility on Oak Hill Road from AT&T was passed out.  The applicants were supposed to attend the meeting, but were not present.

 

            Glen Dube and Brian Smith presented their updated Starlight Drive subdivision plan.  They passed out the updated plan, the traffic study, and the legal description of the road which was a requirement of the board from a previous meeting.  They gave an overview of the changes and additions to the plan.  They have changed note #12 allowing snowmobiling during winter conditions.  The road maintenance agreement has been put on the plan.  Note #15 – no further building permits will be issued until a road has been completed.  There was some discussion on the natural buffers.  They don’t expect the plan to be modified further on this.  They are still not sure whether they will need a small pond or not.  It was questioned as to who was making the judgment.  They indicated that the engineers (theirs and DEP’s) were working together on it.

 

            Mary Andrews had questions about the ownership of the common area and maintenance of it.  Glen and Brian indicated that each lot owner shared ownership of the common area and that it would handled by a homeowner’s association like the road.  The ownership and maintenance clause will be in the deed.  Mary wanted to make sure that it was going to remain undeveloped.  Brian indicated again that the open space designation would be written into the deeds for the lots.  Open space must be clearly marked etc.  Mary indicated that it needs more clarification on the plan about the maintenance of the common area (see page 21 of the ordinance).  Brian and Glen will add the note on the plan.

 

            The committee looked over the road specifications.  Brian explained how the water flowed down through the check dams and into the wet land on lot #10.  They may be putting in some stuff between lots #8 and #9 if they need additional drainage.  They may be putting in culverts.  The last sheet of the plan equals the dictionary for the erosion control measures that they may be using.  Some of the items shown may not be used on the final plan.

 

            Ralph asked how soon the road association would be formed and how it would be formed.  By buying a lot they have to participate.  Mary believes there are issues that need to be clarified and that the deeds need to indicate that the owners are responsible for the common area.  She also feels the planning board should see the language prior to approving the plan.  Brian read off the general gist of what he will be putting on the plan.  They will consult with their attorney and have it written up.  Glen is concerned about how much we make over all this.

 

            Glen and Brian are still waiting on DEP.  They are waiting to make the final revisions and get DEP to accept it.  They wanted to know if we would have to have a meeting to approve the plan if we gave it conditional approval at this meeting.  The conditional approval would be based on DEP approval and adding to #12.  It may be a good idea to add to the note that all DEP conditions of approval will be required to be met.  Mary indicated that we also need to vacate the previously approved plan.  No lots can be sold until the plan is signed.  There was some discussion on how to vacate the plan.  The wording to be added should be “any DEP conditions of approval shall be met by the developer”.  Ralph motioned that we vote to conditionally approve the plan with the above listed conditions/additions and Ed seconded the motion.  The committee voted unanimously to conditionally approve the plan.  Ralph indicated that this ends the discussion base of this process, it just hinges on DEP now.

 

            Next meeting will be September 9.  There is also a comprehensive plan meeting on August 26^th.  The meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Lori Blier, Secretary

Wales Planning Board

 

References:  Glen Dube Starlight Drive Updated Plan and accompanying materials to be found in Starlight Drive Subdivision Plan file.