APPROVED
TOWN OF PELHAM
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
JULY 6, 2000
The
Chairman, Victor Danevich, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
The
Secretary, Bill Scanzani, called the roll.
Present: Victor Danevich, Bill Scanzani, Jeff Gowan,
Paddy Culbert, Henry DeLuca,
Alternate Gael Ouellette,
Alternate Peter McNamara, Selectmens
Representative Deb Casey,
Planning Director Vince Messina
Absent: Michael Soby, Alternate Carl Huether,
Alternate Richard Foote, Alternate
Doris Cvinar
Gael
Ouellette will vote for Mike Soby for tonight.
ML 10-33 & 10-33-4 Iris Therriault Hillcrest Lane Seeking Special Permit for
WCD Crossing
The
Secretary read the list of abutters.
Peter
Zohdi of Herbert Associates represented the owner. Mr. Zohdi explained that this property is a lot of record since
1960 and would like to put a driveway through a WCD crossing.
Victor
Danevich read a letter from the Conservation Board of Feb. 6, 2000.
Paddy
Culbert noted that he did not see anything about special erosion control so as
the well digging would not affect the wetland.
Peter
Zohdi said he did not show it on the plan but would work with the Board on it.
Bill
Scanzani stated that the drainage around the house is dumping near the proposed
well but should extend the drain down beyond leach field.
Peter
Zohdi explained that the foundation drain has to be 25-ft from the well and the
pipe can be moved to where Bill has pointed out.
Victor
Danevich then opened the meeting to the public.
ROLL CALL: Jeff Gowan yes, Paddy Culbert yes, Henry DeLuca yes, Victor
Danevich
yes, Bill Scanzani yes, Gael Ouellette yes, Deb Casey yes
The
motion carries 7-0-0
There
was no public input.
1)
remove
a car, 2) move the drainage pipe and 3) place silk fencing on the downside.
Danevich
yes, Bill Scanzani yes, Gael Ouellette yes, Deb Casey yes
The
motion carries 7-0-0
ML 7-126 Pelham School District
Marsh Rd. Site Plan Review for Proposed Elementary School for consideration
Bill
Scanzani, Secretary, read a long list of abutters.
Gerry
Boucher, Assistant Administrator for the Pelham School District, came tonight
to present information about the site of the new elementary school. He introduced Brad Mezquita of Appledore
Engineering, Inc. and Jim Delisle from Team Design.
Bill
Scanzani read regulation 674-54, Governmental Land Use.
The
Board discussed this issue and came to the conclusion that the School District
were not here for an approval but as a courtesy. They would take suggestions but because the land is used for
governmental use it could supercede town regulations. The Board could issue a non-binding letter with comments and
issues relative to this project. They
would here the case, accept it for consideration, set up a site walk and in the
30 days, if need be, hear legal counsel.
Brad
Mezuita of Appledore Engineering, Inc. was the first speaker. He explained that there are 3 areas of
wetlands. One is a man made pond,
another a major wetland and Beaver Brook to the back of the property. A separate drive in from Memorial School is
proposed with separate loops for buses, parents and a loop around the exterior
of the school for fire apparatus. There
will be 239 spaces, 9 drop off spaces and room for 8 buses in front of the
school. The loops will be one way for
easier flow. The landscapping islands
will have shade trees. The soccer and
baseball field that now exists at the Memorial School will be relocated to the
back of the new school. The drainage
will be similar to what is there today. Because of the impervious surface, it
will generate more storm water. They
have provided for detention areas on the side & rear of the school. The soil is comfortable and has sand down
20-ft. The ponds will be infiltration
basins and not detention ponds. They
will hold storm water for up to a 100-year storm and provided for more if
needed. The water pipe will extend from
Sawmill Rd, which will be approximately 800-ft and provided municipal water,
which is better than providing a well.
The electrical pole will be relocated and all electrical poles in the
school area will be underground. There
will be an on site septic under the baseball field or under the track
field. They will be testing soon. This project will require 4 state
permits: A NHDES Site Specific Permit
which is applied for and is pending, a NHDES Wetland for Dredge & Fill
which is applied for & we are having a meeting with the Conservation
Committee on Wednesday night, NHDES Sub Surface Bureau for the septic which has
not been submitted for yet and a permit for the extension of the water main.
Brad
Mezuita explained that the gas line is on the east side of the detention and
that there would be no pavement over it.
There
was much discussion about the entrance and exit of the new school. Members of the Board were concerned with 1
egress, the traffic flow and the turning onto and off of Marsh Rd. The Board
asked if another alternate could be had for this. One suggestion would be to connect it somehow with the Memorial
School. The buses and cars could come
out in the center between Memorial and the new school, reversing the traffic at
the Memorial School. Another suggestion
was to have the buses and cars come in at the center between the 2 schools and
come out the other egress. Still another
suggestion was to widen the exit of the new school and put in an extra turning
lane to come out.
Gerry
Boucher stated that the Board should remember that the schools have staggered
openings.
Brad
Mezuita said that the extra turning lane was a good suggestion and could be
feasible.
Jeff
Gowan stated that the Highway Safety Commission should review the design
regardless of what is decided.
Another
discussion by the Board about sidewalks was brought up. It was explained that the sidewalk issue was
not tied into the school but a separate issue.
The 3rd year installment was not voted into effect this year
and will probably be put on the ballot at a future date.
Victor
Danevich asked if there would be any connectivity between the two schools.
Brad
Mezuita stated that there is a paved access with a gate, which was suggested by
the school.
Paddy
Culbert asked how big the wetland is that is to be filled.
Brad
Mezuita stated that it was 10,000 sq. ft and they will be meeting with the
Conservation Committee this coming Wednesday.
Bill
Scanzani showed the Board a study done by the Golden Environmental Services of
the minor impact of the filtration area.
He read from this report.
Victor
Danevich suggested that they should have an overall topology view of how
everything fits together. He also asked
if the open space between the two schools
(the
old baseball field) would be used as a parking lot.
Brad
Mezuita stated that it is not proposed as a parking lot now or in the future.
Jim
Delisle from Team Design gave an architectural presentation. The building will have a shingled pitch roof
and a brick face. It will have a bank
of architectural block and small columns in the front. The plan also calls for a small cupular at
the top. There will be two wings
housing the classrooms, which will be the same material as the front. The back
of
the building that will house the gym, cafeteria, kitchen area and maintenance
area will be a split base block with a flat roof. Metal roof areas will be put in the back to dress it up. There will be no windows in the gym. Reason being that artificial light is better
for basketball players. Each wing will
have 24 classrooms. The septic system
was pointed out on the design. The
baseball field will be sprinkled with the water from the existing well. There will be a sign out front but nothing
has been established as yet.
Alicia
Harshfield asked about the slope near the gas pipe. Her concerns were how close the noise level, lighting,
infiltration system and parking spaces were getting to the wetland. She also asked if any more of the forest
would be taken out since it had already been forested and that it had changed
the ecology of the area. There are many
endangered species in the area, which is a major concern for the Conservation
Committee.
Brad
Mezuita showed where the gas pipe was located on the plan. He also pointed out the wetland on the
plan. There will be some additional
foresting near the proposed fields in the back. There is a natural bowl in the back be used as a detention area.
If
was suggested from Gerry Boucher to walk the site with Brad Mezuita, Jim
Delisle, the Conservation Committee and the Planning Board to get a better idea
of how it will all fit.
Paul
McLaughlin, Conservation Chairman, asked the reason for the 239 parking spaces.
Gerry
Boucher answered that it was request from the school to maximize the use of the
site and not harm the wetlands.
Remember that this building will also be used for voting, town meetings
and overflow from the Memorial School.
Alicia
Harshfield was curious of the impervious areas. 52 acres on one side of the gas pipe is not looked at. She would like to see the wetland area used
as an outdoor education plan.
It
was asked if the CLD would review this.
No they would not but the State would.
Traffic was also brought up again.
Since this is not a new carload it should better disburse the traffic.
Deb
Casey said that there is no reference in the study to the larger wetland. Mark West and Bernie Waugh told the
committee that they should always look at the overall plans to see big
picture. What is missing here is a
topology map.
Jeff
Gowan stated that the opportunity for teachers using the wetland as a teaching
tool would raise student consciousness to the wetlands.
PUBLIC
INPUT
Walter
Sicard of Pelham, an abutter, asked which wetland would be filled and can the
design be expanded to house more students in the future.
Jim
Delisle pointed to the wetland being filled.
He also said that it is designed to be expanded. It has a capacity to care for 1,000
students.
Alicia
Harshfield asked what the cost would be for the water from the Pennechuck line.
Gerry
Boucher said that yes they are negotiating with Pennechuck. We need to sprinkle the building and have
holding tanks and a backup generator.
Yearly we will have to monitor the water, test it and running the pump.
Victor
Danevich said that if this is accepted for consideration he has the following
concerns:
1) Does CLD need to review highly recommends
2)
Need
overall topo map
3)
Have
Highway Department review it
4)
Need
septic plan
5)
Overall
plan for construction with respect to erosion control
6)
Pipe
line designation
7)
Take
a site walk
Jim
Delisle said that he would get a construction schedule to the Board.
ROLL CALL: Jeff Gowan yes, Gael Ouellette yes, Henry DeLuca yes,
Victor Danevich yes, Paddy Culbert yes, Deb Casey yes, Bill Scanzani
yes
The
motion carries 7-0-0
ML 9-63 Mary
Farm Trust St. Al. Woodlawn Circle Proposed 11 Lot Subdivision for
consideration
The
Secretary, Bill Scanzani, read the list of abutters.
Peter
Zohdi of Herbert Associates presented the case. This is left over from a previous subdivision. It will have 2 cul-de-sacs. The left side will have 6 lots and the right
side will have 5 lots. For the right
side they are proposing from the end of the pavement 700-ft to the end of the
cul-de-sac with a 4% grade for the road.
There will be a little fill on the corner of the cul-de-sac and they
will go before the Conservation Committee because of the crossing of the 2 WCD
areas. They are not asking for a dredge
& fill. The entire road is a ditch
line design and they are not proposing any curbing, proposing sheet
draining. On the left side they are
proposing 650-ft to the end of the cul-de-sac with a 4% grade for the road.
They are not asking for a dredge & fill and the road will be the same as
the other proposed.
The
connectivity of the road was discussed so as not to form a cul-de-sac. The Town of Pelham owns the parcel of land
that would connect, 9-65. The developer
will ask what right of way the Town of Pelham will want. This is a woodland area with a wetland.
Peter
Zohdi explained that there is an existing brook running through the area. There is also a culvert crossing that is in
existence and a dredge & fill permit still in existence.
There
is a right of way to Christopher Lane and to Arlene Drive. They have no objection getting another 50ft
right of way.
Henry
DeLuca asked why not cut across the cul-de-sac through parcels 9-63-3, 9-63-2
& 9-63-6.
Peter
Zohdi said he could add the land to 1 of the 2 lots and will have an answer for
the next meeting on what the dash lines on the plan are exactly.
Deb
Casey stated that on the lot where the houses are very close together, the well
is in the wetland.
Peter
Zohdi explained that the well is not in the wetland but in the WCD.
Victor
Danevich said that this would be checked out by CLD.
PUBLIC
INPUT
Eric
Anderson, an abutter from Pelham, asked if the houses would be single or
duplex. If there would be any blasting
and what assurances would there be against wells going bad, foundations
cracking, ceilings and walls cracking.
He stated that there is a lot of ledge in the area.
Peter
Zohdi stated that they would be single family homes with up to 4 bedrooms,
which is stated on the plan. He said
that there would be blasting and certified people would be hired to do the
blasting. It would be wise to videotape
your foundation, ceilings, walls etc before this occurs.
Joan
Sullivan, an abutter from Pelham, had comments on the 2 existing culverts. There is a major culvert, which begins on
Windham Road and surfaces on their property.
It is 4 to 5 feet wide and 2-ft deep. There is also a smaller culvert,
which it connects to. The Sullivans
property seems to be the lowest property in the area. She pointed this out on the map.
She asked where the house would be, where the well and leach field would
be.
She
was also concerned about the culvert overflowing.
Peter
Zohdi explained that the wetlands were flagged and that they are proposing that
the house be180 190 ft from the Sullivan home. The leach field would be a minimum of 200-ft from the back of the
Sullivan property line. He would not be
adding to the drainage problem and would not be making it worst.
Victor
Danevich said they would take this into consideration and have CLD look at
it. He invited the Sullivans to join
them for the site walk and even thought it is outside the normal area they will
look at it.
Frank
Sullivan asked what kind of assurance do they have if they have problems with
water, cracks from blasting, etc. Where
do they go for compensation? What if
the developer goes bankrupt?
Jeff
Gowan stated that there is not warranty about property damage. He suggested taking a video of the
foundation, etc. The only recourse
would be to go after the developer with any problems. If the developer goes bankrupt you would have to go to the
Insurance Co.
Vince
Messina explained that a developer puts up a 110% bond for road construction
before they begin constructing.
Builders hire licensed blasters and the fire department oversees this
work. The abutter should ask for a
pre-site survey. If you are within
200-ft it is a must and would require a water sample. The Insurance Company makes sure that this happens and if
requested could be done if you are within 600-ft of the blasting.
Frank
Sullivan also stated that there is a truckload of tires buried on the lot and
what is the contractors responsibility.
He stated that these tires were said to be buried to the right of
Woodlawn Drive. His other concern was
that the developer has built many duplexes in town and could he change these
single-family homes to duplexes.
Peter
Zohdi said they would do further testing and, if the tires are found, the
developer would have to dispose of them.
He also explained that they cannot be changed and they would have to go
to DES and the Planning Board to change the homes from single to duplex.
John
Grenda, an abutter from Pelham, is very concerned about the blasting. He said that there is a 70-ft high ledge in
the area. This part of town is considered
Ledge City. He is concerned about the
blasting and the mass of ledge and mystified as to how they got perk tests.
Victor
Danevich encouraged John Grenda to go on the site walk when scheduled. He also said that the Town Health Agent and
CLD would have also done test pits.
Eric
Dube, an abutter from Pelham, asked if these houses would have town water or
would they be wells. He also asked when
the site walk would be.
Peter
Zohdi said they would be individual wells.
Victor
Danevich said that the site walk would be scheduled at the end of the meeting
and is usually the Saturday before the next meeting. A call to the Planning Department could also answer that
question.
Charles
Tresti, an abutter from Pelham, asked if a wells impact study was done and he
was concerned of the aquifer in the area.
He also had a concern about the clearing of the trees in the area.
Peter
Zohdi answered that NHDES requires that each lot have a 75-ft well radius. He said that the clearing of the trees is
strictly on the shoulders of the Planning Board and they usually ask for a
20-ft buffer zone.
Frank
& Joan Sullivan asked if everything that is agreed to was in writing and if
the developer would fill the hill to level out the land to put up a house.
It
was stated that yes everything was in writing and on the plan. The Planning Board and the Conservation
Committee would never allow the filling in of wetlands.
Debbie
Tresti, an abutter in Pelham, stated her concerns about the blasting. She asked if there had ever been a case
where a developer stopped his project and it would be left a mess.
Peter
Zohdi said that in 20 years there has only been one subdivision that took 1
year to complete. Developers go to a
lot of expense to do this and they do not give up easily.
Victor
Danevich then stated the concerns
1)
Lot
line clarification for lot 9-63-3 move to make it more square
2)
9-51
clarification
3)
Wetland
Study completed
4)
Economic
impact study
5)
Drainage
Study
6)
Conservation
Committee appearance
7)
Tire
report
8)
Tree
line buffer
9)
Blasting
of 80-ft ledge
10)
Culvert
perk test
11)
Traffic
impact study
12)
Safety
Committee study
13)
Special
wetland impact consideration
ROLL CALL: Jeff Gowan yes, Gael Ouellette yes, Henry DeLuca yes, Bill
Scanzani yes, Victor Danevich yes, Paddy Culbert yes, Deb Casey yes
The
motion carries 7-0
ML 3-130
William Coleman Mammoth Road Proposed 7 Lot Subdivision for
continuation
This was continued to the
August 7, 2000 Planning Board Meeting.
ML 3-138 Nationwide Construction Bush Hill Road Proposed 5 Lot Subdivision for approval
This
was continued to the August 7, 2000 Planning Board Meeting.
ML 1-57 Barbara Whittaker Special Permit for Wetland Crossing 9 Mammoth Road Proposed 6 Lot Subdivision for approval
This was continued to the August 7, 2000 Planning Board
Meeting.
This
was continued to the August 7, 2000 Planning Board Meeting.
The
sign plan will be provided to Vincent Messina for approval.
ROLL CALL: Jeff Gowan yes, Gael Ouellette yes, Henry DeLuca
yes, Bill Scanzani yes, Victor Danevich yes, Paddy Culbert yes, Deb
Casey yes
The
motion carries 7-0-0
ML 13-37 John
& George Harris Kopers Lane Proposed 9 Lot Subdivision for approval
Peter
Zohdi of Herbert Associates presented.
He stated that the last time he was here there was concern from CLD
about hay bales and silk fencing. If
they cannot get the hay bales, it will be a double silk fence. Instead of the curved pipe for drainage
there will be a straight pipe as requested by Dave Brouilett and Vincent
Messina. Dave Brouilett has also
requested a site walk to go over the topography. He also wanted the detention area and the treatment area to be
completed before the construction begins.
Phase 2 will be finished before Phase 3. Tim Zelonis is working on this now.
Dave
Brouilett of CLD is requesting cross sections to be 50-ft. He has concern about the steep slopes and
the types of soil that are highly erodable.
He asked for a change in construction sequencing to stabilize
first. They want to minimize the area
disturbed.
There
was no public input.
No
Conservation Committee input.
Roll Call: Jeff Gowan yes, Gael Ouellette yes, Henry DeLuca yes, Bill
Scanzani yes, Victor Danevich yes, Paddy Culbert yes, Deb Casey yes
The
motion carries 7-0-0
MOTION: (Scanzani/Culbert) To
approve the plan subject to 1) no construction will begin until Phase 2 drain
is stabilized per recommendation of
CLD, 2) subject to final CLD approval, 3) a cross section every 50-ft
and 4) Sequencing approval.
ROLL CALL: Deb Casey yes, Paddy Culbert yes, Jeff Gowan yes, Gael
Ouellette yes, Henry DeLuca yes, Bill Scanzani yes, Victor Danevich yes
The
motion carries 7-0
A
discussion then ensued between the members about safety and traffic issues for
lots over 10 or more. The selectmen
have the final approval for road names.
There have been several issues with 911 calls about road names in the
past. As far as the numbering of houses
every 50-ft requires a different number.
This could mean that every house has 4 numbers.
The
next meeting will be on July 24th with the Conservation Committee
and Mark West and Bernard Waugh.
A
discussion about whether to have Old Business before New Business then took
place.
This
was discussed at length between all the members. The Board by a vote could change it tonight. An issue is the abutters being notified 10
days prior to the first agenda. They
are here and if put in second, they would disappear. The charter is written New Business then Old Business. Accepting an application starts the clock
but an incomplete application could be denied.
The attorney was consulted and the board can temporarily change the
order or permanently change the order.
He does not recommend it because of the public notification issue. Gordon Graham will be at the meeting of July
24th and it could be discussed then.
Paddy
Culbert rescinds his second.
Deb
Casey rescinds her motion.
The
Board will check their schedules to see if they can go to a site walk on July 12th
at 6:30 PM at the new school site with the Conservation Committee.
On
Aug. 5th at 8:00 AM there will be site walks to the school, Mary
Farm Trust and the rescheduled site walk of William Coleman.
The
next public meeting will be on August 7th.
The
meeting was adjourned at 11:20.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Therese
Soucy
Recording Secretary