Call to Order 6:30 pm
Roll Call: Present: Katie Olohan (Chair), Carol Troy (Vice Chair), Carol Meise, Laurie Colburn – remote, Shanna Griffin, Mel Pfeifle (Selectmen’s Rep), Kris Foss seated for Rich Olohan.
Also attending, Matt Monahan (remote), Pam Bruss, CIP Committee member, Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Review & Consideration of the October 24, 2023 minutes.
Motion: Carol Meise moved to accept the October 24, 2023 minutes as written
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: all agreed, 6-0
Planning Board Hearings
6:35 pm Open public hearing for CIP, Capital Improvement Program. The Capital Improvement Program is a plan to spread capital purchases over time.
Pam Bruss presented the 2024 plan on behalf of the CIP Committee.
Board and Public Input: There was a discussion of the need for a new line to accommodate bridge repair. Karen explained that money from the State of NH is harder and harder to obtain. The Board asked about road repair. Pam explained that the current plan is to maintain the roads in best condition first while fixing the roads in least condition later. Kris Foss explained the proposed plan for the Masonic building which is in the CIP for $120K. Pam reported that the process has kept the tax rate even for the next five years.
Motion: Carol Troy moved to accept the 2024 Capital Improvement Program as presented.
Second: Carol Meise
Decision: 6-0, all approved
Capital Improvement Program Hearing closed 7:01 pm.
7:01 pm Open public hearing Floodplain Development Ordinance Amendment
Warrant Article Language: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 2 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Town of Bradford Zoning Ordinance as follows: Amend Article IX, FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, as necessary to comply with requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program?
Explanation: This is necessary for residents of obtain flood insurance.
Hearing no input, Katie Olohan asked for a motion of accept the amendment.
Motion: Carol Troy moved to accept the amendment as written.
Second: Shanna Griffin
Decision: 6-0, all approved
Hearing closed at 7:05 pm.
7:05 pm Public hearing opened to establish new article: Surface Water Overlay District
Warrant article language: Are you in favor of the adoption of Amendment No. 3 as proposed by the Planning Board for the Bradford Zoning Ordinance as follows: Establish a new Article, SURFACE WATER OVERLAY DISTRICT, that creates setbacks and standards for surface water protection to be administered by the Code Enforcement Officer, through a Conditional Use Permit process as described in NH RSA 674:21? This Article will replace the current Article XI, ENFORCEMENTS, which will be redesigned as Article XII; all subsequent amendments articles will be renumbered accordingly.
Explanation: To protect lake and other surface waters in town.
- Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) will administer and issue permits for the ordinance after review and comment by the Planning Board (required by RSA 674:21) and the Conservation Commission.
- Establishes permitted uses, prohibited uses, conditional uses, and standards.
- Overlay district will be:
- 250’ from Lakes Massasecum & Todd; Warner River & West Branch; Hoyt and Melvin Brooks & their tributaries
- 75’ from all other lakes, ponds, rivers & streams
- Uses by Conditional Use Permit (CUP) issues by CEO:
- Wells
- Culverts
- Temporary crossings for utility maintenance
- Temporary coffer dams
- Retaining walls
- Control of aquatic weeds
- Nature trail construction
- Site grading
- Roads/driveways
- Commercial agriculture
- Buildings
- Accessory buildings
- Outdoor recreation with no buildings
- Geothermal Heating
- Flood storage
- CUP standards:
- No alternative location outside of the SWOD
- Minimal soil disturbance
- Design minimizes impacts
- Site will be restored as nearly as possible
- Prohibited Uses:
- Salt storage yards
- Junk yards
- Hazardous waste
- Bulk chemical storage
- Excavation
- Snow disposal yards (from off-site)
- Solid waste
- Animal feedlots
- Disposal of liquid waste
- Construction on uplands with 15% grade
- Sewage treatment plant
- Aquaculture
- Dimensional Requirements:
- 15% lot coverage for buildings, not more than 20% overall
- Increase in impervious within 150’ buffer requires a 25’ wide buffer or raingarden that is 10% of the impervious
- Undersized lots adding land to become 2.25 buildable will get a reduced setback at the road
- Shoreland frontage 200’ and 50’ per each additional unit
- Water dependent structures to be the maximum extent practical, determined by CEO.
- New septic systems must be 125’ from Lake Massasecum, and Todd; Warner and Melvin brooks, 75’ from all other water bodies.
- Replacement systems must be moved unless the CEO finds that it cannot be.
- Underlying zoning, Site Plan and Subdivision regulations shall still apply.
- Performance Standards:
- 150’ woodland buffer, or, 50’ buffer strip
- No new lawn/landscaping in 50’; existing can remain provided that a 25’ un-mowed area along the shore is provided
- No cutting trees over 6 inches, no more than 50% of the basal area
- Existing veg under 3 feet in height remains
- No cleared canopy within 250’
- Stumps and roots in 50’ of reference to remain
- Dead/diseased/damaged can be removed
- No fertilizers in 50’ buffer
- No grazing of animals within 75’
- Forestry activities must have a forestry management plan.
- Erosion control plans for development in SWOD
- Inspection of septic systems during lot sales
- One access point to shorefront
- 10% of water frontage for a dock, more than 50’
Discussion: Laurie Colburn asked that a definition of “excavation” under “prohibited uses” be included. Matt will add clarifying language.
Laurie asked about prohibited uses: Construction on uplands with 15% grade, this is part of the current zoning ordinance at 33%
Kris asked for a definition of “Outdoor recreation with no building” discussion determined that language should remain as is.
Doug Southard: Conservation Commission, asked for some points of clarity. Applicability and a definition of perennial stream. Matt said changes will be made to clarify.
Laurie asked to quantify the area around Lake Massasecum that is affected by the SWOD. Matt said he could supply that information.
The Board agreed to continue the hearing on December 26th to review and approve changes and answer questions raised.
Close public hearing: 8:15 pm.
Adjourn
Moved: Carol Troy moved to adjourn the meeting.
Second: Kris Foss
Decision: 6-0, all approved
Meeting adjourned at 8:21 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary