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Town of Newington, NH PLANNING Board

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Call to Order: Chair Denis Hebert called the July 12, 2021, work session at 6:00 PM.

Present: Chair Denis Hebert; Board members: Russ Cooke; Chris Cross;

Ben Johnson; Peter Welch; Alternates: Rick Stern and Jim Weiner;

Board of Selectmen’s representative Bob Blonigan; Town Planner John Krebs and Recording Secretary Jane Kendall

Absent: Vice-Chair Erika Mantz Public Guests: Robert Deveau

I) Residential Subdivision Procedures Discussion

Board member, Chris Cross presented a checklist and discussion of his

approach to reviewing a subdivision application paying particular attention to lot sizes, property lines, relationship to other buildings out of consideration for abutters,

easements, wetlands, water flow to Great Bay, topography, wildlife habitat, and corridors as outlined in Subdivision Regulations Section 3.

Mr. Cross said they had to be judicious in expectations, but he also considered things listed under General Requirements in Section 4 for the betterment of the town, such as walking paths that were most often done off site for commercial development, but could be considered when there were more than three lots.

Mr. Cross said Road Standards Section 5 tended to address concerns for commercial traffic, but for subdivisions the Board also considered connections to main traffic corridors, and the cost of maintenance once the Town took title of a road.

Mr. Cross went on to say that they also needed to consider primary and secondary septic sitings, and utility connections as a prerequisite for approval.

Alternate Board member, Jim Weiner asked if there was a complete listing of culvert easements for reference. Mr. Cross said he thought there were files on each property that were reviewed by the Town planner, but the Board could also ask applicants to review easements with them.

Mr. Weiner said he thought it would be a good for applicants to submit a Mylar to Town Planner, John Krebs for review to speed up the review process. Mr. Krebs said it would be a huge task for the Town to do a title search to identify easements, but they could require the surveyor to do the title search.

Mr. Cross said page Z19 listed the definition of corner lots, which often had a penalty with two 40-foot setbacks instead of 40- and 15-foot setbacks, so it was up to

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the Board to consider whether they wanted to grant a waiver or not . Mr. Krebs pointed out that page Z5 stated that the Planning Board determined frontage on corner lots.

Board member, Russ Cooke said thought that 40-foot setbacks should apply whether used for frontage. Chair Hebert said page Z5 came in later after page Z19, and whenever anything was in conflict, the stricter ordinance applied.

Mr. Cross stated that he thought that an applicant should also make lots more conforming for the betterment of the community. Mr. Weiner responded that that would only apply to someone who was applying for a subdivision, but not for anyone who was purchasing and building a lot as is.

Chair Hebert said he thought it would be helpful in this discussion to know how to use the Subdivision Regulations, rather than analyze what it said.

Chair Hebert said he tended to look at the big picture first, such as if the lot met the size requirements, or if a variance was needed before going into details. Mr. Cross agreed.

Mr. Cooke said he thought the burden should be on the applicant if a variance was required before coming to board. Mr. Krebs agreed that ownness was on

applicants, but some things had to be explored, and on occasion it comes to an

applicant’s attention that a variance was need halfway through review or a waiver was required.

(Alternate Board member, Rick Stern arrived at this point in the meeting at 6:41 p.m.)

Mr. Cross passed out a drawing of cul-de-sac alternatives that could be

considered with the fire and highway departments as a means of reducing pavement costs.

Mr. Cross suggested that they consider putting drainage gulley’s, telephone poles and mailboxes with an eight-foot-wide path for pedestrians and bikers within the standard 50-foot right-of-way where it existed.

Mr. Cross said he and Board member, Peter Welch had also looked at trail systems in conservation areas with a few crossing easements that would make walking safe as well, but they could look at those things in the fall.

Mr. Cross said it was important to review the reports and checklists of the Town Planner, engineering, and wetlands consultants before the public hearing, as well as be sure that documentation for the utilities were provided for review.

Chair Hebert said he and Mr. Krebs had recently discussed the detriments of applicants meeting with a Technical Review Committee (TRC) prior to attending public hearings. Chair Hebert said the intent had been to save time, but many times the

questions were repeated by the Board, and he felt as if many issues were decided upon before review by the Board. Chair Hebert said he felt that those decisions should be made by elected Board members, and not TRC members.

II) Preliminary Consultation: Arthur Murray Dance Centers regarding conversion of 347 Shattuck Way from a restaurant to a wedding venue/event center

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Mr. Krebs informed the Board that he had been contacted by Amanda Deveau a couple weeks ago regarding a change of use at the former Asia restaurant. Mr. Krebs said he told Ms. Deveau would need to look at capacity, parking requirements, lighting, landscaping, and updating the façade.

Ms. Deveau’s husband Robert Deveau appeared before the Board on behalf of his wife.

Mr. Deveau stated that this was only a preliminary consult for a high-end venue for weddings, and other gatherings, and entertainment like big brass bands through the Crystal Ballroom franchise.

Chair Hebert asked if they would hold concerts, ad Mr. Deveau replied that they would not hold concerts, and it would depend on the number of weddings booked.

Chair Hebert said the neon lighting that Shogun, the previous business put up did not meet the Ordinance, and the Board would want to make sure that the change of use would meet all the required ordinances and regulations.

Chair Hebert said the former restaurant use had probably expired, and they would need to determine the occupancy, the number of parking spaces required, and be sure that there wasn’t any issue with the fire department.

Mr. Deveau stated that they did not expect to exceed 250 guests, with limo transportations for wedding parties, and there were 141 parking on the main lot, and another 35 to the side, so there were enough parking spaces.

Mr. Deveau said it appeared that the kitchen had been upgraded by the former business, but their patrons would bring in food by caterers

Mr. Deveau said they would install new chandeliers, colored spot lighting, and a PA system. Mr. Deveau added that they would need to review other costs, but they also wanted to change the roof pitch aesthetics.

Board of Selectmen’s representative, Bob Blonigan asked if the noise volume would the abutting resident. Mr. Deveau responded that aside from parking lot conversation, there would be sound barriers.

Mr. Cross said they might need to cut back the trees and brush to be sure the line of site was clear as the road didn’t have wide shoulders, and there was a lot of truck traffic on Shattuck Way. Mr. Cross said they might also need to hire police for the dismissal of large groups going in and out. Mr. Deveau responded that most events would be held on weekends, and after standard business hours.

III) Capital Improvements Program Committee Discussion

Chair Hebert recommended that the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee have a representative on the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) committee.

Chair Hebert said Newington was a small town that could self-manage, so they could complete the CIP in four or five meetings.

Chair Hebert suggested a threshold of $50,000 to $100,000 for items on the CIP.

Chair Hebert went on to say that the Town would need to plan for a million-dollar fire truck, but he has been asking the fire department to stagger the purchase of several

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vehicles, and maintenance over time. Mr. Blonigan said the police department puts money away every year to do that, however, the fire department was currently asking for three vehicles at once, and would then get with the program later.

Mr. Cooke said it seemed like maintenance should be out of a department’s budget, larger expenditures would be in the CIP, and larger items should be presented as warrant articles before Town Meeting.

Chair Hebert said he thought they needed to break away from warrant articles for standard expenditures.

Mr. Blonigan said the fire department, police department, and highway department were now thinking in terms of budgeting, so he did not see vehicles as being on the CIP as much as they had been.

Mr. Stern asked if they had a copy of the current CIP. Chair Hebert replied that no one could find it in the files.

Mr. Cross said no one was making use of the CIP, and that was why they

needed the Budget Committee and other departments to buy in to the plan as an overall guidance.

Mr. Stern responded that departments had been concerned with the commitment to budgets that had been passed.

Chair Hebert commented that while some costs went down, and needed to be acted on, many costs often went up if purchases were delayed.

Mr. Cross recommended that they create a punch list of expectations, and

request a status report from Mr. Krebs as he worked on the CIP. Chair Hebert said they would also need to approve the work before final payment.

IV) Economic Development Committee Discussion

Chair Hebert said the Board had been asked by Board of Selectmen Ted

Connors to hold a joint meeting with the Economic Development Committee (EDC), but he hadn’t heard back from anyone. Chair Hebert said the Board would be busy in July and August so it wouldn’t be until September at the earliest.

V) Other Business and Discussions

Chair Hebert said he attended a meeting, and uses for the Old Stone School was brought up. Chair Hebert said the deed from Pease Air Force Base when they turned the building back to the Town was very restrictive, and required that they maintain the historic façade. Chair Hebert said as a result it would be cost prohibitive to do renovate the building, so perhaps the only thing they could do would be to tear it down, and rebuild, or just use the facade.

Mr. Blonigan reported that the State had offered to sell the historic depot building at Bloody Point, but that too would be very cost prohibitive. Chair Hebert said could make a recommendation to tear down and rebuild.

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Minutes: Peter Welch moved to approve the June 28, 2021, Minutes with corrections. Chris Cross seconded, and the motion was approved by all.

Adjournment: Russ Cooke moved to adjourn. Peter Welch seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.

Next Meeting: Monday, July 26, 2021 Respectfully

Submitted by: Jane K. Kendall, Recording Secretary

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