TOWN OF STETSON
PLANNING BOARD
Present Absent Guests
Betty Bridges, Chair Bill Bligh
Bruce McNaughton, Vice Chair
Kirsten Hepler
Cliff Hatfield
Terry Moore, Secretary
Charles Merrill, Associate
Veronica White, Associate
Dalton Mullis, CEO
Don Carroll, Selectman
Marty Hipsky, Selectman
Terry White, Selectman
______________________________________________________________________________
Ms. Bridges called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m.
Old Business
Ms. Bridges asked members if they reviewed the minutes from November 11, 2004. Ms. White made a motion to accept the minutes and Mr. Hatfield seconded the motion.
Ms. Bridges then gave members copies of a review of Stetson’s Establishment of the Planning Board Ordinance and the Planning Board’s Bylaws. She asked all to review the initial change recommendations and add any other changes and recommendations they may have for future consolidation.
New Business
Item 1
Mr. William Bligh arrived at 7:05p.m. to present his minor subdivision Final Plan. All board members received copies at the meeting to review for application completeness. Mr. Bligh also gave Mr. Carroll, Selectman, a check for $1400 to cover required application fees.
Everyone reviewed the surveyor’s subdivision map with much discussion regarding the rightful abutting property owners in Lots 13 and 14. Questions remained so Ms. Bridges requested that Mr. Bligh confirm the owners, secure their current mailing addresses, and commented that the application is incomplete until this information is received. Mr. Bligh intends to provide the information, if available, January 14, 2005. Ms. Bridges requested he leave the correct information with the Town Office so we can complete all the regulatory paperwork by the required timetables.
Ms. Bridges then requested a motion to host a subdivision hearing. Ms. White made the motion and Ms. Hepler made a second motion. As prescribed, the hearing was scheduled (pending receipt of the abutter information) for February 10, 2005, 7:00p.m. in the Stetson Conference Room at the Stetson Library.
Ms. Bridges asked Mr. Bligh if he planned to present waivers. He did not.
Mr. Bligh also gave the Board four copies of the completed soil tests for each of the four lots to include the design of the septic system. Mr. Bligh sited the soil test based on the lay of the land, speculating where a structure would most likely be located.
Ms. Bridges also noted the extensive timbering activity on the property. Mr. Bligh plans to chip the woodpiles and expects to be completed in about two weeks. Mr. Hipsky, Selectman, noted that the project appeared to be tidy. Mr. Carroll, Selectman, asked Mr. Bligh to request the truck drivers to slow down on Coboro Road. Residents complained about their speed. Ms. Hepler mentioned Criteria 20, the new subdivision criteria regarding timbering. The criterion is effective January 3, 2005, and Mr. Bligh had his application in before that date, therefore, it is not applicable.
Mr. Bligh departed at 7:25p.m.
Item 2
Mr. Hipsky raised the Land Use Ordinance as an important issue to readdress. A discussion followed on who should lead the process. Mr. Carroll stated is critical that everyone go in with open minds, noting that we need the ordinance. He knows it will require flexibility and concessions as well as time to prepare properly. He believed it was unlikely to be ready by May 2005.
Mr. Hipsky stated that the first time the ordinance was presented it was a close vote. He recommends that when it is presented to the town, that it must be a team approach with the selectmen and the Planning Board members unified in their position.
Mr. Carroll discussed the significance of how the townspeople are informed, and most importantly, informed ahead of time to give people the chance to digest the information. Ms. Bridges mentioned the tendency for people to focus on portions of the ordinance that affected individuals personally (home businesses and yard sales). The challenge would be to interest all in both personal and community-wide concerns.
Mr. Mullis raised the fundamental question that must be answered up front: Why do we need the ordinance? Mr. McNaughton believed the question was addressed in the past.
Ms. Hepler concurred with the selectmen that the Planning Board should lead the process and promote open discussion. Items the selectmen know we should address are road frontage, home businesses, and yard sales.
Mr. Merrill noted other concerns: minimum lot size and minimum setback distances. Mr. Merrill did mention that there would continue to be driveway issues as applicants are required to get state entrance permits if they enter onto a state or state-aid highway. Mr. Mullis reinforced that the intent is to limit the number of direct entrances to highways some of which is a safety concern.
Mr. McNaughton also emphasized that “grand fathering” of new ordinance directives was not included. An example was building garages on certain lots. He believes that what impacted the outcome were those issues that directly impacted what an owner could or could not do with their property.
Mr. Hipsky stated there was not much negative feedback on districting.
Ms. Bridges said that the townspeople wanted to maintain the uniqueness of the Village of Stetson. She did believe the first proposal maintained this request.
A discussion then followed regarding effective means of actively informing townspeople about the ordinance and its changes since the first proposal. Suggestions included the newsletter, hearings, and grassroots lobbying. It was noted that the town newsletter is probably not the most effective, knowing many discard it without reading it.
Mr. Hipsky asked Ms. Bridges if the Planning Board was interested in hosting public Land Use Ordinance workshops. Ms. Bridges concurred and Mr. Merrill recommended the workshops be separate from the Planning Board meetings as the agendas are usually full. All agreed.
The group decided the first public workshop would be held on February 17, 2005, 6:30p.m. at the Stetson Conference Room in the Stetson Library. A notice will be posted at the Town Office, Library, and Buda Belly’s convenience store.
Ms. Hepler moved the meeting adjourned and Ms. White seconded the motion. All in favor, the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00p.m.
The next meetings
are:
February 10, 2005 7:00p.m.
Planning Board at Stetson Conference Room
February 17, 2005, 6:30p.m. Public Workshop at Stetson Conference
Room
(Land Use Ordinance)
Respectfully submitted,
Terry F. Moore
Secretary