Planning Board

CITY OF LACONIA PLANNING BOARD 6:30 PM City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc Council Chamber Accepted January 5, 2021 12/1/2020 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Peter Brunette read the emeeting introduction: As Chair of the Laconia Board, due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus crisis and in accordance with Governor Sununu’s Emergency Order #12 pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04, this Board is authorized to meet electronically. Please note that there is no physical location to observe and listen to the meeting, which was authorized pursuant to the Governor’s Emergency Order. However, in accordance with the Emergency Order, this is to confirm that we are: a) Providing public access to the meeting by telephone, with additional access possibilities by video or other electronic means; We are utilizing the Zoom platform for this meeting where all members of the Board will have the ability to communicate, and the public will have access to watch the live YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/laconianh, listen to this meeting through dialing the following phone # 1-312-626- 6799 or 1-646-558-8656 or participate with the Zoom app. Webinar ID 824 4388 0229, Webinar Password 005909. b) Providing public notice of the necessary information for accessing the meeting; We previously gave notice to the public of how to access the meeting using Zoom, and instructions are provided on the City of Laconia’s website at c) Providing a mechanism for the public to alert the public body during the meeting if there are problems with access; If anybody has a problem, please call 524-3877 x 249 or email at: planning@laconianh.gov d) Adjourning the meeting if the public is unable to access the meeting. In the event the public is unable to access the meeting, we will adjourn the meeting and have it rescheduled at that time. Please note that all votes that are taken during this meeting shall be done by Roll Call vote. Let’s start the meeting by taking a Roll Call attendance. When each member states their presence, also please state whether there is anyone in the room with you during this meeting, which is required under the Right-to-Know law. The meeting was called to order at 6:36 PM 2. ROLL CALL Members physically present: Bruce Cheney, Charlie St. Clair, Mike DellaVecchia Members remotely present via Zoom: Edwin Bones, Rich MacNeill, Kirk Beattie, Jewel Fox, Brett Beliveau, Stacy Soucy, Peter Brunette Absent: Sarah Jenna All members of the board via Zoom were alone in the room and quorum established. Alternate members B. Beliveau and S. Soucy were seated as a voting members. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Kalena Graham  Alternate members B. Beliveau and S. Soucy were seated as a voting members. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Kalena Graham 4. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Planning Director Dean Trefethen, Zoom Host Assistant Planner Rob Mora 5. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 5.I. Acceptance of Minutes from November 4 With no objections, Chair P. Brunette declared the minutes accepted 6. PRESENTATIONS 7. EXTENSIONS Note: The purpose of this agenda section is for the board to consider requests from applicants with previously approved projects to extend the deadline dates. The board may also deliberate the request, decide and conduct a final vote at this time. PUBLIC INPUT IS NOT TAKEN ON EXTENSION REQUESTS. 8. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE VOTE Note: The purpose of this agenda section is for the Board to continue the Public Hearing for the applicant and the public to provide input. The Board may also deliberate the application, decide and conduct a final vote at this time. 9. PUBLIC HEARINGS, POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION AND VOTE Note: The purpose of this agenda section is for the Board to have a presentation from the applicant and open a Public Hearing for the public to provide input. The Board may also deliberate the application, decide and conduct a final vote at this time. 9.I. PL2020-0094CUP(wetland); 17 Western Terrace; Proposal to use 20 ft of the 50 ft wetland buffer Jon Bernard addressed the board via Zoom. He would like to use 20 feet of the 50 ft buffer area as lawn area. There will be no impervious surface. The public hearing opened at 6:39 PM. No one spoke for or against the application. The public hearing closed at 6:40 PM. Planning Director D. Trefethen mentioned that when the sewer line was put in for the development more land was disturbed than intended due to what they came across while digging. The rest of the area will be left to naturally grow up. Conservation Commission took all of this into consideration and was ok with the use of the lawn. There are still a few villages not fully built out and some small villages left to be built in the development. B. Beliveau suggested there be a condition that no structures can be built unless they come back to the Planning Board. J. Bernard had no issue with that condition. Motion to approve the application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review, with the added condition that no structure be built in the 50 ft wetland buffer without Planning Board approval made by K. Beattie, B. Cheney seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 9.II. PL2020-0096SP; 110 Hilliard Rd; Proposal to add a single family residence on the property that currently houses a duplex to make for multifamily John Sheehy addressed the Board. He explained the proposal. There is currently a duplex on the 3.5 acres and they would like to add a single family home to the lot which, in turn, makes for a multifamily, which requires Planning Board approval.  currently houses a duplex to make for multifamily John Sheehy addressed the Board. He explained the proposal. There is currently a duplex on the 3.5 acres and they would like to add a single family home to the lot which, in turn, makes for a multifamily, which requires Planning Board approval. The public hearing opened at 6:52 PM. No one spoke for or against the application. The public hearing closed at 6:52 PM. Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that this also has a conditional use permit due to the location of the septic system. There is a 75 ft buffer due to the proximity to the water body. The Conservation Commission was happy with the proposal and the water flow heading to the center of the property and away from the wetlands. The applicant received a special exception for the third unit from the Zoning Board. E. Bones asked if there were other multifamily units in the area and Planning Director D. Trefethen stated there are a mix of campgrounds and duplex in the surrounding area. Water is served by the City but private sewer. This lot would be difficult to subdivide in the future due to the location of the structures. Motion to approve the application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by B. Cheney, K. Beattie seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Chair P. Brunette recused himself from the next application and Vice Chair E. Bones stepped in. 9.III. PL2020-0098SP, 0099CUP(perf zon); 41-63 Elm/9 Park Street; Proposal to construct mixed use buildings with associated parking Steve Smith addressed the Board. He explained the project. This was before the Board in August for conceptual review without much change since that. The existing buildings will be demolished, the lots will be merged and new buildings with full foundations will be constructed. Commercial on the first floor and residential units on the second and third floors. The sidewalk along Elm will be redone and City maintained. The intersections of Railroad/Elm and Park/Elm will be redone and maintained by the property owner. Parking will be reorganized along Elm and Railroad Ave. A new covered access will be constructed in the rear with access only form Park Street. This will give a total of 58 parking spaces. Compared to the existing buildings, the new structures will be all on the private property and not encroach on City right of way. The performance zoning conditional use permit is being requested for relief on the front setback. The buildings are still under design and minor adjustments will probably need to be done. The applicant is waiting to hear back from DPW regarding the sewer line and see if the apartment can tie into it. The public hearing opened at 7:13 PM Peter Brunette of 15 Park Street addressed the Board via Zoom. He is very much in favor of the project and the layout and the sidewalk. Parking is needed in Lakeport Square. He noted that he hadn’t heard any negative comments from people except for the displaced folks in the existing building. The public hearing closed at 7:19 PM The proposed bridge will only be used for residents and under the bridge is access to the parking. Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He noted that the plans have been looked at by all the departments and there is a meeting tomorrow at the site to discuss the demolition. Motion to approve the application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by B. Beliveau, B. Cheney seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Chair P. Brunette stepped back in as chair. 9.IV. 04-016SPamd2; 135 Weirs Blvd, Boulevard Commons; Proposal to amend the original application to allow for park models, skirting, and decks Motion to accept the application made by E. Bones, B. Beliveau seconded. All voted in favor by roll call  Chair P. Brunette stepped back in as chair. 9.IV. 04-016SPamd2; 135 Weirs Blvd, Boulevard Commons; Proposal to amend the original application to allow for park models, skirting, and decks Motion to accept the application made by E. Bones, B. Beliveau seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Applicant: Mike Patenaude addressed the Board via Zoom. He explained the proposal. When the RVs were approved the area had more transient and since has been condominiumized and the people are more long term. Decks, skirting and park model were not allowed per the original approval, but some decks had been put on with City permission and building permits. The decks are platforms and not attached to anything with an average size of about 120 sf. There are 10 units and about half have decks. The applicant didn’t have any objection with a size limit on any new decks but would like the existing to remain. The property owners don’t want the site to be an eyesore and keep things to a minimum. Each site has a 400 sf area. The site is only open April 1-October 31. The public hearing opened at 7:45 PM Matthew Monkiewicz of 147 Weirs Blvd Unit #3 addressed the Board via Zoom. He asked about ownership and M. Patenaude explained that most of the owners are fairly new now. M. Monkiewicz asked about rentals in the units and M. M. Patenaude said that the bylaws says a minimum of 30 days for rentals with Condo Board approval. M. Monkiewicz had an issue with past noise issues from rentals and mentioned the 8 ft stockade fence was in need of maintenance. Wayne Moriarty of 147 Weirs Blvd addressed the Board via Zoom. He asked about height restrictions and setbacks. He was told that because it needs to be on the road all have to be under 13.6 feet. Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He noted that he would check on the fence issue to see what the situation was at the time. Motion to approve the application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by B. Beliveau, R. MacNeill seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 10. APPLICATION ACCEPTANCE Note: The purpose of this agenda section is to publicize that a Planning Board application has been submitted AND for the Planning Board to determine if the application is complete enough to begin the review process. PUBLIC INPUT IS NOT TAKEN AT THIS TIME. If the application is accepted the Planning Board will schedule a Public Hearing at which time the application will be heard and public comments will be accepted. Information about applications can be obtained on the city’s web site or by calling the Planning office. 10.I. PL20200066SU, 0067CUP(cluster), 0068CUP(wetland); Mile Hill Road, Mountain Lake Village; proposal for a 51 lot (18 in Belmont, 33 Laconia) cluster subdivision with underground utilities & sidewalk Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that there are some outstanding issues but are working with the applicant. Motion to accept the application made by B. Cheney, C. St. Clair seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 11. NEW BUSINESS 11.I. Capital Improvement Committee (CIP) recommendations to Planning Board Assistant Planner R. Mora went over the CIP process. Motion to forward the Planning Board recommendations to City Council made by S. Soucy, B. Cheney seconded. C. St. Clair asked if putting down concrete instead of pavement on bridges was discussed at all and was told no. There was a discussion on bike lanes on Weirs Blvd. The motion passed by roll call vote. M. DellaVeccha abstained from the vote as he recently arrived to the meeting. 12. OLD BUSINESS  Motion to forward the Planning Board recommendations to City Council made by S. Soucy, B. Cheney seconded. C. St. Clair asked if putting down concrete instead of pavement on bridges was discussed at all and was told no. There was a discussion on bike lanes on Weirs Blvd. The motion passed by roll call vote. M. DellaVeccha abstained from the vote as he recently arrived to the meeting. 12. OLD BUSINESS 12.I. Update on Weirs Beach Village sidewalks along Hilliard Planning Director D. Trefethen explained that the development is close to being done. The last few houses are under construction. The sidewalk along Hillard needs to be constructed. The original approval has it located on the southerly edge. There are right of way and slope issues. Staff met with the applicant and what makes the most sense is to construct it on the other side and create a safe crosswalk across Hillard. Planning Director D. Trefethen was looking to see if the Board wanted the applicant to go before the Board or if they are in favor that change going through the administrative review process. The Board was in agreement. 13. PLANNING DEPT REPORT Master Plan Steering Committee: Planning Director D. Trefethen has been working with the Mayor and reaching out to members regarding meeting dates and get it going again. He also brought up sidewalks. There is a disconnect between the Planning Board policy and DPW. He feels that this might be able to be corrected by a small subcommittee with Board members, Staff and DPW. E. Bones and R. MacNeill volunteered to be on that committee. Planning Director D. Trefethen brought up short term lodging and the fact that there are some things that need to be reworked now that they have been working with it for over a year. The thought was the MPSC could work on that. 14. LIAISON REPORTS LRPC: Assistant Planner R. Mora stated there was a meeting the night prior and demographics and economic growth was discussed. Chair P. Brunette requested that another take his spot as he hasn’t been able to make many meetings. S. Soucy volunteered. Conservation Commission: Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that the Commission has been working on making revisions to the wetland ordinance and a draft should be before the board in the next few months. Council: B. Cheney noted that he is in support on the decision for the Board discussions in amending the short term lodging. Historical District Commission: C. St. Clair mentioned there was a meeting last week and the Commission is looking to expand the historical overlay district. 15. OTHER BUSINESS Chair P. Brunette brought up the Mayor’s Homeless Task Force and brought up a few points discussed at the last meeting. He stated that it is a shared issue in surrounding communities. C. St. Clair brought up Barton’s Motel sign has been removed earlier in the day. 16. ADJOURNMENT With nothing further to discuss, Chair P. Brunette adjourned the meeting at 8:33 PM. Respectfully, K. Graham Respectfully, K. Graham