Planning Board

CITY OF LACONIA PLANNING BOARD 6:30 PM City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc Council Chamber Accepted January 4, 2022 12/7/2021 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair P. Brunette read the emeeting introduction and called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM 2. ROLL CALL Members present at City Hall: Kirk Beattie, Charlie St. Clair, Rich MacNeill, Scott McWilliam, Brett Beliveau, Peter Brunette Members present via Zoom: Stacy Soucy, Bruce Cheney (audio issues) Absent: Sarah Jenna, Susan Hodgkins Chair P. Brunette noted there was a quorum at City Hall and seated S. McWilliam as a voting member. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Kalena Graham 4. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Planning Director D. Trefethen, Zoom host/Assistant Planner Rob Mora 5. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 5.I. Acceptance of Minutes from November 9 With not 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. 7.I. PL2020-0085SP, 0086SU; 375 Endicott St North, 41 Skippers Ct & 144-252-3, Cedar Lodge; Extension request for the proposal for site improvements to 144-252-2 and a boundary line adjustment between 141-484- 5/144-252-2/144-252 Applicant: Brian Pratt from F&O and Noel Dulac from Cedar lodge addressed the board via Zoom. B. Pratt noted construction is taking longer than expected. It has started but been delayed. Motion to approve the extension request made by K. Beattie, C. St. Clair seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 7.II. PL2020-0087SP, 0076CUP (alt parking); 340 Court Street; Extension request for the proposal to either add 3,000 sq ft building along with paving, parking and stormwater treatment or just parking with associated paving and stormwater treatment Applicant: Steve Weeks addressed the board. There is no prospect yet for the property. He has a  Motion to approve the extension request made by K. Beattie, C. St. Clair seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 7.II. PL2020-0087SP, 0076CUP (alt parking); 340 Court Street; Extension request for the proposal to either add 3,000 sq ft building along with paving, parking and stormwater treatment or just parking with associated paving and stormwater treatment Applicant: Steve Weeks addressed the board. There is no prospect yet for the property. He has a tenant currently for the building but not the proposed project. Originally the request was for 10 years but per RSA only a one year extension is allowed. Motion to approve the extension request for one year made by B. Beliveau, R. MacNeill seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 7.III. PL2020-0088SP, 0076CUP (alt parking); 348 Court Street; Extension request to extend the approved proposal to add a connecting driveway to abutting lot along with paving, parking and stormwater treatment Motion to approve the extension request for one year made by K. Beattie, B. Beliveau seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 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. 8.I. PL2021-0128SP, 0129SU, 0140CUP(steep slope); 143 Endicott St NO; Proposal to construct 48 townhouse style units and clubhouse, with entrances off Endicott and Tower streets along with associated drainage, grading, landscaping and lighting Motion to take the application off the table from November 9 made by K. Beattie, S. McWilliam seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Applicant: Atty Phil Brouillard, Matthew Maggiore, Paul Maggiore, Steve Pernaw and Jon Rokeh were present. J. Rokeh went over the summary of changes from the last meeting in regard to the abutter’s concerns. The applicant has been working with staff on the comments from the technical review meeting as well. The applicant has received the driveway permit from DOT. The significant changes are to the previous access roads off Tower Street. They will bot now be hammerhead turnarounds with one an “entrance only” off Tower street and the other blocked with Knox blocks for emergency vehicles. A double lane leaving the site off Endicott that will have a landscaped island. C. St. Clair knows his comment is not for the applicant and more for DOT but he doesn’t feel safe not having a turn lane into the site off Endicott going down the hill. J. Rokeh noted that DOT said there was enough room for cars to bypass a turning vehicle and striping was not needed. He added that the applicant will be contributing funds to the cross walk that the city wants to put up by Cumberland Farms and Hilliard Rd. There will be signage added for “no parking” at the hammerhead turnaround. M. Maggiore discussed the abutters concerns that had been brought up at the last meeting. C. St. Clair commended and thanked the developer for working with the abutters. Chair P. Brunette read the two emails from abutters in support of the project. The public hearing opened at 7:08 PM Abutter input: Robert Sarsfield of 91 Tower St addressed the board. He reiterated his email and is in full support of the project. His wife also commended the developer. The public hearing closed at 7:11 PM Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He added the issues of the past few years for the proposed cross walk by Hilliard Road. It’s not a fact of “if” it’s needed but where. He echoed that it has been good working with the developer on the project. S. McWilliam asked about Tower Street and how issues can be looked into. Planning Director D. Trefethen encouraged folks to  The public hearing closed at 7:11 PM Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He added the issues of the past few years for the proposed cross walk by Hilliard Road. It’s not a fact of “if” it’s needed but where. He echoed that it has been good working with the developer on the project. S. McWilliam asked about Tower Street and how issues can be looked into. Planning Director D. Trefethen encouraged folks to bring street issues up to Council. Motion to approve the site plan, subdivision and conditional use applications with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by C. St. Clair, B. Beliveau seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 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. PL2021-0135SP; 62 Pleasant Street, Bank of NH; Proposed improvements to the drive through and parking lot Motion to accept the application as complete made by B. Beliveau, K. Beattie. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Applicant: Greg DiBona addressed the board via Zoom. G. DiBona explained the improvements. Currently there are 66 parking spaces and the drive through is not attached to the building. The plan is to square off the building and move the drive through so it would be attached to the building. The one way traffic flow around the site will be preserved. The applicant is adding 5% green space and all parking will be restriped. The drive through could be closed for a bit during construction. The applicant is still working on the specifics of the timeframe. The drive through and ATM location will be similar to the one in Gilford where there are tubes and any teller in the building can assist. The first lane will have no window, just the ATM and the night drop off box. The intention is to do the work on the building first then move the drive through so there will be less down time. C. St. Clair asked if he should recuse himself as the bank is a financial sponsor with the Motorcycle Association. Chair P. Brunette said if there is not a direct pecuniary, but it would be up St. Clair. S. Soucy asked about the stacking of the lanes and if there will be enough room as she sees long lines when she drives by now. There will be enough room for roughly 10 in each lane and the lanes will be nine and a half fee wide vs the normal parking size of nine feet. Signage will be added for the one ways. The public hearing opened at 7:43 PM Abutter input: There was no one to speak for or against the application The public hearing closed at 7:45 PM Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen asked the applicant if the completion date was enough time. After discussion the date was moved to June 6, 2023. He read the staff review. Motion to approve the site plan application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by K. Beattie, S. McWilliam seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 9.II. PL2021-0136CUP(wetland buffer); 39 Reagan Way; Proposal to construct 20 x 20 ledge pack parking area within the 50 ft wetland buffer; waiver for wetland delineation Motion to accept the application as complete made by K. Beattie, B. Beliveau seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Applicant: Anthony Bean Burpee addressed the board. There is a retention pond on the property as part of the development. The applicant would like to put down ledge pack in a small area for parking. Most of the lot is within the wetland buffer. There will be planting to the edge of the ledge pack per the Concom. The public hearing opened at 7:52 PM  Applicant: Anthony Bean Burpee addressed the board. There is a retention pond on the property as part of the development. The applicant would like to put down ledge pack in a small area for parking. Most of the lot is within the wetland buffer. There will be planting to the edge of the ledge pack per the Concom. The public hearing opened at 7:52 PM Abutter input: There was no one to speak for or against the application. The public hearing closed at 7:52 PM Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He mentioned that there would need to be two motions: one for the waiver of the wetland delineation and the actual conditional use application. Staff is in support of both. Motion to approve the waiver wetland delineation made by K. Beattie, C. St. Clair seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Motion to approve the conditional use application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by K. Beattie, C. St. Clair seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 9.III. PL2020-0085SP amd1; 375 Endicott St N, Brickyard-Cedar Lodge; Proposal to amend the site plan to account for field changes uncovered during excavation, coordination with utilities and supply chain/construction setbacks Motion to accept the application as complete made by K. Beattie, B. Beliveau seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. Applicant: Brian Pratt addressed the board via Zoom. He ran through the minor changes that needed to be made with the relocation of the pool and recreation facility. The public hearing opened at 8:06 PM Abutter input: There was no one to speak for or against the application. The public hearing closed at 8:07 PM Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He remined the board that conditions from the previous approval still apply. S. Soucy asked about the fire pit that appeared to be right next to the parking lot and was told the pit has been there many years and is not as close at it appears. It’s more in the grass patch and about 10 ft from the parking area. Motion to approve the amended site plan application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by K. Beattie, C. St. Clair seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 9.IV. PL2021-0137SP, 0138SU; 23 Summit Ave; Proposal to construct three condominium units Motion to continue the application at the applicant's request to January 4, 2022 made by K. Beattie, 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. PL2021-0130SP, 0131CUP; Artisan Ct/Waterford PL; Proposal to construct self storage facility with associate parking, utilities and office within the wetland buffer  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. PL2021-0130SP, 0131CUP; Artisan Ct/Waterford PL; Proposal to construct self storage facility with associate parking, utilities and office within the wetland buffer Motion to accept the application as complete and schedule the public hearing to January 4, 2022 made by B. Beliveau, K. Beattie seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 11. NEW BUSINESS 11.I. Capital Improvement Committee (CIP) recommendations to Planning Board R. Mora explained the CIP process. The parking garage made the top of the list. Motion to refer the CIP recommendations to City Council made by S. Soucy, C. St. Clair seconded. All voted in favor by roll call vote. 11.II. Board member proposal to discuss changing allowable structure height in certain zones S. Soucy was curious to see who would be interested in starting the process on changing the building height in the dimension chart. Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that the height in most zones is 35 ft except in RR, UC, and CR, which the height is 60 ft. C. St. Clair would be in favor of looking at changing the 60 ft specifically on Lakeside Ave. K. Beattie noted that it depends on how far off the road the building is for the height and whether it would be an issue to the Fire Dept. Planning Director D. Trefethen showed some examples of proposals that had concern about the height of the buildings compared to surroundings and what they actually look like after construction. S. Soucy suggested maybe looking at what the height was prior to the 60 feet and asked if an application could get a waiver. Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that a variance for height would be required if higher that what is allowed. He gave the board some options to think about. R. Mora suggested having design or arch standards in the CUP application. B. Beliveau asked if they could base the number off the distance from the shoreline, surrounding terrain or height of existing structures on abutting properties. Planning Director D. Trefethen will look in the past ordinances to see if he can find when and possibly why it changed. He asked the board to think about it and email him ideas of a range they are looking for. Chair P. Brunette said that the board needs standards to look at. C. St. Clair’s concern is mostly height and not architecture. B. Beliveau brought up the terrain and steep slope surrounding the area will have an affect on the visual as well. 12. OLD BUSINESS Planning Director D. Trefethen updated the board on the sidewalk at Weirs Beach Village. The sidewalk is in, but on the opposite side of proposed, on their own property. He asked the board if they wanted the applicant to come back for an amended or would they be ok with just an as built. The board agreed to have the developer submit and as built when the entire development is complete. 13. PLANNING DEPT REPORT 14. LIAISON REPORTS ConCom: S. Soucy noted at the last meeting they went over the greenspace deletion to eliminate hurdles. There can be increased density without deleting the open space. Infill adds to the core of the city. LRPC: S. Soucy mentioned that the last meeting was on recycling and that cardboard is a big money maker. The suggestion was put out to bring cardboard to the Messer Street garage instead of putting out on  ConCom: S. Soucy noted at the last meeting they went over the greenspace deletion to eliminate hurdles. There can be increased density without deleting the open space. Infill adds to the core of the city. LRPC: S. Soucy mentioned that the last meeting was on recycling and that cardboard is a big money maker. The suggestion was put out to bring cardboard to the Messer Street garage instead of putting out on the curb where it gets mixed in with the rest of the recycling. 15. OTHER BUSINESS 16. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM. Respectfully, K. Graham