Planning Board

CITY OF LACONIA PLANNING BOARD 6:30 PM City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc Council Chamber Accepted January 10, 2023 12/6/2022 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Charlie St. Clair called the meeting to order at 6:31 PM 2. ROLL CALL Members present: Brett Beliveau, Amy Lovisek, Bruce Cheney, Rich MacNeill, Stacy Soucy, Mike DellaVecchia, Louis Joseph, Scott McWilliam, Charlie St. Clair Absent: Peter Brunette 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Kalena Graham 4. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Planning Director Dean Trefethen 5. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 5.I. Acceptance of Nov 1 minutes Motion to accept the minutes made by S. Soucy, R. MacNeill seconded. All voted in favor. 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. PL2018-0071SP, 0074CUP(wetland); 174 Province Street, Grace Presbyterian Church, request to extend the approval to construct a 3028 sf addition and 32 parking spaces Applicant: Mike Bemis addressed the board representing Grace Presbyterian Church. He gave a brief background of the project. Previous extensions were granted while the funding for the project was being secured. The parking, elevator and utilities had been completed. They are in process of finding funds for the parking lot and rear addition. Motion to approve the extension request to December 5, 2023 made by M. DellaVecchia, B. Beliveau seconded. All voted in favor. 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. 8. 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. PL2022-0106SU; 85 & 87 Lighthouse Cliffs; Boundary Line adjustment between the two lots Motion to accept the application as complete made by S. McWilliam, L. Joseph seconded. All voted in favor. Applicant: Mark Condodemetraky of GC Engineering addressed the board representing both applicants. The adjustment will correct a driveway encroachment issue. Akwa has non-exclusive easement over all the lots for utility access, maintenance and repair as part of the declarations and covenants of the subdivision that was done with the original approval in the early 2000s. That will be noted on the final plan. No further easements will be needed for utilities that would cross the applicant’s properties. The public hearing opened at 6:40 PM No one spoke for or against the application. The public hearing closed at 6:41 PM Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He noted that there has been a change in ownership since the application was submitted and staff has all the required authorization for the application. Motion to approve the boundary line adjustment with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review made by R. MacNeill, S. McWilliam seconded. All voted in favor. 9.II. PL2022-0107SU, 0108SP; 51 Elm Street; Proposal to change the form of ownership to condominium for 20 residences and 1 commercial unit Motion to accept the application as complete made by A. Lovisek, S. McWilliam seconded. All voted in favor. Applicant: Atty Sarah Rubury of Westcott Law, addressed the board representing Paugus Elm LLC. She noted that Ron DeCola is also available for any questions that may arise. The declaration of covenants was submitted to the city and signed off. C. St. Clair would have rather seen the apartments stay as he feels that would be better for the city. Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. This is only a form of ownership change meaning that instead of one owner there will be multiple. The concern about parking will not be affected by this change of ownership. The commercial units will have one owner but multiple leases and could be further subdivided in the future with an application before the Planning Board. In the condo declaration rentals are allowed in the residence but with a minimum of 30 days, no short term lodging would be permitted per the declaration. The HOA is obligated to keep the sidewalk clear on the portion that they own. There was clarification needed of the right location on Railroad Ave and Planning Director D. Trefethen will look more into that. The public hearing opened at 6:54 PM Abutter input: Wayne Hackett of United Baptist Church of Lakeport addressed the board. He had no issues with the proposal. His concern is about Park Street. About a year ago everyone on the street was asked to sign a petition to have Park Street made public vs private and hasn’t seen anything since. B. Cheney noted that is a legal matter as most of the property owners on Park own a proportion of the road and if anyone was to say no, the city wouldn’t be able to take it over. W. Hackett was under the impression that all the owners had signed off. Maintenance of the street is a concern with the Church due to lack of funds. C. St. Clair suggested W. Hackett bring this up to City Council. Jon Decker of the Daily Sun addressed the board. He asked the board if the project would have been  a petition to have Park Street made public vs private and hasn’t seen anything since. B. Cheney noted that is a legal matter as most of the property owners on Park own a proportion of the road and if anyone was to say no, the city wouldn’t be able to take it over. W. Hackett was under the impression that all the owners had signed off. Maintenance of the street is a concern with the Church due to lack of funds. C. St. Clair suggested W. Hackett bring this up to City Council. Jon Decker of the Daily Sun addressed the board. He asked the board if the project would have been approved as condominium and C. St. Clair noted that lots of times people change their form of ownership and doesn’t think there is a rule on the amount of condos in an area. The public hearing closed at 7:04 PM Motion to approve the boundary line adjustment with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review with the finding that the applicant meets the zoning districts requirements and the change of ownership changes nothing to the site. The site plan was previously approved and all the requirements were met, made by S. McWilliam, R. MacNeill seconded. M. DellaVecchia is disappointed of the change as it will not help the current housing situation. All voted in favor. 9.III. PL2022-0109CUP(vehicle sales), 0110SP; 1103 Union Ave; Proposal for used car sales and rentals Motion to accept the application as complete made by B. Beliveau, R. MacNeill seconded. All voted in favor. Applicant: Thomas Brown addressed the board representing South End Auto Sales. He noted that the dealership is currently at 298 Main Street but the property is changing and so they need to move by the end of the month. The applicant would like to have 27 parking spots. S. Soucy noticed that staff recommends 20 parking spots. Planning Director D. Trefethen clarified that. Parking for employees and customers as well as the display. A maximum of 20 for display vehicles, two for tenants for the apartment which leaves 5 for customers and employees. If the out building is converted to a rental, more spaces would be required and an application before the planning board. R. MacNeill brought up concern with a large pile of tires that are stacked next to the building. Those tires will be moved inside as no outside storage is allowed. The public hearing opened at 7:15 PM No one spoke for or against the application. The public hearing closed at 7:16 PM Staff Review: Planning Director D. Trefethen read the staff review. He noted that there are other dealerships in the area and this is not unique. With the 20 maximum display vehicles, only seven can be along Union Ave. The travel Lane along Zion Hill must remain clear. The grass area between Zion and 1123 Union Ave cannot have any displays or storage. A minimum of two spaces are for the existing apartment in the building. The current lot on Main Street is much smaller. R. MacNeill is concerned that there is not enough room on the lot for all the parking as noted. Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that display vehicles are not required to meet the 9 x 19 size as a parking spot. M. DellaVecchia asked if something could be planted along the strip along Union Ave. C. St. Clair noted that might be a line of site issue right there to plant anything. Motion to approve the dealership site plan application with the dates and conditions as stated in the staff review and the board finds the dealership is allowed with a conditional use permit and there are other dealerships in the surrounding area in the same zone, made by B. Beliveau, A. Lovisek seconded. All voted in favor. 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. 11. NEW BUSINESS 11.I. Capital Improvement Committee (CIP) recommendations to Planning Board S. Soucy, Chair of the CIP Committee introduced the chart with the members’ rankings. R. MacNeill 11. NEW BUSINESS 11.I. Capital Improvement Committee (CIP) recommendations to Planning Board S. Soucy, Chair of the CIP Committee introduced the chart with the members’ rankings. R. MacNeill asked if the two line items could be combined when an RFP come up and Planning Director D. Trefethen will mention that. S. Soucy hopes something will be done with the Capital Resource fund. Motion to recommend the CIP rankings to City Council made by S. Soucy, B. Cheney seconded. All voted in favor. 11.II. Discussion of whether the City should adopt an ordinance, pursuant to NH RSA 674:22 and RSA 674:23, declaring a temporary moratorium on the issuance of building permits or the granting of subdivision or site plan approval due to the City's, "lack of capacity to accommodate anticipated growth in the absence of such an ordinance." Motion to table the discussion to January 10, 2023 due to the fact that the member who wanted to bring it up was absent made by S. Soucy, L Joseph seconded. All voted in favor. 12. OLD BUSINESS 13. PLANNING DEPT REPORT Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that the Assistant Planner and Zoning Technician jobs are still vacant. The current Zoning Tech is moving over to the Conservation Tech as her background is environmental. 14. LIAISON REPORTS LRPC: Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that there is an opening for a Laconia representative and noted that R. MacNeill had volunteered. S. Soucy stated that the last meeting of the year was on November 28. A regional transportation plan is being reorganized by corridor. There is a new Planner and he went over the 10 year plan. Motion to appoint R. MacNeill to LRPC as the third Laconia representative made by A. Lovesick, S. McWilliam seconded. All voted in favor with B. Cheney abstaining. ConCom: S. Soucy noted that the Commission recently saw an application for possible development at 48 Lucerne Ave and gave a brief synopsis. S. McWilliam asked about public transportation and the possible future need of it again. C. St. Clair noted the one that is in the Weirs but the fact that money would be needed for a larger scale. B. Cheney agrees that it should be looked into for the future. C. St. Clair will help if S. McWilliam would like to pursue the idea. Council: B. Cheney noted that three items have been tabled at council for answers to questions. Planning Director D. Trefethen clarified the items. HDC: C. St. Clair noted that there hasn’t been a meeting since they finished the review and changes to the Overlay Ordinance as it is back in Council’s hands. 15. OTHER BUSINESS Brian Wolf of Laconia addressed the board. He wondered if the city services (schools, water, DPW, etc) would be able to handle the growth proposed at the old State School. After some discussion on the fact that nothing has actually been proposed or sold yet, B. Cheney pointed out that a lot of work will need to be done. B. Wolf asked if the board will conduct a study and Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that questions will be asked and concerns will be fixed, if there are any well before any work will be started. He noted that the average single family home generates .6 students according to studies. There is no question a large development will lead to more of a demand and explained how the impact fee works. B. Wolf asked about the item tabled on the moratorium and B. Cheney explained the reason. He also noted that large developments don’t get built at the snap of fingers and that there are still some being built out currently that  would be able to handle the growth proposed at the old State School. After some discussion on the fact that nothing has actually been proposed or sold yet, B. Cheney pointed out that a lot of work will need to be done. B. Wolf asked if the board will conduct a study and Planning Director D. Trefethen noted that questions will be asked and concerns will be fixed, if there are any well before any work will be started. He noted that the average single family home generates .6 students according to studies. There is no question a large development will lead to more of a demand and explained how the impact fee works. B. Wolf asked about the item tabled on the moratorium and B. Cheney explained the reason. He also noted that large developments don’t get built at the snap of fingers and that there are still some being built out currently that were approved 30 years ago. There are so many variable with the state school property and no one can project on “could be’s” and “might’s”. 16. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair C. St. Clair thanked the board and wished all Happy Holidays. With no objection, the meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM Respectfully, K. Graham