Wilton, NH Planning Board

 

DATE:           December 21, 2011

TIME:            7:30 P.M.

PLACE:         Wilton Town Hall Courtroom

PRESENT:    Wilton Planning Board Members: Chairman Walter Zuber, Jeff Kandt, Alec MacMartin, Neil Faiman, Matt Fish, Alternate Sue Egan,  Board of Selectman Representative Steve McDonough, NRPC Representative Camille Pattison, and Minute Recorder Heather Loewy Nichols.

Chairman Zuber opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

-          November 16, 2011

A MOTION was made by Mr. Kandt and SECONDED by Mr. McDonough to approve the minutes of November 16, 2011 as amended.
Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried with Mr. Fish abstaining.

 

-          December 7, 2011

A MOTION was made by Mr. McDonough and SECONDED by Mr. MacMartin to approve the minutes of December 7, 2011 as written.
Voting: 5 ayes; motion carried with Mr. Fish and Mr. Kandt abstaining.

Tom Quinn appeared before the Board and explained that his excavation permit renewal had been conditionally approved in November subject to verification from the bonding company that the bond number is correct. He stated that the bonding company has sent a letter to the Board explaining the discrepancy.

Mr. Fish explained that the letter states that the bonding company had a change in software and in the process also changed their numbering system so the new bond number is correct.

A MOTION was made by Mr. MacMartin and SECONDED by Mr. Faiman to find that the condition requiring explanation as to the discrepancy between the bond numbers has been fulfilled by the letter submitted to the Board dated September 30, 2011.
Voting: 7 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Quinn then proceeded to submit a new reclamation plan and Mr. Fish explained that water was found closer to the surface at this site than originally planned and Emory and Garrett, consultants,  and Mr. Quinn have been discussing the best option for a plan going forward. Mr. Fish further explained that he met with representatives from Emory and Garret, the Board of Selectmen, and Mr. Quinn to discuss a solution and the impact to the overall reclamation plan.

Mr. MacMartin stated that he wanted the new plan to be reviewed by the Town Engineer.

After discussion, the Board decided to invite all the involved parties to the February work session and have the plans reviewed after this discussion.

 

 

Rick Bewersdorf appeared before the Board and submitted a letter of authorization from Joan Lemire, owner of the building. He also submitted a letter from the Wilton Water Commissioners stating that they will not require the applicant to install a back-flow device.

The Board and the applicant made a few minor changes to the plan such as adding page numbers.

A MOTION was made by Mr. Kandt and SECONDED by Mr. Faiman to accept the application.
Voting: 7 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

A MOTION was made by Mr. Kandt and SECONDED by Mr. Faiman to approve the application.
Voting: 7 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

 

The Board reviewed a sign application submitted by Mr. Bewersdorf for a sign affixed directly to the front window.

A MOTION was made by Mr. MacMartin and SECONDED by Mr. Faiman to conditionally approve the window sign subject to the applicant providing a picture of the sign to the Board.
Voting: 7 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

 

 

No applicant was present. Chairman Zuber noted that correspondence has been sent to the applicant telling them that their presence before the Board is required.

A MOTION was made by Mr. McDonough and SECONDED by Mr. Faiman to continue the application to January 18, 2012.
Voting: 7 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

A MOTION was made by Mr. MacMartin and SECONDED by Mr. Faiman that the Board send a letter to the applicant informing them that if they are not present at the meeting on January 18, 2012 their application will be denied.
Voting: 7 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

Robert Todd, of Todd Land Use Consultants, appeared before the Board for the applicant and explained that last month he presented a pre-application overview of this project to the Board but since then the plan has changed as the applicant found the original location to be unsuitable. He explained that Pine Hill purchased this 49 acre lot in 1984 from the High Mowing School for use as a grade school at which time he designed the current facility in the northeasterly corner of the property. He stated that currently on site there is the main school building, a shop and recycling facility, another building for early education, some accessory buildings, outdoor classrooms around the edge of the forest and two wells which are currently serving the facility. He stated that Pine Hill Drive comes off of Abbot Hill Road in the southeast corner of the property and is a 20ꞌ wide paved service with two way traffic, a turn around and associated parking. He further explained that in 2005 Pine Hill subdivided off a 7 acre parcel in order to house the proposed headquarters for the Center for Anthroposophy but this was never built.

Mr. Todd stated that the new facility will be in the south central part of the property noting that the property is surrounded by property to the north which is under easement to the forest society, an organic farm, the High Mowing School, and a small development. He noted that there are no residences within 500 feet of the boundaries although the farm on the south boundary comes right up to the property line. He stated that the applicant feels that the neighboring farm is a benefit as the students will be able to watch farm animals grazing.

Mr. Todd explained that the applicant is proposing a 200ꞌ long drive with a turning area and 20 parking spaces. He stated that there will be septic systems, a culvert installed on the west of the building and run off will be contained by the naturally occurring wetlands. He noted that there will be room for play areas in the vicinity of the new buildings as the applicant will be clearing 1.9 acres. Mr. Todd further explained that traffic from grades one through eight will continue as it is today but will not conflict with the proposed additional traffic which they believe to be an increase of 50 trips per day. He noted that there is an old cellar hole about 100ꞌ from the clearing area which a depth of 3ꞌ - 4ꞌ of depth and sloping sides so children can get in and out of it.  

Mr. MacMartin noted that if the abutting property was a higher intensity use he would have an issue with putting the play areas in the setback.

Mr. Todd then asked Walter Zuber to speak on behalf of the project. Mr. Zuber stated that he will be the Clerk of the Works for this project and explained that the proposed buildings will be used for early childhood education and they have sited two buildings because the long term plan is for the Kindergarten to move out of the main building and into their own building. He stated that first they will build the early childhood education building which will have a toddler room with a teacher and an aide and then two other classrooms for children aged newborn to two and a half with their parents. He explained that the goal is to offer something for all children up to the eighth grade, provide children to feed the school with, and to provide a very safe and quiet area for the youngest students. He noted that this will be building to the most stringent codes for fire and life safety.

In response to a question from Ms. Pattison, Sherry Jennings, teacher, explained that the big classroom will have 15 students with a teacher and an aid, one of the smaller classrooms will be for eight families, and the last classroom will be for parent education. She also noted that the second building will have 18 students. She explained that the traffic coming in and out of the proposed site will be separated through timing, for instance the toddlers would get dropped off and then the babies and their parents would arrive for a two hour class and be gone before the toddlers need to be picked up.

Mr. MacMartin wondered what special exceptions for this lot allowed and does this plan expand those allowances.

Mr. Todd stated that so far no one has been able to find record of the special exception.

Rick Kohler appeared before the Board for the applicant and explained that since they will be disturbing more than one acre he has prepared and is submitting a storm water management plan.

Mr. MacMartin noted that the Storm Water Management Report will be sent to town engineer for review.

Mr. Kohler explained that he determined the net increase of flow will be 2.25 cubic feet per second. He stated that to the east and north storm water runoff will occur as sheet flow and will be taken by the forest floor where it will eventually find its way to the wetland and he is not anticipating any degradation to the wetland. To the west, he explained, the same thing will occur as there is a forested buffer between the road side ditch and the parking area. He stated that additional run off will be collected into grass runoff swales on either side of the driveway that will terminate in riprap and a 24” culvert. He further explained that the direction of the water flow will continue as it does now and they will be installing a new 24” culvert and replacing a 12” culvert with a 24” culvert to transfer the additional flow.

In response to a question from Mr. MacMartin, Mr. Kohler stated that there will be no increase in the current outflow of the fire pond or the forested wetland.

Mr. Kohler explained that berms between the parking surface and the forest floor will be constructed in order to filter run off from the parking lot.

In response to a question from Mr. MacMartin, Mr. Kohler stated that snow storage will probably occur on and in front of the berms.

Mr. MacMartin noted that the berms could be used to keep the debris that is scrapped up during plowing out of the forest and Mr. Kohler stated that he thinks the berms are far enough away from the parking area so they will not be ruined by plowing.

Mr. Kohler explained that the mulch created from the stump grinding will be broadcast over the disturbed soil areas and provide soil stabilization and after winter the mulch will be bonded with the soil and will provide stable planting surface. He further explained that wood chips from tree removal will be stockpiled and used to create a perimeter around the building site to keep soil from being tracked off the site and also to provide stabilization for construction vehicles. He also noted that straw mulch blankets will be placed on slopes, such as on either side of the driveway.

Mr. Kohler presented a phasing plan and explained that phase 1 is happening currently and includes a curb cut, roughing in the driveway entrance and installing the construction apron; phase 2 includes the clearing of the entire 1.9 acre construction site; phase 3 will consist of grubbing and stumping the area of Building #1, the septic system, and the roadway. He explained that Building #2 and the parking area will remain cleared but not disturbed through the winter, phase 4 will include the construction of the first building and septic installation, and phase 5 includes the completion of the excavation, parking lot, and preparation of the Building #2 area.

Mr. Kohler explained that in a conventional septic system the affluent is treated in the soil in a leach field but in the waste water alternative system they are proposing this process happens in the tank and what is released is only slightly contaminated water. He explained that the alternative system is very low impact and he noted that there is a shallow water table and installing a typical system would involve a lot of building up of the area. He noted that the they are going to install the pipe from the proposed building #2 to the septic field so the area will not need to be disturbed again later.

Mr. Kohler explained that he spoke with representatives from the Drinking and Groundwater Protection agency and he needs a 100’ well radius without any drainage or wetlands so he located the well in the northerly section of the lot by a break in the stone wall so to create less disturbance.
Ms. Pattison discussed her review of this project with the Board.

Mr. MacMartin questioned whether all the accessory buildings have been included in previous site plans.

Ms. Pattison stated that she recommends changing the notes to reflect what was presented today in terms of teachers and students and noted that the fire lanes seem narrow and long to her and she concerned about the maneuverability of the trucks.

Mr. MacMartin suggested landscaping along the south buffer.

The Board decided to hold a site walk on January 7, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

A MOTION was made by Mr. Kandt and SECONDED by Ms. Egan to continue the application to January 18, 2012.
Voting: 5 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

 

-          Provost Logging

Matt Fish appeared before the Board and submitted a letter from Lura Provost allowing him to represent her and the previously approved plan. He explained that the timber harvest on this site will be commencing this winter and noted that there is a large vernal pool complex that traverses the site so they will be using the study that was provided by Stoney Ridge. He explained that they will be doing a whole tree harvest using a mechanized crew in order to minimize disturbance and will be using best management practices specific for vernal pools with no earth moving. He stated that he notified Lyndeborough and Highway Department of this presentation as required by the site plan approval. He further explained that this will be a primary timber harvest and the most important thing is to perserve the canopy and the buffer around the vernal pools. He noted that only they will only be taking the high value mature timber which represents a small percentage of the forest. He also noted that it is  most important to not destroy the depression of the vernal pool.

A MOTION was made by Mr. MacMartin and SECONDED by Mr. Kandt to accept the proposed logging plan.
Voting: 5 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

 

Chairman Zuber declared the meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Heather Loewy Nichols

 

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