Wilton, NH Planning Board

TOWN OF WILTON

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

MINUTES

Approved 11-17-10

DATE:           November 3, 2010

TIME:            7:30 P.M.

PLACE:         Wilton Town Hall Courtroom

PRESENT:    Wilton Planning Board Members: Chairman Jeff Kandt, Alec MacMartin, Neil Faiman, John Shepardson, Alternate Sue Egan, Board of Selectmen Representative Steve McDonough, NRPC representative Steve Wagner and Recording Secretary Heather Loewy Nichols.

The agenda was amended as follows:

1.)                 Wilton Fire Station

2.)                 Other Business

3.)                 Adjournment

Chairman Kandt opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. and appointed Sue Egan to the Board in the place of Walter Zuber.

Applications:

1.       Wilton Fire Station- Board of Selectman – a public hearing regarding the proposed addition/changes to the Wilton Fire Station.

Dennis Mires appeared before the Board and explained that the last time he was before the Board they had questions related to storm water management on the site so he introduced Matt Covern of Keach Nordstrom to discuss these issues with the Board.  

Mr. Covern explained that the proposed building spans three lots of record including the old diner lot, which will be used for the new addition, and the old service station lot, which will be used for parking. He explained that the existing retaining walls are in tough shape so they will be removing portions or the wall and replacing it with a new wall designed by a geotech consultant. He stated that there will be ten parking spots, including a handicap accessible spot, access off the second story to the existing drive to the North, and access off the first floor to the parking lot.

Mr. Covern explained that there is an existing floor drain and they will provide a similar one in the new apparatus room and will combine the old and new drains and then run collected fluid though a separator and into the Milford sewer lines. He noted that the current drainage goes into the storm water system.

Mr. Covern stated that they are proposing installing a closed pipe subsurface drainage system, underground detention pond, and a treebox filter that will collect stormwater and then discharge it through a filter device that outlets to the stormwater system. He also explained that the roof water will be discharged into the closed drainage system and then go through a controlled discharge under Main Street. He stated that they have discussed their proposal with the Milford Waste Water manager.

Mr. Covern explained that the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services loves the Filtera treebox product and that the water does not require pre-treatment. He also noted that they will be meeting the state requirements. He explained that yearly maintenance is suggested where the grate is lifted and the top three inches of material, which is a bark mulch like material, gets replaced. He stated that sometimes the tree will fail and will need to be replaced. Mr. Covern explained that the system is made by Concrete Systems, Inc. out of a pre-cast structure that comes as a base section that a concrete slab is placed on. He noted that it is made to be driven on and this model allows for the street drainage to remain as street drainage and the parking lot drainage to be treated in the structure.

In response to a question from Mr. McDonough, Mr. Covern explained that they needed approval from Milford to send drainage to their system, but Milford Waste Water was not concerned about the flow rather they are more concerned about the grit separation. He further noted that the drainage going to Milford will only be water falling off the fire truck in winter as rain water goes into the box, then the detention system, then into the existing stormwater system. He stated that this is also the same process for roof runoff as roof drainage does not get dirty so it will not go through the treebox filtration system.

In response to a question, Mr. Covern explained that they chose the treebox unit because of the lack of available space and noted that from the surface one will only see two access risers.

In response to a question from Mr. Shepardson, Mr. Covern explained that the Department of Environmental Services requires that that kind of water go into the sanitary water system.

In response to a question from Mr. Kandt, Dick Rockwood stated that the fire trucks are washed outside in the summer and inside in the winter.

In response to a question from Mr. MacMartin, Mr. Mires stated that any runoff from washing the trucks off outside will go into the stormwater drainage system.

Mr. Rockwood stated that if system is installed then the preference would be to wash the trucks inside.

In response to a question from Mr. MacMartin, Mr. Covern stated that there are two light poles on the plan that are not designed yet but they will absolutely be full cut off lighting. Mr. Mires noted that the final plan will have a plan with the lumen distribution on it.

Mr. Kandt questioned whether it is practical to ask the kids to do car washes in the parking lot rather than in front of the station so that the runoff goes into the drainage system rather than into the street.

In response to a question from Mr. McDonough, Mr. Covern stated that the bark mulch material is the first thing that catches debris.

In response to question from Mr. McGettigan, Mr. Covern stated that in the back of the existing fire house there is a paved apron with four existing inlets in which the water flows to one point where it combines with the roof water and goes into the stormwater system. He noted that they are proposing only sending the trench drainage to the Milford sanitary water system.

Mr. McGettigan noted that Wilton may not always be able to use the Milford sanitary system.

In response to a question from Mr. MacMartin, Mr. Mires explained that if at some point it becomes necessary to change where separated water goes there will still be access to the structures where that change could be made.

In response to a question from Mr. Tuttle, Mr. Covern stated that just the trench drainage is going into the Milford sanitary system. He further explained that however many gallons of water is used to wash vehicles will be the amount that goes to Milford.

A discussion regarding drainage and who is requiring the proposed accommodations ensued.

In response to a comment from Mr. Tuttle, Mr. Kandt explained that the per the RSA the planning Board is reviewing the plan as they would a standard site plan and have made suggestions accordingly but the Board cannot require anything on the plan.

In response to a question from Mr. McDonough, Mr.Covern stated that the plan is not required to undergo any review at the state level. He further explained that the floor drain issue is a code requirement as they have to separate the drain water from other drainage. He also noted that state review is required if there is a wetland impact on a DOT road or if a project disturbs more than 100,000SF, neither of which is applicable for this project, and the building is in excess of the shoreline protection setbacks.

Bill Condra, Selectman, explained that the Board of Selectmen asked Mr. Mires to make a presentation to the Planning Board but their role is advisory as they are not giving directions but rather advice. He stated that the construction process is required to adhere to the state Building Code and that those codes decree a separation between storm drainage and effluent drainage.

Mr. Tuttle questioned if the drainage system is not required as part of the filtration process could they instead use a manhole with a grease trap.

Mr. Covern stated that they were directed to design a system to meet current DES standards and it was the team’s belief that they were required to do so in the town of Wilton. He stated that they could get away without the treebox filter but then the drainage being discharged into the stormwater system is untreated. He feels that the if the town imposes on itself what it expects from private developers; this is what a private developer would do in trying to make sure that the drainage under Main Street has no more flow than today. He noted that it is not a leaching system but rather a closed drain system.

Mr. MacMartin noted that the Board was not mandating but they were asked to provide input.

Mr. Covern explained that the separation is a requirement and the parking lot and what falls on it is another set of requirements.

Mr. MacMartin explained that a regular developer would be required to treat the parking lot runoff.

Mr. Wagner stated that it would be best to conform to the state standard and in other towns they ask that the town buildings be held to the same standard as public development.

Mr. Mires then reviewed the proposed building changes. He explained that the new building will come off the back of the existing building and there will be three new longer wider bays, a new entrance for the public, new crew entrance along the back, a meeting room, a couple of offices, toilet rooms, showers and a stairway. He also noted that there will be a shaft for future use as an elevator to go to the second floor which will be left as a shell for future expansion. He also noted that they will be renovating the existing building, improving the envelope, and redoing the roof. He noted that the new construction will have the same brick and white trim as the existing building.

Mr. MacMartin suggested adding some windows on the west or post office side to break up the brick.

In response to a question from Mr. Tuttle, Mr. Mires stated that the windows will be new glass but roughly the same size.

A MOTION was made by Mr. MacMartin and SECONDED by Mr. Faiman to find that after review the plans, as submitted, substantially comply with the Planning Board’s site plan review requirements.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried unanimously.

2.       Other Business

-          Stormwater Protection Regulations

Mr. Kandt stated that Ms. Tuomala and Mr. MacMartin have not met but Ms. Tuomala has made changes that they can review.

-          CIP

Mr. Kandt stated that Ms. Tuomala has sent memos to gather the information for the next CIP revision.

-          Impact Fees

Mr. Kandt stated that Ms. Tuomala has sent memos out to solicit for information necessary for the impact fees.

-          First Light Farm Preconstruction Meeting

Mr. Kandt noted that of the items that the Board listed as outstanding at the last meeting, six of the items are complete and two are outstanding so the applicant has asked that this discussion be continued to the next meeting.

-          Florida Towers

After discussion, the Board decided to notify the applicant that their application was incomplete at the time of submittal as it was never given to Steve Wagner to review so the case will not be heard until the December meeting.

3.       Adjournment

A MOTION was made by Mr. MacMartin and SECONDED by Mr. Zuber to adjourn the meeting.

Voting: 6 ayes; motion carried.

Mr. Kandt declared the meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Heather Loewy Nichols

Recording Secretary