I.                    CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Palmer called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.

II.                  PUBLIC COMMENT:

None

III.                 WORK SESSION:

1. 2019 Annual Award Presentation – Emma Acres

Chairman Chris Palmer welcomed the Laprise Family – Scooter, Cynthia and Maggie – the owners of Emma Acres and congratulated them on a great project completed there.  Chairman Palmer presented them with the 2019 Annual Planning Board Award certificate and a decorative “farm theme” cake.  The Laprise family thanked the Board for the recognition!

At 6:43 p.m. Chairman Palmer asked to make a motion; Bill Haas made a motion to close the work session; seconded by Michael DeFrancesco.  Voted all in favor.  Motion passed.

SPECIAL MEETING

I.                    CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Palmer called the meeting to order at 6:44 p.m.

2.                  PUBLIC COMMENT:

None

IV.               SPECIAL MEETING:

1. Accessory dwelling unit ordinance advisory opinion to the Town Council – discussion and possible action

Planner Sweet reviewed the materials that were sent to the board in their packets including the ADU Ordinance Key explaining the changes made – draft #4 from her meeting with Peter Ruggiero and Scott Millar and then draft #4 which is the clean copy to show how the ordinance would read if all their changes were to be approved.  Additional information was also included about accessory dwelling units and how other communities are handling them.  And distributed at the meeting, were two renderings of what a 600 square foot unit would look like in terms of an accessory dwelling unit – one showing a floor plan as is and the other with a circle in the bathroom that would accommodate ADA/handicapped accessible unit.  Planner Sweet noted that on the “clean copy” she placed a box around the 600 square foot requirement because she needs information to base this number off of and would like to discuss.

Mike DeFrancesco agrees with the changes that have been made and feels this is good to go.

A discussion ensued regarding a minor change regarding the lot area from Article IV, Section4.3.2, A – about suitable lot area (as defined by Section 1.2 (64).  They all agreed to the revision.

Gina Thurn, who resides on Gardner Road in Exeter asked about zoning requirements if a resident has a legal non-conforming 3-acre lot and it’s a 4-acre minimum, would that resident be allowed to add an ADU?  The board’s response was no.  Ms. Thurn feels that this could present an issue.  Chairman Palmer suggested she raise her concern at the public hearing.  Planner Sweet explained that they could apply for a variance through the Zoning Board stating that they have less than the required lot area, but meet all the setbacks, and could prove well and septic.  It would then be up to the Zoning Board to either grant that relief or not.  Mike DeFrancesco stated that a good rule to follow is that a legal non-conforming lot can not be made more non-conforming.

Chairman Palmer asked Attorney Ruggiero about J. on page 3.  A brief discussion took place and the Board agreed to re-work J and add a sentence from G in the draft – marked up version.  Planner Sweet will make these revisions and submit to the Town Council for review.

Mike DeFrancesco made a motion to submit the amendments to the Council along with the attachments.  Seconded by Scott Millar; voted all in favor.  Motion passed.  For the record, Mike Viveiros did not vote.

Planner Sweet and Scott Millar volunteered to attend the Council meeting when this ADU topic will be on the agenda.  Planner Sweet will talk to Lynn Hawkins about agenda.

Attorney Ruggiero left the meeting at 7:20 p.m.

2. Comprehensive Plan

Planner Sweet gave a status update; Mehri was out for about three weeks because she wasn’t covered to get reimbursed but she is back and working on a checklist of questions on Land Use and other elements for the Board to review.  She has also been in touch with DEM who helped her with some maps and hopes to move forward with some preliminary draft maps that we will be able to review, make comments and changes to.  Planner Sweet is working on a timeline and hopes to present at least one of the checklists at the next workshop in order to review and get feedback.

Donna Pari asked if she was back tracking.  Planner Sweet replied that there were drafts on Land Use but there was still data missing so she has been filling in the data, and she’s also creating a punch list based on any questions that come up to finish off that element fully.

       Chairman Palmer asked what comes after Land Use?  Bill Haas replied that it’s Open Space.

Planner Sweet wants to focus on Climate Change and Energy and start drafting that because this will be from scratch; there is no existing element to build off of.

Scott Millar stated that he sent Planner Sweet a copy from Charlestown because they’re going through the same process so she’ll have something to go on.

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by William Haas to adjourn, seconded by Mike DeFrancesco.  Voted all in favor.  MOTION PASSED.   Chairman Palmer adjourned the meeting at 7:29 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,  

M. Dixie Foisy

Planning Board Clerk