WORK SESSION

Members present:     Michael DeFrancesco, Scott Millar, William Haas, Gina Thurn, Joe St. Lawrence, Michael Viveiros and Donna Di Donato

Members Absent:      None

Staff present: William DePasquale, Planner and Dixie Foisy, Clerk

I.                CALL TO ORDER:

Chair Michael DeFrancesco called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

II.              PUBLIC COMMENT:

None

III.            OLD BUSINESS:

A.    RFP/Comprehensive Plan

Chairman DeFrancesco asked Town Planner William DePasquale to update the Board on the Town of Exeter’s Community Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map: Request for Proposal (RFP). Planner DePasquale stated that he revised the RFP, having incorporated most all of the Boards comments. He expressed his appreciation to the Board for their feedback. He asked the Chair for direction on how to proceed and it was decided to poll the Board for their additional input.

Chairman DeFrancesco stated that he had a question on Page 8 regarding the placement of the consultant section. After some discussion from the Board, it was decided to move the A. Consultant

section: A through F—a. Citizen Participation, b. Citizen Participation web-based comment-gathering, c. Natural Resource Protection, d. Economy and Economic Development/Rural Design, e. Mapping Tools and GIS Interaction/Format and f. Plan Format from Page 8 to Page 3 of the document, just before A. II. Task Table 1.

Chairman DeFrancesco noted a typo on Page 3, the word graphic was misspelled. He also asked the Planner to explain the term outreach methods on Page 5 under d. Interviews/Focus Group Discussions. Planner DePasquale explained that sometimes one-on-one interviews are a better way to gather information from individuals who may not want to comment in a public meeting setting, also known as stakeholder interviews.

On Page 6, Chair DeFrancesco also asked for clarification on Number 13, Draft Comprehensive Plan Update – deliverable 7, a. Deliver a draft Comp Plan update suitable for public presentation to the Planning Board, Town Council and/or Advisory Committee. Planner DePasquale stated that when he originally drafted the RFP he was not sure if there would be an Advisory Committee. He shared that many places have these committees and that the Planning Board has the opportunity to set up certain advisory groups or subcommittees to assist the Board with certain aspects of the Comprehensive Plan, i.e., Solar, Wind, etc.

The Chair also asked about 15 a., b., c., on Page 7. Mapping deliverable 9, regarding the use of the term RI Statewide Planning Standards. The Planner noted that the GIS mapping system and RI Statewide Planning Standards are being used so that an individual firm would not go off on their own and create their own standard. That these standards must be met.

Chairman DeFrancesco asked if the Board had any additional comments. Scott Millar stated that his comments had been addressed.  There were no other comments as this time.

Under f. Plan Format on Page 10, Planner DePasquale distributed an 11x17 handout to the Board and explained what his thinking was on using this particular format. In the Plan Format section of the RFP it states, (The document shall consist of three-part easy to read plan sections with a one-or two-page graphics rich 11”x17” pull out executive summary or similar graphic rich format for ease of use). Mr. DePasquale stated that the handout would incapsulate everything from the vision statement, the future land use map, and each and every goal for each section of the Comprehensive Plan. Discussion ensued. The Planner incorporated the Board’s suggestions in the revised RFP.

IV.            NEW BUSINESS:

A.    Annual Election of Officers

Chairman Michael DeFrancesco opened the election process. Board member William Haas nominated Scott Millar for Chairman and Michael DeFrancesco seconded the motion.

Scott Millar stated that he would accept the Chairmanship if Michael DeFrancesco would accept the position as Vice Chair. William Haas amended the motion, nominating Scott Millar as Chair and Michael DeFrancesco as Vice Chair. Mr. DeFrancesco asked if there was any further discussion, and hearing none, a vote was taken, with no one opposed, the Motion Passed. Vote 5-0.

B.    Process for Planning Board Correspondence and Approval

Town Planner DePasquale asked for some protocol and process for all Planning Board correspondence. The Planner suggested that he would have 24-hours to contact the Chair to have the Chairman review and approve correspondence. If the Chair was not available to sign the correspondence it would then go to the Vice Chair, if the Vice Chair was not able to respond in a reasonable amount of time, authorization would be given to the Administrative Officer to sign on their behalf. Chair-elect Millar noted that he would send the Administrative Officer his electronic signature file, allowing the AO to use his signature once the correspondence has been reviewed and approved. Chair DeFrancesco asked the Board for their approval, all were in agreement and the plan for correspondence handling was approved.   

V.              ADMINISTRATIVE:

A.    Zoning Board of Review: October – (2) applications and an appeal:

Building/Planning/Zoning Clerk, Dixie Foisy noted that the two applications, for the October 14^th meeting, were requests for dimensional relief. One for a shed and the second for a detached garage.

The other topic on the Zoning Board agenda is the Revity appeal. Town Planner DePasquale noted that there would be a regular agenda with a variance on it. That a second, separate, agenda would cover the Revity appeal. Scott Millar asked if a Planning Board member should attend this hearing. Michael DeFrancesco asked for Joe St. Lawrence’s input and he acknowledged that yes, he felt a representative would be advisable. Michael DeFrancesco stated that he would attend the Zoning Board Hearing of Appeals on Thursday, October 14. Town Planner DePasquale advised Mr. DeFrancesco to strictly adhere to the Conditions of Approval and the Recorded Decision. Gina Thurn had a question with regards to the decision and to the appeal that has been initiated between Revity and Green Development.  Since these parties are in litigation an appeal stays all proceedings and furtherance of the action being appealed. There was no further discussion.

B.    Correspondence: Notice of Public Hearing – CEA Overlay District

A notice was included in the Board’s packet and is not up for discussion.

C.    Next Meeting: Regular Meeting – September 28, 2021

Rooftop Solar – Ecogy Energy RI XII LLC

Public Comment Definition review and clarification from Solicitor Steve Sypole

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Bill Haas to adjourn, seconded by Joe St. Lawrence; voted all in favor.  Motion Passed.   

The meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,  

Rebecca M. Lukowicz

M. Dixie Foisy

Planning Board Clerk