I.                   CALL TO ORDER:

Acting Chair William Haas called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.  

II.                PUBLIC COMMENT:

No public comment.

Acting Chair William Haas announced that due to the absence of Michael DeFrancesco and Alternate Donna Di Donato, we will postpone the New Business items to the next Planning Board Work Session and move right to Old Business.

III.             OLD BUSINESS:

A.    Continued Discussion and/or Possible Action: Draft Changes to the Zoning Use Table, Exeter Zoning Ordinance Article II, Section 2.4

Acting Chair Haas introduced this item and turned the discussion over to Town Planner William DePasquale to review and explain the process of compiling the information gathered from Board members. The Planner had the 41-page working document displayed for Board members to follow and began the review on Page 10 (D.) Recreational, Entertainment, Lodging, Cultural, where the Planning Board had left off at their last meeting. The Planner covered the different zones requiring votes from Board members, which called for one of the following options: Yes, for allowed, No, for not allowed or S, the need for a Special Use Permit. Where there were differences of opinions, discussions took place.

Planner DePasquale explained to the Board the work he had done beforehand on updating and defining the different categories within the Zoning Use Table. He also reminded the Board that their decisions are recommendations from the Board to the Town Council and that the Council would be holding public hearings in the future.

The Planner then reviewed with the Board how he had reorganized and restructured all of the use categories within the table, from Theater and Performing Arts Space; Swimming Areas; Indoor Health/Sports Clubs; Motel or Hotel; Kennels; Cemeteries; Nursing, Rest or Convalescent Homes; Landscape and Trees Services; Bank or Financial Institutions; Medical Use Facilities; through Grocery Stores and Supermarkets, etc.

The Headings include:

A.             Residential

B.              Agricultural

C.             Institutional/Government

D.             Recreational, Entertainment, Lodging, Cultural

E.              Professional/ Personal Services Uses

F.              Retail

G.             Restaurants/Fast Food

H.             Automotive/Boat

I.                Construction and General Contractor

J.               Wholesale/Processing

K.             Storage

L.              Distribution

M.            Utilities

N.             Manufacturing

O.             Industrial

P.              Industrial – Noxious

Q.             Solar

R.             Wind Systems

S.               Marijuana Related Facilities

T.              Accessory Uses

Board members discussed individual items on the Zoning Use Table and were asked to review, discuss and determine which of the three options (Yes, No, Special Use Permit) belonged in each of the following zones: RE-2; RU-3; RU-4; CR-5; B; LB-R; LI; OS/PL (Open Space and Public Land); GWOL (Groundwater Protection Overlay District); LC (Ladd Center); DM (Dorset Mill); and PVOD (Planned Village Overlay District).

The Planner discussed with the Board the idea behind CR5 (Conservation/Residential).

The definition reads that the zone was established as a separate district to preserve and protect an area abundant with natural resources, landscapes and sensitive soils having severe limitations, and to provide for a natural mixture of residential and recreational uses. Discussion continued around the types of services that should be offered in this zone.

Conversations continued between the Board and Planner DePasquale centering around the designations of LC and DM (Ladd Center and Dorset Mill) the Planner explained that there is no such district like either of these in Town. That they are lumped in under a Planned District, which is not a zone, but current zoning has no uses attached. That the only choices are an actual zone or a planned district overlay, which Ladd Center and the Dorset Mill will be categorized as--Planned District Ladd Center and Planned District Dorset Mill.

After much discussion around Arts and Crafts Shops the Board concluded that until there is more information most districts will be No, Not allowed; and will be revisited in the future.

The Board covered Retail Trade or Garden Center–Neighborhood establishment, 2,000 square feet GFA or less; Retail Trade or garden center—Medium scale greater than 2,000 square feet GFA but less than 10,000 square feet; Retail Trade, Home Improvement or Retail Super Center—Large Scale greater than 10,000 square feet. (Page 17 of 41)

Prohibited throughout the Town of Exeter: Mobil or Manufactured Home Parks; Outdoor Shooting Ranges; Crematoriums; Casino or other Wagering/Betting Facilities; Animal Race Tracks; Combustion Engine or Electric Vehicle over 30 miles per hour Race Tracks; Commercial Laundries; Check Cashing and Payday Lending; Secondhand Acquisitions and Sales; Sale of Illegal Substances not otherwise permitted by law; Nightclubs; Bowling Allies, Billiards, or Pool Halls with a liquor license; Auto Body Repair Shops, Pawn Shops.

The Board finished their review on Page 21 and will continue reviewing the remainder of the Special Use Table at their next work session meeting.    

IV.             ADMINISTRATIVE:

A.    Approval of Meeting Minutes:  July 23, 2024

Gina Thurn made a motion to approve the July 23, 2024 meeting minutes, as submitted. Joe St. Lawrence seconded the motion. A vote was taken with all in favor, (5-0).  The minutes were approved. (Bill Haas, Gina Thurn, Joe St. Lawrence, Robert Corriea and Michael Viveiros).

B.     Correspondence: The Chair briefly reviewed some Planning Board notices and decisions included in their packets.

C.    Future Meeting: The next Planning Board Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. will take place at the Exeter Public Library, Program Room.  The Town Planner briefly reviewed the agenda which is full including Jade Investment Public Hearing, Schartner/RI Grows and possibly Tilted Barn.

V.                ADJOURNMENT:

Motion to adjourn made by Bill Haas, seconded by Gina Thurn; voted all in favor. 

MOTION PASSED.   The meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,  

Rebecca Lukowicz

M. Dixie Foisy

Planning Board Clerk