Planning Board Minutes

Litchfield Planning Board Minutes
March 5, 2007

1.0 Meeting convenes at 7:00 p.m. at Litchfield Town Office. No guests
attending.

1.1 Members present: Eric Seaman (chair), Judy Rogers, and John Hatch;
secretary Lezley Sturtevant and CEO Steve Ochmanski. Members Mike Seaman
and Robert Gordon absent and alternate Marvin Allen is excused.

2.0 Minutes of February 5, 2007 submitted for approval. Judy made a motion
to approve as written, and John 2nd the motion. Vote 3-0-0.

3.0 Agenda Additions/Adjustments

5.1 MMA Workshops

5.2 Kennebec Land Trust

4.0 Scheduled Business

4.1 Town Garage expansion application. Steve O. has questions regarding the
Site Plan application to be submitted. Will the board need a letter from
National Register of Historic Places or State Historic Preservation
Commission since the addition is to an already existing larger structure?
John believes the procedure should remain uniform, and Eric states there is
no information referencing the original building therefore it should be
required. A waiver could be requested as long as proof were provided the
area is already developed or other sufficient reason. Is item O of the
Submission Requirements waivable? Planning Board feels a letter from the
Town Manager stating it would not be for public use could be acceptable.

4.2 Planning Board Ordinance, Attendance Requirements. The PB needs to
clarify what is an excused absence and its applicability. After discussion
the board chooses to change Section 2 D. to read as follows: When there is
a permanent vacancy, the municipal officers shall within 60 days of its
occurrence appoint a person to serve for the un-expired term. A vacancy
shall occur upon the resignation or death of any member, or when a member
ceases to be a legal resident of the town, or when a member is absent from
25% of all meetings during the preceding 12 months. An absence shall be
voted excused or unexcused by the Planning Board, and used in the attendance
requirement. When a vacancy occurs, the chairperson of the board shall
immediately so advise the municipal officers in writing. The municipal
officers may remove members of the Planning Board by unanimous vote, for
cause, after notice and hearing.
The chair asked the secretary to bring back a draft for the board to review
at the next meeting.

4.3 Changes to the Land Use Ordinance regarding permits. At the Selectmen's
meeting the Assessor's Agent sent a letter to the Board of Assessors
concerning laws of assessing. It is necessary to look at all aspects of
construction including interiors. It was suggested the Selectmen allow for
a no fee permit for improvements and/or alterations to a structure. Steve
O. has received no reply or instruction regarding permits since the
Selectmen's meeting. As a result there will be no amendment to the Land Use
Ordinance regarding building permits at this time.
4.4 Shoreland Zoning Ordinance draft. The board picked up on page 27 of the
state draft. O. Timber Harvesting - remove (a) and insert note on page 28.
Remove note on page 29, all of pages 30 - 36 and page 37 up to P. Clearing
or Removal of Vegetation for Activities... No changes until page 44,
Section 16 F Expiration of Permit. Remove draft suggestion and insert
'Permits are valid for 24 months from the date of issuance.' There will be
no changes to the definitions. The board went back to the table on page 12
and made changes. They would like to utilize the Review Standards in the
LUO, but not sure how best to apply them. Phosphorus needs to be added from
the Performance Standard as well. PB members will make efforts to come up
with solutions for the next meeting.

5.0 Unscheduled Business

5.1 MMA Workshop flyers handed out to members.5.2 Kennebec Land Trust information given to members.

6.0 Correspondence - Discussion - Reports

5.0 Unscheduled Business

6.0 Correspondence - Discussion - Reports

6.1

7.0 Future Agenda Items

7.1 March 19th meeting - Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. Eric made a motion to
request the CEO, Steve O. attend for consult re: SZO draft, Site Plan Review

7.2 PB Ordinance attendance

7.3 LUO - Non-conformance, structures - waiting on MMA opinion.

8.0 Adjournment

8.1 John made a motion to adjourn at 9:45 p.m., and Judy 2nd. Vote 3-0-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Lezley Sturtevant, Secretary