Planning Board Minutes

Litchfield Planning Board Minutes
June 4, 2007

1.0 Meeting convenes at 7:02 p.m. at Litchfield Town Office.
1.1 Members present: Eric Seaman (chair), Judy Rogers (vice-chair), and Mike
Seaman, secretary Lezley Sturtevant and CEO Steve Ochmanski. Members Robert
Gordon, John Hatch, and alternate member Marvin Allen are excused. Guests
attending: Paul E. Labbe Sr., and Clarence Gowell.

2.0 Minutes of April 16, 2007 submitted for approval. Judy made a motion to
accept minutes as written. Mike 2nd the motion and vote was 3-0-0.

3.0 Agenda Additions/Adjustments
5.1 Paul Labbe - Hodgkin's Farm Subdivision

4.0 Scheduled Business
4.1 Scratched.
4.2 Town Garage expansion application. Needed items: subsurface wastewater
disposal (Sect 5, B, 2, (F)) submitted, Okay; erosion control plan (Sect 5,
B, 2, (I)) runoff would tend to head in one direction only - hay bales or
silt fence would resolve issue; contour intervals (Sect 5, B, 2, (E)) the
board weighs whether needed - a letter with BMP from the applicant would
satisfy requirement.
Site Plan Application Checklist:
Sect 4, A, 1, satisfied - waiver. A, 2, satisfied - supporting documents,
Mike made motion, Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 3, satisfied - no wetlands, Judy
made motion, Mike 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 4, satisfied - Mike made motion, Judy
2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 5, satisfied - Judy made motion, Mike 2nd, vote 3-0-0.
A, 6, satisfied - Mike made motion, Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 7, satisfied -
Mike made motion, Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 8, satisfied - Judy made motion,
Mike 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 9, satisfied - Mike made motion, Judy 2nd, vote
3-0-0. A, 10, satisfied - Judy made motion, Mike 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 11,
satisfied - Mike made motion, Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 12, satisfied - Judy
made motion, Mike 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 13, satisfied - Mike made motion,
Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 14, satisfied - Judy made motion, Mike 2nd, vote
3-0-0. A, 15, satisfied - Mike made motion, Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 16,
satisfied - Judy made motion, Mike 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 17, satisfied - Mike
made motion, Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. A, 18, satisfied - Judy made motion,
Mike 2nd, vote 3-0-0.
Planning board reports finding of fact for Town of Litchfield's application
regarding Map R06-Lot 047 in the Rural District for an addition of equipment
storage space to the town garage. The addition is to be "L" shaped on the
east side of the building: 24'E x 56'N x 44'W x 16'S. The addition will
have no new plumbing but will have floor drainage into existing waste
system. Surface water drainage is to town pit and requires no stormwater or
phosphorus study. It has satisfied review criteria under Section 4 of Land
Use Ordinance. Judy made motion to accept finding of fact, Mike 2nd, and
vote 3-0-0. Mike made motion to approve application as described in finding
of fact, Judy 2nd, and vote 3-0-0.
4.3 Shoreland Zoning Ordinance and Planning Board Ordinance - the Selectmen
requested support or non-support for the amendments going to the Town
Meeting from the Planning Board. Mike made motion the PBO ought to pass,
Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0. Judy made motion SZO ought to pass, Mike 2nd, vote
3-0-0. The recommendations need to be included in the printing of the Town
Annual.
4.4 The PB discusses meeting again in June for planning purposes. Judy
inquires about holding the July business meeting (July 2nd). The board
agrees to hold the July 18th planning meeting, but Judy explains July 2nd is
not good for her. She encourages the board to meet as normal. The board
will meet July 2nd if the agenda requires. There will be no more Planning
meetings until September.
4.5 Clarence Gowell has questions he would like to pose to the board. #1 -
Why are floor plans required for building permit applications? The Licensed
Plumbing Inspector needs floor plans for reasons of plumbing fixtures for
the State of Maine. #2 - Ricardo's building (Thatz Cookin') - Can it be
converted into apartments? A change of use would require a review by the
PB. #3 - Bowdoin Center Road and Route 197 - How large a building can be
built on it? Septic System, Stormwater and Phosphorus would be the only
restriction to size. A civil or soil engineer could be helpful in
determining structure needs versus land appropriateness and LUO
requirements.

5.0 Unscheduled Business
5.1 Hodgkin's Farm Subdivision - Paul Labbe would like to modify covenants
and change the plans. Paul is the new owner of this subdivision; he
purchased it from Home Solutions. Eric reviewed the Subdivision Ordinance
(modification to a plan). Minor modifications to the plan can be considered
by the board without reapplication. Paul explains he would like to remove
the requirement for foundation/crawl spaces. He would like to allow slab
foundations as well. Judy is concerned that mobile homes placed on these
lots will be perceived as a mobile home park. Steve O. explains a park as
having 3 or more mobile homes on one lot. Eric sees no major issues with
the proposed changes. Mr. Labbe needs to submit the new plans with the
required documentation for the PB to approve an amendment. (A public
hearing may be required by the Planning Board.)
Paul has come upon ledge on Black Cherry Lane. He has spoken with the
Selectmen. He wonders if changes to the road need to come back to the PB.
If the Selectmen grant any waivers to the Road Ordinance, the changes to the
plan would need to come back to the PB, (potentially opening "Pandora's
Box"). Eric explains the PB has no authority over roads; only to ensure the
Road Ordinance is met. Paul may or may not decide to raise the grades on
the road. The PB may not see the changes causing any significant
repercussions, or they may require a detailed review.
6.0 Correspondence - Discussion - Reports

7.0 Future Agenda Items

8.0 Adjournment
8.1 Mike made motion to adjourn at 8:58 p.m., Judy 2nd, vote 3-0-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Lezley Sturtevant, Secretary