Planning Board Minutes

Litchfield Planning Board Minutes
September 4, 2007

1.0 Meeting convenes at 7:00 p.m. at the Litchfield Town Office in Hiram E. Shorey Family History Center

1.1 Members present: Eric Seaman, John Hatch, Judy Rogers, Mike Seaman and Robert Gordon; CEO, Steve Ochmanski and Secretary, Lezley Sturtevant present. No guests attending.

3.0 Agenda Additions/Adjustments

5.1 Reply from Maine Municipal Association re: Prohibited Officers. Rob made motion to skip to 4.1.

5.2 Housing Rehabilitation Planning Committee – notice to Planning board members who may be interested in participating.

4.0 Scheduled Business

4.1 Election of Planning Board Chair and Vice-chair for 2007-08. Rob made motion to nominate Eric for Chair, Judy 2 nd, vote 4-0-1. Rob made motion to nominate Judy for Vice-chair, John 2 nd, vote 4-0-1.

2.0 Minutes of June 4, 2007 submitted for approval. Mike made motion to approve as written, Rob 2 nd, vote 3-0-2. Minutes of June 18, 2007 submitted for approval. Eric made motion to approve as written, Judy 2 nd, vote 4-0-1.

5.1 Steve O received a clarification of prohibited officers in reference to Litchfield Planning Board Ordinance Section 2, E. MMA provided Maine Statute defining municipal officers;…selectman or councilors of a town. Board member of a different kind does not conflict.

5.2 Ad hoc Planning Committee to on information to apply for grants. Need volunteers for committee to work with a possible professional planner; research, collect data, etc. There probably should be representation from the planning board. John agreed to participate on the new committee.

5.3 Planning Board group photo – Teague had asked to take a photo and post it on the website. Mike does not wish to have his photo on the Town of Litchfield’s website due to a lack of control of the content. John made motion to choose not to have a photo taken for the website, Mike 2 nd, vote 5-0-0.

4.2 Planning Board goals and plan for Ordinances – In June the board felt the Subdivision Ordinance should be reviewed, and the PB should update themselves on the Comprehensive Plan. Some PB members need updated versions of different ordinances. A question arises whether the revision of the Litchfield Comp Plan was passed through the State Planning Office. Rob made motion to have the CEO check with the State of Maine regarding regulations for the revised Comp Plan, Eric 2 nd, withdrawn. The Subdivision Ordinance has an electronic copy the secretary can use for revisions. A copy should be printed for the board members to work off during editing. May be helpful to have the Comp Plan and surveys on hand during review for consistency. Mike asked what state guidelines were applicable to the Subdivision Ordinance. Eric has a book “ 2006 Maine Planning & Land Use Laws “ with the most updated guidelines. Eric made motion to request Steve O. order & purchase copies of the aforementioned book for the board. Mike would like to have the secretary check for a CD ROM version of said book. Rob 2 nd motion, vote 5-0-0. Eric asked Steve O. about information he may have picked up from a seminar he attended. PB members need to review the Subdivision Ordinance and note changes or topic to be discussed. Steve O. told the PB about a section that was accidentally omitted from the 6/07 revised Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. (Sect. 15, B, 1 page 13 – Principal and Accessory Structures) The old ordinance has an additional phrase the board may want to include in the new ordinance. Rob would like to see it corrected as soon as possible (November ballot). A corrected version could be submitted to the Selectmen for a decision on how and when to amend it. (First agenda item Sept 17 th) Rob made motion to request a laptop for use by the PB and Secretary and CEO office with Windows base Microsoft small business edition to the Selectmen, John 2 nd , vote 5-0-0.

4.3 Planning Meeting each month – Judy would like to limit the length of the meeting or change the night. Rob can’t make 6 p.m. on Mondays, and Mike can’t make October, November and December meetings. Rob also has conflict with school board meetings (2 nd and 3 rd Wednesdays). Board will keep discussion open at each meeting and keep things flexible, but will continue as planned. Next meetings: Sept 17, Oct 1, and Oct 15, 2007.

6.0 Correspondence – Discussion – Reports

6.1 Conservation Committee – memo regarding vernal pools and state law protecting them. The committee asks the PB to keep these laws in mind when reviewing applications. Steve O. checks with MDEP when there is a question of a vernal pool location. MDEP can take up to 3 years to determine the pool special significance, and each pool has a 75 foot setback, but a special significance pool has a 250 foot setback.

6.2 Letter re: Bowdoin Comprehensive Plan – no discussion

7.0 Future Agenda Items

8.0 Mike made motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Judy 2 nd, and vote 5-0-0.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lezley Sturtevant
PB Secretary