Planning Board Minutes

Litchfield Planning Board Minutes
December 4, 2006

1.0 Meeting convenes at 7 p.m. at the Litchfield Town Office.

1.1 Members present: Eric Seaman (chair), John Hatch, Judy Rogers, Robert
Gordon, Marvin Allen, and Mike Seaman. Also attending: Lezley Sturtevant
(secretary), Steve Ochmanski (CEO), and guests: Barbara Clements, Bill
Monagle, and Clarence R. Gowell Jr.

2.0 Minutes of November 6, 2006 submitted for approval. Rob made a motion
to approve as written, and Marvin 2nd the motion. Vote 5-0-0.

3.0 Additions/Adjustments

5.2 Senior Housing Subcommittee - Barb Clements

5.3 Green Community Technologies Report

5.4 Strategic Planning Committee Survey

5.5 Marvin Allen resignation

5.6 Rick Gowell - Site Plan inquiry

4.0 Scheduled Business

5.2 Senior Housing Subcommittee - Barb Clements. Barb extends an
invitation to the Board for a Design Exercise on Jan 13, 2007 at 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

4.1 Bill Monagle - Compensation Program for phosphorus standards. The
Planning Board is reluctant to accept compensation program; 50% of
phosphorus must be treated, some developments cannot meet standards no
matter what mitigation is applied. Compensation fees are used for "off
site" mitigation. The board sees compensation fees as an unfair advantage
to a developer with enough capital to afford paying it, versus one who
cannot. How can the Planning Board, (PB), review each equally? Bill M.
explains some developments may have a terrain which is unable to mitigate
completely.
A fee paid to MDEP for a project in a watershed, such as Woodbury Pond,
would be applied to the same pond, not necessarily the same town. Monies
are supposed to be held until a project comes available in the same water
body. This may not always be the case, but most likely. Maine Department
of Environmental Protection does not restrict where the compensation fees
are spent. The Planning Board can make conditions the fees paid can be
spent only in Litchfield.
Mike would like to know who is responsible for finding projects to apply the
funds to. Bill M. begins looking for projects almost immediately, once
compensation fees are agreed to. Bill M. prefers to have developer meet the
mitigation standards, and believes compensation fees should be a last
resort.
The board needs to discuss how they are going to review and handle applicant
compensation fees. Bill M. extended an offer to attend any future hearings
or meetings should more questions arise.

5.6 Rick Gowell/ Robin Redmond - Site Plan Review for expansion - standard
use. The board reviews survey plans from 1999, including some recent
updates. Mr. Gowell wants to add 20 feet to the back and side of the
building for dry storage, due to requirements of insurance company. Rick
would like to know what the board would require for information in his
application. The board needs to clarify whether property lines and setback
restrictions apply. They also need the building's square footage and total
impervious area for Stormwater and phosphorus calculations. After review of
the Land Use Ordinance, the board decides to discuss further whether the two
businesses need to be reviewed as a whole, or whether the new development is
reviewed solely. If the development triggers Stormwater/phosphorus control
measures, then Cobbossee Watershed Department should be consulted. A
detailed plan of the lot the store is on, building square footage, a topo
map, 2 foot contour intervals of whole lot, impervious surface square
footage, and a letter from Bill Monagle at CWSD regarding Stormwater plan
would all be needed by the board for an application review. The applicant
would also need to meet Performance standards, Review criteria, and
Submission requirements for conforming use.

4.2 PB Responsibilities and goals. Eric feels the PB should be planning;
and he has resigned from the Strategic Growth Committee because of this.
Eric would like to know how the board feels about spending more time
planning. Robert agrees, but a lot of time can be spent on research.
Robert doesn't believe both boards, PB and SPC, should spend time on the
same tasks. Mike would like to know if there is a specific ordinance to be
addressed; Shoreland Zoning, Subdivision, or Land Use. He believes the
Planning Board knows better how the ordinances should work. John feels his
time spent on the PB has been reactive instead of planning, and the PB
should make a bold move and make some changes. Eric is proposing 2 meetings
per month; 1 regular business, and 1 planning from September through June.
Eric makes a motion to vote on the Planning board holding 2 meetings each
month; a business meeting and a planning meeting. Judy 2nd the motion.
Robert feels if the PB had been planning all along, the SPC would not have
been created. He wonders if the PB might be biting off more than it can
chew. Vote 4-0-1.

4.4 Meetings - time and frequency. The first meeting will still be held on
the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. The third Monday will be the new
planning meeting at 6 p.m. A notice will be submitted to the Sodalite, and
posted on the bulletin board. Due to New Year's on the first Monday of
January, the PB business meeting will be held on Monday, January 8, 2007 at
7 p.m. at the Town Office. The planning meeting will be on the following
Monday January 15th, regardless of the holiday, at 6 p.m. Robert makes a
motion to instruct the chair to make necessary notification, and Judy 2nd
the motion. Vote 5-0-0.

5.3 Green Community Technologies - Yellowwood survey - file in PB permanent
records.

5.4 SPC survey - for review

5.5 Marvin Allen - letter of resignation read by Eric to PB members. Eric
requested Marvin take the 2nd alternate position instead of resigning; e.g.
temporary change of status. Robert makes a motion to authorize the chair
recommend to the Board of Selectmen acceptance of the change of status of
Marvin Allen, full member to 2nd alternate, and appoint Mike Seaman, 1st
alternate to full board member. Judy 2nd the motion and vote 4-0-0.

4.3 Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. Map of wetlands available for review. The
prior map did not differentiate between forested wetland and freshwater
wetland. Only freshwater wetlands need to be mapped.
No one has gotten back to Steve O. regarding docks.

5.1 Handout of article regarding appeals decision.

6.0 Future Agenda Items

7.0 Adjournment

7.1 Robert makes a motion to adjourn at 9:44 p.m., and Eric 2nd motion.
Vote 4-0-0.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lezley Sturtevant, secretary