Town of Sutton
Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
May 13, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Dan Sundquist, Chair. Members in attendance were Joe Burns, David Burnham, Robert Wright, Jr., and Paul Raynor. The Chair appointed Paul Raynor to sit and vote for Carrie Thomas who was not in attendance.
This is a continuation of a public hearing on a proposed major subdivision by John Michael and Judith Rogers on Birch Hill Road in Sutton. Robert Wright, Jr., made a motion to open the continued public hearing. Paul Raynor seconded. Unanimous. Due to new faces in attendance, the Chair gave a brief history of the application and the hearing process. The following were entered into the record:
April 24, 2008 Site Walk Minutes
Memo from the Fire Chief
Table 4 – Traffic Counts from Jeff Evans
Site Walk information is as follows:
Power Poles placed in right-of-way
Trees growing in the right-of-way
Yield or Stop signs needed at the intersection of Harwood and Birch Hill Road
Issue of snow removal and snow storage during the winter months
Fire Department Memo consisted of:
Recommendation from the Fire Chief, that due to fire safety, sprinkler systems be put in each home as lot is sold.
Mr. Evans stated that the Rogers’ had not problem with the deed restriction regarding the sprinkler systems and he had not had the time to flag the trees in question with the Road Agent, Paul Parker, to date.
Discussion was opened to the public with the following issues raised:
Is Birch Hill Road a 3 rod or 2 rod road? Town records state it is a 3 rod road. (Mr. Philip Murphy)
Removal of trees, rural character of the road, stone walls and the neighborhood. Also wondered who got the trees if and when they are taken down on a person’s property. (Mr. Paul Knudson)
Ditch width which leads to shrinkage of the road during the winter. Safety of children walking the road to catch the school bus. (Mrs. Eleaner Knudson)
7:22 p.m. John Michael & Judith Rogers arrived.
Does Table 4 adequately answer the Planning Board’s questions? (Mr. Erick Derlith)
Mr. Rogers’ asked the Board about their findings when they walked his property. He was told that they only walked the frontage.
What trees and where are the ones that will be taken down as well as what utility poles and where are those that need to be moved. (Mrs. Val Blachley)
The issue of more cars, run off of water, rural character, too many 2 or 3 acre parcels with little lawns, little wood lots, environmental stewardship. (Taylor Blachley)
Mr. Rogers read the recommendation from his Traffic Study and a STOP sign was suggested at the intersection of Harwood Road and Birch Hill Road.
Paul Raynor motioned to close the Public Hearing. Robert Wright, Jr., seconded. Unanimous.
Questions/Feedback from Board members was as follows:
Notes taken from Peter Blakeman regarding the pole were missing due to a medical emergency. Land Use Coordinator to request this information from Peter Blakeman.
RSA 674:36-4 – Access Roads. “Planning board may properly consider the present condition of access roads when ruling on a subdivision application, and if a hazard is created by the present level of development, it may find that future development is premature”.
Turnouts being used as access ways.
Highway Department is on top of keeping Birch Hill Road and Harwood Road up to date on maintenance.
Who is responsible for the road upgrades as far as payment?
RSA 674:35-7 – Offsite Improvements. “Where a town planning board conditioned its approval of a developer’s application for a subdivision on a developer’s upgrading, at its own expense and to standards established by the town, of two roads leading to but located outside the proposed subdivision, and evidence indicated that traffic on the two roads, due to the proposed subdivision would increase the hazard that an emergency would create, and that there must be improvement to the roads if the subdivision was fully developed, compelling the conclusion that, with respect to the criterion of safety, the proposed subdivision was premature, the town could legitimately condition its approval of the subdivision on the
provision of improvements to the offsite access roads”.
All future conditional approvals be subject to review and approval by Town Counsel.
Road Agent and Police Department to make sure any signs are located in appropriate places on Birch Hill Road and Harwood Road.
Copy of conditions is attached.
Mylars for Wayne Wheeler and Timothy & Lorraine Davis were signed. Robert Wright, Jr., delivered to the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds in Concord, NH.
Previous meeting minutes were dispensed with. They will be reviewed and approved at the next regular meeting on May 27, 2008.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda D. Ford
Land Use Coordinator
John Michael & Judith Rogers
Major Subdivision
Birch Hill Road
Draft Conditions of Approval
by Planning Board, May 13, 2008
1. Deed restrictions and notes be included on the plat stating that every new home requires a sprinkler system.
2. 100’ buffer along perennial stream shall be shown on plat.
3. HISS calculations for each lot to be included on the plat.
4. Improvements to be made to sections of Birch Hill Road presently less than 16’ travel way width under direction of Town of Sutton’s Road Agent and according to road construction specifications in the Sutton Subdivision Regulations to create a minimum of 16’ travel way width between the subdivision and Route 103.
5. Stop sign or yield sign(s) be installed at intersection of Harwood Road and Birch Hill Road as directed by the Town of Sutton’s Road Agent and in consultation with the Town of Sutton Police Department.
6. Tree removals and utility poles reset as necessary to improve snow removal and storage as directed by the Town of Sutton’s Road Agent.
7. All monuments to be set at lot corners.
8. All conditions subject to review by town attorney.
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