Sue Killam opens to the meeting the public.

Joshua Manning for Lewis Builders Development, Inc. regarding Condition of Approval on Golf Practice Facility, Map 1, Lot 12. Joshua Manning presents before the Planning Board regarding the fire truck turning radius issue. The site plan as approved allows for a 50ft radius. The road specs call for a cul-de-sac to have a 70ft radius for the right-of-way and a 60ft radius for the pavement. The facility is not a cul-de-sac but the end of a parking lot. Peter Lewis does not understand why the Chief has an issue. Mike Murphy, Fire Department Chief, addresses the Planning Board. He says that it is a dead end road and questions whether the area is adequate for the fire trucks to maneuver, and does not believe that a 50ft adequate radius is adequate. The Fire Department is looking to have a 60ft radius. The Town Engineer found that 50ft is adequate, but the Chief stated that the trucks are custom-built and some do not turn as well as other. The issue came up previously on another Lewis Builder development, and it was determined then that a 50ft cul-de-sac does not fit the Town’s apparatus, which is how the 60ft radius was put into zoning. Sue Killam says this number is not in zoning, but in the road specs. The Chief informs the Planning Board that the equipment he has now is the same equipment when the 60ft radius was determined. Peter Lewis says there is only one Town truck unable to maneuver the radius. He argues that worst thing the Fire Department would have to do is back a little or drive over the grass. The Chief says the Fire Department should not have to stop to make another maneuver in order to make the turn. The Chief says the road only needs to be lengthened from 50ft to 60ft. Peter Lewis informs the Planning Board that there is a pressure hydrant at the front of the building and a sprinkler system. With the high pressure, there is no need to bring a tanker to the building. The Chief says a tanker is brought every time. The second due truck is the tanker which nurses the first truck. It would also take about 20 minutes before the hydrant could be utilized. The tanker truck feeds the engine while the water supply is being hooked up. Sprinklers are only an exiting device not a building saving device. Peter Lewis says the trucks would not need to turn around until after the fire is put out. Sue Killam said it did not occur to the Planning Board that the driveway would be viewed as a public road. The Town Engineer used a template to determine the turning radius after approval of the site plan, and the Chief wrote a memorandum that same day regarding his concerns. Ted Stewart said that the driveway is not a public road and does not need to meet public road specifications, but that the Chief and Peter Lewis need to come to some agreement on this matter.

Ted Stewart is not comfortable telling the Chief he cannot have a fire lane in the manner that he wants. He suggested increasing the radius rather than building a "T" turnaround, which would be a simpler solution. He believes the Chief has the capability of making all decisions on fire lanes, and this would be the first time they would be going against the Chief. This is a public building and the Planning Board must look at what needs to be done to meet the conditions of the fire lane. There are different standards for public and private buildings. Is the road a fire road or a fire access road? The Chief informs the Planning Board that State Fire Code indicates that the authority lies with the Chief on what the turning radius should be. If the road is more than 150ft, then it is required to have a turnaround. The Chief suggests he and Peter Lewis discuss the options. Peter Lewis still insists that the turnaround is large enough for every truck except one. The question was asked whether trucks from other towns will be able to maneuver the turnaround as it is. Bill Rollins informs the Board that he did not intend to circumvent the Chief’s authority, and he did not review the cul-de-sac regulations before making his recommendation. He took actual dimensions of the fire trucks and the radius and was able to run the numbers on his program which showed that the trucks were able to make the turning radius.

Sue Killam presents a memorandum from the Chief in April/May of 2007 regarding the Town Engineer’s research on the turning radius. The memorandum left it that the Town Engineer has authority to advise the Planning Board. The Chief disagreed on this point. Sue Killam informed the Chief that the memorandum should have been worded differently. The Chief says he should have jurisdiction on the turning radius and which trucks can or cannot maneuver the turn.

Joe Guischard would like for the Chief and Peter Lewis to get together to try and resolve this issue. The Planning Board informed the Chief that they had the Town Engineer research whether the trucks could maneuver the turnaround, but the Chief says the Town Engineer did not have that authority, and this is how the conditional approval was left. Sue Killam agrees with the suggestion that the parties continue to work to resolve this issue until both concur on the radius and turnaround. Sue Killam will require a memorandum from both parties when this is done stating that they concur on their decision of how the turnaround will ultimately be designed.

Eric Seltzer, RPC regarding CTAP Assessment. Eric Steltzer, Rockingham Planning Commission, presents before the Planning Board to discuss the Community Planning Assessment Template. The document contains a list of specific assessment questions and answers.

Theme A: Municipal Services/Facilities & Regional Cooperation. Discussion was held regarding the questions and answers within this category. CIP is something the Planning Board is very interested in. There is $15,000 available through CTAP. CIP is one of the financial plans with Planning Board control. The Town’s CIP is 8 years old and is due for an update. Ted Stewart feels the Planning Board should send a letter to recommend the use of the $15,000. Future facilities includes a sewage disposal and water supply in the Master Plan, but there are no current plans. The recycling needs are contracted with Waste Management. The Town has a five year contract which was just renewed. The recycling of electric and scrap iron is outside of the Waste Management contract. The Planning Board discussed what the Town is doing to strengthen recycling and waste management. The Town is expecting to single stream the recycling in the next three years in order to eliminate sorting by the residents. This is not a part of the current contract, but a goal of the Board of Selectmen and Waste Management. Removal of the ability to dispose of white goods and electronics at the Town dump is a step backward. The Planning Board believes that with enough public input, it would be easy to bring this back to the way it was. The Town should be able to go back and assess how much is not being recycled because there is no availability for a small fee at the Town dump.

Eric Steltzer discussed with the Planning Board the fair share housing assessment and how Atkinson compared to surrounding communities. There is residential growth occurring. There are only two lots left in the commercial district. Small businesses cannot grow because there will be no more industrial areas in Town. Industrial areas are nearly used up. No plans are in place for commercial/professional areas. The Planning Board had past discussions regarding cluster/commercial areas with a buffer on the front side and the commercial business on the back side. This may be something germane for future uses. The Planning Board had also previously discussed mixed use where a business is part of a house which also includes living quarters. This utilizes the land more effectively and reduces energy and transportation because it is more easily accessible. These ideas are worth pursuing and discussing. The Planning Board discussed the need for 10 acres in a cluster. Low income housing can only be in a cluster, but multi-family houses need 30 acres. Sue Killam asks Eric Steltzer to give an example of an energy regulation. One regulation is a green building, an ordinance where a nonresidential building must meet points to conserve energy. The affordable and workforce housing ordinance needs to be improved and updated. The Planning Board and Eric Steltzer discuss transportation, sidewalks and driveways. They discussed paved roads between developments for bikes and scooters. Ted Stewart said the Town has a decent trail network and are trying to improve it. Paul DiMaggio asks why the Planning Board cannot make it a provision to set part of a development aside for a trail system. Sue Miner asks if there would be an issue of liability which prevents developers from allowing these types of trail systems. The RSA states that the developer would be exempt from liabilities such as tripping over a root, but not if a well cover is left open. This could become a substantial lawsuit.

Theme B: Environmental Protection, Land Use and Open Space. Eric Steltzer discusses with the Planning Board his assessment questions and answers. The Town has a historic resource inventory. Shirley Galvin has the book and can show Eric Steltzer. The 1998 Master Plan was based on the study which created the historic resource. There is also the "Atkinson Then and Now" book which is available for purchase. The Town has a natural resource inventory which is continuous. The Town does not have a local storm water maintenance ordinance off of what the State requires and abides by the State’s requirements. There are no regulations being actively worked on for a prime wetland ordinance. With regard to wildlife habitat regulations, there are no hunting restrictions, but the areas are not posted. The Town interacts with Hampstead and Plaistow on conservation land that crosses town borders. The Town would like to speak with Haverhill regarding town cooperation to protect the wildlife. The Town has a forestry plan in need of updating regarding the management of open space. The Town does not have a scenic road, but it does have scenic vistas. Paul DiMaggio feels the Town needs a village master plan. The Town has not done a thorough agricultural inventory in some time. Eric Steltzer will make a final report and executive summary to be presented to the Planning Board and the CTAP Committee.

Public meeting closes at 10:30 p.m.

Amendments were made to the meeting minutes of 5/2/07 as follows:

p.2, line 13, add "he thinks" after "said."

Amendments were made to the meeting minutes of 5/16/07 as follows:

p.6, 4th paragraph, after "and" add "offers to" and replace "now acting as chair" with "declining and Sue continuing as Chair."

Amendments were made to the meeting minutes of 6/6/07 as follows:

p.3, 2nd paragraph, line 19, after "offered" add "as presented in the Rockingham Planning Commission’s formula."

p.4, 2nd paragraph, line 2, delete "Conservation Commission" and replace it with "easement holders."

OLD BUSINESS: Willowvale has ZBA approval and must come back before the Planning Board for site plan approval.

Harold Morse made a motion to adjourn. Joe Guischard seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.

The meeting was closed at 11:00 PM.

APPROVED________________________

Respectfully submitted,

Raelene McBride