The Planning Board discussed the memoranda regarding the radius for fire trucks at the Atkinson Country Club Golf Training Facility. The Fire Chief feels that the 50 ft radius is not enough and should be 70 ft. The Fire Chief and Peter Lewis will appear before the Planning Board on June 20, 2007 to discuss this issue with the Board.

Planning Board Reorganization: Tim Dziechowski has not been sworn in as a full member of the Planning Board and is still an alternate. Sue Killam asked the Board if anyone would be interested in being Chairman.

Flood Insurance Program and Insurance: Eric Steltzer informs the Planning Board that how a property falls within the flood plain is determined by the digital flood insurance and base flood elevation of the foundation of the property. He believes just the house and not the outbuildings are considered. If an owner wants to contest his property being in the flood plain, he would need to hire a surveyor to prove otherwise. Questions had been asked by residents on the lake as to why they could not obtain flood insurance, and it is because the Town is not currently part of the NFIP program. The Planning Board does not allow building in a flood zone because of the wetlands ordinance, and the Town is able to control this area. If a property is in the flood plain and the Town is part of the program, the insurance for the homeowner is reduced substantially. Lenders will not give a mortgage if a property does not have flood insurance. If the Town was part of the program, some of the benefits are access to FEMA money, predisaster and postdisaster, update to culverts to receive predisaster monies. Eric Steltzer said he did not see a downside to the program, but an ordinance would need to be written. The question was asked as to how many people would be impacted by this program. The building inspector would need to monitor the base elevation of buildings which is done at the development stage. Information may also be found in the septic plan. The Board of Selectmen has asked the Planning Board to discuss this issue, but no decisions need to be made until this issue is ready to go on the ballot. Jack Sapia would like to invite Jennifer Gilbert back to make a presentation to the Planning Board.

Unfinished Commercial Site Plans: Sue Killam presented to the Board of Selectmen regarding issuing Certificates of Occupancy before a site plan is completed. There are three currently unfinished site plans that have received CO’s. There is one site plan still unfinished, and the Planning Board would like to proceed forward correctly. Bob Jones is being asked to be aware of unfinished site plans. Memoranda is going out to owners asking them to come in and address the unfinished site plans, and a letter is going out to one owner informing him that his bond will be pulled in order to have the site plan finished. The Planning Board is trying to get the owners all in compliance.

RPC, Eric Steltzer Regarding Master Plan Chapters: Eric Steltzer presents to the Board asking the members for any questions or comments to the Master Plan he drafted. Paul DiMaggio asks when the growth control in Town ended. Sue Killam thought around1997. Harold Morse thought around 1988-89. Paul DiMaggio feels it is pertinent to Eric’s growth rates in the Master Plan. The Town has a low/moderate income housing ordinance that is not being used. There is a $10,000 grant offered to towns to include inclusory zoning and maintain affordable housing in the future. The ordinance was meant for individuals to buy a house, own it for a few years, sell it and move into another home. The ordinance has prevented affordable housing from being built anymore. This category of housing disappeared because people build up, and the house does not remain in the low/moderate housing classification. The government is trying to regulate the free market share, and Atkinson is trying to meet the fair share. Rental rates are $100 less than the regional school district and cannot regulate the economics of the Town. The Town has done what it can within its power for low/moderate housing. The more desirable the Town, the more it drives up the price to live in Atkinson. How can the Town regulate a businessperson on what they sell their property for. In the long-term, because of the free market system, it will correct itself. In 10-20 years, the large homes being built today may have no buyers, and the Planning Board may be pressured into dividing the homes into apartments to be rented out. The Town must consider what they need to do in the future. Paul DiMaggio feels the Town is deficient in affordable housing offered as presented in the Rockingham County Planning Commission’s formula. Eric Steltzer will check on how rentals are handled with regard to fair share. Clusters could get as low as 1/4 acre densities. This would be able to offer more affordable housing. The Town allows 20% of the property to be affordable, but cannot dictate what a developer is going to do with his property. The State should get behind what the court systems are forcing towns to do. $159,000 is determined to be the maximum amount for affordable housing in Rockingham County. If affordable housing is not a concern, is accessory housing just open to family members or will it be extended to other individuals to live as tenants. Accessory living is not supposed to be for non-family members as rental property. Residents have kept their homes after their children have left. The numbers will decline for a period and then they will increase. It is felt that once the adult community is built, homes will be sold, either at a high price or at a moderate price. The Board will review Eric’s draft and generate their comments. Eric’s suggestion of apartments over garages is a good idea, but will probably not pass in Town. Changes may happen if residents are unable to sell their homes for what they think it is worth. Shirley will e-mail the draft to all the members for their review.

CTAP: Eric Steltzer would like to preliminarily discuss with the Board CTAP. Eric will present to the Planning Board at the 6/20/07 public hearing and will e-mail the document prior to the meeting for the Board’s review regarding Town assessment.

Review of Job Description: Eric Steltzer put together a job description with input from Shirley Galvin as to her duties for the Planning Board to review. The Board feels the candidate should have a few more skill sets and responsibilities than the current employee possesses. The current salary is in the range to hire a more experienced candidate. The Board would not want to hire a secretary without the experience at a lower salary. The Planning Board will give to the Board of Selectmen what the function of the position is. The candidate should assume the role and responsibility of some decision making. A possible new title for the position could be Zoning Administrator. Sue Killam read to the Board the job description of the New London Zoning Administrator position. The Board would like the position to be less administrative and more planning. An Administrative Planner salary would be $40,000-$55,000, and would be performing the duties of the circuit rider and taking care of the site plan. Computer literacy is very important to the position. The candidate will require some training, and the Board would prefer someone with experience. The position should be expanded to be able to spend an hour in the field and attend Planning Board meetings. The position should allow to be on the road, but must have set hours in the office. Most users of the Planning Office call ahead and utilize the Monday evening hours. This allows for flexibility to be in the field. The position should also include making sure site plans are being adhered to (i.e., landscaping, paving, etc.).

New Business: It was brought to the attention of the Board the public notices are not being adhered to the RSA. The notices must be sent by certified mail to the easement holders, and this is not being done. The notification list is the responsibility of the applicant, but the RSA reads that the Planning Board should notify abutters, conservation, etc. Tim Dziechowski informs the Board that if there is a discrepancy in who receives the legal notice, it can stop the process immediately.

The meeting was closed at 10:00 PM.

Next scheduled Public Hearing meeting is June 20, 2007.

Respectfully submitted,

Raelene McBride