April 1, 2008 Planning Board Minutes
Vice Chair Kevin McKinnon called the meeting to order shortly after 7 pm. Board members present were Sandra Riendeau, Irene Bean, Mike Ouellet and Selectman Roland Cotnoir.
Others present were Mary and Steve Skinner, Christa Howe, Thomas and Beverly Masse, Dennis Boudle, Donna Jordan and Sheila Beauchemin.
The first order of business was election of officers. Kevin McKinnon made a motion, seconded by Sandra Riendeau, to nominate Mike Ouellet as Chairman. There being no further nominations, a vote indicated agreement by all present. Irene Bean made a motion, seconded by Sandra Riendeau, to nominate Kevin McKinnon as Vice Chairman. All present agreed. Kevin McKinnon nominated Sandra Riendeau as Secretary. The nomination was seconded by Mike Ouellet and all present agreed.
Newly elected Chairman Mike Ouellet welcomed Selectman alternate Roland Cotnoir to the board then proceeded with the meeting.
Building Permits:
Mike Godzyk – 15’ x 26’ carport, replacing old one destroyed by snow, at 97 Bridge Street. Irene Bean made a motion to approve the permit; Sandra Riendeau seconded and all present agreed. APPROVED - #2008-09
Wayne & Liz Richards – 7’ x 36’ mudroom addition to the rear of their existing home at 78 Wilbur Hicks Road (R5 Lot 26). Roland Cotnoir made a motion to approve the permit, conditional on receiving the permit fee. Irene Bean seconded and all present agreed. APPROVED - #2008-10
Robert Vashaw – 8’ x 10’ metal shed to be placed on his property at 17 Cummings Street. Kevin McKinnon made a motion to approve the permit; Sandra Riendeau seconded and all present agreed. APPROVED - #2008-11
Sign Permit:
Frances Sytek – 3’ x 5’ sign, stating “Tuxedos for Rent”, to be placed parallel to the road, at 31 Park Street. Mrs. Sytek noted the sign would be placed ten feet back from the tree on her lawn so as not to impede the line of sight. The sign would be parallel to the road. Irene Bean made a motion to approve the permit; Sandra Riendeau seconded and all present agreed. APPROVED - #2008-12
Boundary-Line Adjustment Public Hearing:
David & Christa Howe – Chairman Mike Ouellet read the application indicating a proposed boundary-line adjustment between the property owned by David and Christa Howe, located on East Colebrook Road, identified on the Colebrook Tax Maps as 244-20 (old R10 Lot 52) and property owned by Steven and Mark Skinner, identified on the Colebrook Tax Map as 244-19 (old R10 Lot 70). No new public road names and waivers were presented. Kevin McKinnon made a motion to accept the application as read. Sandra Riendeau seconded and all present agreed.
Christa Howe explained the purpose of the boundary-line adjustment was to swap land at the rear of the property which would, in effect, move the property line away from the corner of the truck garage currently on their property. She further explained that equal square footage was being swapped between the two parcels. Kevin McKinnon made a motion to approve the boundary-line adjustment as presented. Irene Bean seconded and all present agreed. #658
Clifton Boudle Sr Revocable Trust – This boundary-line adjustment between the property located at 19 Route 145 and the property commonly referred to as Boudle’s Trailer Park, identified on the Colebrook Tax Maps as U5 Lot 29 and U5 Lot 28 respectively, was originally reviewed on January 7, 2008. The proposed boundary line adjustment would remove 0.17 acres from the property commonly referred to as Boudle’s Trailer Park and add it to the homestead lot. After review the Board had to deny the boundary-line adjustment as the newly-created lot would not have the 150-foot frontage required under the Town of Colebrook Zoning Ordinances.. State law does not allow the Planning Board to grant a variance of Zoning Ordinance regulations.
Dennis Boudle, agent for this boundary-line adjustment, appealed the Planning Board’s determination to the Colebrook Zoning Board of Adjustment on February 11, 2008. At that time, the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a variance for the required 150-foot frontage.
Mr. Boudle appeared back before the Planning Board for review and approval of the boundary-line adjustment. Kevin McKinnon made a motion to approve the boundary-line adjustment, with ZBA variance. Sandra Riendeau seconded the motion and all present agreed. #659
Bills:
Sandra Riendeau made a motion to approve the invoice from the News & Sentinel in the amount of $46. Kevin McKinnon seconded and all present agreed.
New Business:
Chairman Ouellet noted upon signing the boundary line adjustment for Clifton Boudle Sr Revocable Trust that the mylar lacked the box required for signature line and subdivision number. He asked that a letter be sent to the surveyors for future reference.
An inquiry was reviewed regarding the need for a building permit for a greenhouse. The one in question would be approximately 26’ x 96’. The definition for structures was reviewed and, from that, it was felt a greenhouse qualified as a structure. Irene Bean felt the greenhouse was a farm endeavor and, as such, should not need a permit. Roland Cotnoir remarked that if every person wanting a greenhouse came in for a permit and showed that the structure met the zoning ordinance requirements for setback, this process would protect everyone’s rights. Mike Ouellet pointed out the greenhouse might not always be used as a greenhouse, but could become a storage unit over time. Also, what might start out as a personal venture could turn into a business, and might then require a site
plan, or at a minimum, a site plan waiver. The general consensus became that anyone putting up a greenhouse should apply for a building permit.
Robert Hodge was in earlier in the month regarding the possibility of putting a residence on his property off Cotnoir Road. He questioned whether this could be done and the status of the road. A legal opinion from the town attorney will be sought.
Work Session:
The Board reviewed the running list of “things to accomplish” and decided to attempt to complete one or two items each meeting if the agenda allows.
A review of the Zoning Ordinances indicate “Dwelling Unit” has the two following definitions:
DWELLING UNIT: A room or group of rooms, with its own sanitary and
kitchen facilities, forming a habitable unit for one family, used or intended
to be used for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
DWELLING UNIT: A unit intended to contain one individual or family. (Amended: March 2004)
It was agreed that the second definition should become the first sentence in the first entry. It is possible this was what was intended when the definition was amended in 2004. Sheila will check on this; and if this was the intent, we will check with legal counsel to see if this needs to go before Town Meeting to be corrected.
The Application for Building Permit form was reviewed for any corrections or additions. One item mentioned in the past was whether the building permit would be transferrable or not to a new owner. After discussion, it was moved by Kevin McKinnon to add the following statement to the application for a building permit:
“Building Permit may be transferrable subject to review by the Planning Board.”
It was decided that the Board would review information regarding building on Class VI roads at the May meeting if time allowed.
Kevin McKinnon made a motion to approve the minutes for March 2008. Sandra Riendeau seconded and all present agreed.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila M. Beauchemin
| 
