PLANNING BOARD

Walpole, NH 03608

Regular Meeting - Tuesday January 13, 2009 at 7:00pm in the Town Hall

MINUTES

Presiding: Jeff Miller, Ch.

Members Present: Henry Fletcher, Sheldon Sawyer, Sel., Dave DeCoste, Donn Lounsbury, alt., Shane O’Keefe, alt., Jeff White, alt.

Members Absent: Eric Merklien, Bob Miller, Ben Daviss/Recording: Pamela Aslinger, Sec./alt

These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the February 10, 2009 meeting for errors, omissions, and corrections. There were 8 persons in the audience.

I. Meeting Opeed at 7:00pm

A. Roll call - Jeff White designated for Bob Miller, Pam Aslinger for Ben Daviss, Donn Lounsbury for Eric Merklien.

B. Minutes - A motion to approve the minutes as presented for the December 9, 2008 meeting was made and seconded, vote called, all were in favor, motion carried.

II. Review Application Submitted:

A. T-Mobile aka Omnipoint Communications Inc. - Site Plan Review and Conditional Use Permit under the Telecommunications Ordinance located on 32 Mountain View Rd. on the existing tower and build related equipment sheds. The proposed antenna height is at 116 feet on the 134 ft. existing tower. Presented by Jennifer Lougee. Ch. Miller asked for a Secretary’s report on the application. Sec. Aslinger reported the application and related fees, abutter list and maps were presented on time, the notices posted and mailed to the abutters as required, the application was complete. Ch. Miller called for a motion to accept the application as complete. A motion was so moved and seconded, vote was called, all were in favor, motion carried.

III. Ch. Miller closed the meeting and opened the public hearing at 7:10 and asked Ms. Lougee to present the proposal. Ms. Lougee described the existing tower, location, changes and application materials. She submitted the ground lease agreement indicating the lessee’s permission to co-locate on the existing tower. Mr. O’Keefe reminded he had asked for the document at the prior meeting. She said they would need to bump out of the fenced area for their equipment cabinets but will be within the allowed area. They will be at 114 feet. Verizon is the only other carrier on the tower. There is an FCC license for T-Mobile’s proposal included in the application materials.

Mr. O’Keefe asked if T-mobile would be located elsewhere? No other proposed areas are being considered for Walpole, but other locations are being considered in the surrounding areas.

Ch. Miller called for questions, hearing none closed the public hearing at 7:15pm

IV. Ch. Miller re-opened the meeting and called for board action. A motion to approve the T-Mobile Site Plan Review and conditional use permit as presented was made by Mr. Sawyer and seconded by Mr. Fletcher, with no further discussion the vote was called. All were in favor, motion carried.

Ms. Lougee asked if there was an appeal period and if the next step was to apply for a building permit. Answer through discussion was no on an 30 day appeal period but that a planning board decision could be challenged through Superior Court. Once the approval has been

Walpole Planning Board Minutes January 13, 2009 page 2

granted the Selectboard could issue a building permit. (refer to section VIII Site Plan Regs - Administration and Enforcement)

V. New Business: Preliminary Conceptual Consultations - Application Submissions

A. Verizon Wireless - David Whitman described a proposal located onthe UNH Tower at 88 Scovill Rd. for altering existing antennas by replacing existing equipment. The tower is 489 ft. RCC purchased by Verizon is at 397 ft. and it is their intention to replace and upgrade their existing equipment. Currently there are 3 antennas they will be adding 3 more for a total of six and the ground equipment will be replaced but not added to. He submitted the application, fees, four sets of plans, letter of authority, FCC compliance, coverage maps and abutter list to be processed for the February meeting.

Ch. Miller referred to the Ordinance to clarify the need for Site Plan Review. It was determined any alteration to an existing site requires a new conditional use permit and the conditional use permit is governed by Site Plan Review therefore is required. Ch. Miller called for a motion to place the application for Site Plan Review and Conditional Use Permit under the Telecommunication Ordinance on the February agenda. Mr. DeCoste so moved, seconded by Mr. Fletcher, all were in favor, motion carried. Sec. Aslinger will send Mr. Whitman an agenda and hearing notice prior to the meeting.

B. Mr. Eric Frink proposes a lot line adjustment for his parcel on Merriam Rd. He referred to the tax map and asked if he could submit his application by the deadline and still be on the February meeting, his surveyor needs a few more days to prepare the final maps. He proposes to add 59.48 acres to his existing lot, it is the back piece owned by the Merriam Farm group. The lot is on a Class VI road which Mr. Frink maintains and is permitted by the Town. Ch. Miller called for a motion to place the application for a lot line adjustment on the February agenda pending receipt of the application and materials by the final deadline of 1/26/09. It was so moved and seconded, all were in favor, motion carried.

C. Roger Wilbur proposes a 3 lot subdivision located on County Rd. Map 3, Lot 32-2.

Mr. Wilbur referred to a preliminary map and asked if he could submit his final application for the February meeting by the 1/26 deadline. The lots need to be perk tested so the lot size may be adjusted and State subdivision approval applied for because the 2 new lots are under 3 acres. The lot size, setbacks and frontages are met. Ch. Miller called for a motion to place the application for a 3 lot subdivision on the February agenda pending receipt of the application and materials by the final deadline of 1/26/09. It was so moved and seconded, all were in favor, motion carried.

VI. Communications and Miscellaneous

A./B./C. Master Plan Update - Work session for 1/27/09 was cancelled. Ch. Miller said the SWPRC dues will be presented to the voters as warrant article proposed by the Selectboard at the budget hearing. The Regional planning director will be asked to attend the Town meeting to support membership also with planning board members. If the dues are passed an additional 1500.00 will be requested to continue the Master Plan update so that SWRPC can formulate a new land use section from the work that’s been done by the board.

D. Sec. Aslinger offered a handout for the 1/31/09 Monadnock Land Summit. SWRPC Handbook for Innovative Land Use is available for members to read.

E. Sec. Aslinger reported that Mr. Daviss has formulated some information on OEP’s Housing and Conservation Grant for 2010, he was unable to attend tonight but she will e-mail the information to the Board for discussion in February.

Walpole Planning Board Minutes January 13, 2009 page 3

F. Sec. Aslinger reported she had spoken with a representative from LaValley’s today in regard to the Aumand’s rebuild. They asked one more time if they could infact build in the existing footprint, she confirmed that the legal opinion stated that they could build within the existing footprint. They will be going forward with creating the plans to rebuild and contact the board at a later date with their proposal sometime in April or May.

F. Other - Mr. Sawyer reported that the Conservation Commission is holding a public hearing 1/15/09 on the purchase of a parcel to add to the Fanny Mason Forest, owned by Mr. Hodgkins near Connector Rd. and Rte. 12. The parcel has access on Rte. 12, has electricity and a barn. The Forest fund has adequate monies to purchase the parcel.

Mr. Sawyer reported the Selectboard will be holding a budget hearing in February and that the budget is complete. He noted the new pay scale for recording and board secretaries.

VII. Meeting Adjourned at 8:00pm

Next regular meeting to be held on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at 7PM in the Town Hall

Cc: PB, ZBA, WCC, BOS, Town Clerk, related applicants and agents

Posted on or before 1/29/09 in the Town Hall, Lobby, Burdick’s Market, www.thewalpolean.com