WALPOLE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Meeting of August 20, 2008

Present: Chair Myra Mansouri, Leo Carrignan, David Calhoun, and alternates Peggy Pschirrer, and Ernie Vose. Absent: Mary Therese Lester, Larry Britton and Bill Webb.

Chair Mansouri called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM and requested Peggy Pschirrer and Ernie Vose sit in as regulars to fill in for Mary Therese Lester and Larry Britton.

OPEN BUSINESS:

Minutes of July 16, 2008- David Calhoun indicated there was one typo in the minutes. Under MINUTES, line two reads: Whitcomb Construction could no have any employee ----, the minutes will be corrected to read Whitcomb Construction could not have any employee--. Peggy Pschirrer moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Seconded by David Calhoun. All in favor, so voted.

NEW BUSINESS:

Larry Jarvis representing Sunoco Oil has stated Sandri Realty, owner of the Sunoco Station in Walpole at 51 Main Street, Map 20 Lot 69, has asked Sunoco owners to refurbish the sign that has been in place at 51 Main Street for several years. Mr. Jarvis is before the Board for permission to replace the sign. He indicated the sign would be the same size and color. There will be a slight difference in the font and where the arrow on the sign there now blinks the new sign will not. Chair Mansouri asked the Board if there were any exceptions to the placement of a new sign. As there were none Chair Mansouri informed Mr. Jarvis the new sign could be set in place and a copy of the request will be placed on file with the Zoning Board.

Steve Schoppmeyer of 34 Prospect Hill Road, Map 019-067-000, was in to ask about replacing an old porch that has since been taken down. The setback of the existing house is 50 feet from the centerline of the highway. He would like to build a wrap around porch that would be 10 feet wide by 54 feet long on the back of the house and 10 feet wide by 35 feet on the northwest side of the house. This side would be as long as the house. The problem is the deck would not be within the zoning setbacks by 10 feet.

Chair Mansouri informed Mr. Schoppmeyer he would have to apply for an expansion of a Non-Conforming Use and the hearing could be set for the next Zoning Meeting – September 17, 2008. Chair Mansouri gave Mr. Schoppmeyer the necessary paperwork to complete and return no later than September 02, to request a hearing. David Calhoun moved to set a hearing for Mr. Schoppmeyer for the September meeting, seconded by Ernie Vose. All in favor, so voted.

At 7:50 PM Larry Britton arrived and Peggy Pschirrer returned to Alternate status by Chair Mansouri.

Margaret Dangler- Antonia Andreoli, representing Margaret Dangler was in for variance of Article to of the Walpole Zoning Ordinance – an expansion of a non-conforming use or structure at 76 Elm Street, in Walpole. Mrs. Andreoli stated at this time there is no fire escape from the second barn floor apartment. The steps would be an egress for the apartment. There are sliders there now but go nowhere. A four by four landing would be built with the stairs coming from the landing. The stairs will be even with the front porch of the building, which is 15 feet from the property line. The stairs are in line with the house. Ernie Vose noted there were no abutters at this meeting.

Leo Carignan moved to approve the application as presented. Seconded by Larry Britton. All in favor, so voted.

Hearing - F.W. Whitcomb- Mr. Dick Frazier was in representing Frank (Chip) Whitcomb for a Special Exception Hearing regarding a 155-E Permitting Process for property on Old Drewsville Road, Map 015-035-000. Permission to excavate was approved a Hearing held July 16, 2008 by the Zoning Board. However, Chair Mansouri informed the Board the State DRA requires the town to hold a hearing for a 155-E Permitting Process. Larry Britton asked if it was necessary to have a complete presentation as the presentation was in full at the last meeting. Mr. Frazier presented the information as he did last month indicating all materials and all paperwork are the same as previously presented, along with a 155-E Permitting Process packet that is a summary of what was already presented. The 155-E Permitting Process request is for five (5) years. Chair Mansouri indicated Walpole only grants three (3) year permits for gravel pits. David Calhoun stated as no abutters were present he would move to accept the application as presented. Seconded by Larry Britton. All in favor, so voted.

R.N. Johnson – signage change- Chair Mansouri indicted the location and size of the sign would be the same as presented last month. The change would be the wording on the sign. It will now say R.N. JOHNONS below that at yellow and green deer logo, below that JOHN DEERE NEXT LEFT. As the Board had no exceptions to the change in working, Chair Mansouri will file the change in the sign file.

OTHER: Jeffrey Ruggiero was in for information from the Board regarding a lot in the Industrial Park belonging to Hodgkins and Sons. Mr. Ruggiero would like to start a Recycling business for C&D (construction and demo products). He questioned whether Zoning would permit this kind of business in the industrial park. He would have an excavator, roll offs, and trucks. All sorting of material would be done inside the building. Ernie Vose indicated the property is in Rural/Agricultural it would require a Special Exception, if the property is in the Industrial Zone, Mr. Ruggiero would not need a Special Exception. Chair Mansouri indicated she believes the property in question is a gravel pit site and the land would have to be reclaimed. As there are questions regarding the property Zoning members will walk the site on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 4:00 PM. A Public Notice will be given of the meeting five (5) days before the scheduled meeting. Mr. Ruggiero will contact Hodgkins and Sons and let them know of the walk around. David Calhoun will take minutes of the meeting.

BY-LAWS: The Board made a couple of changes to the By-Laws. One major change was to increase the number of Alternates to five (5) members per State RSA’s. Chair Mansouri thanked Peggy Pschirrier for rewriting the by-laws. After reviewing the by-laws David Calhoun moved the adoption of the By-Laws as amended incorporating any corrections for typographical or grammatical errors. Seconded by Larry Britton. All in favor, so voted.

GRAVEL PITS: After discussion on pits, active and non-use pits in town, David Calhoun moved to send a cover letter to all gravel pit owners indicating they must complete an enclosed questionnaire and return same to the Town Hall no later than September 09, 2008. Seconded by Ernie Vose. All in favor, so voted.

Ernie Vose suggested the questionnaire be sent out yearly to all gravel pit owners. The Board as a whole agreed to this suggesting. At the next Zoning Board meeting the Board will set dates to do a walk around of all gravel pits in Walpole

The Board agreed an active gravel pit needs to sell a viable amount of gravel or lose its status.

Ernie Vose moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Leo Carignan. All in favor. So voted. Chair Mansouri closed the meeting at 9:03 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine Moore

Secretary

(NOTE: These are unapproved minutes. Any changes will be reflected in the minutes of September 17, 2008.)

CC: Zoning members, BOS, Planning, Burdicks Bulletin Board, Town Hall and Walpolean)