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Meeting Minutes - PC

Town of Leicester
 Planning Commission Meeting
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
*Unapproved*
 
** See subsequent minutes for any changes
 
Members Present:  Donna Swinington, Chair, Sue Stroud-Speyers, Bill Shouldice, Jeff McDonough, Peter Fjeld
 
Others Present:  Kate Briggs, ZA, Mike Magoon, Mike Shackett, Lynn Bisbee & Sandra Trombley, Secretary
 
Meeting called to order at 6:05 p.m. with roll call. 
 
Motion by Peter and second by Jeff to approve minutes of March 26, 2013.  All in favor.  So approved.
 
Informal Sketch Plan Review of Subdivision:
 
Kate talked about an application for a subdivision for Mike Shackett.  It is really about the secondary market and financing.  He’s trying to refinance his property and do a subdivision.
 
Kate explained that their subdivision regulations do not have a distinction between major and minor subdivisions and she hopes they have that in the next go round.  The Planning Commission has the authority to waive all kinds of requirements for subdivisions.  All this is about is separating a parcel from a larger parcel for the purposes of refinancing.  Kate has checked this out with Adam Lougee at ACRP and Jim Carroll at VLCT.
 
Mike Magoon presented the drawings and explained that Mike Shackett has 164 acres on the east side of Shackett Road.  He already has his house and barn built on the property.  The neighborhood has different size lots with houses in the area.  The bank is looking for a lot that is comparable to the area.  They came up with an 11 acre configuration that is pretty close to the typical 10 acre lot.  They plan to have 200’ on the road and leaves about 700’ to the house that Bucky Shackett owns.
 
The road, driveway, septic system all exist.  They haven’t surveyed yet until they met with Board.  Mike Shackett stated that he has no plans to sell in the future.  He is only doing this to get a fixed rate mortgage.  They would like to proceed with the surveying so they can come back in a month or two.
 
The Board recommended that Mike Shackett come back with the permit application and a written statement that they are not re-developing and written answers to a – n in the subdivision criteria under Section 210.
 
Board stated that if this is only for refinancing, Mike has their blessings to go ahead and have Mike Magoon survey and come back with an application binding on the subdivision criteria.  Mike will work with Kate on meeting the meeting schedule.
 
Kate thinks we should address this kind of problem in our new subdivision regulations.
 
Kate has been working on revisions, but didn’t bring them due to personal matters she is tending to.
 
Kate brought up the topic of “Certificate of Occupancy”.  We have never done those.  She thought the Town had decided not to do them.  The PC need to decide whether they want that in the regulations or not.
 
The Board decided to warn as a joint meeting with ZBA for the next 6 months.
 
Bill reported they have been spending the whole week taking testimony on the shoreline Bill.  The State Agency came out with FAQ’s.  For each concern, they had a picture of a house.  The vegetation concern had a picture of Jeff Smith’s house.  Bill will be testifying on Leicester’s behalf Friday at 9:00 a.m.
 
Next meeting April 30, 2013.
 
Motion by Jeff and second by Sue to adjourn at 7:15 p.m.  All in favor.  So approved.
 
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
 
Sandra L. Trombley, PC Secretary