TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
Planning Board
June 26, 2019
BETHLEHEM TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM
Minutes
6:00 pm
Present: Chairman Johnathan Stevenson, Vice Chair Mike Bruno, Chris McGrath, Marie Stevenson, Kevin Roy, Kim Koprowski and Chris Jensen
Alternates present: Anthony Rodrigues and Peter Roy
Student liaison: Nick Meachen
Chairman Stevenson opened the public hearing at 6:00pm. All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Stevenson read the Agenda. Marlaina Renton and Ian Dowling, the owners of Rek-Lis, asked that their expansion not be considered at the public hearing and instead be continued since the site plan was not finished.
Thomas Smith introduced himself and said he is working on the site plan for Rek-Lis. Mr. Smith told the board he was not familiar with Bethlehem’s regulations and the board explained what was needed and where details could be found.
Mr. Smith said he will add the additional items from the checklist, and he thanked the board for the help.
The proposal to add about 1,440 square feet to the 2,200 square-foot structure is now on the agenda for July 24th.
Mike Bruno motion to continue Rek`lis site plan until July 24, 2019. Kim Koprowski second 7-0 the motion passes.
Mr. Stevenson closed Rek`lis Site Plan hearing.
AGENDA items:
Rules of Procedure
The Planning board continued work on updating its rules of procedure.
Those detail how the seven-member board gathers information, runs meetings and votes.
Mike Bruno said he checked various towns and thought the rules of procedure for Northfield and Pittsfield were worth considering because they were similar in size to Bethlehem.
The board members went through those documents and commented on some of procedures from those towns.
Mr. Bruno suggested board members go through Northfield and Pittsfield over the next week and pick any procedures they think should be added to Bethlehem’s rules.
He said if board members send him those suggestions by July 8th, he would paste them into Bethlehem’s current rules. Then, the board could consider them on the 10th.
Chris McGrath said he likes the idea of the minutes from each previous meeting being read first. He said that was something both Northfield and Pittsfield do.
Chris Jensen said another thing would be requiring a conceptual as well as requiring site plans to be colored to make them easier to understand at a glance.
Mike Bruno stressed he would like to hear other suggestions to add to the rules and procedure by July 8th.
He will have a compiled list for the July 10th meeting.
Manufactured homes
The board continued to work on the issue of whether manufactured homes may be located anywhere in town or only in special “parks.”
The definition of manufactured home was discussed in length and board members noted how the public’s idea of a manufactured home has probably changed. Some are now quite large and nice.
Alternate Peter Roy also noted there is a category in the RSA’s for pre-site, which also deals with homes not built on the final location.
Mr. Bruno asked Mr. Jensen to check into the differences between pre-site and manufactured homes.
Mr. Bruno noted that in the Master Plan most of those who responded to a survey thought manufactured homes should be restricted to certain areas.
Mr. Bruno said that looks like any change should be something the town must vote on, which would mean a warrant article in March 2020.
Kevin Roy motion for the board to move on. Chris McGrath second 7-0 motion passed.
Minutes from June 12, 2019
Kevin Roy asked for alternates to be added. Chris McGrath motion to approved minutes Marie Stevenson second 7-0 motion passes
Board Business:
Once a quarter Bretzfelder has committee meetings. Chris McGrath is currently on the board and would like another PB member to take his place. Mike Bruno suggested he ask board members if they can fill in if he can’t make the meeting.
Mr. Jensen noted that parking along Main Street was discussed by the Select Board and the board created a short-term parking committee. He said the board is accepting members with the deadline being July 8th. Requests should go to April Hibberd.
Marie Stevenson said she was interested, and it is important for the town to look ahead and get ahead of problems.
Kevin Roy would like to know how many downtown spaces there are.
There was discussion on employee parking around Town Hall. Board would like to ask the Select Board for suggestions.
Rek-Lis NH DOT Letter
There was also a discussion of a letter from the New Hampshire DOT saying when Rek-Lis opened in 2016 it did not follow requirements for parking and the driveway being used by more people than just Balance Bethlehem.
Mr. Bruno said the parking requirement does not count since Rek-Lis is in District One and located on Main Street. That means customers can park on Main Street. The board voted to send a letter to NH DOT saying Rek-Lis was in compliance with town zoning.
Next meeting July 10, 2019.
Marie Stevenson motion to adjourn Kim Koprowski second 7-0
Adjourned
Respectfully submitted
Debra Bayley
Planning Clerk
