As a preliminary matter, this is Woody Knight, chair of the new pling board. Permit me to confirm that all members and persons anticipated on the agenda are present and can hear me. Playing board members, when I call your name, please
respond in the affirmative. Um, Peter Pos, he'll be joining us shortly. Larry Murphy, Scott Ker, we lost Scott. Okay, he'll be back. Oh, there he is. Um, Steve Mangriian
>> here. And um, town staff Kristen Grubs >> here. >> And Sadie Woodward >> here. >> Very good. I can hear everyone. Good evening. February 18th, 2026 open
meeting of the new planning board is being conducted remotely consistent with chapter 2 of the acts of 2025 which extends the governor's March 12th, 2020 order suspending uh certain
provisions of the open meeting law GLC 3820 until June 30th, 2027. For this meeting, the NER planning board is convening by video conference via Zoom
as posted on the planning board's agenda, which can be found at the town's website. You may join us by going to http semicolon zoom uh periodus
and entering meeting ID number 8327141 3056 and the passcode is 108790 or by calling in 1 19292056099 us and entering the meeting ID number and passcode when prompted. Please note that this meeting is being
conducted uh excuse me, I'll start over. Please note that this meeting is being recorded and that attendees are participating by video and on telephone conference. The meeting is also being broadcast live
through local access cable channel 9 on Zoom and at newtv.wicksite.com/tnctv and the recording will also be available on the new access YouTube channel.
uh meeting business ground rules. Before we turn on the first item on the agenda, permit me to cover some ground rules for effective and clear conduct of our business and to ensure accurate meeting minutes. As chair, I'll introduce each speaker on the agenda. After speakers conclude
their remarks, I'll go down the list of board members, inviting each by name to provide any comments, questions, or motions. For all attendees, please remember to mute your audio when you're not
speaking. On Zoom, use the mute button. And on your phone, use star six to toggle to mute and unmute. There will be an opportunity for public comment and questions. During the public hearing, I'll seek questions and comments from
the members of the public through the Zoom raised hand function. Video conference participants to raise your hand. Hover over the bottom of the zoom window below the photo gallery and click on the image of the hand that appears. Please
ensure that your name is fully and correctly displayed on the participant list. For telephone participants to raise your hand in a Zoom meeting, hit star 9 on your phone keypad.
Each participant will be called on to provide his or her name and address and then may and then may ask their questions or make their comments. Please do your best to keep your comments to three minutes or less.
Your hand will be lowered when you have been given the floor for your questions. I'll afford the applicant or their representative the opportunity to reply. Should there be a written submitt,
excuse me, should there be a written submitt of questions or concerns, they will be noted for the record. The applicant will be afforded the opportunity to speak if the issues raised have not yet been addressed. Finally, each vote taken in this meeting
will be conducted by roll call vote. All right, we'll turn to the agenda now. Um, first thing on the agenda is liaison and meeting reports. Um, we'll start with Larry ZBA. >> Thank you, Woody. Uh, ZBA is holding its
regular monthly meeting uh tomorrow night. Um, and the first order of business, they'll be welcoming a new associate member, Joshua Walker. So that will at least for the time being u bring the board up to um uh three regular
voting members and two associate members. Um as you know from an item later on the agenda. There's also been a request that the um select board has forwarded to us for public hearing uh to increase the number of voting members to
five. Uh and I'm sure we'll have some discussion about that later in the evening. Um they have two continued public hearings um for 25 Harvard Way and seven Exit Way. In both cases, they're uh just to um
um u uh increase the um height and footprints of two existing dwellings. Uh nothing that I would expect to see uh to see come before the planning board. Uh and that's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you, Larry. uh conservation
commission, that would be myself. Um we have not met since our last meeting. Uh we're meeting once a month. I believe it's in January, February, and March. So, uh next meeting will be the first Tuesday of March. So, I'll give you a
report at our next meeting. Uh MVPC Kristen, do you have an update for that? >> Um yep. So the commissioner's meeting for MVPC is tomorrow. Um it's uh
items on the agenda include um adopting the fiscal year 27 budget which um sets the rate for every town that's a member of MVPC. Um and the MVPC planners meeting is next
week. So, at our next meeting, I'll have more updates on both of those. I haven't seen the agenda yet for the planners meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> The next item on the agenda is meeting minutes.
Now, we have meeting minutes from February 12th, uh, 2026. Has everyone had a chance to review the meeting minutes for February 12th, 2026? >> They have. And
>> All right. Does anyone have any corrections or comments on the meeting minutes? >> A question, Woody. Um, when we set the time, the March 4th public hearing for the um, zoning bylaw amendments, do we
set the the hearing for 7 or 7:15 p.m.? >> I don't remember. And the meeting is not on the town website. >> I don't recall either. Um, >> I mean, the draft minutes say 7 p.m. >> 7. They say seven. I think it was seven,
but I can double check that before we post them. >> Yeah, I'm I'm not suggesting it's wrong, Satie. I I just don't remember because often we we usually set them for 7:15. >> Yeah, I can check. >> That would be great because I don't
recall. I usually am used to saying 7:15, but um you never know. It was a different time of day for that meeting and uh I might have said 7:00 for some reason. So um if you could check on that Satie.
>> Yep. >> And um amend the meeting minutes if I did say 7:15 and if not we'll leave it at 7 o'clock. Um, I'd entertain a motion to approve
the meeting minutes for February 12th, 2026 with the amended with the uh potential amendments that were just discussed. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Larry. Uh, do I have a
second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Scott. Roll call vote. Larry, >> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. Steve, >> I'm going to abstain. I wasn't on the call.
>> Okay, very good. And I vote yes as well. >> What time do we have? We have 710. Uh Kristen, would you like to uh start your players report? >> Sure.
Um let's see. The first thing I wanted to check in on just while I've got you all is um setting the date for the um 140 Main Street site visit. Um I had sent
around an email proposing next Thursday, the 26th um in the morning. And if the majority of you can do that, um,
that's my proposal, but I wanted to check if not enough of you can do it, we should find another time. >> I can do the 26th in the morning. >> I probably cannot, but it's um they're just complicating issues for me.
Uh, >> I would I would not suggest not doing the uh site log if it works for the rest of you. Kristen, I get your email and um I'm going to be uh out of the Boston region
for the first part of the week, but um I have requested um a meeting that um I was um required to be on Thursday to happen Wednesday afternoon. And if that happens,
I think um I'm reasonably certain that can happen. Um, and then I'll get in, you know, back into Boston Wednesday night and be available Thursday. >> Okay. I appreciate that, Scott. Thank
you. Um, Woody and Pete seemed like it was good the last time we talked. >> Yep. Um, what time are we shooting for, Tristan? >> Um, whatever works best. I'm open in the
morning. >> 6:00 a.m. Good, Christian. Just kidding. >> I'm up. It's the sun's up by then, right? But >> just I'm just >> All right. 9 or 10. What What do you guys What works?
>> Either is good for me. Uh if I can get there and I think I can. >> Good. That's fine. >> Right. Uh either or you pick Justin because it it work for me. 10 o'clock it
might be a little bit warmer. That's my only suggestion. I don't want to eat up everyone's day, but okay. If 10's okay, we'll go with that. But let me know if anyone has an opinion um
otherwise. Um okay, great. Sorry to take time with that. Um and let's see other updates. Um we did hold a preconstruction site visit um as we discussed at the
last meeting at 108 Main Street um yesterday. This is the um subdivision that was approved several years ago, but um got delayed and they're ready to get going again. So, um
let's see, the building commissioner, the conservation agent, um myself, um Woody attended, and then we had um the engineer, the wetlands, uh consultant,
the owner, the site contractor, and his assistant. There were about 12 of us um who walked the property and um the applicant has submitted a construction schedule which I will forward around to the rest of you. Um and then he is
returning to our meeting on March 18th I believe. So wanted to update you all that that site visit happened and went well and then uh do I have one more minute? Yeah. Um
Okay, I just have one more thing. I'm really uh happy to report that there is a date set for the um presentation of the Plum Island Turnpike feasibility project. Uh it will be March 11th, which is a Wednesday that we do not have a
planning board meeting Wednesday, the second Wednesday of March. Um, and it will be at 5:30 p.m. at the um, Parker River Wildlife Refuge headquarters, the same place the meeting, the first meeting for the project was last summer.
Um, so we're just finalizing outreach materials. There'll be a flyer and we'll put it out on the town website and update the um, web page. Um, all of that is in action, but I wanted to give you all a heads up um, for the date and
time. So, that'll be a presentation. I'm also working to see if we can have it be a hybrid meeting. Um, but it's definitely in person and we hope to also have a Zoom um access functionality if
we can figure it out. So, I'll share that outreach material when we um when we get it. >> Okay. >> Those are all my updates for tonight. >> Okay. Thank you, Kristen. >> Yep.
>> And we'll get into a public hearing. 7:15 def definitive subdivision application 15 Central Street assesses map U1 lot 53 for a two lot subdivision
applicant owner Michael Becker 15 Central Street Bfield LLC. Um, Larry, could you read the uh legal notice, please? >> I could, Woody. The uh following notice
was published in the Newber Port Daily News on February 2nd and 9th, 2026 to the um Town of Newbury Planning Board public hearing notice, definitive subdivision plan. Residents of the town of Newbury and other interested persons,
please note that on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 7:15 p.m., the Newberry Planning Board will hold a public hearing virtually via Zoom to consider an application submitted by Michael Becker for approval of a definitive subdivision
plan for a two lot subdivision at 15 Central Street, Newbury, Mass. Assesses Map U1 lot 53. Property owner 15 Central Biffield LLC. The proposed subdivision is shown on drawings entitled definitive subdivision
plan of 15 Central Street in Newbury parenthesis by field close parenthesis mass dated November 14th, 2025 prepared by PJF and Associates and described in accompanying in accompanying application
materials. Copies of the application are on file with the town clerk and in the planning office 12 Kentway Bfield Mass and are available available for review during regular business hours. The application may also be viewed on the
town's website at https backw.newbury.gov2current GV902 back/curren uh projects applications and plans. For more information or to obtain a copy of the application, contact the planning
office at 978-465862 extension 336. All persons interested or wishing to be heard relative to the proposed development are invited to participate in the meeting remotely for their from their computer, tablet or smartphone at
https colonback us02.zoom. us back slashj back slash83271413056 or by telephone by calling 1- 9292056099 US and using meeting ID 83271413056 or may watch the meeting live on local
access channel 9 at https colonbackv wixsit.comtnctv by Woody Knight chair Newberry Planning Board. >> Thank you, Larry. Um, Sadi, can you confirm that the butters notices and
that the legal ads were um completed as required? Good. >> Can anyone hear her? >> No, we're not actually hearing you. >> Can you hear me now? >> Yes. >> I don't know. I was re I was listening
back to the recordings and it is it is quiet and I'm not sure why. I apologize. Um the we received the certificate of mailing from the applicant. So that's all set. And we also viewed the legal notices in the paper filed or posted on
the correct dates. So that's also confirmed. >> Okay. Thank you, Satie. Um Mike Becko, welcome. >> Good evening, everybody. >> Uh I'm here this evening with Paul Finoio, the surveyor on the project, and
Jack Sullivan, the civil engineer, and also my partner, Cara Vitus. And uh with that, I will turn it over to Jack. >> Very good. Yep. Uh thank you, board members. Uh my name is Jack Sullivan. I'm I'm owner of the Sullivan
Engineering Group. I'm working with PJF Associates on this project. Um as you know, it's it's a two lot subdivision where we're retaining the existing house out front and we're proposing a duplex in the back. Um we did receive peer
review comments from Joe Surwaka and he did mention that this site falls within a zone two uh protected area. And in reviewing the GIS maps for the town of Newberry, he's correct. We're one of
the last lots in the zone two, but we do fall within the zone 2 um water supply area. So, I had proposed pvious pavement for this project um for the driveway construction to provide access to the
duplex. Um in the peer review it was mentioned that this may not be allowed. Um it actually it is allowed under D storm water but there's strict requirements in how it can be
constructed within a zone 2. Um and in in in reviewing it, it appears I'm going to have to review uh revise my drainage study. So, I'm going to have to look to eliminate the the pvis pavement for the driveway. And I'm going to look to
capture um the roof runoff area for the duplexes um through a conventional um dry well or callte or maybe even a rain guard and some sort of infiltration system. So, at this point, I'm going to have to do some um redesign on the
drainage. Uh but the good news is we we did dig into the zone two requirements as uh since both these slots will be on septic. Uh within a zone two, you're allowed one bedroom for every 10,000 square ft of land area. The duplexes are
going to have two units each with three bedrooms. So we need a minimum 60,000 square ft to support a total of six bedrooms for that lot. And we have 60,428. And the existing lot with the with the
house out front has 48,417 square ft. That'll be a four bedroomedroom house. So we will meet that requirement. Um but in saying that with this with the septic designs we will have to do um septic systems that uh provide nitrogen reduction typically
like a sand filter design. I know that's outside probably what you guys get into with the planning board, but with the board of health, it will have to be a more um it's a more involved septic design for a zone 2 area, but it is allowed. It's
just there's additional treatment required. Um, and I know Paul Finocio is here as well, the surveyor, but I can turn it back to the board for questions you might have. >> Okay. Thank you.
Um, does any of the planning board members have any questions at this time? Larry, >> I don't have any questions. No. >> Uh, Scott, >> no questions. >> Steve,
>> no questions. >> And I don't have any questions either. Um, do we have Pete? Uh, Pete's just joining us, so you missed the beginning of that. Well, welcome Pete.
Um, do you have anything else to present to us tonight? Any of the other individuals hearing? >> I don't have any further to present. >> Okay. Um,
Kristen, do you have any uh comments on this at this time? Um, no. I don't I guess my one question if there are I'm not sure if there are members of the public on the meeting who
haven't seen the site plans, but um maybe it would be helpful to just put your one of your pages up in case there is someone who hasn't seen them yet. Yeah, I think Paul Finocchio can share
his screen if you allow him to. >> Yeah. >> Okay, let me ask. >> That would be great if you're Yeah, if that works for you tonight, that that's fine. Um, hold on. Oops. >> Everybody's like, let me make you co-host, Paul.
Okay, jumping around. You should be able to share now. >> Okay, hold on. Um, it's not letting me share. Um, it says host disabled participant
screening sharing. I don't know what like it usually if you're co-host you can share. So say maybe there are too many hosts. >> Here we go.
>> Does that work? There we go. Okay. Can you see that? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. So, this is uh sheet one, which is the cover sheet. The highlighted piece of property in black is the property that we're working on,
which is 15 Central Street. This here being Central Street. And then this street here is Church Street. Um the second sheet is the existing conditions plan. Again, this is a 2.62
acre site with a single family dwelling located on Central Street. Um it's a fairly wooded site. Uh there is a ledge outcropping along the side of the property and we do have a wetlands area out in the back
which we will be filing with the conservation commission basically probably when close when the snow disappears so they can actually see what's out there. Um there is access to the site basically comes up along the right sideline and into the back.
There's a parking area here along with the uh existing septic system and there is a parking easement located here in the right corner that is actually for gas station next door. >> Uh page three
is a by right plan showing a 50 foot layout with a um required culde-sac um training radius. Um this is showing basically the two lots showing they can do this as a byite plan without asking
for any waiverss. Sheet four is the proposed subdivision showing the uh roadway coming in to the site. We'll be having access at the end of the site to the second lot over here which will have the proposed duplexes.
And this will be the existing lot carved out for the new house be on this side. Um, this is the definitive site plan. So, be showing access coming in to the site dead ending and we have a duplex location here with a septic system
somewhere located out in the rear. Um, the road is a 22 foot wide paved area coming in. We do have a um 34 foot radius paved area here that is required by the fire department and also we had
to just make sure that we did not hit or come close to an existing utility pole out front. There will be uh retaining walls along the crop along the roadway area. Those will probably be cut out in the ledge. So we're not sure an exact height once
we do start cutting and seeing how stable that ledge material is. There is water located out on Central Street. We do have a water gate here and there is a hydrant. I'm still waiting for information from the uh water department
on actual location of where those that water line is. And um sheet six is basically just a detail. Again, Jack said we will be changing on the pavement as from a um porous pavement to an imperous material.
And so this is just basically a detail sheet and it's just showing the roadway profile uh coming into the site. >> Okay. Thank you Paul for going through that. >> Um board members, do you have any questions? Speak up
if you do. >> Uh I just have a question. Um is the I mean who did the um per test who's like who's the engineer um of record um that did the tests and
that uh is providing the septic design. >> I think Mike can answer that question. Yeah, I'm I'm looking it up. I suddenly blanked on his name. Um Jack, he sent you the uh drainage reports. Do you have his name handy? >> I'll find it.
>> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> This is Tom Rogers. Can you hear me? >> Yes, Tom. >> Yes. Thank you. While he's looking that up, we're trying to get on the Zoom meeting, but they never sent a passcode
out with the notification. >> Okay. >> So, we have no way to view what you're presenting. >> Okay. U the passcode is 108790. >> 108790. Okay. Very good. Thank you. I'll try
that. >> Okay. You're welcome. that that's actually available on the uh agenda. >> The uh >> uh we got a we got a notice in the mail. It's not on there. Sorry. >> Okay. No worries. Um
>> Yep. And >> I did find the name of the gentleman who did the soil testing. It was Robert. >> Hold on one sec, please. >> Yep. >> Um to Mr. Rogers, if you if you can't get in, um please call back in, okay?
can speak up. >> Yeah, I'm I I'm uh right here connected so I can hear you and I'll turn my mic off now. >> Okay. No, no worries. Um and if you uh want to raise your hand, it's uh star nine. So,
>> okay. Star N. Thank you so much. >> Questions. Yep. No worries. Just want to make sure you're able to participate. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I'm sorry about that. If you want to answer Scott's question, I I apologize. So, I just want to make sure the public could respond. >> Yep. Understood. Um, yeah. So, to answer
the question, Robert Graasso on October 29th, 2025 did the soil testing and Deborah Rogers witnessed the soil testing um as the board of health agent. >> Thank you. >> Okay.
>> Any other questions, Scott? >> That's all. >> Okay. Um, do we have any raised hands, Kristen? >> Um, not yet, but just just to share, if there are people interested in making a
public comment, um, now is the time to press the raise hand button, which should be at the bottom of your screen, or just speak out if you're on the telephone. Okay. Uh while while we await a raised
hand up, are there any written comments? >> Um no, I have not received any public comments in writing. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh Tom, are you trying to ask us a question or make a comment? >> Nope. I He just muted, so I'd say no.
All right. Very good. Um, have we received any comments from other departments or peer review? Do they have any comments at this time, Kristen? >> Um, so just the letter from peer review
that um was mentioned earlier regarding uh the location of the property in the um zone 2 water supply district. So what um was being described Um, so I think, you know, when new
materials come in, we'll send them back out to the town's peer review to review the storm water um and new new designs for runoff and >> Yep. >> pavement.
>> Yep. Uh Joe Schwark's uh re report that Mr. Sullivan was referring to. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um Woody, I think there is a raised hand. Kelly is Did you have a comment? Hi.
>> Hi. Hi. I'm sorry I'm joining late. Um I live at 11 Central Street. Unit 3 and unit 3 and 4 have our mailbox um in line with where your driveway cut needs to be or is proposed.
So, what would you do with that? because I mean it only makes sense that the mailbox is there. And just to elaborate, there was also um already a car accident from the adjoining property
onto um our property back several months ago. So like three driveways colliding there. you know, maybe an issue.
>> Um, can you just say your address again, Kelly? I didn't >> I'm at 11 Central Street, Unit 3. >> So, I'm in um in the church, the old church.
>> Yeah. >> So, is Is is the mailbox located across the street from >> Yeah. >> your residence? >> Yes. >> I mean, we can work with you to find a location for the mailbox. If it's where we're showing the driveway to go, we'd
have to relocate. We'd have to relocate the mailbox, but we could work with you on that. >> Any other questions, Kelly? >> No. Well, there was already a car accident from um the next door neighbor, which is the house that's pending. There was a car
accident from that neighbor pulling out of the driveway into um our neighbor's car a few months ago on the street.
So I just I just want to say that there is a little bit of congestion there with then it would be three driveways >> congested. Do you know what I mean? >> Yep. >> Uh and church streets are one way there.
Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um, any response from the applicant on that? >> I'm not sure exactly where the mailbox is. If it's located across the street in this area here,
>> uh, right where the driveway is proposed. >> Well, here's the here's the roadway is right here. I don't know if you're looking at the screen. And then this is number 11 Central Street. And I think the parking is over in this side and here, but I don't know where that
mailbox is, per se. I didn't didn't locate the >> where the driveway is proposed. >> Okay. Well, >> yeah, they're all on that side of the street because it's a oneway. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Then we would have to relocate the mailboxes at some point out there.
>> Oh, is that on the existing conditions plan? Like, do we know if it's to the right or to the left of the telephone pole? I didn't pick up any mailboxes. >> If I could ask a question. >> Yes, go right ahead, Pete. >> So, the the question is to Kelly, do you
have to back out of your driveway? Is that kind of a navigation issue? >> Sometimes. >> Sometimes. >> And when there's snow in snow banks, probably makes it much more challenging. >> Definitely. We have to back out when there's snow.
>> Thank you. Well, I would think opening this up would make that less congested if you're backing out of the driveway where right now there's a retaining wall and mailboxes. This would add space to maneuver
with the street being open there. >> It would not for us. No. Um, any other questions at this time, Kelly? >> No, that's it. >> All right. Thank you for your comments and your participation. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate.
>> Um, any other planning board members have any questions at this time? All right. Hearing none. We have no other raised hands. Correct. Chris, >> I'd like to speak. Go right ahead. >> I raised hands.
>> Um, okay. Very good. We'll we'll do them in the order that they came in. I'll start with Tom. Please state your name and your address for the record and then your question or comment, please. And then we'll get >> Thank you. >> Uh, I am Tom Rogers. Uh, my wife Patricia. I live at 15 Church Street,
which is two doors down uh from the property we're speaking of. Uh so when I sit in my living room looking out uh the window for 40 years I've been
looking at uh woods. Now all of a sudden I'm going to be looking at a two family house. So I have some concerns there as far as light pollution etc etc.
Um, the other question is, uh, it's pretty clear to me that you're gonna have to take down a lot of trees to make this project happen. Can you say how many trees you have planned to take down? >> Um, if the applicants want to respond,
please go right ahead. Uh Paul did a survey of the number of trees that are on the property. Uh also there's pretty significant topography behind the retaining wall uh where the old driveway was. So uh there's a pretty
large ledge outcropping. Paul, if you can scroll back to the existing conditions. Uh the house will be on the far side of the ledge outcropping and those trees that are in that area. Uh in front of the ledge outcropping and to the left of the ledge outcropping,
uh anything that's outside of the road, as long as it's not right next to the road, will remain for trees. So, there still will be screening between Central Street and where the proposed uh duplex is. The duplex will be on the far side of the rock, which
Paul, you could say better than I could, but that rock's got to stick up probably 10 feet on top of the several feet of uh ledge that the height of the ground is above the street. >> Correct. >> So, the
co the driveway is coming in the front here. I've seen trees all where the driveway is and then you come up to the ledge and then beyond the ledge is where the two family is located uh in right in front of the existing
shed. So I'm looking >> is approximately close to where the shed is behind the ledge outcropping, but that entire mass as you come in is ledge. Uh the
>> the grades are on the plan. >> Yeah. So I'm looking at the grade. It's a 70 8 78 by two. 78. So then I'm seeing trees there. So, I'm looking at one, two, three, four, uh, five, six, seven,
eight. I'm looking at like 20 trees that have to come down in order to get a driveway in there and get that two family up. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, and you have no plans to take down any trees past where the shed is.
>> Uh, do you mean to the right of the shed or to the left of the shed? uh to the well it's basically the uh east of the shed going back I know you got a leeching field uh on looking at this plan on the left
there's the leeching field area there uh so you may have I don't know if you have a tree there it's got it's got to come down but then further on >> because uh one one of our the others Gary Scover lives over on Johnson Lane
he is unfortunately out of town and he couldn't get in on the Zoom meeting. Uh but his main concern was how many trees were you going to take down on the back of the property? We're basically not going much further back than what we're showing right here.
So, we didn't pick up any trees beyond this area. I mean, it's fairly wooded sight out through here. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, so our activity is basically right in through here for the house for the duplex and the uh septic field would be right up in this area. >> Yep.
>> And our roadway comes in right in through here right next to this existing um old foundation look like and right back in here. >> So this whole area will basically stay. These will probably stay in through here and then we would have the duplexing
through here and the system somewhere out in this area. >> Yeah. Okay. Very good. So, it sounds like is it fair to say that you're only taking down trees that are where you have to build something?
>> Correct. That's fair to say. Uh in addition, we'll be abandoning the old driveway to the right of uh to the east of the existing house, and we may add some trees there just to kind of screen the house from the gas station, which is a
>> Yeah. >> kind of less than desirable view from the house. >> Can you uh add some evergreens along uh the north side of the property so that I don't have to look at the two family?
Uh well, I mean, we'll we'll plan on doing some landscaping. We certainly plan on adding some evergreens on the gas station side. We'll have to see what the ledge profile looks like uh on the back side of the uh outcropping. Naturally, we want enough uh depth to be
able to have trees survive whatever we plan on putting there. >> Thank you. >> Okay, I think that answered my main questions. >> Okay. Uh no other questions. Okay. Thank you, Tom. >> Thank you, Tom. >> And I appreciate your participation.
>> Thank you. Um, we we have another race hand. I believe her first name was Melissa. >> I can't see. >> Yeah. Hi. Thank you. >> Your name, please. >> Um, Melissa, Larry and Melissa Gasper,
and we're at three Johnson Lane. So, we're um behind this property. >> Um, but I have a few concerns. one is there's this this was sent to 28 of Butters and I know that because we
didn't have the um code to get in there are other people that wanted to be on this call. Um I've been trying you know I tried to send the code out. We were not given agendas so we did not have the code. It wasn't on the Newbury Town
website. Um, so I feel like you don't have a fair representation of the concerned people that live near this property. And so that being said, my number one
concern is this driveway. And I wish that somehow if you were going to build this, you used the existing driveway because there is an line of sight that gives motorists time to slow
down and let a car enter that original um driveway that's off of Central Street. People can actually see when cars are coming out there. When you take this oblique angle to go down Church
Street, you cannot see where your proposed driveway is until you're in front of it. You really can't see. And with a duplex, let's say, you know, usually it takes two incomes. You know,
I'm counting on four more cars. Plus, if you rehab the the original home, >> and you have two cars, you're adding maybe potential, but most likely six cars going in and out of there.
And I mean, years ago when the church was just a church, you know, the um traffic wasn't as much. But now, as other people have said, there are condos there. There's four cars that are coming
right across from where these other six cars are going to be going in and out or at least, you know, several more. And let's say I'm coming around the corner and somebody's coming out and I stop. If
someone's behind me, they're going to be stopped out on Central Street, which is can be a problem. So, I don't think you have enough length on Church Street to put a driveway that's going to have this
much traffic. I I just think it is really dangerous and I'm really worried about it. So, that is my number one concern. And I also am a tree lover, so I was
hoping you would take down the least amount of trees as possible. But um I just don't I I guess I just don't feel this property is really a good candidate
for a subdivision and not a good candidate for a duplex because of the amount of traffic. >> Did you want to add in? >> Okay. Thank you, Melissa, and thank you for your participation in
your comment. Um, if the applicant has a response, great. Otherwise, are there any raised hands? Any other raised hands? >> Yes. Sorry, for um Chris. Um,
>> okay. If you would please unmute yourself. I I can't see if you're muted or not. and uh state your name and address for the record and your questions or comments, please. >> The person named Chris, are you able to talk?
Chris, do you still see a Chris up there, Kristen? >> Yes, there's a Chris with a raised hand and they're unmuted, but it sounds as though they might not be able to hear any of us. >> Okay, they do still have a raised hand.
>> Okay. Um, we can't hear you, Chris. So, if you're able to either take your raised hand down and put it back up again or maybe um they you don't appear to be muted either. So, >> well uh Woody, he's appeared on video so
>> Oh, he did. >> Yep. Chris, do you have anything to say? >> No, we still are not able to hear you, unfortunately. >> Yep, you're unmuted, Chris. Um, is it possible that your microphone isn't on?
He's muted now. Unmuted. Hey, Chris. Um, you could probably keep your video on and then use your cell phone to call into the meeting. Okay, let's see here. >> Uh, Chris, you could use your cell phone
to call into the meeting. >> Yep. I'm looking for the number now. >> It's actually Bill who you're seeing. Uh, Chris is behind him. Okay.
Can you >> um do should I re should I read the phone number? Um Bill, can you can you hear us? >> Can you nod your head if you can hear us, Chris? Bill. >> Okay, here's the phone number. It's 929
205 6099. I think you have to enter a meeting ID once you >> get in >> and the meeting ID will be 108790. There is an option to skip that. >> Okay, great. I didn't know that. I've
actually never called it. Not working. >> All right. You don't see him yet, Kristen? >> It looks like he's trying to call in, but it's not getting through. >> Okay, we'll give him a moment to try and
respond. Um, and Bill, if you get through on the phone, please just speak up. Is there any other raised hands at this time? Kristen, >> I don't see any. >> I Oh, sorry. I'm just didn't see it. I
just want to add to what Melissa was saying. I I honestly I just moved here a year ago to 111 Central Street. And to add what Melissa was saying, it it is strange that some folks do really
bear right on Central Street um at a high speed. So, choosing your um driveway cut in um should be carefully carefully chosen. >> Okay. Thank you, Kelly.
>> It's Yeah, I mean it's a it's a little crazy at times. So, >> Melissa, I see you waving. Do you have another comment? >> Yes. I'm sorry I forgot to mention my other concern about the driveway is that
is a steep hill, a steep embankment. I don't know how how you're going to alleviate that. And my worry is that if it was slippery, if it was icy, um people would slide into Church Street. I
mean, that is a very steep hill. Like, so that was my other comment. Not only is it a corner people shoot around, I know they're only supposed to be going 25 miles an hour, but that driveway is right there as you come around that
corner. It's not like a 90°, you know, turn where you see other people approaching the intersection. You cannot see until you're all the way around that corner. And then with the steep driveway coming right in across
from where the people that live at the condo, you know, I I I just would worry about people coming into the onto Church Street. Thank you for allowing me to make my second comment.
>> Yes, no problem, Melissa. Thank you. Um Chris or Bill, I see you with your phone, your hand, your hands raised. Okay. Are you unmuted? It would it would be star 9 to unmute. And then say something. So see if we can
hear you or not. No. Correct with that. Kristen star 9 to mute and unmute. And does the number >> Hello. Is that you? >> Hello. Is that you? >> Yes, Bill.
>> Yes, Bill. >> All right, you can hear me now. >> Yes, please stay. >> Yes, it's okay. >> Yeah, Bill, please mute your um computer. >> Yeah, I'm gonna do that now.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Scott. Um please state your name and address for the record and then your questions or comments, please. Actually, I'm going to walk over to further away from the computer. >> Yeah.
>> Bill Prescott sits Johnson Lane. >> Very good. Do you have questions or comments, please, sir? >> Yes, I do. And, um, I'm in line with a few of the folks that have already spoken. Um, in reality, I mean, you guys are proposing to put
this structure in there with this driveway that's really in a pretty bad spot. I mean, Melissa's right. You come around that corner, you're not going to be able to see anything. And the the number of bedrooms that you're proposing to put in there, you're going to have
more cars than you're re really talking about. Plus, you're going to have Amazon delivery in there. You're going to have whatever else is going on in there. And it and it will be a bottleneck and it will be dangerous. And and secondly, you're building a duplex. You're putting
it on the back end of a ledge right next to a wetland area. And it's a two family. Two, threebedroom family. So you have to have septics for six bedrooms. That's pretty good size. That's a bigger septic system than we have here. And you're going to put that right on a
wetland. You know, basically you're trying to squeeze a house into an area where you're just right on the fringes of legality and codewise, but at the end of the day, it's going to be a mess for the poor people that have to deal with the street and that driveway. You come
down and you got to make a hard right and go up a hill. There's a cliff on one side because you're going to have to build a wall. It's, you know, you know, for the sake of building a home and walking out with a couple bucks, now you've got a real bad situation,
>> you know, put the duplex somewhere else. >> So, that's my initial concern. And then you've got, you know, the effect the poor guy did. It's right on the back end of it. The increase of the watershed, you know, it's like too close, too much, and too little an area. even though
you've got technically the square footage or the acreage to do something, most of it's wet land and and lech. So, it it just just seems like a bad idea all around. So, that's my say on it. That's my take.
>> Okay. Thank you for your comments, Bill. If the applicants got any response, please speak up. >> Yeah, you're going to get in some writing, too. So, >> um, and and Bill, if you would mute your phone, it would be star nine again, just so we don't get any echoes.
>> Thank you, sir. Uh, Jack, were you going to say something? >> Yeah, just I I wanted to state we're not proposing to do any work within a 100 feet of a wetland. We show the 100 foot buffer on the plans. Um, so you know,
we're trying to protect that 100 ft to to the wetland area. So I just wanted to point that out. We're not we're not building on the wetland. >> Okay. Thank you, Jack. Um, Chris, do we see any other raised hands? I know Chris
is is still raised, but that's he just spoke. Uh, or Bill Chris. Um, so >> um I don't currently Oh, yes. One more raised hand. Um, Joyce. >> Okay, Joyce, please uh you have to
unmute yourself, Joyce. You look for the mute button and then please state your name and address for the record and your questions and comments, please. >> Joyce Stair, 8 Johnson Lane. Can you hear me now? >> Yes. Yep. >> Okay. >> Loud and clear.
>> Our property um about the property behind the gas station. So when we're sitting at the end of our house on the porch, we look out across the back of the back lot
behind the gas station onto this property that was St. Helas. Um my big concern is for our view how many trees are coming down. Um we have a wide open space you know which look they keep it
very nice but right now we have a lot of trees on St. Hela's well that property that it was St. Alas and I'm just concerned how many trees in the back uh
along that area would come down. Um again I know you have to take some down to put the house up. Uh, and are you planning? I couldn't quite tell. Is the road going to be a culdeat? In other words, when you go in, will it go around
the duplex or in front of the duplex or is it just a straight road going in? >> Um, your response, please, Mike or Jack? >> I can respond. >> It's just a straight road going in. And uh Paul or Jack, you can answer the
question of uh we're leaving I think it's a couple hundred feet to the back of the property uh with the trees intact. But uh Paul, that that section that you pulled up that shows that uh we're not going to alter. If you could give me a dimension on what that is.
>> Oh, the lot line along this side is 100 ft. So we're are proposing our Hold on a second. I can just get to this one. So, we're probably This is 100. Our property is up over in
this area up back over here. And our house, the proposed duplex is probably about 130 ft away from the lock counter of the gas station. And on a diagonal, according to the um let me
just go back to the original. I believe this is your your lot right here. If you can see the screen, >> I don't see it on the screen, but >> what number? What number is your house? >> Eight Johnson Lane.
>> So, I think this is number eight here >> on the U. So I can see it or not. >> Uh I believe this is number two, four, six, and then eight. Coming around the corner,
>> Johnson Lane. >> We we bought the exit. We're right along the exit and the gas station, >> right? So this is this is the gas station here. This is I believe y lot here because it shows number eight on the map.
Can I ask a question? It is there a button I'm supposed to cuz all I see are people. I don't see what you're looking at. >> I have um I'm sharing the screen so I don't know what you have to to hit. Sorry.
>> There may be a it says uh switch to gallery view. What it's and I'll tell you what it says after you switch to gallery view. Uh switch to active speaker. So if you switch if uh I'm using a tablet so I
touch it but if you use your mouse um up in the top leftand corner there's it will say switch to active speaker and the active speaker is the one who has the ma map up. I believe
it'll say switch camera and switch over there. >> All right. >> All right. So you can see what he's speaking. We're number eight. The gas station is 17. >> Okay. Continue. >> Paul, what's the difference between the
letter I and site? The distance between there to the back of the number eight property. >> I don't ex I don't know what happened here. Hold on. I just lost my drawing. Hold on.
Hit that. up here. >> Hold on one second. >> Paul, I can jump in on that. On from the back of the proposed duplex to the rear lot line is 333 feet.
>> And what is it to the right where that number eight um across the distance of the gas station uh parcel? And actually it would be across the 15 Central Street existing property. Um the back part of that
the panhandle of the uh >> it's over over 150 ft from the back of the duplex all the way over to the edge of the lot one and the common line with with the abuter. Oh, well, >> plus the approximately 200 whatever the
gas station is. >> Yeah, I don't I don't have that in front of me, Mike. >> All right. Um, can someone else put the plan up? >> Paul, are you saying you can put the plan up? >> I'm trying to. I got one.
>> There you go. >> You're back. >> You're back, Paul. >> Okay. Um, but I got I got a screen that's locked down. Try that. Okay. Here we are. All right. Great. Thank you. >> Right. So, as I said, this is your lot
right here. This is the gas station lot, right? >> And this is our site. And the roadway will be coming in here, roughly stopping in here. And the duplex is in this area right here. >> Okay. >> If I go to to the um proposed layout.
So this is basically we're almost in line with the back property line of the gas station is where the duplex would almost line up on that site. And your house is located up over in this area here.
>> Right. >> Thank you. >> So, we're not looking to do any work over in this area here. Again, the duplex will be here and the leeching field will be somewhere in this general area. >> My recollection, there's some use and
arborites that are kind of around that back corner of the the gas station uh past their building. There's already some screening between us. So, I'd have to be out there to tell you exactly where it is, but uh there is the existing gas station building and then
some screening uh to the right of where the building would be. Uh that would partially obscure your view certainly obscure view of the the street area anyway. Uh if not, uh a good portion of the building that's proposed.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. I'll I'll set with any other questions, Joyce. >> No, that should do it. Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you for your participation in your questions. >> Thank you. >> Um, do we have do we have any other raised hands?
>> I am not seeing any yet. >> Okay. Um, planning board, do we have any do you have any questions? Have any questions? All right. Aaron none planning bullet. Do we want to go on another sitewalk
based on the information we've heard tonight? Uh Woody, I think it might be beneficial to take a, you know, kind of a feel for the line of sight and an appreciation of the traffic entering onto the roadway, uh, and the people backing out of, uh,
11 to make sure that this makes sense. And, you know, >> it might be beneficial for folks to take a look. >> Yeah. Whether we whether we do it collectively or we do it individually, I think it would be uh um appropriate.
>> Okay. Uh Larry or Scott or Steve, do you have any interest in going for another sitewalk there or do you want to go there and look at it individually? I'm kind of following you guys now. I would say I mean what either or you
know I mean we could organize a sidewalk and collectively we could uh try to all be there and if we can't be there at the same time uh we could do something individually. Um that those are my thoughts on on the
sidewalk. Uh I have a couple of other questions. >> Oh go right ahead Scott. Um well just um to recap um I guess some of the questions or concerns from the
folks um that have uh uh talked. I think um Mr. Rogers had um some questions or concerns about potentially um or maybe a request to add some
evergreens. um you know either at the property line or a little inboard. Uh is that correct? >> Well, I had mentioned that it would be nice. Um so the light pollution is is probably
the main thing in in the summertime. There is uh there are trees that would be block it somewhat, but certainly in all the winter months, you know, I can practically see over to uh to um Joyce's
house through the woods. Um >> So, so you're getting light pollution from Joyce's house? >> No, it's it's it's far enough away that that it's not a problem, but Gota
I'm just saying in the winter all the the leaves are gone. >> Understood. Understood. Um Okay. So, um yeah, I I think uh I'm good. A sidewalk I think would be appropriate whether we
can do it together or uh independently of one another. Um, and whether or not uh Mike and you know his team or representative of uh could uh join us, that would be uh helpful. But I do think
you know where the driveway the radius um you know that would be beneficial if that was staked u you know prior to uh but um appreciate all the um the discussion been helpful. >> All right. I'm not sure if I'd be able
to stake out this line with the amount of snow on the ground and the control being buried under a few feet of snow. >> Um >> well, if you get out if you get out the morning of and maybe even
I can do some rough taping maybe off the structure and off the off the street where I know where that entrance way is. Yeah, I I think anything like that giving giving us the the approximate would be >> okay would be grateful.
>> Yep. With the street with the street opening being a concern that would be very helpful. >> I also have a question and I forget whose comment it was. So my apologies but uh it re it would be helpful to hear an
answer for visual later. Um that driveway is that going to be you mentioned a retaining wall on Mr. Rogers's side. Um is that going to be like cut into the
earth? So there'll be a lot lower than the land on both sides of it or can you explain a little more about the >> cut it'll be cut in? >> Go ahead. >> Cut in on both sides. >> Okay.
And uh that's all I have for now. Anyone else have any questions? Okay. I' I'd be for another sitewalk if you could if we could have it staked out and marked in some way so that we can get a feel for it and a feel for the neighbor's driveways
>> and the end of Church Street would be great. Um, >> I think I think uh Woody Melissa um Gaspar might have one more question. >> Okay, go ahead Melissa, please. >> Um, I think it would be very helpful if
you had another public hearing just because there's so many people that um do live either abudding or very close that were not able to attend this meeting and I I just think it would be helpful to have more input. you know, I
just feel like we you didn't really get to hear like enough people's input since this is going to really impact this neighborhood. So, I I was hoping there'd be another public hearing for us to express
ourselves or to hear back after you have your sitewalk and look at that the way the corner is and the traffic flow. >> Yes. Yes, Melissa. We're going to we're going to continue this public hearing to uh our next meeting, I believe. So,
there will be another public hearing. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, so if there's no additional questions from the planning board, no additional comments from the applicant, um, I'd
entertain a motion to continue the public hearing to our next meeting, Kristen, would that work or do we want to go out a month because of uh, we don't have a we'll have to pin down a a date for the
sidewalk. Um well, I guess I would ask the applicant um related to the revisions that you suggested are, you know, underway for the drainage. Um what do
you think your time frame is in terms of getting those revisions back to the planning board? Uh I'm hoping we can make the next meeting, but that's uh is that two weeks out?
>> It is. Um yeah. So I guess just related to that, just meeting materials would be needed by next Wednesday for the following meeting. And then if the board does want peer review to look at them, just you know, just thinking about the
best use of everybody's time. If I could, Woody, I think that uh what what Christian just said that peer review is going to have to look at what's going to be submitted and if it's it won't happen within two weeks. So, I think four weeks is probably very appropriate. Then it gives everyone a good time to to take a look at this and
if there are additional public comments, those can also be received. So, that would be my recommendation. >> Yeah, I agree with you, Pete. Um, I would entertain a motion to continue the public hearing to our
I'm looking for the I'm struggling here with the date. Uh, I >> think it's March 18th, Woody. >> Yes. >> Do we want to set a date for the sitewalk or is that something that uh Kristen will >> Well, we'll deal with that
administratively if that's all right. in she'll be in contact with you and um maybe it could be as soon as next Thursday. So she'll be in touch tomorrow. Um if we can piggyback it with our other sitewalk if that but she'll
pull the board after the meeting >> if that's all right. Mike, >> a good idea. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Yep. Okay. So potentially we maybe next th uh I believe it's next Thursday. It's the 26th. So just keep that in mind. I could I'll have Chris in contact. All
right, >> sounds good. >> All right. I'd entertain a motion to continue the public hearing um for 15 Central Street um 15 Central Street to March 18th at 7:15
via Zoom. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Pete. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh thank you. That was Scott. Um, roll call vote. Pete, >> yes. >> Larry, >> yes. >> Uh, Scott,
>> yes. >> And Steve, >> yes. >> And I vote yes as well. Thank you, Mike. And thank you, members of the public. >> Thank you, Woody. >> Thank you, everyone. >> Have a good night. >> Thank you. Um, Woody, just quickly in case anyone's
staying on, I just wanted to mention for everybody's sake that the agenda is always posted more than 48 hours in advance of the meeting and that's always where the Zoom link will be. Um, so it's on the town website. Um, it was
available as of Friday last week for this meeting, but it'll it'll we'll get it out there. Feel free to email me if you don't see it. um give a call however we can help out >> and if you can't make the meeting can always uh email uh a comment or concern
to the town plan. >> Thank you Kristen and thank you Scott. Um moving on to new business. Uh project update in request for partial release of security funds for Cypress wall
subdivision 100 high road ces map R34 lot 21 property owner 100 high road LLC applicant Tom Navy. Um Pete if you don't mind taking over. >> Sure. I I don't mind at all Woody.
Thanks very much. And Kristen, I'm going to need a little guidance since I am scriptless uh this this evening as we're doing this. My apologies. Um, uh, Kristen, do you want to just, uh, uh, uh, let the applicant, uh, uh, uh, do a brief little presentation to us to see
what what's what's up? >> Yep, that's great. I see Tom on the meeting. Um, go ahead, Tom. And I'm happy to share screen with any materials when you're when you're ready. >> Okay. Uh, thank you. I hope everyone's
well. I'm fairing through this cold snap. Um um I've submitted a request to a posture release on our cash bond that we posted with the town for the construction of our private road. Um the
spreadsheet was submitted. Each item that was complete was shown complete. Any item that was partially constructed was also shown that way. and we have come up with a number at the
bottom of the spreadsheet. I believe that the spreadsheet was sent out for peer review and you should have a letter in your file which Kristen was nice enough to forward to me um that suggests what the bottom line of the remaining
funds should be which matched the uh amount that I was asking to be partially released. So, if the uh you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer those. >> Uh and Kristen, just for completeness sake, if you could just let the board know uh and the public know what that
what those numbers look like, please. >> Yeah. Um yeah, the request is to release $13,998 from the security that's being held by the town. Um
let me just pull up the balance. The remaining balance on the money would be um >> 56,000. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Thank you.
>> The total initially bonded was 69 something. So it'll be about 55,000 remaining. >> Okay. Great. And so peer reviewer feels this is appropriate. >> Yes. >> Okay. Let me ask the board members if they have any questions or concerns with regards to that. Uh Larry, are you okay
with Joe's recommendation? >> I'm fine with it. Yeah. As long as Joe Sorted it, I'm I'm good with it. >> Okay. Beautiful. Scott, >> I'm uh I'm good with that. >> Beautiful. Uh uh Steve, >> I'm all set. >> Okay, great. Uh Kristen, would you like
that in the form of a motion? >> Um yes, that would be great. just vote to release $13,998 from the security account being held by the town. >> I would welcome such a motion. >> I would make that motion. >> Thank you, Larry. There's a motion. And
Scott, I heard a second. >> Second. >> Okay. No further discussion, I hope. Uh, Larry, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Scott. >> Yes. >> And Steve, sir? >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. Okay. What else do you have for us, Tom? Um, I have a little preview of coming attractions if
you'd be with me for a few minutes. Um, at the time we created the private road, we entered into a trust agreement, which is basically a homeowners association. And um at that time I I think it was you
Pete that had mentioned um we should give an option to the farmhouse lot to access the private road from the um to access the private road for not only the the house and the house land but the
barn in particular. Uh we did design the road to be flat enough on the bottom so that the existing driveway to the barn could be utilized without any issue at all. Um since we got the subdivision
approved, we have sold the farmhouse and that lot and the nice young couple um is now planning on building on that lot. They uh hope to demolish the existing home,
which is really in rough shape, and build a new house there and also renovate the barn and clean it up a little bit and add some doors and and and move things around so it's more functional for them and they can have access to the actual road itself. So,
they contacted us and asked if they could if they could do that and certainly it's in the trust. I said, "You're absolutely welcome to join us and welcome to the neighborhood and and um you know, if you could go one step further and let me know what you're up
to." So, he gave me a little sketch and the sketch uh indicated an idea of where he wanted to build a house and how he wanted to access the the private road. Um, and if Kristen, if you don't mind sharing that sketch plan that I
submitted to you, I can just kind of bring the board up to speed quickly. Here we go. Okay. So, if you if you look at this plan, um, our road is going to be drained from
right to left looking at the road from High Road. And we designed a swale which shown there in a dash brown line. And we wanted to um >> Oops. Sorry. >> That's okay. If you could pick it up a
little bit. >> How's that? >> A little bit further up. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Not necessarily larger, but just the frame if you can raise it. >> Uh I think that's
>> okay. the way the image. >> Okay. Can you can you make it smaller? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I think we'll be able to see it if we can make it smaller. >> Is that okay? >> Yeah, that's that's not bad. The purple line is um the brown line is the swale.
There's a 1-t deep uh grassy swale that is going to bring the water from the road down to the bottom of the road and it then it's going to enter the for bay and then go to the infiltration pond. So, um, my proposal is to move that
swale from the side of the road to the bottom of the slope of the road and allow the water to run along the bottom of the slope as it intersects the existing grade. The same path would
happen. It the path would be in purple as shown on the drawing and the same exit into the pipe system and the infiltration pond. nothing has changed at all but the but the um location of that swale. The reason
why I'm mentioning that is that if the folks want to gain access from the house site to the road, there'll be no way that that swale will work because we would have to put a culvert in and a driveway intersecting our pavement and
there's simply not enough grade difference to do that at the road edge. But if we put the swale down on the bottom, we then could easily build a driveway to intersect our private road and have the drainage go along the
purple line under the under their new driveway and then join with the rest of the drainage. So, it's pretty simple. So, when when I and I'm certainly not going to get into the details. I just wanted to give you an idea of what the
folks were looking to do and um we could certainly accommodate them. So, what I've asked them to do uh and they've hired the engineer that did the project, John Morren, uh to come up with a site plan, which is required for for your
review and acceptance and show where their new home will be and how they propose to access the road and show the culvert and show the grades and make it all make sense. and we'll present uh
we'll have John Moore and we'll present it on their behalf to you uh sometime in the future probably a month from now or a little later and we'll be able to review it um come up with a consensus whether or not it's acceptable to the
board and to your peerreview engineer and if so then we'll build it and be able to do that. Um right now the current road conditions we have this road at gravel subgrade. So we did not go any further than that. So we have
plenty of opportunity to get them connected in the spring and and uh I think everyone will live happily ever after. So I appreciate the opportunity to give you a little preview of coming attractions. And if that sounds reasonable to everybody, that's the uh
that's the course we'll take over the next four to six weeks. >> All right. >> And I I did want to uh jump in and introduce myself. I'm I'm Neil Swain. I'm one half of the nice couple that Tom mentioned. So I don't have anything personally to present to you all at the
moment. Um just wanted to get a little bit of the feel for the land and answer any questions that you might have at this really early stage. >> Well, Neil, welcome. Uh we're very excited that you're going to be part of the community. Um if you're new to the community, that's even better. Uh we look forward to receiving uh the uh
proposal and then the board can act on it from from there. Uh let me see if the board members have any questions. Uh Larry, any questions at this time? >> Well, just just a comment, Pete, that I guess the question for us will be what level of um um amendment to the to the
plan is required. Is this a >> minor, >> you know, a major modification, a minor modification, even a a field change? And that's something that we probably will want some input from Joe Swartk on as to what the implications are in terms of
the road layout and the drainage and all of that. Um, but uh that's it. >> Very good. Thank you, Larry. Uh, Scott, any any concerns or comments? >> Um, not a lot of concern. I would think this would be a field change, Larry. Um
Um and I guess we'll see what Joe has to say. Um are we Tom, are you going to be doing the the engineering for Neil? John Morren is doing the engineering uh for Neil. I suggested that so that we
can have continuity. John has all the drainage calculations. He knows what impact this will have. Um, this is actually, you know, my opinion, I've been doing this for a long time, this will actually uh have a positive impact to the drainage calculations because we're going to be removing an existing
dwelling, putting a new one in, but then we'll also be increasing the the uh we call it a time of concentration. It's the amount of time it takes drainage runoff to go from one place to the other. And we're going to be now instead of going right down the shoulder of the
road directly to the drainage system, it'll now have to go down cascade down the gravel the uh grassy slope into a grassy swale which will slow everything down and actually cause a longer distance which should help in the final
analysis. But um no no uh no doubt. Um I guess I I would just ask um this could have been on the original claim. Um, but >> well, we didn't anticipate the the home being demolished. We didn't anticipate a
new home being built and uh, you know, we we we priced the home accordingly and and Neil and his folks felt that it was a a good purchase and after they purchased it, then they mentioned that this is what they wanted to do. So, um,
and that's fine. I mean, you always think that someone might do it. So we we left an opportunity there. It's not going to be any major construction change. There's no change to the road itself other than relocating a drainage
swale to a different location. And I I really didn't see it be an issue at all. Direct 90° access to the road. Um you know, a nice new house there probably would be a nice add added feature to the neighborhood. And
>> I don't see any other issues. Well, I appreciate your um opinion. Thank you. And uh welcome, Neil. Uh look forward to uh seeing another new resident uh in our beautiful town. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
>> Thank you, Scott. Uh Steve, any any concerns or questions, comments? >> Just a question. Do we need to concern ourselves or does Joe Schwaren need to concern himself with the actual structure that's going to replace the one that's there? In as much as it you know could it affect the u drainage and
runoff calculations >> I think he I think it does that's that was the whole point of >> uh in your in your decision you actually have in your decision that there is any material change to the site plan that the changes have to be sub resubmitted
to the board for review and approval. So John Morren will have to do those changes, show the house, the grading, um how it's all going to be get connected and you know demolishing the house and and all the new grading and and then the
connections to the roadway for these driveways and then anticipate the any drainage changes that'll be made. And then it'll have to uh confirm that the drainage calculations won't change. And if they do change, then they'll have to change, you know,
might have to make the infiltration pond a little bit larger, but I don't see any significant differences. But that that'll all have to get done. Um, I don't think that it's a major modification, but it's certainly a minor modification. And I I I think it right I
think it's larger than a field change issue, is it? >> Right. Well, I was wondering as well um how definitive we have to see about what the footprint with, you know, runoff coming off of roofs, how definitive that has to be
before Joe can do his peer review of what is coming forth. >> And that >> Yeah, that will all be done. that that that's being done right now >> is the uh the folks have selected a house, an actual house they want to build and John Morren is going to put
the site plan together that shows where it's going to be located, what the grading will be, how it's going to connect into the existing septic system and you know a full-blown uh site plan will be needed. We we would require that anyway just to you know as a member of
the trust to see how everything was going to go together. But John's currently under contract now to do that work and we're looking forward to going over those plans once they produced. >> Very good. >> Yeah. And I I can confirm that we are in communication with John about those
details already. So that's that is starting to come together like Don was saying and we're we are not interested in a a large house. It's really going to be about the same footprint of the structure that's that's there now. So we're still in the very early stages but have a lot of that conceptual blocking figured out with John already. Great.
Well, we look forward to seeing uh what will be proposed in the future. And uh Tom, thanks for the uh for the update. And uh Neil again, welcome. Thanks very much, folks. >> Well, thank you. Have a nice night. >> Great. Woody, it's back to you. >> Very good.
Um last item for new business this evening. Um annual town meeting 2026 zoning amendment request from select board to increase the number of zoning board of appeals members from 3 to five. Um
Kristen, can you update the planning board on this new zoning amendment request, please? >> Um yes. So um the request was made to the select board earlier this winter um
I believe in January. whether the select board would consider um moving forward with a zoning amendment to change the membership of the ZBA from three members to five. Larry mentioned this earlier. Um and the select board was open to
that. Um it was just kind of missed in terms of including it in the other zoning amendments that we've already voted to move to public hearing. So this will be a slightly different track. Um but we will move it along um in the same
format of the planning board needs to refer the zoning amendment to the select board and the select board would then refer it back to the planning board to hold a public hearing um related to it. So town council has drafted language for
the zoning amendment um which I've shared. It basically simply says that moving from three full members to five. So I guess the request of the planning board from the select board is to vote
to submit the proposed zoning amendment back to the select board um with a request to refer it back to the planning board for a public hearing. And then a second vote tonight if you're all uh feeling good about this is to set the
public hearing date. um contingent on the select board referring the amendments back. I think I've looked at the calendar and I think you could hold that public hearing on March 18th.
Um March 4th, our next meeting is when the public hearing for the zoning amendments that we've already moved along will open. Um so this would be the following meeting on March 18th. >> Okay. Thank you, Kristen. Um, questions
or comments from the board? Peter, any questions, comments? Larry, questions or comments on this? >> No, I other than to say I think it's a good idea. >> Very good. Thank you, Larry. Uh, Scott, questions, comments? >> Agree with Larry.
>> Y Steve. >> Yeah, I think it's a good idea as well, but I note that in section one, we refer to the selectman. Should that be changed to the select board? >> Um, yes. Thank you. I noted that as well. Um, and I think this language will
be um can be modified to make that change. It's it's not the warrant article language is not set yet. So, this is a draft of that. Um I did while you're mentioning it, Steve, there's another
thing I noticed which is um the last line says said zoning board of appeals shall not be authorized to appoint a zoning administration and I believe that should say administrator under the provisions of section 13. So I'll double check both
those changes with town council. >> Okie dokie. >> Thank you for noting that. Yes, >> both of you. Thank you. Um, I think it's a great idea as well. Two more minds from the ZBA would be great. Um, that
being said, I'd entertain a motion to submit the proposing Z zoning amendment to the select board with the request to refer them back to the planning board for a public hearing. >> I I would so move. >> Thank you, Larry. Second.
>> Second. Thank you, Steve. Roll call vote. Pete, >> yes, sir. >> Larry, >> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. >> And Steve, >> I. And I vote yes as well for a second
motion here. Um to set the public um to set the planning board public hearing date for the proposed zoning bylaw amendment for March 18th, 2026 at 7:15 via Zoom contingent upon the select board
referring the amendment back to the planning board on February 24th. And I would so move. >> And you have a second. >> Thank you, Larry. Thank you, Pete. Roll call vote. Pete, >> yes. >> Larry,
>> yes. >> Scott, >> yes. >> And Steve, >> I >> vote yes as well. So, we will be doing that on the 18th. Um,
I have nothing else on the agenda this evening. So unless anyone's got some comments, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Move to adjourn. >> Thank you, Larry. Second. >> Absolutely.
>> Okay. Roll call vote. Pete. Larry. >> Scott. >> Yes. >> D. >> I I. >> Have a good night, everyone. And night.