Planning Board - Regular Meeting

We live. Okay. Okay. Hello and welcome to the Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 meeting of the Lichfield Planning Board. Will everyone please please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, first up is roll call of members present. Jerry O Connell, chair. Travis Tucker, vice chair. Russell Blanchett, member. Dinski, black men's representative. Jesse, no, member. Letha Riley, member.

Okay. And yeah, since the last meeting, Jesse is now a um full voting member and I'm now chair and Tuck Travis Tucker is now vice chair. Um so we don't have any more alternates. Um we are looking for some if uh uh anyone's interested. Uh so no appointments of alternates tonight. Um so before we get to the main items, does anyone uh any me do any of members of the public have any comments on non-aggenda items? Okay, seeing none. So, we'll move on to the first item on our agenda, which is application acceptance of a site plan and conditional use permit for Kulpi Farm owned by Morgan Road Investments LLC. The property is located at the corner of Charles Bankraftoft Highway and Albuquerque Avenue. Tax Map 21, lot 4. The parcel is located in the northern commercial district and requires a conditional use permit in the mixeduse development. Um the parcel is 25 acres and currently undeveloped. The pro proposal is for 86 residential units in 11 buildings. Each building would contain between 6 and 8 units. The site would also contain a 10,000 foot uh multi-tenant retail building and a 8,35 square foot daycare facility. Um so the first step would be to check um if the application is ready for acceptance. Um so are the butters notified and all fees paid?

Yes, there are. Butters are notified, fees are paid. Okay. Um, so is there anything that would block us from uh accepting the um application as complete? Either the checklist items are substantially met. Okay. Uh, any comments by the board members? Okay. Uh, would someone like to make a motion to accept the plan for its completeness? So moved. Okay. We have a motion. Second. We have a second by Travis Tucker. Uh any uh further comments? Okay. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying I.

I. Anyone oppose or abstain? Okay. Motion passes. One. 6 0. Okay. So, uh the plan is now accepted. So, is the applicant present?

Good evening, Mr. Chairman. Congratulations, your chairmanship. Uh for the record, my name is Jim Petropolis. I'm a professional engineer uh with IMEG Consulting Corp. Uh three Congress Street, Nashville, New Hampshire. Uh tonight representing Morgan Road Investment LLC. Uh joining me from Morgan Road is Rick and Ryan Charbano. uh brought with me some friends tonight. Attorney Morgan Hollis, Derek Roach is our traffic consultant from Vaness and Associates, and Mike McHune is our project architect, who also joins us from Dennis Meyers, the architects. Uh so, thank you for hearing us. Uh and it's just read into the record, we're seeking, uh eventually two actions, uh by the planning board. first and foremost a site plan approval for a multif family residential project uh um in the northwest corner of Lichfield. Uh and we're also seeking a conditional use permit uh from the planning board to allow to allow mixeduse village development within this northern commercial district. Um my role here really tonight uh as as the preparer of the drawings and applications and kind of quarterbacking the studies is to prevent the facts of the project for the site plan uh and conditional use criteria for you to make a decision. Uh I will tell you right now uh we're here this evening uh is really the first formal hearing. Uh we're not really expecting any decision this evening because we got a little bit more work to do and I'll get to that in in my summation of what's left to do next steps. But I think we're in good shape. I appreciate the application acceptance. So uh let me get started. Um you know board members may recall over the past couple years we've we've been here uh in a conceptual sense uh prior to the 2025 town meeting vote which approved mixeduse developments. We appeared conceptually to show you what could what

could be. Uh after the town meeting vote of 25, we came here in October for a pre-application discussion meeting. Uh our formal submitt was made on Feb 5, 2026. And as you know, the 33 meeting was um postponed due to snow. I was very nervous this morning looking out my window at work at 8:00. Uh but uh it didn't last. So, um, as of this meeting, we have received comments from the town department, from NRPC, and from Luke Karen, your consulting engineer. So, let's talk about the property. Um, the site is located at the corner of Charles Bankraftoft Highway and Albuquerque AB. It's a very visible piece of property in town, and essentially it's the land between the Charles Bankraftoft and Hidden Greek uh, Hidden Creek Golf Course. Uh the site is located as I mentioned in the northern commercial zoning district and the property as you see outlined in in yellow uh it measures about 25.26 acres. Uh this property is abudded by the Charles Bankraftoft Highway really to the north Albuquerque A to the east. Uh KBY Brook runs through the property. You can see the wooded area there uh to the south and west and then a portion of Morgan Road touches the property in the northwest corner. Uh ground cover, as you can see, is mostly open. Uh it's wooded along KBY Brook. Topography fairly flat. We've all been by. We can see it's a fairly flat piece of property. There's a gentle rise from Charles Bankoff Highway right along the property frontage. uh mostly sandy soils uh wetlands for the property especially along Kobe Brook wetlands have been looked at for the whole property but along Kobe Brook you know we have associated wetlands and that's been flagged and surveyed and of course uh the 50ft no disturb buffer 75 ft

building and 100 foot leechfield are all incorporated in our drawings Jay if you don't mind next plan please. Okay, that's just a copy of the existing conditions. Our topographic survey, you'll see the same elements of roads. Um there is a piece of old Morgan Road that runs through the property right now. Um probably one of the highlights of the property as you're traveling either northbound or southbound on Albuquerque A. You see the wonderful fence and tree line along the property um of the site. Uh next one, please, Jay. Okay, so here's our master plan. And what's being proposed is to construct a mixeduse village development upon this 25 acre project. Uh in general the project will include a townhouse style multif family residential units and then of course a mixeduse village development needs a retail component. So two commercial buildings are to be located up along the Charles Bankraftoft Highway. Um, with regard to the residential piece, uh, a total of 86 units, uh, your current zoning density allows for 101. So, we're about 15 units short of, uh, the max allowed. Um, and it's a townhouse style project, very similar to Callaway Circle, similar to Rose Meadows, six and 8 unit townhouse buildings. Uh, we have a number of detached garages. They have been very popular uh, in the Rose Garden and Callawa projects. Uh so we tried to incorporate as many as we could here. Not all uh but a majority and access to the resi piece is off of uh Albuquerque right at the existing intersection with Morgan Road and it's the intersection for Hidden Creek as well. So we're really going to maintain that alignment. It's going to run up to Morgan Road. Uh

but it will be gated. Thank you Jay. In that particular location u so it really serves as life safety access. We have an internal drive that comes back into the commercial piece of the project which is encouraged in the mixeduse village district criteria and the commercial piece also has a small curb cut located on Albuquerque as well. Uh the commercial use itself um as you know the regulations require 100 square ft of commercial space uh per residential unit. So, at 86 units, uh, if my math's right, that's 8,600 square ft. Um, we're proposing um 18,000 square ft². So, we exceed um that balance of uh commercial space within a mixeduse project. Um, two pad sites are being proposed. Um, I'll take the first one, which is on I guess the south side. Uh, it's intended to be a daycare facility. It measures about 8,000 ft. Uh there's outdoor recreck space uh adjacent to the building uh and parking for about 64 parking spaces. Um the other building is uh a multi-tened building. The the tenants are unknown right now at this time. Build it and they will come. Um but it's really at the corner of Albuquerque and the Charles Bankraftoft Highway. It is a 10,000 square foot building. uh and the intent is to have uh several commercial and retail uses inside the building. Any of those uses would be those uses allowed in in the uh mixeduse village development table of uses. Uh 53 parking spaces are are provided for the retail. Uh again, access to the Charles Bankraftoft is a right turn in and right turn out only. We know that Charles Bankraftoft is DOT controlled and so um

um we think a right turn in and a right turn out was really what we were going to get from the DOT. Uh there's a a del lane traveling northbound, a del lane to get us awfully safe to make that right turn in. And then to come out of the development is an exel lane um to help us get revved up before we enter the the northbound lane. Um there's also a two-way curb cut onto Albuquerque AB as I mentioned. Um if you read the mixeduse village regs, they really speak to sidewalks. They want integration within the development. And if you look closely at the plan plan, we have sidewalks throughout the project and connectivity to the retail. Um but Rick is also proposing uh sidewalk along the frontage of Albuquerque A. And what it is is a continuation from the sidewalk that he and the thorough development are actually building on the east side uh east side of uh the Charles Braftoft. And so that connection um is a nice link uh to have to keep extending sidewalk further to the south. that's going to sit up within the property and it would be located within a a proposed uh pedestrian uh public pedestrian access easement. Okay. Other project related facts. Uh we have a mailbox location similar to Rose Meadows located in between the commercial and yes, thank you Jay and the Resi project. That's one central location uh for mail delivery for the for the residents. Um, similar to Rose Meadows, the project will have uh two parking spaces uh per unit in front of each building. And then additionally with the garages, you're essentially getting three spaces uh per unit. Overall, the project provides uh 70% open space. So uh it's really intended to have a large center green space in

between the commercial and the resi. And then of course the KBY Brook area is an area you can see we kept well away from and there's really no clearing or any disturbance uh within the setbacks uh associated with with KBY Brook. With regard to utilities, um, of course we've got Penachuk water out there which will service the entire development underground gas power and telecommunications. Individual septic systems six and 8 unit building and an individual septic for uh the two commercial buildings. We have a several storm water management areas throughout the project. Um, we have favorable soils in the the souththeast corner. We have a an infiltration practice right there. Thank you, Jay. Uh in the middle of the project, we have a wet pond where we're hoping to create some open water by lining it and hopefully creating a little bit of an amenity there. Um and then uh up front along Charles Bankraftoft Highway, we're placing our storm water subsurface. Um we wanted to make sure the first thing people saw as they approached the development wasn't some big dug drainage system in front. So, um, and I think that comment came forward in I think the October 25 meeting where that um buffer along the Bank Highway and the parking um was was was very important. Um, all new lighting throughout the project, very similar to Rose Meadows landscaping. Uh, lighting of course is LED style cut off luminires, no spillover into abuing any abuing properties. Um the mixeduse village development in part of the condition of the use permit requires phasing. Uh our testimony this evening is um a

three-step process uh to the development. Uh we hope to begin uh construction uh in the spring uh summer of 26. The first pieces will be built will be the retail pieces in the front. Um and so Rick and Ryan would like to get that going first. So that will be constructed and then the project will move in a southerntherly direction for the resi at 86 units. The anticipation is one year to essentially build the retail pieces, one year to build half of the 86 units, 43 units for the resi, and then the third year for the balance. So it's a three-year phase um intended for this development. A lot of it depends on market conditions. Um, but that's uh that's the plan. A project like this requires a traffic study as you know and one was submitted um by Vanessent Associates. I think to save a little bit of time, I'm going to paraphrase uh the traffic study, but Derek is clearly here tonight and if you have any detailed questions about the report or the testimony, we're going to call Derek up and answer any questions. But um you know given that Charles Bankrooft Highway is under DOT control uh they have a say in kind of excuse me what happens with traffic. So whenever we do a project that's DOT uh access they want to have a a scoping session and that occurred back in August of 25. uh Derek's report, Vanessa's report was submitted as part of our application and what it showed for total development upon full buildout was in the morning peak, you always measure your traffic in the morning peak, the afternoon peak and then the total trips for day. So the morning uh peak was 177 new trips. Uh the afternoon peak was 195 uh new trips

and then total 24hour um weekday was about 1,500 trips. Uh, a trip is leaving the unit to go out into the road. That's one trip. And then when it comes back, it's also one trip. Okay. Um, site distance uh is always a concern of boards for projects like this. We take that one real seriously. We want to make sure we got our safe curb cuts. Vanessa's report has gone out and measured our site distance uh and it's and it's acceptable to ASHTTO standards in all all intersections. Um, initially and when we appeared before you, I think it was in October, we talked about the Albuquerque AB intersection with Charles Bankraftoft and early measurements uh of traffic indicated that um the intersection likely needed uh a signal currently. And so, um, we took a look at that and we, um, heard your comments that evening and we, you know, went back to Vanessa and said, "Well, um, any thoughts about improvements that could be made, uh, to attenuate that?" And what they came back with was on Albuquerque as we're heading northbound. And you can very in a small sense Jay see it in that lower right hand corner. Uh we've got a um a proposed improvement to Albuquerque.

Yeah. Thank you. that essentially widens the pavement and it allows for a dedicated left turn onto the Charles Bankraftoft and also a dedicated right turn, which currently doesn't exist today. I think people as that intersection starts to stack up and people who want to make a left, if you want to make a right and you're behind that car, there really is no way to kind of swerve and get around them. And a lot of those moves, the majority of those moves, and Derek correct can correct me if I'm wrong, are are making right turns to head north. And so, um, with the advent of that proposed improvement, um, it, u eliminates the need for a traffic stud for a signal at that particular intersection. So, again, DOT is really kind of calling the shots on the Charles Bankraft Highway. Uh the study is currently being reviewed uh by DOT and uh we hope to hear an answer from them. And again, Derek's here to answer any questions you might have. Um let me wrap up quickly with Jay if you could forward some slides on the architecture. Uh as I said, uh Mike Mchuan is here tonight. He prepared the plans and we've got some wonderful graphics. Gonna

recalibrate a little bit. Yeah. You want the visuals? That's one. Yeah,

that's a nice oblique aerial. Um like if you were in a drone above the Charles Bank looking back at the road on the right is Morgan Road and you can see the resi development with Kobby Brook off to the right and those wooded areas. Um the seven buildings or six buildings located along Albuquerque Y a uh you can see the fence in the graphic. That's nice. Nice work, Mike. Um those units actually face Albuquerque. So we've got the front doors facing Albuquerque. We thought that was important from a a visual standpoint as so many cars up go up and down Albuquerque to see the front rather than the back. And so um we thought that was a nice touch. And Jay, if you kind of shift that over a little bit to the left, you can see the two Yeah. the two commercial buildings. You see the daycare on the right with its outdoor playyard and then the um the retail building um which is really set up for three tenants. You see the three kind of peaked entrances there. Um really kind of set up for for three tenants. Okay. on the resi and Jay feel free to scroll through there as I'm talking uh because there's a quite a few graphics about the buildings but really the residential units are the as I mentioned the same architecture as Rose Meadows uh 68 unit buildings uh two stories per unit it's approximately 1300 to500 uh square feet per unit uh pitch roof clapboard siding 28 ft in height you can see we kept the fence treatment along the Charles Bankraftoft Highway in this graphic. So, uh and then the sidewalk is located right behind it. Um the colors of the resi buildings will be similar to uh Rose Meadows and Callaway Circle. Uh the commercial buildings um our theme intended was to

be New England agriculture uh New England theme which is what the code looks like looks for. Uh but I think Mike put a a wonderful kind of agricultural touch to it. Um, and I'm probably messing up the architectural terms, but on the retail building of the left, that other raised center ridge line, you know, is is certainly uh brings in a an agricultural kind of a barn feel to it. Um, all the buildings have pitched roofs. Uh, combination of asphalt shingles with metal roof accents. Um, both buildings are onetory. The retail building peaks out at 32 feet in height. The daycare building peaks at 28 ft. Um, canopied entries, fixed glass windows. Uh, exterior materials are combination of fiber, cement, siding, and trim. And then a stone veneer down at the lower level. You get a little bit of taste for that on on that particular graphic right there. Mr. chairman. Uh what I'd like to do now is if I could address the conditional use permit.

Okay. You can talk about it.

So, under section 803 of your of your uh zoning ordinance, uh conditional use permit is required from the planning board for this form of development, a mixeduse village development in the northern commercial zone. And there's really 11 criteria points that need to be addressed by us. and they've been provided in a letter uh to Jones attention. So uh it might take a minute, but I I'll go quick. I'm going to read the 11 criteria into the record. Uh number one, the uh requirement is the area of a site proposed for an MUVD shre. However, the site may be further subdivided into smaller residential or commercial lots. As mentioned, the Colby Farm property is a single lot uh measures 25.26 26 acres. Um permitted uses include uh the permitted uses of this project are multif family residential, general retail, daycare center, and possibly a restaurant in in that particular building. Uh all of which are allowed in section 803.00. So we comply with that regulation. Uh maximum density is not greater than four units an acre. 4* 25 and change gets us 101 units. We're proposing 86 minimum residential units is not less than 2.5. And so the proposed density of KBY farm is 3.4. So right in that sweet spot between 2.5 and 4.0. Not less than point number five. Not less than 100 square ft of commercial space peri unit shall be provided. 8600 square ft is the minimum required or required. We're providing 18,035. Point six, key natural and historic features include buildings of historic value, stone walls, agricultural fields, large trees, and other natural historic features. Um, our response to that item

number six is most of the property is currently non-wooded and does not really contain any any uh documented uh, you know, natural or historic features. Um, having said that, the area along Colby Brook will remain as is with no intrusion into the wetland or the regulated buffers. And then also the fencing and trees that were installed along Albuquerque A will remain in place. There's been no disturbance of that as a result of our project. Uh, point 7, not less than 20% of the site area will be dedicated to internal open green space. Um, you know, Jay and I probably need a discussion about the the term dedicated, you know, uh, but if you go back to our site plan, we have 70% open space everywhere and um, um, 17.68 acres are currently open. So, um, we we think we comply, but we probably need a little discussion with Jay just to make sure you feel good about that. Uh point 8, a fiscal impact study shall be provided demonstrating to the satisfaction of the planning board that the MUVD would have a net positive impact on the town uh for every phase of development. Uh fiscal impact report is being prepared. Uh I think the preparer had meetings today with fire and police. Uh and it will be submitted as soon as it ready and I suspect that our next hearing will we'll dive into that a little bit and provide you with the results. Uh point nine, building design and landscaping must be compatible with the character of the area. Um it's our development team's opinion that the proposed building design and complimentary landscaping will be consistent with the character of Lichfield and with this the surrounding uses of the area. We have single family homes across the street. Uh we have Hidden Creek behind us. Um,

you know, we are in a in a commercial district of zoning and um I think Mike's done a wonderful job if you uh look at the graphics um in in preparing the architectural feel for the project. Point number 10, uh a timing and phasing plan for both the commercial and resident portions of the development shall be submitted for approval. As I just mentioned, we're looking at a three-year buildout. and Jay, I can add that phasing data and information into the plan set for the next meeting. Be happy to do that. And lastly, safe pedestrian access, including sidewalks, crosswalks must be provided uh throughout the project. Um and and really, I think we as a team have done a good job with that. U safe pedestrian access is provided throughout. there's connectivity um to the commercial uses in the front and then of course the sidewalk along the Charles Bankraftoft Highway um on the east side uh we think is a wonderful uh addition to the project. Uh so in summary um thank you for for listening uh completes our presentation. Um we do believe the project complies with the MUVD regulations. Uh there is still a little work left for us. Uh, I mentioned the fiscal review. Um, I also would like to say that we're have received most peerreview comments. Uh, Jay has weighed in, Lou has weighed in. Uh, I think the comments are are quite reasonable. Um, and we should be able to address them in advance of next meeting. Um, Jay did bring up a couple points about potential waivers and I'm happy to discuss those with you and talk to you about them. Um, so you may have a couple waiverss to to deal with at the next meeting. So with that, uh, I'll be happy to answer questions and then, uh, I would like to call up my teammates if there's

something there that I don't feel comfortable answering. So, thank you. Thank you. Okay. Um so before we move on, we should probably vote um for whether this application has any regional impact. Um so it's large but it's not right next to the uh adjoining towns. Um so it's just the mainly the vehicle traffic. Um but it's in the corridor. to the 3A corridor. Do we have to worry?

You're close enough to Manchester, you're in the 3A corridor. So, it's a judgment call. Yeah. There there's no hard and fast. It's not on the border or it would be pretty clear. Sure. Yeah. Um so it's okay.

Yeah. the um I would anticipate that the majority of the traffic will be internal traffic rather than people driving from outside of Lichfield, but it obviously be very nice from a business perspective if some of it was traffic coming into Lichfield. Does anyone have any strong opinion or anyone feel like we should deem this uh regional impact? Okay. So, um looks like the will of the board is to not make this um categorize this as regional impact. Should we vote on this or should we just I

I don't think you need to unless you unless you want to vote. I think if there's a consensus in the board, I think that's fine. Okay. So, not not regional impact. Um okay. So, um, Jay, do you have any comments on the project?

Uh, I I I think actually, uh, Mr. Petropolis touched on them. Um, you know, I there are certainly a few issues that that I raised the dedicated um, you know, uh, open space was one and just ensuring that there are some sort of uh, amenities that are also provided within the plan. You know, our regulations do speak to those. Um obviously um you know traffic is something the board's going to want to think about and weigh. Um overall I mean the plan you know is very consistent with the um the ordinance and the regulations as we contemplated them. The connectivity internally is really strong. uh as we've heard the the density is less than what's um you know uh the maximum required more than the minimum and the commercial space exceeds the minimum the use uh balances uh I think there there's some other details I think that need to be added um including uh you know landscaping detail along Albuquerque that's something that has been mentioned as important we do have an internal street tree requirement that should be provided on the plan. So there are definitely some additional elements that should be addressed. There's more that needs to be reviewed, but overall I think the plan is uh you know very consistent with the goals of the mixed use legisl.

Thank you. Um Lou, do you have any um relevant or important comments regarding the plan at this point? Acceptance. Uh well, we've we've accepted it already. So regarding the next

most of the comments I have uh were very minor um with the drainage system I I was very impressed. I was that's basically a lot of my biggest focus. The only thing I noticed as I was looking at the site plan behind the retail commercial, it's a oneway heading north. So, if somebody wants to get to the mailbox, if they're coming in off of um 38 and they make a right turn into the site at that first entrance, they have to drive in front of the retail buildings to get to the mailbox. It's a lot of traffic they're introducing in front of the retail. I don't know if that's good or bad. probably more bad than good, but especially after all coming in around dinner time or something after work. Uh that was the only thing that I looked at and I wasn't clearly too happy about it, but not killer.

Okay. Thank you. Do any members of the board have any comments or questions they'd like to discuss at this moment? I have a couple questions actually to your point. The mailboxes, Jay, if you could point out where those Okay. Right there. Right. Um if you go to the left with your cursor beyond the other side of that building, you you see um um an al cove with something. What is that actually? Uh dumpster. A gated enclosed dumpster. Okay. So, there are a few of those around as well. There are. Yeah. They're very important for projects like this, believe it or not.

Yeah. I don't think you'd want the dumpster done on the end either. So, um interesting. Is there any reason why you um at the top of this illustration where Yeah. Right in there. Right where you're pointing. Is there any reason why it can't be over there? where it sort of dead ends anyway. Go go go go goes up to the the point at which uh Morgan Road is gated and only available for fire, you know, for fire people to for the mailbox. Yeah.

Gez, we thought it was more convenient there. Um, it's just a question. I'm not asking you to make a decision tonight. It was just it was just I mean we'll we'll we'll look at we'll look at the mailbox location. Sure. Um like we were very fortunate at Rose Meadows to have it down near the entry so everybody could kind it was off to the side.

This one wasn't as easy to lose comment. Um he he brings up a good point. We come in off Albuquerque and have to go around the front. But what we're trying to do there is budget space for possibly a drive-thru uh if we got such a tenant. Um and so that generally becomes a oneway to the north. Okay. And I believe drive-throughs are by zoning. Uh there's some zoning relief needed, I believe, by the code. Uh but that's kind of the placeholder we put we put there. So, there'd be conflicting moves there,

but we'll take a we'll take a closer look at it.

Yeah, I see pros and cons to that um mailbox location, but yeah, the other end would probably be a dead end. So, I'm I'm not sure I would want it at the dead end. Um uh do you does the board have any other questions or comments they'd like to discuss before we open up to public comment? Yeah, briefly. I know Jay, you also flagged it, but um there's a lot of green space, but if maybe we could just see some kind of uses, some picnic tables, some kind of um in future iterations of the plan, kind of where community gathering spaces might be, where these kind of spaces for residents to to hang out would be. Um I think would be helpful for us to kind of envision this as a space for the town.

Correct. Yeah. A question I have is um did you do anything for the um garage bays to um help with the long um facads without any um windows or anything in the garages?

Yeah. Now the garages I think we submitted architecturals on the garages. They're they're quite consistent with pitch roofs and exterior materials. Um, but we we didn't put windows on them because they're really a big maintenance issue. And um, I don't I don't think the the length, you know, is only about 78 ft. It's not as wide as the the building itself that it's supporting. I don't really think it needs to be broken up because when you actually see them at like Rose Meadows, they they don't it's not like looking down a big industrial logistics warehouse building, you know, you got that long straight run. So, we can talk about it with with Mike. I mean, between now and the next meeting. Uh but but those buildings are more utilitarian. Uh they're very popular and um I think they complement the other buildings pretty well. So, but we'll take a look at it.

Jay, do you know of any regulations that they might need to that might need to be taken into account for the garage base? It's uh it's arguable, but in the site plan regs, we do talk about facade, you know, uh facads of over 50 feet in length that that aren't broken up or somehow articulate. Okay. So based on that, if you could look into some possibilities, thank you. Um, and is it the area like in the visual near the end of the sidewalk that we see and in the bottom right? Yeah. The area to the left of that is a storm water area. Yeah. And is it because of that not possible to connect that sidewalk to

So Rick Rick and I are having a little tug-of-war with what we do there. I I got uh pedestrians kind of hopping on the piece of Morgan Road so that we don't have to kind of cut trees there and Rick is saying, "Well, we can make something work." So, we'll we'll take a look at that sidewalk connection, but the intent is that that does get connected into the parking so that a resident if we did put something out front, a resident wanted to walk over. Um, and Jay, if you do scroll, um, give me a little bit more of the left. Travis brought up a good point about community spaces. I wanted to point out now if you move the whole drawing over a little bit. I want to see that left side. Yeah, you can barely catch it on this one, but others, we've got the outdoor patio on the north end of the the other the other building. Maybe another drawing, Jay. Um,

you might have another one worth that. Yeah. Yeah, there you go. Right there. Good. So, we've got something budgeted right there. We don't know what it is yet, but it's part of the building. You're saying, "Let's do something like that part of the site." Good. Good point. Looking at this view and and thinking about the retail establishments that'll be in place, what's what's the provision for signage for those businesses? What's the plan to to have some proper advertising so we know there are businesses in there and what they are?

We've we've put a placeholder at the the the driveway cut to the Charles Bankraftoft Highway for what we call a ground sign or monument sign. Um it's likely also going to have spaces um in Mike if would they be in the peaks of the entries possibly or up against the building maybe on a building site perhaps or there is a little bit of space on the facade that's allocated for um modest um signage depending on how the the retail building gets taken up by town. Thank you Mike.

Thank you. Um was any uh were any alternative uh options than the single um right turn only exit and entrance? Uh were any other options considered like including more like greater changes to the Charles Bankcraft Highway like for example a roundabout or something in the area to allow the traffic to not have to turn onto Albuquerque. You know, it's a it's a little challenging piece of road frontage across the front. Uh we're in a super elevated curve for one thing, and then if I'm not mistaken, I think we're also in a taper there. So, I think what you're trying to say is should we introduce a left turn pocket traveling south into into the development

that or a roundabout there if you could get permission? Roundabout. I don't such a dirty word. Um, I know I like roundabouts. Um, it will certainly slow the traffic. So, yeah, you know, in the scoping session, you know, with DOT, we always try to feel them out. Hey, you know, what can we do? What, you know, I don't think they would allow us to do a full left turn there because of the taper and because of the super elevation and everything that's going on there. So, uh, that's why we opted for this particular layout.

Yeah, because another option would be like at the intersection of, um, Morgan Road, Colby Road, and Charles Bankcraft Highway. Theoretically, I'm I'm not sure if the elevation will allow it, but if you could put a roundabout there and then have that be a major entrance into the development, that could be a safer option that reduces traffic on Albuquerque. Well, we'll take that under advisement. Um, I'm not too optimistic that the state will work with us, but we'll get a response for you. Okay. Thank you. Can I ask when are you expecting the DOT report?

Uh, Derek, help me out. Pretty soon.

Sorry. Uh, yes. For the record, Derek Roach with the Nassen Associates. Um, we I'm not exactly sure off the top of head what day we submitted. Do you remember? But depending on when we submitted um which I think was was was last month um or maybe earlier this No, the LA now it's April. So yeah, last month sometime in March um they take things in the order they get them. Um so it's been typically about a month till we get comments back on things. Um, so I would expect comments within the next couple weeks. Um, but that is the first step to multiple rounds of back and forth with them on things. Um, so I wouldn't expect a permit uh within, you know, the next month. I would expect, you know, just comments, but uh we'd get a permit three, four, five months down the road.

Can we can we get the the iterations as they come in? because I'd be curious to know their their comments. We'll reach out to them in advance of our next meeting and we'll let them know um that uh you know you find folks are interested in their thoughts. We'll convey to them uh some of the comments you just brought up moments ago and we'll see if we get a response from them. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Yeah. I'm not necessarily looking to complicate things. I'm I I'm just always curious to understand from their viewpoint their opinion on site distance. I mean, you have a lot of experience in that. So, I I certainly appreciate um your professional experience there. Um DOT sometimes has other things in mind. uh whether it be on the site distance, I'd be really curious on the widening um on that because a lot of times when I come up from Albuquerque and I'm going left on Charles Bankraftoft, I I sit there and I'm like, "Oh, why did I do this? It's going to take me forever to go left." And you wait and you wait and you wait. And I don't know if it's so much an uh a concern that you have the additional width. I mean, Don't get me wrong, it can't hurt,

but I don't know if it's going to alleviate the problem, I guess. So, I'd be curious to just know their thoughts. I'd like to be clear. Uh, you know, the proposed improvement is is nice. It alleviates things, but it's still going to be a busy intersection. Okay. Of course. Of course. So, I don't want to, of course,

have you misinterpret that, man, they're going to solve that intersection. No. Uh, I think we're going to improve it and hopefully such that there doesn't need to be a signal there. Now, I've known Rick for 40 years and if he's got a project that creates an impact, he'll stand up for and do it. But, you know, we kind of heard u and saw some concern about wanting to put a signal there in that location. And, you know, Rick is sensitive to that. He lives in this town. And so, um, we we hope not to have to do that. Not to save money or not to do anything. It's just that because I don't think the town really wants a signal there.

Agent on the signal.

Yeah. um the the the introduc the introduction of the right turn lane on Albuquerque Road. Uh the way uh signal warrants are are assessed. Um because you have that right turn lane and the fact that of the volume on that approach, you have like hundreds in the right turn lane and only tens in the left. um that right turn volume is considered to be able to get out onto the highway without the need of the signal because they have their own lane and therefore that volume doesn't get counted towards the warrant and so because of the right turn lane a signal is not warranted and DOT would not support putting one in at that at that stage.

Thank you. Thank you Derek. Okay. Any uh more comments or questions before we uh open up to public comment? I'll reserve mine until after I hear from the public. Okay. Um Okay. Would any members of the public wish to come up and comment on the application? Okay. Come on up and state your name and address for the record. No. Okay. cuz I don't think there's any way for me to go.

No, no, no. You're fine. I'm not mean. I'm angry, but I'm not mean. Um, my name is Amy Vagonis. My husband and I live at 20 Roberts Road, and we are the lucky owners of the property that this is going to be our backyard. So, we have the lot, which is open here. So, map 21, lot 10 through 5. So, this is going to affect everything for us. This is literally our backyard.

This is not why I bought this house. I This is not anything I ever envisioned. So, my retirement years, this is what I get look forward look able to look forward to. You're talking about three years of construction. I mean, we bought the property and it took 18 months. Now, this is back in 2007, but it took us 18 months to find a place because it had to be the perfect place and this was it. What's going to happen to the deer, to the fox, to the mallet, everything that we get to see all the time in our backyard? We have Coldby Brook as part of our backyard. Now you're going to put apartments in retail and maybe a drive-thru. No,

a roundabout.

We're not. We're growing out of Lichfield. We're becoming a Hudson 2.0. We pay a lot in taxes. We love it here. This sounds horrible. I I can't honestly think of anything that sounds great. And what really bothered me is that fence that you show in the back, that's what's going to separate all of that from my property, from our property. And my neighbors, same thing. The ones on the corner, I mean, they're going to deal with it, too. It it just again, this is not why I wanted to retire here. I moved here in 1994. This is not my envisionment of my retirement, my golden ages. This sounds terrible. I'm sorry.

Thank you. Thank you for comments. Yes.

Would anyone else like to come up and uh come on up and state your name and address for the record? No. Hey, Bob Mclofflin, Chatfield Drive, excuse me, right around the corner. Um, coming late to the game, so I have more questions than I have comments on this. Um, my first question, if someone can answer me. Um, does Continental Paving will they still use the driveway that they can that they use to their plant out back by hitting Creek that dumps on Albuquerque?

So, technically speaking, we it's discouraged to make this a question and answer thing, but you can ask your questions and the applicant can decide to answer them. Excuse me. Can you because I unfortunately I've been here since 93, but unfortunately this is my first meeting I've ever Yeah. So like we have to be careful not to make it like a Q&A between you and the applicant because this is uh basically just public comment not public questions. If you ask the chair I can respond and try to answer your question. If I ask the chairman when everybody is done through in the public speaking I'm trying to take good notes. I will try to respond to each comment. Okay. Yeah. So if I have concerns about light pollution from this I would then talk to him off record.

Yeah. It's public public comment and then um after you're done with your comments uh that we can try to um address them in the Okay. Um so are there so can I ask are there going to be light poles in these parking lots? Yeah, there's um there's a light um on the building. So if you go through Rose Meadow Y and look at the lighting in there. Yep. All right. Cool. Yeah, the plan has a um page that shows where the lighting is um where where it is and where how bright it is at each downcast lighting. Correct.

I didn't do my homework and look blueprint or find blueprint before I came in. Um can I ask why Morgan Road is gated? Um, yeah, you can you can ask, but yeah, we don't have the answer. Oh, because we don't want to use it as an access point. No, whether we don't want to use Okay. So, we don't want the people from like Romanos in that area or coming off of 3A to go down Morgan Road to get into this development. We want them to go through the congested intersection of Albuquerque and in Charles Bankraftoft.

Yeah. One thing to keep in mind is the intersection of uh KBY Road and Charles Bankraftoft Highway is not a great intersection. So, I'm assuming the applicant

I live right around the corner. So, and I walk this field every day with my dog. So, I do know the property. Um, we all do know that people are creatures of habit. So when they're leaving this property in the morning, if you're going to go south, they're just going to go through that Robert's Road and right past those people or they're going to go all the way down to Hillrest, hang a right, and get on to 3A that way. So that's where the majority of the traffic is going to end up going because we're all creatures that have it. We're going to look at Google Maps. We're going to look at ways or whatever it is, and we're going to find the easiest way out, whoever is renting there. So, that's going to affect the overall traffic. And I do agree that um sticking something extra at the corner of Albuquerque and 3A um is the best um putting a turn road to the right. That that's just common sense. That that'll work coming into it. I don't know what you're going to do there. Um but um I don't know where I was going with that, but we all know that everybody there was either going to go through my neighborhood, my street, or go down the end of um Albuquerque, hang a right, and then go down to 3A to get south or cut through that way. But that's what Albuquerque was put into in for so that everybody can go south. Um, I guess my only uh concerns um is that is that the trees do remain around Colby uh Creek because um that'll be the buffer from my neighborhood, which is no big deal, but uh something I would like to see. Light pollution is something that's got to be taken in consideration. Um I know you guys put a lot of thought and comments into mailboxes, but I don't believe that they were ever going to put a roundabout on 3A or trafficly. Um, that'll we all know that'll never ever ever happen. Um, what else I got to say? We should pay attention a little bit earlier about it's somebody's property.

You can do what you want with it. Um, you know, we don't want to I don't want somebody coming in my backyard telling me what I can do and cannot do with my piece of property. But um overall aspects I just got to say you got to just take into consideration the traffic in and off of Albuquerque. Light pollution for the local neighborhood. Um and just be considerate that everybody else who's going to be heading south is not going to go to Albuquerque. They're going to go south to Hillrest or just straight down um Albuquerque to the other end of town. Now I can talk to you afterwards about details, sir. Um, I'm going to respond to the chair when he gives me a minute, but if I'll be happy to talk to you outside. Absolutely.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Um, any other state your name and address for the record?

Yep. Uh, my name is Brendan Flynn. I live at uh 18 Roberts Road. Um, which would be a direct butter. I just um I guess my only comment would be I don't know if I saw it on the plans or not, whether or not there's going to be an consideration for maybe a fence along the um edge of the property where the brook where the brook is. I know obviously there's a I don't know how wide it is, but a good chunk of tree coverage there. Um, my only concern would be some sort of solid fencing to help with sound pollution that would go across cuz we like I can in the winter time I can see directly across to you know to the field. Obviously, in the summertime with all the tree coverage, can't really notice, but I would like to possibly see, yeah, a solid fencing for either two-part um sound pollution and also somewhat of a deterrent for people going down into the brook. Not uh to what that gentleman just said. I mean, whatever. I can't control what people do, you know, on their own property or whatnot. But I know since living there, we moved there in 2018. Um, we've got a considerable amount of people that go to the country store, buy a bunch of stuff, mostly kids, but with uh their bikes, eat whatever they're doing, you know, do whatever they're doing and leave their trash or spray paint. Uh, was a lot of spray painting on trees and stuff. So, I just, you know, a consideration. Obviously, a fence isn't going to if somebody wants to get down there, they're going to go down there. Uh, but just something to consider. Um, other than that, I guess, and I know you had spoke earlier about um setbacks to to wetland. So, obviously it's wetlands down there. So, I don't know. Essentially,

the direct backyard of my house would be the that building without um Jay, can you go to the aerial? Excuse me. I think it's the one without a So I can see where the gentleman's house is. Yeah. Sorry, I should have brought No, the uh first one on the Where are we? He's going to call up this plane. All right. All right. Thank you, Jay. It's It's that one kind of right in the middle. the one that like goes perpendicular. Yeah, that one right there. Okay. So, I know I just know, you know, basically a straight shot I think is that one building without the um carport behind it. I just don't know what the distance between

that building and like the edge of the woods would be cuz you did mention you're not taking any basically trees. That's correct. So, yeah, that's correct. So, I'll respond. All right. All right. All right. Thank you. Yeah. Other than that, I mean, that's it. It looks I don't know. Looks fine. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Have we watched this as a planning board? Uh, not yet. When would that be? we'd have to um ask the applicant for a time that would work and um vote

as a board. Um we can definitely cons consider doing that today. Um any other members of the public that wish to comment on the application? I'm seeing one. Set your name and address for the record.

My name is Kyla Lukette. I live at 494 CBH. one of those lucky few that are going to be right across the street from this. Um, so you've talked a lot about or we recently have talked a lot about the impact on neighbors on the backside. I know we've mentioned light pollution, noise pollution. This is going to be right out my front window now. I mean, when I look out the window, that's what I'm going to see. Um, and you know, we mentioned drive-throughs and restaurants. I'm just concerned about that impact for I know we're only a few people but we lucky few that live on CBH. Um if there's any consideration provision to keep that noise and impact down because we are right on that road. Um and then we've talked about it but I just want to echo it. Traffic on CVH is not fun. I curve living right there that is a dangerous curve. We have accidents there. I had I I actually put in a swinging mailbox so that I don't have to walk out to my mailbox. So I am concerned about how many more cars we're putting on this road. Um yeah, speeds all that. That's what I got.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Uh any other members of the public that wish to comment? Seeing one, please state your name and address for the record.

I'm Linda Jacobson. I own the property at 502 Child Right Highway and 496 Child Bank Rock Highway. I'm not really bothered by the fact they're developing this. My only concern was the road also. Um, and I I was wondering, so I know I'm not supposed to ask questions, but um, S Dig Safe was at my office and they've been marking everything on my side of the street and said they were widening 3A. I didn't know if that had anything to do with this project and what that was going to how that was going to what those changes might be if anyone knew in the development.

Yeah, gas station. That's for the because of the gas station up further north. Yes. So, they're going to widen down to me. No, they just went beyond.

Oh, okay. That was I was concerned. And then my only other concern is being able to get in and out of my properties. Um I don't really have any trouble now. I know that 496 because of the curve, like she just said, is a problem, which has nothing to do with your development. Um, but I'm wondering if there's an issue with light. Years ago when I bought 502, there was a problem with the people that lived in the house were upset about the the headlights coming down Albuquerque and the town put in arborites in the front of the yard where I am now. I took them all down because I didn't that was not a problem for me because I wanted my business to be seen. But I'm I'm concerned that maybe at 496 if there's something like that that might need to be able to be done to block some of the if there's a problem with headlights or things coming out of that property. Um, and I don't know if there will be, but I just wanted it to be known that I might like to think of some kind of protection for that. I it might help 494 also. Um, she may be more directly across from it. I'm not sure. Um, but I just don't want the headlights to bother the people that live in that property. And and then I just want to make sure that I can get in and out of my office without any problems. So, those are my only concerns.

Okay. Thank you.

Uh, anyone else wish to uh comment on this? Carrie Douglas, 9 Peasant Street. I actually live on the opposite end of town, but I do take this intersection multiple times a week, so I had some notes that I had taken. So, there were more as I was thinking of them. So, I'll try to keep them in order. Um, 258 cars, 195 in the afternoon. That's when I drive it. So, not excited. I think it's intriguing that we are indicating an improvement that basically already exists. If you drive that road, it already segregates into a right-hand turn and a left-hand turn. By making a dedicated is not improving anything. It's just codifying what is already being done. So, it's not an improvement. Next, you're going to have people taking the left into oncoming right-hand traffic. How is those poor people out there trying to take a left without a light? They'll be there all day. So, with an additional number of cars that can only take a right-hand turn out of that that development, that's going to be a disaster for anybody trying to take a left-hand turn, especially since, let's face it, we're New Englanders. About half of us signal. So, who's going to know if you're actually taking the right-hand turn or going straight? Um, what about this is for the comm the planning board. Is there a master plan for the traffic in this area? From what I understand, there's discussions about a potential development behind St. Francis. We have all the development at the horse farm, a gas station. Now, we're talking this. What is the plan for this area? As we build it out, this is not going to work. So, how are we going to fit in a master plan to address the additional growth that is clearly in the works? So before you even get to this, you should figure out how are you going to handle all the additional traffic from all of the properties that you're

looking to develop because it can't be just on one developer. The last guy standing shouldn't be the one holding the bag. It should be a a venture that you have to look at as you go forward. Instead of trying to peacemeal it, make it cohesive. Come up with a plan first. Um second, what what was my other one? Yeah, the intersection there is going to be a disaster. Um let's see for the the planning board when the the development was going in at BAE. My understanding is we had 2.5 units per acre. How did we get to four? Why was this not if this was part of the ordinance that just passed? That should have been highlighted because I highly doubt it would have passed if people knew we were increasing from two and a half to four. This is a town that values land. We when I moved in the minimum was one acre. We had the we have the one on on Albuquerquey's the housing that's what one and a half per acre for the the joint houses. BA was apparently two and a half. How did we get to four? That should not have been allowed. So, and at least where I grew up, you couldn't include your driveways, your roads, your wetlands in your calculations. So four times however many acres overstates how much you should be able to build on that lot. You should also have to remove the commercial properties. Those shouldn't count towards your buildable lot for reg for residential. So saying 86 is less than 100 is great but 100 is inflated. This this density is too high for that area. the traffic is going to be too much and quite frankly the community benefit that is shown there is too little. A picnic table under an awning, come on. So I am I understand they own the property. They have the right to do with

what they want. I get that. But it also affects other people in this town. Traffic's going to get worse. Taxes are going to go up. Actually, that's another thing I had for the planning board. It is one thing to have impact fees on a house that's added to an existing road. It's minimal. We're putting in a new development. Odds are the land the roads are going to eventually be turned over to the town. No. Are not Callawa and all the other ones turned over some. Okay, good. So, we're not going to be responsible for plowing. We're not going to be responsible for internal sidewalks. We're not going to be responsible for any of that. Correct. But we will be responsible for added use for other things in town. So when I look at um the tax per unit on some of the other of these developments, do they really cover their cost or am I is everybody else's taxes going up as a result to provide these services? It should be demonstrated to be costneutral. The whatever they're doing here should make sure that it covers the added cost and burden to the rest of the town because it's not what we've been seeing so far. Additionally, and again, I don't live here in that area, so I feel bad for those who do. Restaurants, what are the hours going to be? Are these people going to have to deal with drunken people at 1 12 1:00 at night? How is that fair? These ordinance, this this wasn't allowed to be built when they bought their properties. So, we've changed the deal that they bought into. They There needs to be consideration for the people who are affected by this and the changes that were made. And I would say that perhaps that the ordinance that was put forward in March was not adequately explained to the people because if we increased our density, if we increased the impact to these people without being open about what the true impact is going to be, that wasn't fair. That wasn't fair. So again, they can do what they want, whatever you allow, but there should be some changes. Thank

you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Gary. Any other Okay,

I'm Reggie Marorrow. I'm also a resident in town, but I'm also the a developer. Um,

and your address? Yeah, I just wanted to make a quick comment that uh I'm the developer that's looking at the property on the other side of Charles Bankraftoft Highway and uh we're in the process of going through all of the the work that we need to do in order to prove our concept as well. And one of those things that we're doing is the traffic study as it relates to St. Francis and of course how that will affect uh Albuquerque as well and not Albuquerque but all of that area as well. Um, we expect to have that work done relatively soon. Uh, it's been it's been under been in been being worked on. Uh, I had some conversations today about it, but nothing I can share at this point in time. But anything that we do there will also go up to the state as part of the review package. Um, but I just noticed that when when the initial traffic study was done uh for the project that's in front of us that uh there was nothing that was taken into consideration with St. Francis. So, I wanted to make sure we fill that void as well. So, all that's being worked on, so you'll have that information relatively shortly as well. Um, it'll probably be in front of my project, but um, we'll at least share that with everybody. I don't anticipate, uh, that there's going to be any, uh, major changes, uh, or, you know, as it respect to what we're already discussing here today based on the preliminary information. But, uh, we want to run it by the state as well and just have it uh, looked at as well. But I don't, like I said, I don't anticipate based upon what we're seeing that there's going to be anything um drastic as far as any changes there. But I just wanted to share that information with you just so that you have that. So it is being considered.

Thank you. Uh any other uh public comments on the uh application? Okay. Uh seeing none. So that will be the end of uh public comment for this application. Um, so I would like to give the applicant a chance to respond to those comments.

Thank you. Um, Mr. Chairman, um, I go to a lot of planning board meetings. Um, and I try to do my best to take notes, so I apologize in advance if I missed anything. You know, when when comments are brought forth, um, sometimes they're easy comments that we can address, and sometimes they're people are expressing their feelings and their feelings aren't right or wrong. their feelings. I I can't really respond to how somebody feels about a project. So, I'll try to do my best. Uh, first speaker, Miss Laganos. I think 20 I think she's at the corner of Roberts there. Uh, no. Down, Jay, a little bit. Uh, right there. That house. Come down a little bit. No, the H. Just come down a little. Boom.

Oh, this one. Yeah. Sorry. Am I right, Miss? Yeah, they left. Yeah. and I have no response. Um, she, you know, she's concerned about her backyard. I'm, you know, I would guess that the closest unit to to her her house itself is probably 600 ft. I'll verify that for the next hearing. I'll get an exact scale dimension for that. Same with the other gentleman on Robert's. Um,

do you have do you know if any of the trees are going to be removed or if they're all within the buffer? Yeah, they're all within the buffer. Everything you see there will will stay. Yeah. So, that's that's the good news. Uh so, you know, she spoke about uh her quality of life, her kind of rural character. Um you know, again, she's she's quite a distance away and and I think having that buffer there is a is is a good thing to have. Uh Mr. Mclofflin on Chapfield uh had a number of comments. Uh he spoke to Continental Drive. They currently use Morgan Morgan Road and they will continue to use Morgan Road. Um, however, we have appeared, Rick and I have appeared before this planning board with a vision of other properties that Rick owns north of this plan. Um, and I think it's his hope someday to maybe take some of that truck traffic in a in a in a different direction, but that that's for a future project, but currently that that won't change right now. uh he spoke about light pollution. Um similar to Rose Meadows, we've kind of taken a minimalistic view of of of lighting. Uh and by that I mean lower poles. Um downcast lighting. The the problem with sight lighting is is when you can see the source, when you can see the glare, that becomes really objectionable to people. And um what a cutoff luminere does is takes that bulb and it sets it up and in. Uh so you really can't look up unless you're directly underneath the lens. Okay. And so that's the type of lighting that will be used throughout the resi portion. As Rick said, the retail portion will contain um building mounted lighting um which is good. I do think there's a couple poles in the parking. We have to make sure we have safe passage of

pedestrians. other minimum levels of park uh illumination that are needed. Um but again, it's lower poles and it's it's protecting the source and trying to minimize glare. Um talked about gating uh Morgan Road. Why not use it? Your answer was correct, Mr. Chairman. That is such a funky intersection with with the Charles Bankro Highway. We would never consider adding traffic to that particular intersection. So, uh, he did have traffic concerns and of course, uh, keeping the trees, which my testimony is between us and and his house. Uh, same with Mr. Flynn. Um, you know, that's a a pretty good distance. Um, I think from treeine to our closest unit is about 100 ft to the trees. Uh, so I'll have an exact distance to those homes at my next presentation. Um, with regard to a solid wall fence, um, we we'll take it under advisement and let us respond to that at the next hearing. But I think my initial reaction is it would it would probably deter from um, you know, our tenants views looking back at that wonderful area where we have an open field in the woods. So to put a solid fence there um is something we'll think about and get back to. Um, this on Charles Bankruff Highway expressed concerns about noise impact visuals. As Jay mentioned earlier, that front of the retail uh, portion of the project uh, is something that we probably want to spend a little bit more time on with regard to landscaping and grades and visuals there. Uh, as I mentioned early on, there is kind of a grade up there. That grade will actually get cut down a little bit to take the kind of curse off that. So, I think it'll be more of an a blended grading up and into the

development. Um, Miss Jacobson again, same thing. Uh, Charles Bankraftoft Highway traffic getting in and out of her driveway. Sure. Um, that's important. Headlights coming out of our driveway. I don't think I'll look and see how that aligns up. I don't think it would adversely affect. We've got a kind of a downward grade, so I think her headlights are kind of pointing a little bit downward there. So, and then the woman who just spoke passionately, I did not catch her name. Um, you know, she most of her questions were to you, Mr. Chair, relative to zoning and things. Uh, I will tell her that a fiscal impact study, as stated earlier, is is pending. It will be submitted. It'll be available to the public uh probably within the next week or so. So, and certainly available for the next meeting. And I didn't think Mr. Maro's uh comments really warranted a response from us. So those were my notes. Some I answered, some I really didn't. But um thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Um do you see any possible um ways of coordinating between your development and the potential other development that would make sense um or not? I haven't really seen their their plan. and I'd be happy to take a peek at it, but cuz that lot has access from uh St. Francis Way and u lot it's map 22 lot 96. It's that small strip of land that you can see uh right there. Yeah. Uh and I don't know how they're planning on using it, but those are the potential access points for that lot.

Mhm. So, okay. And yeah, I have been a pedestrian along Albuquerque uh in the past during the morning times when the sand and gravel is very active. And I do I do hope that um the diversion of traffic away from Albuquerque happens in a timely manner because those are very loud vehicles and it would probably not be a great thing for the um potential residents of this development. Um but it is that would be an off-site thing obviously. Um, uh, does anyone else have any, um, questions or comments for the applicant?

Okay, I have a few questions. Go ahead.

Okay. Uh, a whole bunch of notes here. A lot of people touch on a lot of things they had comments on. There was one thing that, and this is probably less for the applicant and more for EJ, Jay, um um I know I keep bringing this up, but I'm going to keep doing it. School impact. I I get that that's not maybe part of the procedure here. I get that families might not live there, but I got news for you. They will it will affect the schools. So is this anything that we want to ask them to consider with 86 units coming online?

I would have to think it's going to be included in the fiscal impact allowances. Okay. So it will we will see estimate estimated numbers and estimated impacts. Okay. So back to you Jim. That's generally part of a fiscal. Yes.

Okay. I just want to make sure because I know I've asked this in the past and um you know I I I understand and appreciate their apartments, but I I've lived in towns where families of four and five have crammed into a two-bedroom apartment and it impacts the schools. So, you know, I have to ask the question. Um, you mentioned I think it was Lou, right? You mentioned the drainage. I I I Yeah, when I looked at your plan, I really liked the drainage. I hardly ever see that meticulous level. And I know I'm nerding out here right now, but when I look at the when I look at the um the drawings, it was really nicely done on on a not a terribly challenging parcel, but there were some areas with wet that that you needed to make sure you navigate around. So, um I I liked um how you navigated that there. That was good. Um to the public, uh I'm really pleased how many people came out tonight. um to tell us their thoughts and opinions because it's always good. Um and I know it's hard sometimes to sit at that side of the desk and speak up. So I thank you all for doing that. Um, one thing I wanted to ask since I'm relatively new in town in the last six years, um, Jay, prior to us, um, getting a, um, conditional use uh, permit for the mixeduse village district overlay in

this area. Remind me what zone this was prior to that or what was allowed in this zone to that? This is the northern commercial zone. Yes. So in this portion of the northern commercial zone just the commercial uses that are allowed in the um you know in the underlying district. What examples would those be? general retail related uses, restaurant related uses, um, self- storage facilities. Yes. And that's this was slated to be that one. Something like that. Zoned in town in the north end of town. For how long?

As long as I can remember. Many, many years. Decades.

Okay. So, I remember this when I came to town and we started having these discussions about the mixed juice village. Um, you know, I always say to people, be careful what you wish for, right? Because the zoning allows certain certain permitted uses that you may or may not want. And I don't know about you, but I don't want to see a big box sitting in on a property like this. Even though that might be his right to do that because the zoning allows it. I would prefer to see something what we're looking at now. Okay. With all its complications, um you know, traffic, of course, you always have to consider traffic. That's why they have traffic studies. Um fiscal impact studies. Question about the school, how it's going to impact the schools, all those things. that's why we have those things. Um, but I would just remind people that we had numerous discussions leading up to the mixeduse village district public hearings. In fact, we we probably stretched that out for about a year and a half if I recall correctly so that we could get adequate feedback from the public. Um, so, um, specific to the plan itself, I know a lot of people talk about I know I'm jumping around a lot, so forgive me. Um, people talked about trees, internal trees, and I know this is getting into the weeds, but I'm going to say it anyway. I like to see some color. So, if you could throw in some lilacs or something like the state, Isn't the

state flower of New Hampshire? The lilac. Yeah. Add a little color over there instead of us just seeing trees everywhere. Um, trees are nice, but they also create leaves. So, I would like to see a little color. That's just my silliness for the evening. But, so we're chopping up. So, back just going back in history. nothing to do with our application right now, but just so people know what could be there. Back in '92 when we got Hidden Creek approved, we have a 60 We had a 65,000 square foot office building approved. Yeah.

And 60,000 square feet, I think, of mini storage. I couldn't build a mini storage. I live in town and I just didn't want it. And I after it was all approved, I didn't think it was the place to put an office building, though. That's what was approved there. So, we never built it. And that's why the land stayed vacant as long as it has because I was waiting for something that I thought fit the town better and that's why we're going with what we're going with. So, yeah, whatever that's worth. Yep. Thank you.

And I would encourage all of the town folks at home, um, again, maybe I'm the only one who does this kind of thing. and I spend my spare time reading planning board minutes, but um you can go back and look through our archives in the planning board minutes and there are public hearings and minutes from both the mixed used village district but also for this project. Mr. Charbano and his team have come before this board at least three or four times uh with conceptual drawings and the back and forth was fairly lengthy um with questions and concerns. So I would encourage anyone and everyone to go online and take a look at those if you haven't participated or looked at those before. Um you know we've had extensive uh discussions with the applicant and continue to do so. Um, but all that's out there, so I would encourage you to look at it.

Yeah. And for some extra context on the mixeduse village development is it was always a balance of um meeting the economic development goals of the residents because there's a lot that based on all the surveys there's a strong uh a lot of residents want economic development to happen. um but also keeping the character of the town. Um and it's hard to balance that because the best forms of economic development in terms of our taxes are the least desirable. Um so uh regarding the density, the goal with that was to increase the amount of customers available to the um commercial part of it because it's no secret that the northern part of town's uh commercial success has not been the most successful. And part of it's the lack of customers. And by having more customers within walking distance, it does create demand for those uh commercial spaces which is good for um economic development. And we one of the one of the important requirements is the fiscal impact study and the phasing plan to make sure that the plan the development is not done in such an order that it ends up not being a fiscal benefit to the town. And um so a lot of those requirements we will be u getting that information from the applicant um soon. It's not ready for approval yet. Um,

yeah. Any other comments regarding that? Yeah, I think it would be smart if you're worried about the the lighting, etc. in your areas to go through Rose Meadow because you can see exactly the types of buildings that they're putting up, the types of lighting that is there now and how it's affecting the sky at night. Can you still see the stars? You can. I I've driven through it because we walked it um when it was it was a concept um over at Rose Meadow and we asked a lot of those questions as we were walking because it was a wide open area um even though it was BAE land but um we cared then and didn't sure anybody cares now or what's going to happen to the wildlife etc in that area.

Yeah. Another comment is I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the um more complete um uh plan for the um trees the um what is that plan called? Thanks.

Thanks plan. Um because yeah the our regulations do require um adequate screening from Albuquerque and the trees along the internal roads for the uh for screening and character. Um and we have for anyone who's interested, we have regulations for these developments that um should hopefully that they have to follow that are designed to try to keep the character as within um what we would find reasonable for this type of development um so that it's uh compatible with the town. Okay. Any other uh questions or comments for the applicant?

Okay. Um so, one thing that was brought up was a sitewalk. Um are is the applicant interested in um setting up a sitewalk? We're happy to participate, Mr. Chairman. Okay. Uh would do you think we should do the sitewalk soon uh or or later? Um repellent what where you tick repellent. Yeah. Yeah. Jake, do you have any input on I mean I mean I'm I I to me it's just such a wide open sight. I was going to say

I feel like I know it, but I think if the if the board wants to do a site walk, um it would be optimal if it were before the next time this was coming to the board, which I we haven't discussed when that would be, but Well, let me ask you since you brought it up, what is it that you would like to see that perhaps you feel like or have explained to you on

and it was mostly the brook and also how close to the houses and everything by not being out there on the don't really understand what the people that are here are saying. You can look at as many pictures as you want, but from what this gentleman here is telling me, there's quite extensive distances between where things are going to be. And if you're on a sidewalk, you can stand where the buildings are going to be. You can look around and say, "This is where I am. This is really what it looks like."

Whereas it's very difficult. I I'd been on a lot of sidewalk sidewalks for conservation and um and it definitely brings it more to home of this is where the street's going to be. This is where it's just a different way of of feeling the area than than to be looking at paper. I guess I was under the assumption that we had already done I mean we all individually had already done that. I know I have. I just I just assumed that everybody else had. So we might get something different out of maybe doing it as a group maybe together. Yeah, especially if back corners of the buildings were staked the quality of life of the people that were going to be living there. Yeah.

Um it was different way of looking at what was happening um that all these people were coming in and I also know that there is data for what's happened at Rose Meadow which is 192 units and I 178 178 units but how many how many apartments? 178. Oh, 178. Oh, okay. Um, sorry. Um, there's already data with how many kids are in the schools from those. It was substantially less than um what was anticipated by the schools at that point.

So, just just to say that that that information is already out there. Should we think about what might be a realistic meeting date for the next meeting and then maybe try to schedule the uh sitewalk in between? I think the next available dates May 5th, right? I don't know if that's too soon. That's good for us. Thank you. That's the next planning board meeting. Are you talking about the next available one? Okay. We have another planning board meeting in two weeks, but that's not that's scheduled. So that that that so Cinco de Mayo would be the next available. I feel like

I'm also curious if the members of the public would be interested in joining us for a sitewalk. It would be publicly noticed. Yeah. Yeah. Um so is it the will of the board to um schedule a sitewalk? Sure. Yes. Okay. Um, so I'm assuming a weekend time would probably be best. Usually we do a Saturday morning. That's not a golden rule, but Mhm. easiest on everybody's schedule. Um, so there's um the 11th, 18th, and 25th. Um,

11th is probably too soon to ask them to stake stuff. So 18th, not not good. 25th. How long would you want to wait before you came out? Tomorrow if you want. How quickly can you stay? Well, Morgan Road is where Morgan Road is, right? The building they want to stay. Oh, you want buildings? Yeah. Yeah. Like like the back corners of the nearest building so people can see. Just give me a Can you give me coordinates on a plan? I just had my guy just laid him off. Yeah. Okay. So, are you looking at this Saturday or the following? What about the 25th?

We We have We have to notice it. Could the 25th work? The Saturday the 25th? I'm in Florida, actually. So, yeah.

What's the weekend before the 25th? We don't meet uh we don't meet the uh Saturday May 2nd the deadline. Yeah. Uh yeah, only 24 hours to post. What's 25 plus 18? You're right. The 18th. We could do Saturday, May. You only need 24 hours to post. I mean, not not the the 18th or the 2nd is fine. Does that work for you? It doesn't work for me, but that's okay. I won't be here either. 18. You won't be here. What about second? I'm here the second buildings laid out. It just ones the brook. Jared, how about May 2nd? The frontage. Where are you going to put the

commercial? The beginning of the commercial. It's possible. Um the commercial building. Just the start. So you can show us where it's going to start. So you can turn around and look. Yeah, that's right. See if you can put a balloon in the air, too. Doesn't have to be wicked extensive. Just we're going to put stakes at each corner, number the building. Okay. Um, so we're considering May uh May 2nd then. Uh does that work for the applicant and the members of the board? Yes.

Okay. Um then I guess what time of day works best? Um, morning or afternoon? Let's do morning. Yeah, people usually like morning. Not too early, not too late. Like nine. Nine. Don't ruin my day. Morning person. And nine's been pretty typical for us. Okay. I would suggest we meet at the Morgan Road Albuquerque intersection. There should be plenty of room there. Yeah. And is this and is the applicant okay with us um parking on Morgan Road? Okay.

I was gonna say good luck getting parking at the golf course on a Saturday morning. Not going to happen. Probably not too bad. Okay. So, um, sounds like, um, May 2nd at 9:00 a.m. is when we're planning on, um, meeting, I in the meantime, the applicant is going to stake the locations of the buildings near the, uh, wetlands and any others that you're planning. We'll do the retail. We'll do the retail buildings, too. And and the intersection of Hollis Drive and Charles Bankro would be good, too.

Yep. And yeah, and getting an idea on how close those buildings are to Albuquerque would be um would probably be helpful as well. The how how close the um the um residential is to Albuquerque would be good for just perspective. And just for that, are you planning on um reducing along Albuquerque? There is like a mound there in some parts. So that's going to be down and so it'll it'll make the buildings a little more visible probably. If you look at Rose Meadow, it's going to all flow like Rose Meadow does the grading.

Okay. You have to vote on May the May 5th. Make a motion. Motion. Yep. Okay. Um, so I'd like to make a motion to schedule a uh sitewalk for this application uh for um May 2nd or Yeah, May. Yeah, May. Second and you could make it one motion continuation. I'll make that motion. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, probably easier to just make them separate. Except my first motion.

I'll second. So, we have a motion and a second to schedule the uh public site walk for May uh 2nd, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Uh any further discussion? Okay. All those in favor of the sitewalk, please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed, uh abstained. Motion passes 600. Um so uh anything else we should uh discuss today the next time this will be on our agenda is uh May 5th. What was the second thing we needed to make a motion on? A motion to continue the public hearing to um May 5th.

Okay. And that works for the applicant. Yes. Okay. Mr. Chair, I make a motion that we continue the application until May 5th. planning board meeting. Okay, we have a motion to um continue the meeting or the application until uh May 5th, 2026. Do we have a second? A second. We have a second by Jesse. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor of the uh motion to continue the application, please signify by saying I. I. All those opposed abstained. Motion passes 600. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you Jay's report too. Okay. Good hour and a half on that actually. Was good when people come. Yeah. Like that. Yeah. I'm pretty happy without that one. So coming down the next um do have I'll go to any other business. We have a few. You're going to need to speak up. Speak into somebody. Jesse, can you go close the door so that we don't have all the noise? Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. So, next um I'm going to move on to um any other business. Um, so we have two things on any other business for tonight. Um, we have Thank you. Thank you. We have uh 522 Charles Bankraftoft Highway Mart proposed change.

Okay, that was on your portal and they uh let's see the question came up and I wasn't going to answer them. I want you to answer them. Um this email was on your portal. They want to the back of the building. They're trying to save on costs in L of the cultured stone. They would simply like the vertical board and batten continue down to the finished grade only on the back. So this picture was on your portal also. Yeah. So the front facade would still have the vertical down to the stone, but the the front was is not changing at all.

Okay. But just in the rear where the vertical goes all the way down. Yeah. They would want to bring the vertical all the way down. The rear. It's this little area here. The poultry stone. Yeah. And the only people that would be visible to then would be the people coming from the self storage in the rear and the drive. The drive-thru. And the drive-thru. Okay. So, it'll be pretty visible when you're behind there, but then the question is how important is it? Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. So they agre they this was their the this is what they want to do and they want you to say it's okay. Yeah. Yeah.

Um and yeah this is what is displayed here minus the proposed change is what they uh was approved back years ago when the gas station was right. Yeah. Um and this is mainly a cost-saving measure. Right. Yeah. So the note here is just delete this cultured stone right along here. Yeah. Yeah. I'm curious how much money would be saved by that. I don't know. I mean, there's every bit helped. Everything had gone up in price, especially items like that. Yeah. Yeah. And as long as they're not altering it on the other three sides. No, they're not. I don't have an issue with it, but basically where the cars are queuing. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Yeah. Yeah, they say right here the front, left and right sides will have still have the cultured stone. Yeah. Um I guess what would the next steps be then? Well, just if you approve, vote on it and then I'll let them know again and the way that this was on the agenda, we are allowed to vote on this. Yeah, that's why I put it on the agenda. It's on the agenda. Yeah. And it's really just a minor change. So it was a little more than an administrative change, I thought. So yeah. Mhm. Make a motion or do you want to have more discussion? Well, any any further discussion?

Um, okay. So, it seems like people are okay with this. Okay. In which case, make a motion. Okay. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that the property at 522 Charles Bank Rooft Highway

I'm sorry I don't have the m the map and lot number, but 522 Charles Bank Rob Highway convenient Mort proposed change to material at the rear of the building as specified in the email dated April 2nd 2nd, 2026, which implies There is no stone facade on the rear of the building as originally proposed. Okay. So, we have a motion to um uh approve or ex approve the proposed uh deletion of the cultured stone on on only the rear of the building. Do we have a second?

Second. Okay, we have a second by Travis Tucker. Uh, any further discussion? Okay, all those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying I. I I. All those opposed uh abstained. So motion passes 600. Okay. And the second thing was um planning board storm water input. Um what was this? Well, that was just from that report that um you got emailed a while ago. It was on I think it's on the site from maybe the last meeting. Did you have any comments for Minister of Town Administrator?

Yeah, we um I'm assuming no new comments, but we have to definitely I think in the last meeting we discussed how we wanted to break it down and discuss the sections of No, that was the meeting that Jay wasn't at. Jay doesn't know. Jay, do you have any comments regarding that? Just that I mean certainly I I think some of the comments are reasonable and there are things that we should address and when we think it's appropriate, I'd be happy to take a stab at integrating those into potential regulation changes. We like the way you chunk it up for us. Yeah, I'll do that.

It's excellent. And um is um sorry is there maybe a good time like in the coming weeks to maybe think about because we have to implement some changes before October 1st. Correct. Maybe our second meeting in May. Okay. How's that looking good? And yeah, that's our next two are booked but the second meeting in May. Yeah. May 19, right? We could do that and then maybe look to have um the consultants come back like June somewhere. It's probably a good idea. Okay. Yeah. Okay. And um is a consultant still on the towns? I think so.

And uh is there a dedicated person from NRPC that would that provides comments on the um these types of changes? Most of it would be me, but we do have a couple people who are really into the MS4 storm water stuff. So, I'll definitely get their input also. Sounds good. I go to the storm water coalition meetings and things that just make my eyes start. So, but not lose. Lou likes that stuff. Um cuz yeah, it'd be good to be good to get everyone's feedback on which changes are actually practical and which ones are theoretical. Um some of them are definitely like that.

Yeah, that was true before too. Yeah, thank it took a little while. Actually, it took a lot of while as I recall. Okay, thank you. Uh, so next we have committee reports. Um, anyone here on any committees? Not yet. No, not yet. Any um things from the Boris Selecman that are worth reporting on? Oh, wow. I should probably have that, right?

I'll be prepared next time. I mostly just kind of came in quick and and yeah, so there's a lot going on the board like there is here, but right now I'm just drawing a blank. It was that was a lot. There was definitely a lot for my first meeting. Um it was very interesting. I'm really happy to be here. Yeah, welcome by the way. Welcome. Thank you. We definitely want to have um have somebody from your board come and do a table talk with the selectman so that we can get some more people involved with the board. Um, we're going to do that with wreck. We're going to do that with you. We're going to do that with zoning. Um, so Jared, if you'd want to come on and talk to me, um, with the table talk. Have you had a chance to see any of them? I think I've seen some of them.

We've seen some of them. We did some financially. We did some with um, with department heads for things for war articles and stuff, but because the election's over, doesn't mean the need to communicate with people is over. So, we're going to expand that and explain what it's like to be a volunteer on one of these boards and um how much you do, what you do, why you do it, too, because then that's a good way to get more people to come in. So, yeah, we we are looking for more members and alternates right now. And as a select person, that's something I want to try and help with, try and help you guys do your job better and have more people in to help. Okay. So, thank you. It's a good board to be on. They didn't scare me away. You stayed. Okay. You stayed up.

You have a full member. You upgraded. Okay. The capital improvements program. Any takers on that? May 4th would be the first meeting. Let's see. I could not make the May 4th, but otherwise I'd be interested unless if you want to do it. I'm on a lot of meetings uh committees already for I I could um I could start in June if that would be okay. I don't know if anyone anyone could take May 4th. Yeah, May 4th is, you know, that'll be an organizational meeting. So, Okay. All right. Perfect. Sounds good. Okay. Good. Yeah. I was going to say on CIP, you should have either the chair or the vice chair anyway, to be honest with you.

Um that's usually the best protocol. So, that that's good that you'll be on that. Okay. And is it good to have an alternate for those types of things or is it not that important? You could, but it's kind of hard, you know, once you get into the flow. If you weren't at the last one, you didn't hear the presentation and Yeah. So, it's it's not impossible. It's But so, you certainly could appoint an alternate. It you can just feel a little bit lost if you Yeah. Okay. Can I read the minutes, I guess. Okay. So, yeah, thanks for um volunteering to um be in that part of that meeting.

Okay. Um, next up on the agenda is to approve the March 17, 2026 minutes. Has everyone had a chance to review those minutes? And are there any proposed um amendments? I do have one. I will locate it right now. home occupation to finish my uh so the only comment I have right and I I still need to get you the tried to get it done for today but

page five um in the committee report section uh we discussed there was some discussion um for the art warrant article related to public works funding and there's a comment that says is that members noting that voter confusion may have contributed to its failure. It didn't fail, but it just had a proportionally larger amount of no votes because of likely those that didn't understand what it was um proposing. So, I think we just have to clarify that um contributed to its uh higher additional votes against but this but it still passed. So we have to go around that.

What paragraph were you on? That's um page five. One, two, three, three. It's the third from the bottom. Okay. Thanks.

Additional discussion included clarification regarding a warrant article related to public works funding with members noting that voter confusion may have contributed to its failure. Um and how do you think we should reward that? Um um we could just say change to its failure to the number of votes in opposition. or Yeah. Yeah. may have contributed to a higher quantity of votes in opposition. And maybe also add a note that it did pass. This for extra clarification because that would definitely confuse a reader. Do we have a settled version of the sentence? Jay, is there one that comes to mind? Maybe. Um,

I thought what I just heard worked, but yeah. Um, let me look at it. Joan, are you taking notes on No, you have me totally confused. Okay. So, page five. Yeah, I have I have the paragraph. So, uh rather than may have contributed to its failure, we can say may have contributed to more votes in opposition. That's despite passing. Yeah, despite passing. Yeah, that'll work.

Yeah, go like that. Um any other uh proposed amendments to the March 17th minutes? Okay. Um in which case uh would someone like to make a motion to um approve these minutes as amended? So moved. Okay. We have second motion and a second. Any further discussion? Okay. All those in favor of approving the amended March 17th, 2026 minutes, please signify by saying I. I.

I. Those opposed, abstained. Motion passes. 5 01.

I did overlook one thing. It kind of caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to speak tonight. Um the one thing about what's going on with the selectments that I did want to talk to everybody about in planning um is the circumventual highway land that's being formed in the first meeting is April 29th. um it has come up to us and then um last Thursday week ago Thursday um Jay, myself, Ray um and a couple of other citizens from Lichfield went to Hudson to hear the DO's joint speaking for Hudson and for Lichfield. They also came to the selections um I think in December um to tell us the history of of the circumventual highway where it developed how it got to where it is right now and now it's kind of at a peak where that land is going to something's going to happen with that land. Um, and because of the concern of how many acres there are in Lichfield, um, I had a concern that we that we do a committee, um, and that we we're g it's going to be the circumventual highway exploratory committee. Um, and we're going to be looking at the land. We'll be walking the land. I'm a big believer in understanding where you are in the picture that you that you look at. We'll be walking the land and then we'll be looking at options for Lichfield with that land, exploring all of the options. Um, we'll be talking about the laws that occur that that um that we're able to understand whether or not we can buy it. Do we want to buy it? What would we buy it for? Would we turn around and sell it? There's lots of options and we're going to be exploring what all of the options that Lichfield has when it comes to that land. So, I've kind of picked people and asked people to be on the committee from different I approached Letha because I know of her commercial background um and she's on planning. So, it's a strong person to be on that board. Um, Mr. Charbano is going to be on that board. He's a strong presence in

the community building and and knows so much about state law and local law. Um, and Jason Brennan, he's he's a very big person in our community that does a lot with different things with different different states and communities of building and regulations and things like that. So, everybody that I've picked um picked for a specific reason. The first meeting will be April 29th. I'm excited to start it. Excited to figure out what we could do if anything to protect the the face of Lichfield and and also look at the economic development plan. It's a commercial area. It's one of our few commercial areas. What could we put there that may not weigh on our infrastructure um but would provide income revenue for the town? So, there's lots to look at. Um it's going to be exciting. It's going to be um it's going to be my first board that I've created and done. So, my first committee. So, I'm I'm excited. Just wanted to let you guys know. Yes, sir.

On that subject, uh many years ago when Roland Bertron was a road agent, we actually did a uh little study for sewer service. Okay. With the circumferential going in. So, one thing Roland got the state to agree to put a sewer line across the river along a bike path on the new bridge. It's not going to be built. But Marramac was happy at the time to take raw sewage because their plant is processing all the Budweiser stuff which was one type. Now the Budweiser plant going too

is yeah being closed. Who knows what's going to go in but Merramac was happy. Hudson is in an intermunicipal agreement with Nasha and at the time they were doing an upgrade I think from either their secondary system or tertiary they're going to build. So Hudson wasn't in a position to grant Lichfield part of their allocation. Uh how that changes I don't know but there is a sewer line that comes up Route 3A that would have to be upgraded to serve Lichfield but it was possible. Okay. And that was critical to get a to get a a major facility in there, a hotel or something which was proposed

when the certain apprentichip was there down between 3A and the river. We just have so much background to look at in that area and what is possible from Hudson is notary design layout for the extension of Albuquerque that was going to connect to a service road on the north side of the circumferential. They had it as part of their project to put in a service road for a back lot, right? And the extension of Albuquerque was there was a preliminary design done on it which I gave to Kevin Brown. I had a copy of it. I gave it to Kevin and some of the rightway still there. He has that. Yep.

What I like about this land is that it's possibility of getting in from 102 as opposed to in through Charles Bankraftoft, right? So that would, you know, Charles Bankov's is is a road that's definitely an old road that we're trying to make new things. We we, you know, you have to say about what she had to say about what we need to plan for Charles Bankro is she was very emotional, but it was it's Miss Douglas Miss Douglas neglected to understand was we have no control over 3A. 3A is a state road. It is a state road, but we have to think about what we're allowing to occur on the sides of it.

Right. Well, and in fairness though, you know, we've we've spent a lot of time discussing the sort of the master plan, but in this area, but you you know, we can't make property owners come to us with all of their ideas all at once because they're not fully baked and we don't know what's going to go in there.

Knew the cumulative effect of of all that and they didn't even want to fix Corny Road. Yes, but you know DOT lines up their projects with what is currently in their their mix. So when they that's one of the reasons why I asked him I want to see the DOT reports as they come out because that's where you'll see the assimilation of any and all projects that are not just hearsay but that are actually in the mix to be considered.

They you know so to that extent we can't you know we we we don't have a crystal ball. We can't foresee everything but we can only control that which we uh had come before our board and understand what may come possibly but it's not fully with Corning Farm that it's being occupied now. So when they do a traffic count the the projections the 10 10 trips a day per residential unit is the standard from the IT manual for doing trips. Mhm. However, once you get a project that's in place, you can go out there and count them. Yes.

So, I'm sure some of that Corny Farm traffic, even though they have two more courts to finish, uh project's probably twothirds complete. And occupied look, but to try and blend in three or four different traffic studies is a nightmare. But Corning Farm was the big one. Even with Corny Farm residential, that intersection or Corny Road in 3A was identified as needing a traffic light.

And I mean, I would argue the that peacemeal approach, if you will, that was the the wording that was used in some ways is helpful in that you have exactly that what you were talking about, which are those data snippets that allow you to then make a judgment based on the next project. Um, you know, just going back to circumferential though I think you know just a couple of takeaways worth noting is one and I hadn't realized that until we were at the meeting that that public um meeting was a formal part of the dissolution process. So that effectively kicked off

the formal process. And the next critical piece, which is why I think this committee is such a great idea, is they're going to go through the process of they're going to have to go out to bid, find appraisers, and then go out and appraise all these properties. That process is going to take months in itself because it'll have to go to governor and counsel. So we do have time

and uh but that'll be the next piece. And one of the things they did say is that if so the because the towns have the first dibs on if we want to purchase the properties and um if there are parcels that are a priority for us because we're thinking about a war article to just let them know and they will prioritize doing those appraisals sooner if they can. Seemed like you wanted to be really helpful Jay.

Yeah, I think so too. See, I asked a question in the meeting about um because this land if if we don't buy it to decide what we want to do with it, we'll go to New Hampshire housing. And I asked a question that had been tossed around um in discussion that New Hampshire housing doesn't have to pay as market value. And he said, "Oh, no, they do." He came up to me afterwards and he said, "Oh, no, they don't. They do not." and he came up to me afterwards and said um when he went back to sit down, the gentleman that was with him said, "Oh, no, they don't." Um they have to pay very little on the dollar. Um

so we really needed the time. I'm glad we started when we did um to get this committee together to really look at where Lichfield can help themselves now as opposed to how reacting to things that are happening around us. We have a chance. That's right. And then if we don't want it and New Hampshire Housing doesn't want it, then it'll be auctioned. But we would definitely want to know if we can any Absolutely. Yeah. And without the town having to absorb costs for things because we do it is a small area of commercial that could be used. But it's fair market value. They'll sell it to you.

Yes. So yeah, but there's going to be a lot of looking at what's buildable, what's not. Yeah. You know, there's we need to understand the land rather than have someone come to us and show us their view of it. Well, somebody they need to do a wetlands like I talked about studying. Yeah, it's going to it's going to be a project and it's going to be a lot of you know it's an exploratory committee. One one other tidbit of that area down there which you'll have to come and you'll have to come to our committee meeting completely aware of it because he wanted to put his plant down there. Yes. Yep.

Because there was an old site plan that had some work done and the question was that was it enough work to keep it as a site plan? I mean this is dating way the heck back. And what happened with Rick's project is the Hudson people who were butters right along the Hudson Town line. And uh I think he heard enough of them to say we'll see you later. Abandon the site. Yeah, I'm feeling very very um happy to have him on this committee because he does know and he has looked into that before and he has no desire to own it now. Um so he's not going to be somebody that we're going to try and sell it to after. Um so

that's why we zoned it industrial way back when. Yeah, it's going to be it's going to be really interesting to do. So, it's a great committee. I'm excited to It's awesome to be able to to do it. And that's it. I'm sorry. I just took me by surprise. Thanks for all the insights. Uh, is there any other business for us to discuss today? Code enforcement guy. Okay. Just out of sheer curiosity is um do we have do we have to fill the lower Marramac River advisory committee thing? I thought Michael is staying on. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Y okay.

Okay. In which case it looks like if everyone is ready uh someone can make a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Okay. Second. Okay. Have a motion a second to adjurnn. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion to adjurnn, please signify by saying I. I. I. Those opposed, abstain. Motion passes 600 Z. And what do you think? Okay. Um, thanks for watching the April 7th meeting of the planning board. Our next meeting will be in two weeks on the ordinance, right? the once a year.