Town of Belgrade

Town of Belgrade Planning Board Meeting Minutes for July 21, 2016 / 7 p.m.

Present: Peter Rushton, Chairman, Roger Derosier, George Seel and Peter Sargent

Others in Attendance: Charles Echaker, Austin Turner, Carrie Castonguay, Gary Fuller, Jack Sutton, Michael Barrett, Melanie Jewell, Alexander Wall, Kathi Wall, George Brown and Kat Alfond.

Peter Rushton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He announced the meeting was not a public hearing, but a meeting to review the Commercial Development Application for the Bohler Engineering for the proposed development of a Dollar General Retail Store. He pointed out that he will provide an opportunity for the public to speak about half way through the application review. He asked that when the public is speaking if they would first announce their names and each person would be given two minutes.

Austin Turner from Bohler Engineering was present for as a representative for the company.

Peter Rushton announced the Planning Board had received a completed application that is now under review for any questions Planning Board members have.

George Seel asked who the actual applicant is and if the applicant has right, title and interest because there is nothing in the documentation to show that there is ownership of the property.

Austin replied the applicant is Linscotti Development for Belgrade DG, LLC Corporation from Leominster, Massachusetts.

NOTE: Due to the loss of the Board’s secretary shortly after this meeting, these minutes were never completed and could not be approved by the Planning Board at the time. The recording of the meeting was also lost, precluding the Board’s efforts to reconstruct these minutes. The following are notes based on the recollections of Board members present at this meeting.

The applicant requested waivers of lot area, boundary line form factor and lot coverage under Belgrade’s Minimum Lot Size Ordinance. The applicant also requested waivers of the following Commercial Development Review Ordinance standards: the 2% maximum driveway grade, maximum slope cut, parking, and screening requirements.

The Board asked questions of the representatives of Bohler Engineering and were provided with an overview of the proposed development.

Members of the public present asked questions and provided comments. Comments were generally in opposition to the project. The Board was also presented with letters Page 1 of 2 from the public stating their opposition to the development which was added to the project file.

Considerable discussion between Board members and the applicant followed, Board members indicated that the Planning Board did not administer the Minimum Lot Size Ordinance and the three variances being requested could only be granted by the Board of Appeals following the CEO’s denial of a permit application. Because no such variance had yet been obtained the Planning Board could not make a finding of fact and law that the application met the requirements of other Town ordinances and therefore could not approve the application at present. Mr. Turner of Bohler Engineering subsequently withdrew the application, indicating they would first pursue variances under the Minimum Lot Size ordinance, and if successful would resubmit their application to the Planning Board under the Commercial Development Review ordinance.