PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

TOWN OF NEW HAVEN

November 6, 2003

Revised

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The regular monthly meeting of the New Haven Planning Commission was held on November 6, 2003 and started at 7:00 p.m.  The following members were present; John Evers, George Merritt, Jim Walsh, Allen Karnatz, Art Sherman and Keith Hall.  The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Gary Baker.  The following attended: Steve & Tammy Delphia, Steve Revell, Jim & Stephanie Foley, Robert Murphy, Eugene Charlebois, Dan & Judy Morse, Robert Sherman, Dennis Havey, Greg & Paula West, Richard English, Tom West, Mike Lee, Bill Wager, Gerardo Rodriguez, Gayland Cote, Rita Booska, and John Madden.

 

Cecil & Ramona Morse wish to change use from a print shop to an antique shop.  They were unable to attend, so their son, Dan and daughter, Judy represented them.  Cecil & Ramona currently rent the shop and there is only one (1) employee.  George Merritt made a motion, seconded by Allen Karnatz to accept the change of use, all approved; no opposition.

 

Mike Lee wishes to add sales of small buildings to store power equipment at his New Haven Power Equipment business.  He feels he doesn’t need a permit for his change of use and wanted clarification on the criteria for a change of use.  The objective and guidelines to the commercial district pertaining to retails sale were reviewed and after a lengthy discussion, Allen Karnatz made a motion, seconded by George Merritt to

not require a change of use, all approved; no opposition.

 

Dennis Havey needs to receive site approval to satisfy BZA approvals granted on July 15, 2003.  He wants permission to use the property for trailer storage.  Section 352 Site Plan Review was reviewed.  Dennis brought a sketch of the site and Keith Hall stated he has visited the site and believes everything looks good.  After a discussion, Allen Karnatz made a motion, seconded by Keith Hall to approve the site plan review as presented, all approved; no opposition.  John Evers is concerned about the details that we require from people regarding site plan reviews and believes there should be consistency in them.  Allen Karnatz feels this is a small change of use; if any and since the ZBA has already dealt with it, we should be fine.

 

Greg & Paula West wish to build a banquet hall and add a go-cart track as an extension to their restaurant business on Route 7.  Richard English believes there was not a proper application filed and the West’s do not own the property.  Keith Hall has the correct paperwork that ensures they do own the property; however, we do need a new application from them stating they are the owner’s.  Gerardo Rodriguez, a neighboring property owner submitted a letter of opposition to the proposed expansion.  The property is not approved for a banquet hall and is not in private permitted use.  Eugene Charlebois favors the idea and feels the rules should be allowed to proceed and the personal feelings and “would-be’s and could-be’s” be set aside.  Greg West stated the septic system has been approved by the State of Vermont.  After a growing discussion, Allen Karnatz made a motion, seconded by George Merritt to table this to the next monthly meeting, all approved; no opposition.  A new application will be filed by the West’s and it will be re-warned.

 

Robert Sherman wishes to subdivide a portion of his land.  This is a minor subdivision.  Robert had a copy of the survey and Mylar done, but the septic and replacement systems were not noted on the Mylar, so he has to take it back to the surveyor to have the information applied.  He will return next month.

 

The continuation of Eugene Charlebois’s major subdivision of a parcel of land on Route 7 was held.  He brought a survey map and a letter from Jeff Kelley regarding the water supply investigation for the E.C. Construction Subdivision.  The State of Vermont is going to do an aerial study of the water issue.  Spafford Well Drilling will be doing the drilling.  Due to the large amount of information on the maps, Gary Baker suggested having 2 (two) Mylar’s submitted for the final hearing and Eugene agreed.  Allen Karnatz still believes we should get a letter from Bob Haslam regarding the process.  Eugene says he will get it for us. 

 

The continuation of John & Gail Freiden’s first hearing was had regarding the major subdivision of a parcel located on Munger Street.  John and Steve Revell presented a survey plat and discussed the lots.  All the required information was there and Allen Karnatz made a motion, seconded by George Merritt to move this to final hearing, all approved; no opposition.  There was a brief discussion regarding the 4.39-acre lot needing to be 10 acres.  It is a non-conforming lot and has no access, however, there is language on the map stating some land will be deeded to Tim & Connie Holler.  This will be warned for the December 2003 meeting.

 

James & Stephanie Foley were present to discuss a subdivision of their property.  They brought a preliminary plat wanting to swap property between them and Robert Murphy.  The State of Vermont subdivision has already been done.  A deferral permit will be obtained and a R-O-W will be needed.  All the land is in land use.  Three (3) lots will be created and this will be a major subdivision.  The new 30-acre lot is in Forrest Conservation.  We need to have the R-O-W surveyed on the Mylar.  George Merritt made a motion, seconded by John Evers that Mr. Larose should sketch the R-O-W on the map and to accept the sketch plan, all approved with Allen Karnatz opposing.

 

Coleen Beck and Steve Revell discussed the minor subdivision of a 15-acre lot on the Morris Earle property.  A view easement will be established.  Steve needs to submit it to the State of Vermont for approval.  George Merritt made a motion, seconded by Allen Karnatz to move this to final hearing, all approved; no opposition. 

 

George Merritt brought a Mylar that has survey barrings put on it.  Keith Hall made a motion, seconded by Jim Walsh to sign the updated Mylar, all approved; no opposition.

 

Keith Hall brought in the Mylar and map for the Sara Sparling property.  This was the Mylar that was drawn up from the deed.  Allen Karnatz made a motion, seconded by George Merritt to approve the Mylar, all approved; no opposition.

 

Kathleen Ready and Sara Sparling spoke about the VELCO project and the Act 248 Hearings for the proposed upgrade power lines to go through Waltham, Vergennes and then up the State.  They stated that Vergennes is quite resistant to the project.  A group of VELCO members has asked the opposing Town of New Haven to serve as spokespeople at the Act 248 Hearings.  Some of the VELCO members concerns about the project relate to possible health and safety issues.  Vermont can use other alternative sources besides VELCO.  The possible loss of control over the transmission of power in the State.  Property values will have a negative effect on at least 50 residences and this could decrease by 1/3.  All testimonies need to be in by December 17, 2003 and all hearings will be done by the end of February, with results being known by summer.  VELCO is in opposition to the New Haven Town Plan and Vermont law protects the Town Plan.  The VELCO plan does not conform with Act 248.  Kathleen and Sara wanted us to support the opposing VELCO project.  George Merritt made a motion to reaffirm what we wrote into the Town Plan, Article 19 in the opposition of the VELCO project.  The motion failed for the lack of a second.  John Evers asked Kathleen and Sara to write something specific that the Planning Commission could sign.  They agreed to do so and wanted to get it to us as early as Monday, November 10, 2003.  We welcomed them to come back to our regular monthly meeting on December 4, 2003 to continue, but we would not be able to comply until then. 

 

The October 2, 2003 meeting minutes were reviewed and signed with approval.

 

The November work nights will be held on Thursday the 13th and 20th at 7:00pm.

 

Allen Karnatz handed out a copy of the Town Plan Zoning Regulations that Adam Lougee revised.  This will be discussed further on November 13, 2003.

 

John Madden gave us more literature on his opposition of the EC Construction Subdivision.

 

Correspondence received: 

-         A letter from Kate Lampton, Champlain Valley Greenbelt Alliance regarding Greg & Paula West’s proposed banquet hall and go-cart track.

-         A letter from Bob Beach, Basin Harbor Club regarding Greg & Paula West’s proposed banquet hall and go-cart track.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:15pm with a motion from George Merritt, seconded by Jim Walsh, all approved, no opposition.

 

Mylar’s Signed:            George & Margo Merritt, SUB. 15-02.

                                    Sara & Dennis Sparling, SUB. 03-03.

 

 

 

 

 

John Evers                                            George Merritt                         Jim Walsh                                

 

 

 

Gary Baker                                          Allen Karnatz                                       Keith Hall

 

 

 

 

Art Sherman