Planning Board
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Meeting Minutes

The Harrisville Planning Board held a regular meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at Town Hall, 705 Chesham Road.

Members present: Ryan Stone, Courtney Cox, Jon Miner, Pete Thayer, Don Scott, Kathy Scott, and Lisa Anderson by zoom.
Members of the public: Brian O’Neill, Jed Paquin

The meeting opened at 7:00 pm.

Agenda and voting members – Members voted in favor to approve the agenda. Mr. Stone noted the voting members for the evening would include himself, Courtney Cox, Lisa Anderson, Pete Thayer and Kathy Scott.

Minutes of previous meeting, 6/12 – Kathy Scott moved to approve the June 12 minutes as submitted.  Courtney Cox seconded. All voted in favor.

Brian J. O’Neill Revocable Trust, 57 Seaver Road (Map 40 – Lot 21-8) and Wayne and Annala Derosia, 480 Chesham Road (Map 40 – Lot 49), Application for a Lot Line Adjustment to adjust the boundary lines between the two parcels to add .73 acres of land currently part of Map 40 – Lot 49 to land of Map 40 – Lot 21-8.

Planning Board application reviewer Courtney Cox noted that all application paperwork was in order, and that the requested lot number correction was made on the submitted plan. Ms. Cox then moved to accept the application as complete. Kathy Scott seconded. All voted in favor.

Representing the property owners of both lots, authorized agent and surveyor Jedadiah Paquin explained that two surveys done in the 1970s by William House incorrectly identified the lot line between the parcels and contained a measuring discrepancy. The goal of this application is to clean up the lines of title and to split the subject acreage.  Mr. Paquin researched the issue back to the 1800s when the land was subdivided. He noted both parties on the application desire to clear up the matter, adding that the monuments are in place and the lines established.

The acreages of the subject lots, before and after adjustment, are as follows: Map 40 – Lot 21-8 from .78 acres to 1.51 acres; Map 40 – Lot 49 from 25.5 acres to 24.77 acres.

With no additional questions, Kathy Scott moved to accept the application for the lot line adjustment as proposed by Mr. Paquin for the O’Neill and Derosia parcels. Courtney Cox seconded. All voted in favor.  Mr. Paquin will submit the mylar to the board for signature and recording at the Registry of Deeds. Ryan Stone will draft the Notice of Decision for signature and recording with the mylar.

Conflict of Interest Policy – Mr. Stone reminded members who have not already signed the Conflicts of Interest policy to please do so with the Town Clerk.

Master Plan ReView – Lisa Anderson is scheduling a meeting with someone who knows WordPress to assist with formatting and posting the synopsis of the plan.

Ordinance Review Committee – The board discussed the request by the building inspector to address tiny homes in the town ordinances. The ORC will consider how possibly to clarify the existing definitions of mobile homes as differentiated from manufactured home and/or how to define tiny home. Lisa Anderson noted the ORC in the past discussed tiny houses and believed they would be considered based on the types of facilities contained in them. Mr. Stone hopes the ORC can review the language to ensure clarity for the building inspector.

Separately Mr. Stone noted that a couple of references (6.1.4.1., 9.1.3. and 10.1.1.) to Planning Board oversight of conditional use permits for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) still need to be corrected to coincide with the 2023 town approved zoning amendment shifting jurisdiction to the ZBA.  The ORC will add this to its review list.

A final request for the ORC is to review language under the definition of “Home Produce, Products and Crafts”.  Members wonder if it is too restrictive, limiting it to items of an agricultural nature.

*At this point in the meeting, Brian O’Neil returned to submit the mylar for the O’Neil – Derosia Lot Line Adjustment.

PB Membership – The co-chairs reiterated the request to members to please actively recruit. Lisa Anderson will draft an item for Common Threads

Meeting with the Select Board – The Select Board will attend the PB’s August 14 meeting to discuss the decision on reporting by the Transportation Committee.

Application forms – Mr. Stone shared the updated Minor Subdivision and Lot Line Adjustment application forms based on minor edits, including adding room for email addresses. He will send them to the recording secretary to post on the website and at town hall.

New business
– Culvert Inventory Map – Don Scott described the culvert inventory map and individual culvert data sheets made possible through the work of the Southwest Region Planning Commission. He noted that the information on culverts on town roads will be updated by the Highway Department.

-The Housing Project Research Group, led by Ned Hulbert and Paul Clark, will have a booth at Old Home Days on July 20, to raise awareness about the town’s housing challenges. Those interested in the project can sign up or join a small group to discuss housing concerns and potential solutions. Mr. Hulbert and Mr. Clark offered to attend the August PB meeting to report on the project’s progress.

Following meeting wrap-up, the board adjourned at 9:10 pm.