Planning Board
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Meeting Minutes
Members present: Ryan Stone Co-Chair, Courtney Cox Co-Chair, Don Scott, Lisa Anderson, Pete Thayer and Kathy Scott Select Board Representative. Absent: Jon Miner
Attendees: Sherry Sims, Paul Clark and Ned Hulbert
Ryan Stone opened the meeting at 7:00 pm.
Agenda and voting members – The board approved the agenda as drafted. Mr. Stone stated that the voting members would include himself, Courtney Cox, Pete Thayer, Lisa Anderson and Kathy Scott.
Committee updates
*Master Plan – Lisa Anderson will produce sample copy for the PB to review next month. The next steps are to add the links to the more extensive Master Plan content. Lisa will follow up with subcommittee members on status reports for the different Master Plan sections. PB members recommended that a new subcommittee form when appropriate to pull it all together. Lisa recommends a PB workshop in late January. In the meantime, the hope is for feedback on the working draft via the website once posted.
*Ordinance Review Committee – Don Scott shared discussion highlights from the Oct 4th ORC meeting. The ORC is considering an amendment to Article XII Wetlands Conservation Overlay District to allow, under certain conditions, special exceptions for certain kinds of development within the wetland buffer. Such conditions could include installation of catch basins and other forms of erosion and infiltration control, and storm drainage. The committee is also considering recommending a special exception for development allowing a 25’ buffer for linear wetlands that are 10’ wide or less. The goal is to propose easing restrictions imposed by the existing 100’ buffer requirement, for reasonable allowances.
The ORC also briefly discussed short-term rentals, correction of clerical errors, and an update to the conservation subdivision ordinance but no proposed amendments have been drafted. Ryan Stone requested that PB members share their feedback on draft wetlands ordinance amendments as soon as possible. The PB will continue discussion at its November meeting.
Housing Research Group
Ned Hulbert, Sherry Sims and Paul Clark shared highlights from the focus groups, and the status of the Housing Survey which remains available for public input. The HRG plans to host a Community Conversation on November 11 at the Granite Mill.
Mr. Hulbert and Mr. Clark asked PB members to share their thoughts as residents and property owners, and to imagine expansion of housing possibilities in town without projecting their knowledge of existing ordinances or obstacles. They presented demographic and statistical data for Harrisville, noting Harrisville has lost roughly 10% of its population overall in the last 20 years, with the greatest loss in those under 35, and with an increase in those aged 65 and over. In areas served by the Southwest Region Planning Commission, Harrisville is the oldest town with an average age of 57. School enrollment is down and birth rates also are declining. Coinciding with these trends are significant increases in the costs of housing and construction.
PB members shared their reactions to the data and trends, and their perspectives on the pros and cons of having an aging community. They were shown examples of different types of housing structures and asked what they might like to see and in what districts. Following completion of its research, the HRG will return to the PB with its recommendations.
New business – Lisa Anderson shared feedback from the SWRPC meeting in Gilsum, where representatives of other small towns’ planning boards shared concerns and experiences. Many shared their challenges with the Master Plan process. SWRPC will hold additional sessions for other towns in the future.
The PB adjourned at 9:15 pm.