Planning Board
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Meeting Minutes
Members present: Ryan Stone Co-Chair, Courtney Cox Co-Chair, Don Scott, Kathy Scott Select Board Representative, Lisa Anderson, Peter Thayer. Members absent: Jonathan Miner
Attendees: Brian Foucher, Sarah Kendall, John Knight
The meeting opened at 7:00 pm.
Attendance, Roles and Voting Members – Ryan Stone named the voting members for the evening as himself, Courtney Cox, Pete Thayer, Don Scott and Kathy Scott.
Approval of Agenda – Members voted in favor to approve the agenda.
Minutes of previous meeting(s): 1/8/25 – Members voted in favor to approve the January 8th Meeting Minutes with Courtney Cox abstaining due to absence.
The board proceeded with the first of two conceptual consultations as follows:
Brian Foucher – WiValley – Cobb Hill Radio Tower – Mr. Foucher shared that, with the County’s securing the needed financing, they are preparing to move ahead with the application for a public safety radio tower on Cobb Hill. The proposed communications facility will serve County Police and Fire and Southwest Mutual Aid, filling in significant coverage gaps.
Mr. Foucher, representing the County, asked the PB for guidance on the site plan review and conditional use permit application requirements. He shared copies of the proposal in its current form, including proposed location on the property, tower height, dimensions and associated equipment specifications and power needs. The County is still working on detailed drawings. The proposal will be for a 100’ tower, with a 3’ pole mount adapter on the top for a single radio antenna for the County.
Mr. Foucher explained that, should the Town or another entity want to put its own antennas on the facility, they would have to provide their own power source. The current power supply for the property owner is not adequate for collocation at the site. Mr. Foucher emphasized that the proposed antenna is not for cellular phone service, but only for two-radio radio for public safety.
The PB reviewed the plat submission requirements checklist with Mr. Foucher. Regarding notification of regional impact, the Recording Secretary noted she would send out this notice to adjacent municipalities as well as to the property owners’ abutters and will send the prospective applicants a copy of a sample Regional Impact Notice.
As the proposed location is approximately 75’ from the side property line, and the adjacent property has the same owner, the board suggested an easement be drawn up to protect Mr. Garland. Mr. Foucher will share that with the County. The condition of the easement would be recorded at the County Registry of Deeds, as would other conditions of approval per Article 19.5.12. of the town’s zoning ordinances.
The PB reviewed the plat submission requirements list with Mr. Foucher. While the County does not plan to illuminate the tower, as this is only required for structures that are a minimum of 200’ high, the board wondered if lighting would be helpful for local private plane owners.
Regarding visual impact, the applicants would conduct a balloon test as part of the application review process. Mr. Foucher noted vegetation will block any view from the village center and that the tower would barely rise above the tree line CUP from Nelson Road.
On the question of whether or not a bond should be posted during proposed construction, when a crane and concrete truck would be traveling over town roads up to the site, Kathy Scott will raise this with the Select Board for discussion. As the County would own the tower, they would provide any bond.
Mr. Foucher noted he hopes the County will be ready to submit the application next month. He encouraged the town, for any tower approval, that the town permit only one.
Conceptual Consultation, Historic Harrisville, Inc., for St. Denis Church – John Knight of HHI informed the PB of the status of the St. Denis rehabilitation project and noted HHI proposes to connect the church to the adjacent structure, the old Selectmen’s Office, via an open deck. New ADA compliant bathrooms are proposed for the old Selectmen’s Office. HHI is still awaiting final designs.
The question before the PB is whether or not Site Plan Review is required for a change of use from what was a church into a community center. Mr. Knight noted that he already has met with the Chair of the ZBA to discuss the Zoning Board review required for the project.
The PB discussed the conditions under which Site Plan Review is required. Following discussion, the board members agreed in this case it should be done. The board then reviewed the Site Plan Review checklist with Mr. Knight, who noted HHI will submit the application once plans are finalized.
The PB also discussed the possibility of holding a joint meeting with the Historic District Commission and ZBA, if possible, should this make sense and be feasible, based on the timing of the submitted applications to the boards.
Master Plan Review – Lisa Anderson shared printed versions of the Master Plan tri-fold, which the board reviewed, as well as the digital, scrollable version on a dummy website. The PB hopes to adapt this version for the town website, as it contains links to the complete Master Plan. This way, readers can review the summary version and, if they want more information, can access the full content.
Ordinance Review Committee – The board deferred this topic to next month.
With no new business, other than questions of expenditures at the Recycling Center, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.
The PB next meets on Wednesday, March 12, at 7:00 pm.