NOTES OF FEBRUARY 10, 2015 RYE PLANNING BOARD MEETING

Revised Final Revision D – Provided by the Rye Civic League

 

Present and seated clockwise left to right at the table (Regular Planning Board members except as noted):  Ray Tweedie, Alternate Jeff Quinn, Mel Low, Phil Winslow, Bill Epperson, Town Attorney Michael Donovan, Jerry Gittlein, Priscilla Jenness, Keriann Roman, Alternate Jay Lord.  Also present:  Planning Adminstrator Kim Reed.

Persons present in the audience included:  Steven Borne, Peter Crawford, Pat Losik.

 

Editor’s note:  For ease in finding particular sections using the archived video and audio on Vimeo, the elapsed time is indicated.  Use the slider and the elapsed time indicated at the bottom of the video window to fast forward to the desired section. You may also click on the bold times in the video description to step directly to a section.  The video is available at https://vimeo.com/119637472/

 

Summary

 

1.                            Lot line adjustment for School District purchase of land adjacent to Junior High continued to March meeting.

2.                            Wentworth-by-the-sea Country Club gets approval for lot line adjustment to allow 32,000 sq. ft. purchase of adjacent land.

3.                            Rye Farm (561 South Rd., D.D. Cook) continued as agreement in principle reached for Conservation Commission to purchase lot 5 following ZBA denial of wetlands crossing.

4.                            464 Brackett Rd. nine lot subdivision advances.  Many initial concerns with septic, etc. expressed by Town consultant AMEC.

5.                            Wentworth-by-the-sea Country Club conceptual consultation on ballroom to replace tent is received favorably.

 

Approval of minutes (0:00 elapsed)

 

The January 13, 2015 minutes were approved with changes.

 

Lot Line Adjustment (Rye Junior High acquisition) Bush, Grant, Herlihy (2:30 elapsed)

 

            Continued to March meeting.

 

Lot Line Adjustment Wentworth-by-the-Sea, D’Atillio Trust (3:40 elapsed)

 

            Convey 32,000 square feet from D’Atillio to WBTSCC to make future golf course improvements to Hole 1, to remove topographical relief.  Fairway is currently 25-35 yards wide and difficult to play as landing area is narrow.  Cart path may be relocated under a different future Planning Board application.  Peter Crawford asks about Old Ferry Landing Road, a Class V or VI road.   Answer from Mr. Diodati, WBTSCC Mgr. is that no one knows exactly where it is but it is not in this area.  Motion to accept jurisdiction Tweedie.  Motion to accept by Tweedie.   All in favor.  Lot line adjustment unanimously approved.

 

Final Major Subdivision, 561 South Rd. (Rye Farm), D.D. Cook Builders (13:25 elapsed)

 

 (14:00 elapsed)

            Chairman Epperson recuses himself as he is direct abutter.

Motion to go into non-public session with Atty Donovan.  Peter Crawford asks if a roll call is required.  Atty Donovan replies:  not a meeting, a “consultation.”

 

(15:30 elapsed)

            Atty Donovan speaks off camera to Atty Phoenix representing D.D. Cook.

 

(16:04 elapsed)

             Hearing resumes. Alternate Jeff Quinn seated as Chair Epperson is recused.

 

(17:00 elapsed)

            Atty Phoenix speaks. Going to request a continuance but wants to update Board:  AMEC review, variance lot 5, review of hydro geologic survey which is now more extensive, agreement in principle to convey all of Lot 5 to Conservation Comm.  without any development.  Not quite done.  Atty. Donovan and Phoenix have been “massaging” development plans including for less pavement.

 

(19:30 elapsed)

            Atty. Phoenix says they appealed wetland crossing denial of ZBA, to protect client rights, but believe will be moot as CC will be taking all of lot 5 and it will not be developed, roughly 27 acres.

 

Final Major Subdivision, 464 Brackett Rd., Harbor St. Ltd. Partnership (23:55 elapsed)

 

            Christian Smith Engineer:  Now a loop configuration with substandard second right of way to be given to abutters.  Lot count proposed is now 9 lots:  1.02 acres to 3.37 acres in size.  Change in layout of water mains to follow loop with 3 hydrants.  Some test pits were deficient and redone.  More delineation of potential ledge vs. boulders with regards septic for some lots per Atty. Donovan comments. Some 4K septics may be to close to ledge, so some ledge probes will be carried out.  A particular wetland area may need 100’ buffer, some discussion, interpretation of ordinance required.  Review of AMEC memo.  AMEC wants additional notes on plans, drainage model types, etc.

 

(32:00 elapsed)

            Epperson: Why was water line design changed?  Answer:  To make it easier to maintain, not require an easement over the substandard second entrance right of way.  Epperson:  43 items on AMEC memo.  Development did not go to TRC initially, probably should have.  Smith called items mainly housekeeping.  Epperson:  we should have gone on a site walk.  Concerns about amount of ledge and potential blasting.  Water table is high.  Smith:  some basements may need to be elevated, have sump pumps.  Tweedie comments on tree cutting covenants.  Some more time needed to review.

 

(35:50 elapsed)

            Motion to establish escrow for peer review. Peer review had started without escrow.

 

(36:40  elapsed)

            Winslow asks what are the one or two big issues Smith sees.  Answer:  Smith says no waivers required.  Key issue is determination of location of ledge in relation to septic systems.

 

(37:50 elapsed)

            Donovan:  AMEC sees problems with drainage to be worked out. Unusual to get an AMEC letter with 43 comments.

 

(39: 35 elapsed)

            Quinn question about ledge and blasting.  Smith:  there could be blasting but unknown at this time.

 

(40:30 elapsed)

            Quinn:  are you in discussion with neighbor operating as a business (assume the B&B)?  Falzone (developer) answers yes.  Letter to Planning Board from neighbor asking about no blasting on holidays and weekends.  Falzone says there will “definitely” be some blasting but they will try to scrape as much as possible.  Discussion of buffers to other properties, as now fewer lots will have larger buffers including to existing septic systems by moving houses closer to front of lots.

 

(42:40 elapsed)

            Winslow: who will build?  Falzone:  Three local residents have taken reservations. He doesn’t build but controls covenants. Considering doing all the septic systems himself including grading.  Owners will hire own builders but submit plans to Falzone.

 

(44:25 elapsed)

            Donovan: who issues blasting permits?  Smith answers: State Dept of Safety. Some involvement by Fire Chief.  Donovan uncertain on ordinance proposal of a few years ago as State statute gives Fire Chief involvement.

 

(44:10 elapsed)

            Landscaping at entrance.  Cleaned up debris and fallen trees at entrance 300 feet back.  Epperson requests landscaping sheet in plans.  Issues in past with not including landscaping sheets.  Laughter.

 

(47:55 elapsed)

            Motion to continue to March meeting.

 

Conceptual consultation WBTSCC, add ballroom and related parking, access, utilities (49:55 elapsed)

 

            Bob Diodati Mgr of WBTSCC stated that 15 years ago when clubhouse was built there was discussion of a ballroom.  It would be where the current permanent tent is located.  Plan is to eliminate metal building as golf carts would be stored in the basement of new ballroom building.

 

(52:10 elapsed)

            Corey Colwell MSC and Tim Giguere from TMS Architects.  Ballroom will be almost entirely over currently impervious surfaces: existing tent plastic tent pad, walkways, etc.  3000 square feet of green space would be eliminated.  Tweedie:  is addition large enough for current golf cart count stored in metal building to be removed?  Diodati says yes and then some.  Weekend wedding tent will be maintained but for bad weather and for dishing up the wedding tent events.  A dish up area would be located in the ballroom.  There is really none now.  Not expecting many winter weddings with Wentworth Hotel having rooms.  The ballroom will also be used for larger member events such as Mother’s Day.

 

(57:31 elapsed)

            Quinn:  what about concrete pad (in front of the building).  Answer:  tent will remain.  Use 25 times a summer, unclear which tent, assume wedding tent.

 

(59:10 elapsed)

            Jenness:  land falls away on end of proposed building so carts can be driven in.  Confirmed.  Current terrace is 10-11’ above.

 

(1:00.20 elapsed)

            Epperson question if they will seek more flexibility on later events.  Diodati says music and lights out by 10PM, 9PM music, 10 PM lights per agreement with town and neighbors.  Diodati effectively lights out at 9:30 PM and music at 8:45. Town and neighbor agreement on lights out is for wedding tent which comes up and down every weekend but does not cover the other tent, the one to be replaced by ballroom. Do not have any events after 10 PM.

 

(1:01.55 elapsed)

            Winslow sees 4 issues: Parking, storm water, safety, abutters views.  Diodati talked to abutters and had them over thought it was a great idea, fantastic addition.

 

(1:03.10 elapsed)

            Parking.  Ballroom seating capacity is equal to existing tent. Overflow on Heather circle used 10-15 times a summer.  Area of former metal cart barn would be reconfigured for 30 parking spaces. Don’t have the capacity for two events (one in wedding tent and other in current tent which would be replaced by the ballroom) and wouldn’t have two events.  Discussion of a screen for errant golf balls.

 

(1:06.20 elapsed)

            Diodati don’t think any variances are needed.  Club doing well.  Wait list for membership.  Need ballroom for members and don’t like to say no to members two weeks prior to Mother’s Day.

 

(1:07.20 elapsed)

            Roman:  question on concrete pad for wedding tent approved two years ago.  No issues but when it rains, water everywhere.  Some brides change into flipflops.  Everything drains to pond on 18th hole.  There is a force main to marsh from this bit less than an acre pond.  Use of pond for irrigation is not possible as some water is brackish.  Test once a year shows it is somewhat brackish and not good for turf grass due to tidal effects from the direction of the BG Boat House inlets.

 

(1:10.30 elapsed)

            Peter Crawford asks question about Old Ferry Landing Road in relation to proposal.  Mysterious location, Jenness replies. Crawford says he has seen it on certain plans.  Colwell:  Old Ferry Landing Road leads to where the bridge (to New

Castle) currently is so closer to Rte 1B than where ballroom will be.