Minutes
Bethel Planning Board
Drafted 7.30.10
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 Town Office
7:00 PM Regular Meeting:
Members Present: Allen Cressy, Jon Cowan, Craig Davis, Larry Engdahl, Andrew Glasfeld,
Ginger Kelly
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Vicki Rackliffe, Planning Assistant
Others Present: Jeffrey Parsons
Full content of the meeting is available in Windows Format Audio file format
1. Call to Order
At 7:02 PM Chairman Cressy called the meeting to order.
2. Opening Statement
Chairman Cressy made a brief opening statement.
3. Declaration of Quorum
Chairman Cressy noted that Craig Davis was absent. Chairman Cressy appointed all members present as voting members and declared a quorum.
4. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting, July 14, 2010
Jon Cowan made a motion to approve the minutes of July 14, 2010, Andrew Glasfeld seconded the motion; Allen Cressy, Jon Cowan, Andrew Glasfeld, and Ginger Kelly approved the minutes as presented. Larry Engdahl abstained from voting because he did not attend the meeting.
Craig Davis arrived for the meeting.
A Site Walk at Bethel Outdoor Adventures was conducted on Monday, July 26, 2010. Larry Engdahl made a motion to introduce the minutes of the Site Walk on July 26, 2010 at Bethel Outdoor Adventures into the record, Ginger Kelly seconded the motion; it was unanimously approved.
The Board reviewed the Site Walk minutes.
Larry Engdahl made a motion to approve the minutes of the Site Walk conducted on July 26, 2010 as presented, Craig Davis seconded the motion; Allen Cressy, Craig Davis, Larry Engdahl, Andrew Glasfeld, and Ginger Kelly approved the minutes as presented. Jon Cowan abstained from voting because he did not attend the site walk.
5. Communications: None
6. Determination of Applicability: None
7. Action on Applications:
A. Sign Applications: None
Bethel Planning Board Meeting Minutes 7.28.10 (cont.)
B. Old Business:
1. Site Plan Amendment
Project Name: Recreational Burma Bridge
Maine Mineralogy Expeditions Park
Applicant: Jeffrey & Patricia Parsons
Authorized Agent: Donald Murphy
Location: Recreational Burma Bridge, Map 24 Lots 36, 59, 60
Maine Mineralogy Expeditions Park, Map 24 Lot 36
Chairman Cressy introduced the project and invited the applicant to make introductory comments regarding the project. Mr. Parsons declined.
There was no public comment as no one from the public was in attendance.
Chairman Cressy began board deliberation by listing the items in the board packets. He proposed limiting the evening’s discussion to the mineral pavilion with the objective of reviewing the materials from the past two meetings, the draft Findings of Fact and Decision, and considering the pavilion portion of the Site Plan Review Amendment for approval. All board members were in agreement with the proposal.
Chairman Cressy suggested that the Board consider this amendment as being applicable to the existing tent and as well as the planned pavilion. Packet materials consisted of the MDOT entrance permit, the Fire Chief’s recommendations, the CEO’s and State Fire Marshal Office’s comments, and the Bethel Water District easement. The Board noted that the water easement is not impacted by either of the proposed projects. The Board also revisited the Application Completeness Checklist and found that all items had been received.
The Maine Mineralogy Expeditions Park is an extension of Bethel Outdoor Adventures and not a new business. In this instance, allowable signage is limited to a slat on the existing kiosk and a wall sign. As per the sign ordinance, a (12 square foot) “wall mounted” sign is acceptable and could be installed on a post adjacent to the tent since there are no walls. (the applicant will need to submit a sign application)
Discussion focused on the final design of the pavilion, a lighting plan, the tailings, and the floodplain.
Mr. Parsons had submitted a mineral pavilion drawing with the original application. He is considering alternative designs and has yet to come up with a definitive front elevation plan. (as per Town Code, the applicant is required to provide the Board with a final front elevation of the pavilion)
Mr. Engdahl opened the discussion of approving the existing tent and then approving the permanent structure with the following motion:
Larry Engdahl made a motion to approve the use of a temporary structure (vis a vis the tent) located on site which the applicant proposes to replace at a later date with a permanent structure the size of which should not exceed the current footprint of the temporary structure; at the time the applicant applies for a building permit, the permanent structure needs to meet the approval of the CEO and all necessary building codes, Jon Cowan seconded the motion. Discussion continued. Larry Engdahl amended his motion to include that the front elevation originally provided to the Board be accepted as adherence to the requirement that a front elevation be presented and that the final plan of the pavilion needs to be brought to the CEO and Planning Board for review (at no additional cost to the
applicant); it was unanimously approved. A Condition of Approval will address the front elevation requirement.
Reference to the State Fire Marshal Office’s suggestion, regarding emergency lights in the pavilion, triggered a lengthy discussion about existing interior and exterior lighting, and the provision of a lighting plan from the applicant as the need presents itself. A Condition of Approval will address the lighting plan.
Bethel Planning Board Meeting Minutes 7.28.10 (cont.)
The project site is located in a floodplain, Zone AE. Concerns were raised about the amount of, and the disposal of, the tailings associated with the sluiceway. Mr. Parsons has a current Flood Hazard Development permit allowing the filling of the parcel’s parking lot area with up to 2500 cubic yards of fill. A Condition of Approval will address the periodic removal of tailings to the pre-approved on-site location or an off-site location.
The Board asked Mr. Parsons to obtain a Flood Hazard Development permit from the CEO for what exists today (the tent and the fill underneath it, created from the tailings) and for the permanent pavilion.
The Board proceeded to review the Findings of Fact and Decision. After the site walk, the Planning Assistant revised the Findings of Fact and Decision.
Andrew Glasfeld made a motion to introduce the Findings of Fact and Decision revised to 7.27.10 into the record, Craig Davis seconded the motion; it was unanimously approved.
Chairman Cressy asked the Planning Assistant to explain the new Findings of Fact and Decision form that has been changed to mirror the ordinance amendments passed at the Annual Town Meeting in June.
The Board considered the Findings of Fact and Decision page by page and found that all performance standards had been met, or were not applicable. The Conditions of Approval were amended as needed.
Larry Engdahl made a motion to approve the Findings of Fact and Decision as amended, Ginger Kelly seconded the motion; it was unanimously approved.
Larry Engdahl made a motion to approve the temporary and permanent structures of the Site Plan Review Amendment application for the Maine Mineralogy Expeditions Park as amended, Jon Cowan seconded the motion. Before the vote could be taken, Craig Davis needed to excuse himself from the Board to respond to a medical emergency. Allen Cressy, Jon Cowan, Larry Engdahl, Andrew Glasfeld, and Ginger Kelly voted in favor of the motion; the motion carried.
The applicant asked for clarification of outstanding items for the “recreational” Burma bridge. In preparation for the next meeting, the Planning Assistant was asked to update the Application Completeness Checklist and draft a Findings of Fact and Decision for the Burma bridge project.
Larry Engdahl made a motion to table discussion of the Burma Bridge until the next meeting, Andrew Glasfeld seconded the motion; it was unanimously approved.
2. Shoreland Zone Permit
Project Name: Recreational Burma Bridge
Applicant: Jeffrey & Patricia Parsons
Location: Map 24 Lots 36, 59, 60
The Shoreland Zone permit was not discussed at the meeting.
C. New Business: None
8. Non-Application Items:
A. Other Business: None
B. Announcements: Upcoming meetings: Regular Meetings, August 11 & 25, 2010
9. Adjournment:
8:20 PM – Ginger Kelly made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Larry Engdahl seconded the motion; the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Vicki Rackliffe, Planning Assistant
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