October 20, 2021 | Town Admin TOWN OF SUTTON Pillsbury Memorial Hall 93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH 03221 ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Approved Meeting Minutes for Wednesday October 20, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Call to Order: Chair Lick called the meeting to order at 7:05pm and called for the roll. Roll Call: Samantha Gordon, Katy Beauchemin, Zachary Brock and Alternate Marc Beauchemin, sitting in for Betsy Forsham. Public Hearing: Case 2021-07 concerning a request by Thomas Carr of Meridian Land Services, representing property owners Martin Gross and Jenna Hastings, to review an Application for a Zoning Variance to the terms of Article X, E of the Sutton Zoning and Building Ordinance to allow a permanent driveway to cross a wetland to access a building site on Map/Lot 09-668-062, a parcel on the West side of Shaker Road, comprising approximately 25 acres of land. Thomas Carr said the project started about a year and a half ago. The clients asked him to come take a look at the lot in question. There was a driveway in already and he noticed a few land violations on the property. They found there never was a wetlands permit to put the driveway in; a temporary driveway was put in in 2008 with a logging permit. It was never removed. There were three other wetland areas on the property that had been violated, and he later realized there was also a buffer violation. He informed the owners that they would need to do restoration and get a variance for the driveway. The owners were fully on board with getting the property into compliance. Mr. Carr said he met with Henry Howell from the Conservation Commission and Peter Stanley to discuss the property further. Mr. Howell and Mr. Carr visited the property to review the areas that needed restoration. A conditional use permit has been granted by the Planning Board already to do this work. Seeding, grading and replanting will be done. They also have received a permit to keep the driveway although some of the fill in the wetland will need to be taken out, and the driveway re-shaped to comply with wetland regulations. Mr. Carr said they were there that evening to get a variance to maintain and keep the driveway where it is. Mr. Carr added that the restoration areas that will be tended to are in a three-year monitoring program with the Wetlands Bureau. The driveway variance is the last step to bring the property into compliance with the town and the state. Chair Lick asked the Board members for questions. The only member who had a question was Samantha who asked if the owners contacted Mr. Carr because they felt there were problems with the property. Mr. Carr said this was the case. He said the owners want to do the right thing and have been great to work with. There were no further questions. There were no abutters present or who had provided written or verbal correspondence about the variance request. Chair Lick asked the Board members to provide their thoughts on the request for variance. Zach said he appreciated the quality of the application and the intent of the owner to do the right thing. Katy said that she was comforted that DES had given their conditional approval. Marc thought it was a good plan. Sam said she was glad this was being done and thought the wetlands bureau’s approval was comforting. Also, the owners cannot access the property without a variance for the driveway, and it seems to be needed. Chair Lick agreed with the comments above. He felt that since DES has signed off on this, they have provided the technical expertise that the town otherwise wouldn’t have. It was moved by Samantha Gordon and seconded by Zachary Brock to approve the variance for the reasons stated in the application. A roll-call vote was taken Zach: Yes, Katy: Yes, Marc: Yes, Samantha: Yes, Chair Lick: Yes. The motion was approved unanimously and the variance granted. Chair Lick informed the applicant that there is a 30-day time period where anyone can contest this decision. Any work done which may be found to be in error would need to be reversed. Meeting Minutes: Review and approve minutes of the August 18, 2021 Public Hearing and Meeting. Katy Beauchemin moved and Samantha Gordon seconded to approve the minutes of August 18, 2021. The motion was approved unanimously. New Business: None Scheduled Old Business: None Scheduled Administrative: Next Meeting may be held November 17th, but Peter will confirm this with the Board at a later date. It was moved by Samantha Gordon and seconded by Marc Beauchemin to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:25pm. Respectfully submitted, Kristy Heath, Recording Secretary Town of Sutton