Town of Walpole, NH 03608
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
July 11, 2006 – 7:30 P.M. – Town Hall
Members Present: Bob Miller, V-Chair; Dave DeCoste, Henry Fletcher, Ben Daviss, Eric Merklein
Absent: Regular Members: Jeff Miller, Sheldon Sawyer
Alternate Members: Fred Boas, Fred Dill, Dave Edkins.
These minutes will be reviewed at the August 8, 2006 meeting in the Town Hall at 7:30 pm.
Notices of the meeting were properly posted.
Roll Call/Designate Alternates:
Bob Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. He noted that regular members Jeff Miller and Sheldon Sawyer were absent; there were no Alternates present to sit on the Board.
Approve Minutes of May 9, 2006, May 23, 2006, and June 13, 2006 Meetings:
Dave DeCoste moved to approve the Minutes of the May 9, 2006, May 23, 2006, and June 13, 2006, meetings as printed. Ben Daviss seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.
REVIEW APPLICATION SUBMITTED:
Cellco d/b/a Verizon Wireless – Site Plan Review and Conditional Use Permit – to construct a Personal Wireless Services Facility ie; a 134 foot guyed telecommunications tower located at 32 Mountain View Rd. in North Walpole, Map 27, Lot 11, owned by Frank S. Brown, Jr. and Mark Brown in the Industrial District. The purpose of the tower and facility is to create a new site to service Verizon and other carriers as needed. The existing tower at the same location is at capacity.
It was noted that all application materials, fees, etc. had been received, and that all abutters were properly notified. There were no abutters present at this meeting.
Close Meeting / Open Public Hearing:
An application for a Site Plan Review for a proposed new 134-foot telecommunications tower was brought forth during the June 13, 2006, Planning Board meeting. Kermit Zerr, from McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, as the Agent to Verizon and Ken Kelley, Site Acquisition Consultant to Verizon, were present at this meeting. Mr. Kerr distributed copies of information on the existing power and capacity and the inventory of existing 150’ guyed communications tower. The existing tower is almost up to capacity. They have now presented a plan to use that same site and put another guyed tower there that would provide access for Verizon Wireless and their equipment as well as capacity for other carriers to be able to co-locate on that tower. The new tower will be slightly shorter than the existing tower of 150-feet. Additional copies of coverage maps were distributed and reviewed. It will provide good coverage in Walpole but because of topography this signal will not cover every area and corner; there are some areas that are not well covered At the last meeting Mr. Kelley stated that Walpole may need a smaller third tower in the south part of the town. There is still a gap that they might want to fill eventually. Mr. Zerr displayed a map of what the coverage area would look like without the tower. It is an existing facility, the tower will sit on a large tract of land. The existing chain link fence will be expanded to include an additional equipment shelter, an ice bridge will be constructed on the new tower connecting to the equipment shelter and existing access; the same roadway to the site will
be used. They do not intent to expand any more than they have to. Mr. DeCoste asked what the distance is between the two towers. Mr. Zerr said about 50-feet; they tried to put it on a flat area, the terrain there dictated the location of the tower. From an elevation prospective, the new tower sitting along the existing tower is a little shorter. Coming from the south part of town you might not even notice that there are two; one is sitting in back of the other. There will be no lights and there aren’t any on the existing tower. Mr. Daviss asked what the time line for construction is for the tower. Mr. Kelley responded that they would like to build the tower before winter and, after other sites are lined up, hope to have the full system running by next year.
Robert Jasse asked about the horizontal arms. Mr. Kelley said they do not want to go any higher than what is there, then the others will line-up. He explained how the antennas work together; there are arms that support the antennas. It will be similar to what is there now. Mr. Jasse questioned the competitors. Mr. Kelley said Nextel is up there now and there are other carriers. Each carrier transmits on their own frequency. There are coverage issues and capacity issues but right now they are dealing with area coverage and trying to fill in the gaps. They have to comply with federal mandates.
Henry Fletcher noted that Sheldon Sawyer had a concern with taxation. Mr. Kelley noted that there was a question of who owns what on the present site. They are doing whatever they can to assist. Mr. Brown, property owner, wants to resolve these questions.
Close Public Hearing / Reopen Meeting:
Mr. Miller closed the Public Hearing and reopened the regular meeting at 7:58 pm.
Mr. Miller advised that the application appears to be complete. An email received from Buck Taylor to Jeff Miller was read by Mr. Miller for the record. Mr. Miller noted that there seem to be more positives than negatives. Mr. Fletcher noted the presence of Bob McCormack of North Walpole and asked if he had any comments. Mr. McCormack reported that after this Planning Board takes action on the application Verizon representatives have to contact him. He wants to make sure that they comply with the FCC regulations, proof of enclosure and insurance. Mr. McCormack left a North Walpole book with the Verizon representatives to give them an opportunity to review the regulations as he cannot issue a permit without completion of an application for a Village of North Walpole Permit.
Action on application submitted:
Mr. DeCoste moved to accept this application from Cellco d/b/a Verizon Wireless as complete. Mr. Merklein seconded the motion. Mr. Fletcher amended the motion to include that this approval be subject to their compliance with the North Walpole regulations. With all in favor, the motion and amendment were carried.
Request for Waivers:
Mr. Daviss made reference to the request for Waivers that seem reasonable.
Balloon Test: Mr. Daviss does not feel that we need to require this.
Driveway Permits: The site and access road have been in existence for a number of years.
Height: Mr. Daviss would approve a waiver of the 100-foot high requirement because they are putting up a 134-foot tower that is next to an existing 150-foot tower. If it was standing alone he would have some reservations. It is basically the same view. Mr. Merklein does not have a
problem with the height, there is no noise or light from the existing tower. Most people do not even know it is up there.
Mr. Daviss moved to grant the Waivers. Mr. Merklein seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Mr. Daviss moved to grant final approval to the application. This is subject to the approval from the Village of North Walpole. Mr. Merklein seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Close Meeting / Open Public Hearing:
Capital Improvements Program – Final Draft 9/2005 prepared by the SW Region Planning Commission and authorized by Town Vote 2005. The CIP is a planning tool, an analysis of past spending and future spending by municipal department heads from 1999-2011.
Action on Capital Improvements Plan:
There was a consensus of the Planning Board to wait until there are more members present. It was tabled until the next meeting.
New Business: Preliminary Conceptual Consultations:
Jim Mort – 3 lot subdivision, Brewery Road. Mr. DiBernardo representing:
It was noted that neither Jim Mort or Mr. DiBernardo were present at this meeting.
Other:
Review Agenda Items for August 8, 2006, meeting:
Housing Study: Office of Energy and Planning: Mr. Merklein attended a symposium that dealt with population and housing. He talked with Jeff Miller about it last week. Mr. Merklein feels this Board needs more education to learn how to plan and deal with housing. He proposed that the Planning Board have a working session on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006, and invite members of the ZBA and Conservation Commission to work with the Planning Board so we are all prepared. Someone from the Office of Energy and Planning will come to work with us at no charge; they will bring the material.
Mr. Merklein moved to contact Carolyn Russell of the Office of Energy and Planning to meet with us on Tuesday, August 22nd, for a working session. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
Master Plan: Mr. Daviss suggested including a review of the Master Plan for the August 8th meeting agenda.
Ordinance/ Regulation Updates: There was a consensus to work on Ordinance regulation up-dates during the August 8, 2006, meeting.
Levesque Property: Mr. Jasse brought up the subject of the vehicles and equipment for sale on the Levesque property. Mr. Merklein said he is selling off personal items. Mr. DeCoste advised that this is an issue for the Board of Selectmen.
Correspondence:
The Planning Board acknowledged receipt of the following correspondence:
1) A copy of a letter from Martin & Ann Hill to the North Walpole Village District Commissioners Office regarding the Reservoir & Filtration Building – Mountain View Road, North Walpole, NH.
2) A letter from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services – Subject: Private Well Testing – Upcoming Seminar on July 25, 2006, beginning at 9:00 am in Concord. If anyone would like to attend, the registration form will need to be completed.
3) A copy of a letter and brochure from Jeffrey H. Taylor & Associates outlining the planning services available through them.
4) A memo from the Office of Energy and Planning regarding a Land Use Regulation Database Survey.
Adjourn Meeting:
Mr. Merklein made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion was approved. The time was 8:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Borden, Acting Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the August 8th, 2006, Planning Board meeting.)