City of Rochester, NH - Conservation Commission Minutes 12/7/2005

There was a discussion about the 6:30 time on the minutes. The Public Hearing actually starts at 7:00 pm. The next agenda will reflect that the meeting starts at 7 pm. This is the time that the public will have for the Public Hearings.

A newly appointed member, Fred Glidden, was present, introduced and welcomed. He had not been sworn in to office yet, but was at the meeting just to listen and observe.

Paul Marshall made a motion to disburse funds of the Conservation Fund in the amount of Three Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand Dollars ($324,000.00) to meet the City’s share of the funds in connection with the acquisition of development rights in conjunction with LCHIP Grant Award and the National Resources Conservation Service and Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Grant Award for the Gagne Farm Project. Jack Hackett seconded the motion. There were four members present to vote. Rose Marie Rogers, Jack Hackett, Paul Marshall and Meredeth Lineweber all voted in favor of the motion.

Paul Marshall moved to accept the minutes as written. Jack Hackett seconded the motion. The minutes were accepted and put in the permanent record.

Mr. Peter Whitman, who is involved with a PUD on Old Dover Road, spoke to the Commission about plans for the new Exit 10. He stated that the new exit off the Spaulding Turnpike has been in the planning stages for a long, long time. It is important to the Conservation Commission as it does have some wetland involvement. Mr. Whitman handed out maps to the Commission members. He indicated two large books that the State of New Hampshire had given him to go through. He said that originally the plan had been for a east/west Concord to seacoast route, but that had not happened, and now it was more of a Somersworth, Rochester and Dover involvement project. He was here tonight to keep the Commission informed.

Every 2 years the State does a 10 year plan, and are now working on this new exit. DOT has a proposal for an Interchange route. The placement of the exit would be; Going north on the Spaulding Turnpike, just after the Rochester line (approximately at mile 15) going thru a piece of property that crosses Old Rochester Road and then ties into Route 108 at Interstate Drive.

Mr. Whitman showed drawings of his Planned Unit Development., and how the new interchange would cross through his project. He stated that Cecile Cormier in the Planning Department, has seen this type of plan before, which saves wetlands and open spaces by clustering the development.

He stated that DOT is very excited about Exit 10, and the idea of creating a second Rochester “Downtown”, the ability to peel back and make a new positive economic impact to Rochester. DOT will be working with the Planning Department and members of the Rochester government to create this area.

Mr. Whitman stated that the total area of wetlands being impacted is just over 8 acres, 4 of which are in Rochester and 4 in Somersworth. The State has identified mitigation areas (he passed around a third map). At this point these are just potential areas. The State and the developers are trying to do smart growth. New folks have to live someplace, and these kinds of developments are the way to do it. The State will design a road that goes through the Main Street type setting of his development. DOT deems this a “Contact Sensitive Solution” and the Exit 10 project is being looked at by the Federal EPA as a “Smart Growth Pilot for Highways.” If this project is selected it would be an honor, and a boost to Rochester.

He stated that Carol Murray, of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, is very well respected in Concord and Washington, D.C., and she is very excited about this project. He said he expects the EPA to make some decision in the next six months.

Paul Marshall asked why do you want your area cut in half? Mr. Whitman likes the idea of a new residential neighborhood. He would need to move the residential buildings out of the Interchange right of way, but feels it is a good thing. He plans on 260 units total, and would work in phases with the Planning Department to see exactly what type of housing would be put where.

Mr. Whitman left some copies of his maps to be put in the Conservation Commission files. He stated he just wanted the Commission to be aware of what was happening, and that he would be happy to come in again to talk to them. He also advised them that he can be reached through Cecile Cormier, if they have any other questions. Mr. Whitman left the meeting at 7:15 pm.

The Chair said that after speaking with one of the Council members, it looks like everything is status quo. The Commission discussed how they feel the Council is viewing this, and feel that they need to have a strategy plan. They discussed speaking to individuals, and wondered what changes may happen with the new Mayor. The feeling of the Commission was that the buffer should not be figured in the lot size, but the wetlands could. No decisive plan was discussed.

Meredeth Lineweber gave a general overview of the site. Jack Hackett and Dave Price, of DES, went out to see it as well. Mr. Price did not go on the property, but did take some pictures.

Looks like they are cutting and putting the stuff in the wetlands. Jeff Winders said this is a common practice, they put brush in the wetlands to protect them as they travel over them, and when they are done, they clean it all out. The Chair asked Cecile Cormier if Kenn Ortmann had gotten any information on this location. Ms. Cormier stated he had not.

Cecile Cormier spoke with Tom Willis, City Engineer who stated the detention pond is working correctly, but the developer had not finished until very late in the season, and Mr. Willis doesn’t know if the vegetation will make it through the winter. Cecile Cormier stated the City has funds from the developer for that. It will have to be re-checked in the spring.

The Commission members each had a copy of the Land Acquisition Criteria Evaluation. The Commission agreed that this was approved sometime in the spring of 2005. It just needs to be changed from a draft copy to date approved.

Mark Toussaint brought in a copy of the Work Sheet Procedures for Land Acquisition. Cecile Cormier suggested that after the first of the year, the Commission may want to set up a Committee to go over this. The Commission discussed the form as it is, and thought it was great for now to be used as a working copy. The 8 items were read into the record (copy of form on file with written minutes) Meredeth Lineweber moved to approve using this form as written. Mark Toussaint seconded the motion. All voting members voted in favor.

The Commission discussed the 2004 Conservation Commission handbooks, and Mark Toussaint volunteered to pick them up in Concord. Paul Marshall moved to purchase 10 copies of the 2004 Conservation Commission Handbook. Jack Hackett seconded the motion. The voting members voted all in favor.

Cecile Cormier will contact the publishing company and find out the exact cost, where they can be picked up, and then will initiate a purchase order for this.

The Commission discussed if they would, and could, use these markers. Paul Marshall had one from the Town of Milton that he showed the Commission. Mark Toussaint said he had spoken to someone in Bow, New Hampshire, and they use them. He will get information on the company they order from. Cecile Cormier will also check with the Director of the Planning Department to find out what we can do here in Rochester. She will also check with Milton, and other towns and cities in New Hampshire to see how they handle them. The Commission wants to know more information on who does what and the cost of the markers before making a decision about purchasing any for Rochester.

Paul Marshall told the Commission about a Co-op Extension Service fund available for wildlife education in Public Schools. He will get the information on how to apply for this.

Cecile Cormier informed the Commission that the City of Rochester will create photo ID cards for all the Commission members. She will check with Diane Moody, Human Resources, and see if this can be done at the next Conservation Commission meeting. If the members could arrive at the next meeting a few minutes early, Diane will take the pictures then.

NOTE – Information has been obtained from Diane Moody, Human Resources, (the office is in the basement level of City Hall) the Commission members will need to go to the Human Resources office on their way to the next Conservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, January 4, 2006, to have their pictures taken, as the equipment is all set up there.

Jeff Winders asked about the members being able to have their own business cards. Fred Glidden said that he has done up cards on his computer and would be willing to do some. Usually when cards are ordered through a printing company there is a minimum order (5,000?) Meredeth Lineweber stated she thinks having cards would be a great idea, but not sure if members need that many. Cecile Cormier said she would check with the Director of Planning to see if the Commission members could have cards made up.

There were no applications under review, but Cecile Comier said that the Flatley Company will be delivering their conditional use application. They will be at the Conservation Commission meeting on January 4, 2006.

Mark Toussaint made a motion that the minutes of the Non-Public session be sealed and the Commission return to Public Session. Paul Marshall seconded the motion. All voting members voted in favor of this motion.