Town of Chatham - Planning Board
Zoning By-Law Rewrite Subcommittee
Working Session
Meeting 1 - Draft
September 12, 2005
Present: Chairman Wayne Jostrand, Len Sussman, Skip Kendrick (4:35 PM)
Also Present: Paul DeCoste, Town Planner, Town of Chatham and a number of interested Chatham residents
1. Call to Order – 4 PM – Wayne Jostrand called the meeting to order. Mr. DeCoste distributed the agenda (see Handout 1 attached). Mr. Sussman’s and Mr. Jostrand’s discussion included:
· Subcommittee role is to look at draft and, based on that review, decide on topics to take to full Planning Board (PB).
· Subcommittee needs to create schedule for review of topics; timeframes for Public Hearings and presentation to Town Meeting.
· Mr. Jostrand feels the subcommittee does need to get deeply into content; Mr. Sussman feels that it should.
· Mr. Jostrand said the subcommittee should look at document and then decide what topics to bring to full PB for review. Mr. Sussman feels that the subcommittee should pre-digest and prepare comments then full PB can put final form together. He suggested going through the document from front to back. He feels that it will go more quickly that way. Mr. Jostrand disagreed. Mr. Kendrick agreed with Mr. Sussman’s approach. He feels the subcommittee needs to see if the draft is really what we want. We can make changes and then the Public Hearing can produce further comments. He said we need to read and compare to the
existing and then make recommendations to the full PB.
· Both Mr. Jostrand and Mr. Sussman had prepared a number of comments on the portions of the draft they had reviewed so far. Some of Mr. Jostrand’s comments are included on Handout 2 attached.
· The subcommittee reviewed a proposed timetable prepared by Mr. Sussman that would have the draft document ready to be presented at Town Meeting in May. The draft has eight sections. With the proposed calendar each section has approximately an 11 day cycle – this includes the subcommittee and PB Zoning by-law rewrite (PB-ZBR) meetings. Each cycle will have four components - homework for subcommittee; subcommittee meetings; time for Connery Associates to revise for the PB-ZBR Meeting; PB-ZBR meeting. This will run to the end of the year and then will proceed to the public comment stage. Mr. DeCoste said that all non-fiscal warrant
articles must be presented by January 7th to be on the warrant for the May Town Meeting. This is a pretty aggressive schedule but will get the rewrite done in time for May Town Meeting. Mr. Jostrand mentioned that perhaps it could be presented at the second day of Town Meeting. He feels that it won’t be ready for May – maybe September. He said the he thinks that each topic will take longer than allowed for in the proposed time line. Mr. Kendrick said that we need to try. Mr. Jostrand said that we should ask the full PB if they want to go with this very aggressive schedule.
· Mr. Sussman made four points regarding the draft: it does incorporate PB-ZBR and public comments that have been received; it is well organized; maybe needs some more words here and there and some cross-references; he would like to see more definitions and illustrations. Mr. Kendrick said he likes the layout and Mr. Jostrand said it is a good effort.
· Subcommittee meetings can be scheduled for Mondays at 4 PM. Mr. DeCoste suggested remaining flexible regarding this schedule. Mr. Connery would like 10 to 12 days between the subcommittee meeting and the full PB-ZBR meeting. That will allow time to prepare a revised draft including subcommittee suggestions. Mr. DeCoste mentioned that Mr. Connery could attend subcommittees held on the day of a PB-ZBR meeting. The results of that meeting would be included on the PB-ZBR meeting held two weeks hence. The subcommittee feels that perhaps no one from Mr. Connery’s office is required at the subcommittee meetings. It was decided
to keep meetings on Monday for now but remain flexible.
· The subcommittee will work at home then get together and share their comments and then Mr. Connery can summarize and present to the full PB.
· The subcommittee meetings are working sessions and therefore will not, generally, be a forum for public comments. As always, the public is encouraged to e-mail Mr. DeCoste with comments.
· Kevin McDonald has recommended that the sign code be included in the zoning by-laws.
· Mr. Connery will be responsible for managing the document – web site will be kept up to date with revisions.
· Mr. Sussman will e-mail (Word document) his comments to Mr. Kendrick and Mr. Jostrand so they can add their comments and then send to Connery Associates for revision. Ideally, this will be done before the subcommittee meeting so that it can be discussed and then Mr. Connery can get revisions to the full PB.
· Page 1 – R40 and R40A – R40A is a subsection of R40 – maybe change designation to use a small “a” instead of a capital “A” to make clearer.
· Page 3 – use – land and water?
2. The next meeting will be Monday, September 26th at 4 PM in the Annex conference room.
3. Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 5:40 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Genie H. Griffin, Secretary
| 
