001Okay, good evening everybody. Welcome to the November 18th, 2025 meeting of the Lichfield Planning Board. Would you all please stand for the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Roll call of members. Michael Croto, chair. >> Jared Okonnell, vice chair. >> Russell Blanchett, member. >> Jesse No, alternate. >> Travis Tucker, member. >> Letha Riley, member. >> Steve Ganon, so rep. >> Okay. And absent this evening is Jeremy Rabbittoy. Um, Jesse, given that you are an alternate, do you want to vote in his place this evening? >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. So, we'll make you an alternate voting member uh and appoint you to that position.
002Um, first item on the agenda is public input on non-aggenda items. Items not on the agenda for this evening. Is there any members of the public wish to comment on non-aggenda items? Okay. Hearing none, I will close public input on non-aggenda items and we will go to uh the first order of business this evening which is the public hearing for the Lichfield Capital Improvement Program for 2026 20 to 2031. Um we are this is a public hearing tonight and uh so we are going to present the capital improvement plan um to you folks. Uh the committee has met um met a couple times uh to review um current um projects and um requests from department heads from the town and as well as the school. So um with that said, I will get us started.
003All right. So, the capital improvement plan um or the capital improvement uh program, the CIP, was a plan is a plan that outlines the schedule of proposed capital investments in land, buildings, and equipment over a period of at least six years. Um PL projects uh for the plan are uh classified by need, urgency, and timing. Um those projects uh included in the CIP are based on information provided by the town's department heads, boards, committees, and commissions and include information related to costs, needs, and sources of funds. Um why does the town um why do towns do this? Uh well, the CIP assists the board of selectmen budget committee and the um the voting public in their consideration of annual budget by placing large capital investments within the context of a longterm plan. Lichfield um was
004required to adopt a CIP under state law in order to continue to assess impact fees um on new development and the benefits of impact fees. Well, impact fees allow the town to offset the costs of new buildings, equipment purchases, and other capital investments to necessary to accommodate new residential development. uh costs that would otherwise be borne uh solely by the taxpayers. Um the CIP committee um has needed to ensure that the CIP remains current and relevant as a planning and budgetary tool. We see it as a living and breathing document and um continue to meet um each year to review the um the plan. The vision, well, the capital improvement planning committee created a vision statement um when it began to to meet. It was intended to be a blueprint for the next six years
005through uh the year through the year of 2031 for this year. uh the future growth of our town, its resources, prioritary prioritizing strategic short and long-term eponomic development goals, cost impact as well as offsetting revenue sources are basically in the scope for CIP review. And the aspects of our town's future considered by the CIP include the heritage preservation and community character, land use and growth management, preservation of natural resources, economic development, community services and facilities, infrastructure needs, and replacement and continuing maintenance of town assets. CFA aims to put forth um a recommended list of capital needs across the town and school district that protects the town's investments as well as limits tax taxing impact um basically in a controlled environment. The CI the capital improvement uh committee um remains to be fully transparent to Lichfield
006residents, welcomes feedback and seeks uh board of selectmen, school board and budget committee approval of recommended warning articles um in March of 2026 that begin that can begin to act be actioned in a phased and fiscally responsible way. Um, as you see, we have the members of the committee, myself for the planning board, Peter Plansky, vice chair of the school board, Kim Queenan, uh, B the board of selectman representative. Pete Stone, citizens rep, um, Michael Parker, citizens rep. Uh, Brian Bourke is the budget committee representative. He is non- voting. Uh, Kim Kleiner is our town administrator. She is non- voting. Jay Car from NRPC is on the board. he is on the committee is non- voting and Brian Okonnell the business administrator Lichfield or the business uh the superintendent of the Lichfield school district and
007the business administrator they are non- voting um we talked about stat CIP the statutory authority and purpose is under RSA 674 col 5 and six um the 2014 town warrant article delegated authority to the board of selectmen um to create the committee. Um it was formed at the discretion of the select board. Capital improvement planning committee was created to develop a master plan of key projects spanning both town and school. And the uh plan was looking at all anticipated expenses from various departments that are generally uh over $50,000. Uh it's important to note that the document is simply a planning document and all items within the plan uh would need to be voted by the respective boards, budget committee and voters at uh town meeting each year. Um it does not actually reflect a tax
008impact or actual funded projects at that stage. The board of selectment have to make that decision. Um you can see the meeting summary uh for this year from um January 6, 2025 to December um 2025. We've actually set up a pretty good schedule this year of meetings and uh to review the plan and to um have the folks from the departments and the commissions and the the school come in and and provide um presentations. Um so we are after tonight uh if the this uh plan is is approved um then it will go to the board of selectmen for their approval. >> Uh well I guess we're going to start out with the school um Griffin Memorial School. So the elementary school project remains a top priority uh on the school side. $20 million renovation
009of GMS was rated as urgent by the CIP committee. Uh other priorities uh to highlight was the uh Lichfield Middle School pavement parking lot and access road that was identified by the committee as urgent. Um the purchase of the solar array and storage for Lichfield Middle School was identified as necessary. Uh this uh Campbell High School exterior building repairs were identified as necessary as well as the Campbell High School and Litfield Middle School repairs or improvements. Those were also identified as necessary and district-wide capital improvements were identified as necessary um that over the six-year term for the school this year. Uh going to the police department projects, we have two things for highlights. Uh the new police facility planned for 2029 was identified as unnecessary by the CIP. Uh and identified as urgent uh were
010the uh uh the uh acquiring the police cruiser leases. Uh six of them um 2026 to come from the existing funds and that was over the six-year term. Highway Department and Roads um looked at the town operating budget which would which includes 200,000 for annual road improvements in accordance with the master road improvement plan offset by highway block grant funds and the additional improvements proposed at 200,000 per year to total 600,000 over the six-year period designated as urgent by the committee. uh buildings and equipment based on the highway department. Uh the new 170,000 highway storage garage in 2026 would come from existing funds that was identified by the committee as urgent. Replacement of eight light, medium, and heavy duty trucks, including replacement of a 2004 3 F350 in 2026 that was rated as urgent. uh
011recreation improvements. Um there was a new playground at Sawmill Brook and an upgrade or replacement of the Deropon playground um that were proposed. A new community center proposed for 2029. Talent Hall uh was in need of major improvements or replacement. However, the project is deferable as additional research was the committee felt additional research was needed for those. Um, a new community stage is proposed that is also designated as deferable again um looking to research that uh or need need for further research. Looking at conservation land acquisition that was ranked desirable. Um the 2 million request to purchase certain parcels of land uh that remains in the uh capital improvement plan. No changes. Uh library improvements. Um we have a proposed new roof and foundation work was designated as urgent to be paid from existing funds.
012Um there was proposal for new security cameras were also designated as urgent and a new library building. The estimated cost to be 3,997,746 is proposed, but no project here has been determined. The project is also designated as deferable as there needs to be further research. and you'll see the uh capital improvement plan, the the revised version um that was approved by the uh capital improvement committee and with the rankings um that we just mentioned tonight. And that is all we have folks that any questions for the board? No way anybody is seeing that. But nevertheless, >> I have a question for you on the the as committee members, >> what um what does it take for you to get an urgent rating? Does it have to be unanimous? Does it have to be a simple
013majority? What defines how does it go from desirable to urgent or necessary to urgent I guess is what I'm trying to ask. >> Well, I think urgent um is used to define it. It's basically that it the need has to be there has to be a current need and it has to be immediate >> issue or something. Well, it it it could be um for example, um I think we talked about one of the um highway vehicles being an urgent uh need only because of the age of the vehicle. Um and you know there could be safety issues with that involved with that as well. But most importantly that the the time the timing now um based on the you know the age of the vehicle and what what it can and can't do anymore
014um that can be make a a you know make it an urgent request. um something that is necessary would probably you know fall down from an urgent go down you know like next in line from from it's not an necessarily an urgency that we need it now but it is necessary in the sense that it is something that um we need to to have or at least require looking to have. Um, and then of course desirable, you know, deferable and it goes down from there. So, um, I don't know if that answers your question, but >> yeah, I was there any were there any items that were of particular debate amongst yourselves in the committee like one or two things that you had extensive discussions on? >> Um, more so than others? Yeah, I mean
015there were a couple I mean obviously um the um I think one of the things uh the conservation p uh properties um that was originally a necessary and that was uh downgraded to a desirable >> um I think their committee feelings that there was certain amount of money in the uh current use that um they felt that and of course you know I did speak with the conservation commission about about it. They didn't seem to have too much of a concern um because they know that the money's there and if they need it, they can they can use it. So, they're not too concerned and I think because of the recent purchase that they made >> for the D Roshu property. I think that's another one that was quite extensive. So, >> I know there's
016some committee members here who might have some thoughts. >> I'm going to I am going to open it up to public comment and if any of the committee members are here, some of the committee members are here from the capital improvement committee tonight. But there definitely was discussion around some of these. I think in particular there was discussion around um some of the ones that were deferable. Um and there was conversation around is could something be urgent if it's not needed for 26 or 27 if it's down the road, >> but they were they were definitely debated individually. >> Yeah. >> Do we have to worry about any of these where there's a state grant or anything like that? Do we have to worry about any of that being revoked or >> ask the question?
017>> No, I mean the I think that that is there to represent that there is a possibility that there may be grant funding available. >> So I see so we're not relying on it necessarily, but it's a possibility for that particular item. >> And referring to the the rescue truck for the fire department. >> Uh there are a couple of them. Yep. The rescue truck. Uh the block grant funds. just curious more than anything else. >> I think Kim might have a response. >> So, I guess what I'll do because it is a public hearing, I will open it up to public comment. Um, if any members of the public here, we obviously we have our town administrator here tonight, Kim Kleiner. She is on the CIP committee, Pete Stone who is our citizens representative,
018and Mike Parker who is also a citizens representative for the committee. So, >> I can answer your question. So, still >> Kim Klein, our town administrator. Um I I think your question is a great one and just um I'll give you an example like under the highway department that Ford F350 that is urgent. It's off the road. >> So that's a down vehicle and unfortunately um we just don't think it's worth the investment to put that vehicle back on the road. So that leaves us down. That becomes an urgent request. Um the other one is the highway storage garage. We plan to use impact fees for that. So that is an urgent request because what we're finding is our vehicles are taking a significant um deterioration due to weather. um having salt in touch your
019vehicles and then leaving them outside in the elements is the worst thing that you can do. And so that's why many um Department of Public Works and highway departments across the state are making sure that their vehicles are covered. Um so even though that's we plan to fund that from impact fees which is one of the uses of impact fees that's rated urgent. Um the other item is the international 7 um 7400 heavy. we will apply for a grant for that >> uh from the clean fleets grant. Um and as long as it's necessary on here, we will submit this plan as part of our backup to that grant and that will be fine. Um so necessary and you know urgent are kind of interchangeable except if we really would like the board of selectman
020to place a warrant article um for this year which they'll be discussing next u Monday night at their meeting. We would ask for it to be rated urgent because there is a request that can't be filled. So if that helps. >> Yeah. Thank you. Ju just to build on that if I could. Um it's kind of a complicated spreadsheet. Um but uh this is a little bit of a truncated one. Uh we can get everybody the full one just to even well I was going to say to try to fit it on a page and that didn't quite work either. Um but if you were to look at the full spreadsheet um you would notice that there are so a couple of things I guess I'll point out. So, first of all, if you see
021something that is kind of a lighter gray and in brackets, that means um that it is being funded through some other revenue source. It won't hit the tax rate. So, that's why those were shown in that way. And then there's a column that says funding source with a one, a two, or a three. And that'll indicate whether it's coming from impact fees, a state grant, or um you know it's coming from a trust fund or some other source. As a general rule, unless so for example with impact fees, nothing was shown as being funded by impact fees if the funds weren't available and we had an indication that it was an allowed use. Um with the grants, we put them in if there was reasonable assurance reasonable likelihood, right, that we were going to get
022it. Um, so that either meant it was already approved or um, for example, like in the block grant funds for highway um, uh, department, that's pretty a pretty consistent amount of money that comes every year through a block grant. So reasonable to assume. Um but if we didn't have that, there was one case where something was shown as being funded with impact fees and we determined that that it wasn't eligible and we you know so we change that designation. So we tried to be careful with with the funding sources. >> Thank you for all your hard work on this all of you. >> Anybody have anything questions? Pete, Mike, anything? >> I think it was explained well. >> Okay. So, the total wish list over all six years is be 54 million. 54,47 bottom right
023corner of the eye chart. And that's total of everything school and municipal. >> So yes, but not all within the six-year period. Within the six-year period, it's 22,655 >> 489. Uh because some of the bonded projects of course are going to continue beyond the period. >> Gotcha. Understood. >> So 22 that's not that bad >> overall. It's a lot of money, but it's not as bad for a six-y year plan, >> right? And there was also some effort to try to even the impact over the course of the six years. That's not always possible. It's not possible to do it exactly, but there was some effort to do that as well. So, is it my understanding that we would vote tonight to recommend? >> Yeah. To recommend. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I know Kim,
024you had sent out some dates, I think, for the next board of selectment meeting. One was the 24th of November and the other one, I believe, was December 8th. Um the only problem is is that I have a comm I have a meeting on another another board on the 24th. So if we were to do it, it would probably be December 8th would be my availability. That's the only thing if that works for the board. So >> and as if that works for everyone else. >> And as I was looking, I'll note that we are almost a full month ahead of last year. >> Yeah. Wow. >> Not bad. >> Pretty good. Pretty good shape. Yeah, I think we did a good job of um scheduling this year. So, um, so, um, if nobody else
025has any other questions, um, I guess I'm looking for a motion, um, to basically recommend this um, spreadsheet be presented to the board of selectmen at their next meeting on December mber 8th. >> Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion. >> Okay. >> That we uh recommend the Lichfield Capital Improvements Program for 2026 through 2031. >> Um to the board of sele. >> Okay. >> Next meeting. >> Okay. So for December 8th >> for December 8th. Okay. Um, I have a motion by Letha. Do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Second by Jared. Uh, any further discussion? >> All right, I'll take a vote. All those in favor of the motion. >> Um, to have this recommended this to go forward to the board of selectmen for their December 8th meeting. Please signify
026by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed? Anybody abstained? >> Me. >> Okay. Motion passes. One, two, three, four. Uh, 61. Okay. Well, thank you very much and thank everybody who's done great job. >> Thank you for doing all that >> hard work and uh Okay. Appreciate that. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right, moving on to our agenda. Um, next item this evening is the master plan update. We have a master plan update, chapter 3, natural resources, which is still in process, I'm sorry to say, but I still >> I mean, we're we are close, so I will get a draft out to you shortly, but okay. >> It's not ready for prime time yet. >> All right. What are the major changes from the prior? >> They're really significant um just because
027so much has happened. So, so the big things I I would say that um are notable. One, a very significant loss of farmland. Um so we've seen a lot even in the the I I still have to make some updates to the 2022 map because we've lost two more. Um, so that's that's one of the biggest changes. There's also been additional conservation land that's been acquired. >> So, um, that's also important, including, you know, one really significant one recently, um, that's worth talking about. And, uh, there were, of course, as we've seen before in other chapters, there were a lot of assumptions about things that were going to happen in Lichfield. Um, you know, circumferential highway, etc. uh that that didn't happen. Some of the assumptions around growth have definitely changed and um just strategies,
028tactics, funding there there just been changes on all of those fronts. >> So what I thought was a lighter lift is actually a heavier lift because it's really all of the data that you're looking at has shifted. Um the other thing that is really significant and and very positive is that the conservation commission uh adopted a conservation plan a couple of years ago and they really put a lot of time and thought into priorities around acquisition and I think that's really important to bring into the plan as well. Um, and then there's other changes that I would say are uh I wouldn't necessar say they're minor, but there's some information that we didn't have available the last time it was done. For instance, the priority habitat mapping that we now have um I think is
029really important to bring in. Um land use change generally. We've got some good data around how many acres have shifted from one use to another. Most of that of course is from undeveloped land to developed. Uh also current use that the properties that are in current use have changed and needless to say more development has meant more property has come out. So that is another change as well. Um so uh the key I think is really going to be around what are you know kind of two prongs regulatory strategies around enhancing conservation which are things like you know I'm not saying that this is necessarily a recommendation but you know increasing um buffer requirements or setbacks from wetlands as an example and acquisition um and really realistically there's fewer and fewer target areas. Um and
030then of course there's things like groundwater conservation etc. Changes around that too whereas there were active water supply wells you know public wells you know that's no longer the case. Also PAS um you know needless to say emerged as a really significant issue um and that was not an issue um when the master plan was last updated. >> No issue. Yeah. Right. So, there's just there's a lot of content that that really So, I'm bringing it. I have a nice I do have a draft together, but it's still in rough form. Um, but yeah, it I really didn't appreciate how much change there because you kind of think, well, you know, the aquifers are still the aquifers and the the wetlands are still the wetlands. So, yeah. >> No, the wells are poisoned. There's no
031need for an aquifer protection district anymore. >> I mean sad. >> Thanks, Marramck. >> Yeah. So, a lot of change, but I I I will get you something shortly. >> Okay. >> Definitely an interesting it's an interesting process though to kind of go through when you are looking at that other draft and realizing >> that you know the number of things that have changed. It does also I don't I don't know if I want to look at that necessarily as a positive but it definitely helps to focus your attention on what are the resources that are remaining how to prioritize those and you know what can you really do that's effective >> the last time this was updated was 2002 >> right >> well that's the last time was 2002 >> yeah I mean >>
032years ago >> it's a lot of change so yeah so more to come for sure and and I think it'll be interesting. >> Okay, we look forward to that. Um, next item is our zoning amendment work session. U, we uh talked about couple of things last session regarding duplex definition and the uh draft solar energy ordinance. Um, and I guess any other zoning amendments were vote in March of 2026. So, I guess I'll turn this over to to Jay. >> So, um, at the last meeting, and I can repeat it if anybody is interested. I know everybody wasn't here. Um but we um for the question on duplexes I put up a uh PowerPoint basically um a little slideshow on um comparative definitions and images of duplexes if if people would like to see that
033again I can absolutely run through that again. um it's up up to the board, but essentially what that did was there there was a significant amount of variation from uh one community to the other on how they defined what a duplex is. And um based on those, we kind of came up with a recommended uh amendment. Uh that's what I've got up on the screen now. And again, I can go back to any of those examples and it pulled in a lot of the elements that we saw in many of the other communities. Um, we had a significant um amount of discussion. I'll read through it and then I'll I'll talk kind of talk to discussion. So right now, if you're looking at um the amendment, what is what you see in black is what
034exists today as the definition in the zoning ordinance, and that is duplex or two family residents is two attached dwelling units contained in a single building. Period. Um, and just back, you know, going back, I I think one of the reasons why a change was initially proposed was because of the lack of clarity that that gave the building inspector. Uh, and I so I guess presumably the public on what is or isn't allowed. I'm trying to I'm just trying to get that a little bit um bigger, but I can't. Um so uh what's proposed is obviously you keep that intro and then what would be added would be located on one lot separated either vertically or horizontally by a fireresistant party wall with each unit having its own separate entrance. The area of the party
035wall separating the two units shall not oh I should put a B in there shall not be less than 33% of the total area of the adjacent side of each dwelling unit. Duplexes do not include accessory dwelling units as defined in section 507.03 of this ordinance. So that's the definition. We did spend a fair amount of time talking about what percentage should touch. Um and that came out of input that we had had at a prior work session where there was like gee you should allow for staggering um you know for aesthetic reasons or for whatever other reason. Uh so that's where the 33% came in. It's you know kind of there should be enough that it's a built that you can consider it a single building but not so much that you are restricting
036design options. So that's what we came up with. I uh drove past the uh duplex that spurred this discussion. And yeah, that looks like they built a little tiny thing for the sole purpose of making it past zoning. >> Like it's attached. >> So clearly it doesn't meet the 33%. Is that what you're getting at? Oh, it's like >> Okay. >> It's 1% and a breezeway. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> It's like three square feet. A square three square foot triangle just connecting two buildings for >> it's uh clearly designed solely to get past zoning. It serves no purpose except to attach the two buildings because I think it's still like eight or 10 feet high. Really high. It's not like it's over a porch or something. >> Yeah, there's no porch there. It's literally
037just a little tiny roof thing. >> So if it falls over in a snowstorm, will they have to put it back up? >> Yeah. It meets the letter of the audience, but not the spirit of it. >> Not at all. >> Yeah. >> I think this this does a lot more to kind of bring it closer in line with I think what we want to see. And I I know we were talking a lot about kind of numbers and specifics. So I know we can kind of talk more about that if we need. I think 33% kind of thinking more on it. I know a lot of us were I was attached to 50 just cuz it was kind of clean and dry. I think 33 is reasonable because it it only requires like a
038very small amount of overlap while kind of still maintaining that the buildings have to be reasonably connected. So I I like that suggestion Jared from last time. >> And another complication that I thought of um is that if they have like let's say one building is one story and the other building is two stories. If they have 50% overlap with that then um it's reduced to a smaller amount with only one of them being two stories and one being a single story um because of the um yeah just because one's not as tall so it's not overlapping on that part right so I think this should be good and I don't think it needs more clarification I was thinking of maybe suggesting for at least one uh level of a dwelling. Um but then that
039complicates things even more with the stacked ones. So I don't think we need to get into that at all. This should prevent the concerns that we had. >> What do we have this? You have four duplexes built. Three on page. Four on page. Aren't they all on page? No, three on talent. Uh well talent talent. >> Yeah. I mean >> two buildings. >> Okay. >> Dera pond is duplexes. >> Yeah. But those I'm saying this in this past year. >> Oh in this past. Yeah. Yeah. We just approved a new subdivision with the I think four lots but three of them are new duplexes. >> Yeah. I think it's going to be more and more prevalent as the cost of houses are getting so expensive that the only way the only alternative is an ADU
040or duplex. I >> I think that's probably true. We're going to see more duplexes. So, if this makes sense, the >> Has the building inspector had an opportunity to take a look at this? >> Uh, I don't think so. By the way, he's leaving. >> Oh, he's leaving. >> Yes. Okay. >> December 19th. >> Very shortlived. >> Yes. >> So, the new building inspector hasn't because we don't have new building inspector yet. >> Okay. submit an RFP the other day it was posted. >> Good. >> So, if this makes sense, then the next step would be to send it to public hearing. >> Just as a reminder, we have two that we've already sent forward a public hearing. >> And um we didn't set a date certain for those, but just in looking at the
041calendar, that the um public hearing would be January 6. That'd be the last day we could hold the first public hearing. So, it doesn't have to be that day, but that's the last day we could hold it in our schedule. >> Yeah. And that would allow one or one more public hearing after that? >> Yes. Yeah. >> We always budget for two. >> Does this have to be adopted by ballot? >> Yes. And so the next the second public hearing um again would make sense for us um would be the 20th. So we'd be looking at the 6th and the 20th. Could hold a public hearing sooner than that though if we wished. >> I'm I prefer not waiting till the last meeting. Uh if it makes sense. searches. >> Does anybody have any >>
042I was gonna say I think there's enough in here and I think um a number of the items were taken from other towns approvals and and we know that they have not necessarily their inspectors have not necessarily had much issue and in or at least we haven't heard of any issues with their language. So, I don't know. I feel pretty comfortable that there's enough in here that it's pretty clear. >> The uh the overlap requirement I don't think was in any of our adjacent towns. >> There was one town where >> I think there was one town that had an overlap. I >> don't remember which one, but it was addressed. >> Yeah. But we did we did we took certainly took pieces from different ones. They had language like the ADU language was one
043town made that clear and that was a good idea. So calendar-wise, we I mean we could do it on December 16th if that's we could probably do it on the 2nd, but that'd be a scramble. >> One question, can you have a duplex plus an ADU? And if is it per household? So can you have a duplex? >> No, it's single family homes only. >> Single family. Okay. >> Yeah. >> And then you'd end up with three dwelling units. >> Three or four? >> Four. >> Yeah. Four on a single lot. is a single family dwelling though. >> And nowadays you have to the people have to choose do you want something that can fit on a smaller lot and has a single family home with a ADU or do you want a bigger lot
044that has that's slightly bigger for the requirements of a duplex. But you can have uh whatever size you really want on the two units and you can have separate ownership. >> Right. >> Okay. >> And yeah, speaking of ADUs, there was another um ADU that went before before the ZBA yesterday. Uh it was another one requesting to convert a gigantic garage's second floor into an ADU and they uh just found it not unique and not meeting any of the five criteria. >> Oh, so it was denied. >> Yep. >> 1,700 square feet. That's a big ADU. >> It's huge. >> Um so yeah, that was denied. Um, but definitely shows that people are trying to uh create those very large ADUs um with their existing structures. And for that one, I'm sure they're just going
045have to figure out a good way to keep part of the space unfinished. And I think that was one of the things that we because for the the two that we've already put forward is the ADU amendment and the um changes to home occupations relative mainly to uh family uh child care home child care. >> Um and I think we anticipated there's probably going to be a good discussion around what should the maximum size of an ADU be. >> Yeah. And also it was brought up like how to define it currently that people are using the the definition that lets them squeeze as much square footage as possible out of it. Um I know that I've heard that for the recent ADUs they've been using they're they haven't been counting stairwells in closets, >> right?
046But when you count building square footage, generally you just count a stairwell once rather than once for each floor um and include closets. So >> the question is should we do should we clarify >> follow the antsy standards? I don't I don't get that but >> okay there is a standard out there. They should go by the one. >> What's that standard you've got? >> I'm sorry. And what is that standard? You count closets. You cl you you count stayaways. >> I don't know all the specifics, but I do know that it's it's followed in the the trade and it's called antsy. And there's, >> you know, >> and you do Yeah. >> Go to class for days over it. >> Same way you calculate your home. >> Yeah. >> Right. With single residence or
047double, >> right? And the question is, do we want to keep it ambiguous or do we want to define how to how the square foot should be calculated? >> I'm going to have to go back to our draft. Something told me that I thought we did address. >> I thought we addressed it as well. >> Yeah, I'm going to have to go back to the draft on that. But yeah, which I can do after this >> because one of the using the example that was brought to the ZBA I don't know a month or two ago um not including that space was like 970 but including that space was like 1,400 or something and it was >> maybe a little less but it was still quite large. Big some big closets probably big stairwells. >>
048Big stairwells. Grand stairwell to your >> Okay. >> So, we comfortable to send this to public hearing and we say December 16th. >> We hadn't decided. I mean, if that's the will of the board, we could certainly do it on the 16th. >> Does it make sense to split up the public hearings like that, though? Do we want to have the public in the room for all of our business in one shot? >> We can do that as well. >> Yeah, we didn't. For the other two, we voted to send them to public hearing, but we didn't choose a date, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, we can do them on the 16th if that's what we want to do. >> Just to maximize turnout. >> Yeah. I think that would be a good idea
049to do them all in one night. >> Do you want to entertain a motion, Russ? >> Yeah. I'd make a motion to uh take the duplex two family residence amended definition to public hearing on excuse me December 16th. >> Okay. I have a motion by Russ. Do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Second by Jared. Any further discussion? All right. Take a vote. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying I. >> I. Those opposed? Anybody abstaining? Motion passes. 700. Okay. So, we'll have that was December 16th. >> And we should probably uh have a motion to to set a date for the other two or does that or is that necessary? >> It's probably a good idea because we didn't. >> All right. So, yeah, if you want
050to make a motion to uh set the date for the other two, then we can >> Okay. I will make a motion to uh specify the date uh as December 16th for the public hearing for the previously um for the um zoning amendments previously uh sent to public hearing. Okay. >> I don't remember what those were. Uh they were changes to the home occupation ordinance making a conditional use and the ADUs amending the ADU ordinance. >> Okay. I have a motion by Jared. Do I have a second? >> Second by Russ. Any further discussion? >> All right. Take a vote. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying I. >> I. Those opposed? Abstain. >> I'm going to abstain. So I'm not sure if it'll come before us or not. >> Okay.
051Motion passes. 601. Okay, so that takes care of that. See, um, moving on. Do we want to talk about the, uh, draft solar energy ordinance? >> Yeah, I can I can walk through this one. So, this is needless to say more complicated. Um and and just for a little background um this is based um on a model solar ordinance that was developed and circulated by clean energy in New Hampshire. Um it's you know very much adapted for what would make sense at least I think would make sense for for Lichfield. Um, so right now Lichfield's zoning ordinance is silent on solar installations. So, um, how Lichfield would regulate them is, you know, pretty uncertain because it's obviously completely vague. Uh, there are solar panels on, you know, people's roses in Lichfield. Those have been improved.
052There's at least one groundmounted um solar installation um that I think we're all aware of. um uh on a residential property, but otherwise we're silent. And so what this ordinance would do would be to allow the town to regulate solar installations, and there's a wide variety of them. So I'll just kind of walk through that um you know, how this is structured. So first of all, uh I mean obviously we have the purpose of the ordinance. Um there are just starting with a lot of definitions. So, right now we have no definitions, but some of the key ones are dualuse solar. And um I'll just kind of spend a little bit of time hovering on this. So, this is a solar energy system that's colllocated on the same parcel with some other land use. So,
053it's not the primary use. Um it's also not an accessory use, it is, you know, a dual use on the property. Uh and that can include very often um agriculture. So it is a dual use on an agricultural property, can be a brown field. Um you know there's a variety of different types. Um importantly though we wanted to make it clear that dualuse solar systems do not include roof mounted systems. Um they in do not include groundmounted systems that are accessory to a residential use such as the one that I just mentioned. Um they um also uh don't include solar carport systems um and those are those solar structure canopies that are erected on parking lots uh because that's an accessory to a parking area. Um they also don't include and we spent some time
054talking about this I so I'll just read it systems are pertinent to electric vehicle supply equipment energy storage facilities for use in electric vehicle charging um or off-grid systems are pertinent to individual appliances or equipment. So that's a short way or a very long way of saying um if it is a solar installation uh such as one of those single panels that is often on a traffic control device um you know warning you're speeding you know you're going too fast whatever those are not considered dual use um then just moving on there's a lot of um other definitions in here um I'm not going to go through a lot of these obviously we have solar um you roof mounted and again the solar car ports. Um otherwise most of these are really not I'm not
055going to go through them all but if there's any questions on them I can go back to it. So key next is general requirements and these and the first one is related to accessory accessory use solar systems. So this is where we talk about roof mounted systems and essentially under this ordinance roof mounted systems um would be allowed anywhere um in any zoning district uh so long as you meet the following criteria. So no special approvals are required. They're permitted. Um but there are some design standards. So uh just as an example on um a pitched roof has to be parallel to the surface. If you can imagine a pitched roof with solar panels, the solar panel can't go beyond the, you know, the pitch of the roof as an example. Uh, it also just
056notes on a flat roof, um, they're exempt from the height requirements. They don't tend to get very high, but they would be potentially a little bit higher. Um, and then we just note under this that a ground mounted system can't exceed 20 feet in height. Uh, most of those are tilted. So that at the maximum tilt. Um also importantly um a ground mounted system has to meet setback requirements. So all applicable setback requirements. Uh and then ground mounted systems have to be adequately screened from adjacent residential uses, public highways, vegetated buffers, etc. Um that does not that's ground mounted only. Just to make it clear that doesn't apply to roof mounted, needless to say. um lot uh they are exempt from lot coverage requirements and so long as and imperousness requirements so long as the
057area under the system maintains its vegetated ground cover. So if it's um you know hard top underneath then obviously that's impervious but otherwise it's not. So the next section so that's general requirements that applies anywhere any any zoning district. Next are groundmounted um solar energy systems and this section deals with dual use and primary use. So we're a groundmounted system and think of the larger scale solar arrays that we you know sometimes see um this would they would only be allowed as a conditional use and uh as if it's a primary use it's only allowed in the northern and southern commercial industrial service districts. Um, so just standing up to the zoning map, that is this area here shown in the dotted peach and this area here shown in the dotted peach. Um, and as
058we talked last time, this area here really doesn't about anything because there's transition zone here, here, and commercial zone here. I don't want to say anything, but doesn't about residential areas. uh and for the most it does about 3A here. The same thing is true for all this surrounding area. Um but in this district it does about 3A and so that's dealt with specifically a little further on. So again it would be allowed under this draft in those districts as a uh p you know as a primary use would be allowed as a conditional use. dual use systems are permitted as a conditional use uh in in the northern and southern commercial industrial service districts. So those same districts but also the highway commercial district the southwestern commercial district as well. So that is this
059is the southwest commercial district and um this uh and this is the highway commercial district. We actually did not include the northern commercial district. And then in addition to that, it is allowed in the residential district only on parcels of 10 acres or more where where it's in association with active agriculture. So those are the three circumstances where you can have dual use solar. And the rationale there was that it's becoming increasingly common for active agricultural uses to have solar arrays uh or some form of solar installation on their sites. So that's the concept. So then there are the design standards. Uh the first is a system layout and that's just a general because once again this is a conditional use. So they'd have to come to the planning board for site plan review and
060this would be the additional criteria. So obviously they have to show you know due regard for its sighting with uh regard for few sheds making sure again it's screened um fenced etc as appropriate. Um again just noting that it would have to meet all building setbacks except um where it abotss 3A um all solar energy systems again this is only primary and dual use um arrays would have to be set back not less than 100 ft from Charles Bankraftoft Highway. um uh power and communication lines need to be buried. Although the planning board can grant an exception for that where it's essentially not practical. Um fencing may be required for screening, it may also be required for security reasons. And then we just note that um the ground mounted solar arrays are subject to storm
061water management requirements. However, once again, if the ground surface is um vegetated, it's not considered impervious. Um site man the in terms of site management, the land clearing should be limited to what's necessary for the array. And then um finally um we just note that uh dual use with agriculture is encouraged. And then we get into submission requirements. So submission requirements and these would be uh in addition to the normal site plan review requirements, you also need to um provide this information. Obviously, you know, you're going to show the site, you're going to show the location, uh what area is is going to be cleared. Here there's a little bit more of an emphasis on, you know, showing the impact, the visual impact. Um specifying the equipment. Um, you would also need to provide an
062operation and maintenance plan. So, how are you going to maintain the site? And then an emergency response plan uh that would be submitted to the fire department. And then finally, a plan for um abandoning and decommissioning the site. And um that could also require uh the board could also require the posting of a bond or a letter of credit to ensure that it's decommissioned properly. So that's the concept. Okay. Thank you, Jay. Anybody have any questions? >> Nicely done. You took a 33page document. You boiled it down and you seriously and and you were able to capture all some of our points from last meeting. It was very nicely done. So, are we planning on sending this to a public hearing for um this upcoming um public meeting >> if it's if it's the will
063of the board? >> Before you do that, I would want to make sure that you find and replace uh the spelling of duel throughout the thing. >> Yeah. Uh >> oh. >> Uh you're right. D L E L. You're right. >> Says it's D U L E. Yeah, I'm sure that was a fat finger thing. >> Yes, it was. >> But just so that >> No, but that's that's that's a good call cuz my I I read it. >> No worries. Well, I will open it up to members of the public if anybody members of the public here tonight want to comment on the uh proposed ordinance. So, Okay. My only question was just I know last time I know we talked a little bit about kind of fencing and screening these things off and
064this is very helpful but I don't know this just if there's anything out there. Are there any like examples like photos maybe of kind of like we could put in of what we want or we're looking for particularly on those kind of spots where where they might be very visible like on that kind of Albuquerque situation that we were talking about last time. >> I can look. >> Okay. Yeah. like ju just >> yeah that'd be just that I know I know they're gonna have to come before us as a kind of conditional use anyways and we'd have that discussion but it might help put some guard rails on >> yeah I I'll find some maybe I'll you know put together a PowerPoint for for the public hearing >> perfect thank you >> yeah I
065mean the wording in there you got the wording right after a discussion last time and that you talked about um backing up to um residential uh or or public highways. Um screening from view. So I mean I I thought that that was pretty clear. >> Yeah. >> Which was nice. >> Um Well, it's up to the board. I mean, if you want to um take the opportunity to review it some more, look at it some more, we can do that. Or if you want to, you feel it's comfortable to send to a public hearing, we can do that as well. But it's it's up to you guys. Um, so it's the will of the board. >> I think substantively this is ready for uh a public hearing. Seems to cover what Lichfield would what would
066make sense in Lichfield. >> I think this is also probably one of the things that might attract a crowd. So we might kind of have the added advantage of a little extra time and kind of meetings to to address everyone's concerns. Okay. And did you want to schedule that for December 16th as well or another date? >> Be nice to have everyone here on the day >> all the other um public hearings are so that we get attendance for all of them. >> Does anyone want to send a motion? >> Mr. Chair, I will make a motion to send the uh draft solar energy ordinance to public hearing for December 16th. Okay, I have a motion by Travis. Do I have a second? >> A second. >> Second by Jared. Any further discussion? All right,
067we'll take a vote. All those in favor of um moving this uh ordinance to public hearing December 16, 2025, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed, abstained. Motion passes 7 0. Okay. >> So, we'll take it to public hearing. Thank you. Um, we have one more that um I I don't know if the select wanted it. Um, right now there are no signs allowed on Albuquerque. So that we could maybe make it town function signs or something to that effect are allowed on Albuquerque Avenue. >> Okay. I could probably pull something together on that for the next meeting. >> Yeah. >> Appropriate and um do some little research and >> yeah can come up with >> we had a brief discussion month or two ago about it. >> Seems like there's no
068enforcement of the the prohibition as it stands. >> Yeah, there was enforcement. >> There's enforcement >> enforcement agent in the building inspector. Okay. I drive Albuquerque frequently and see signs that are there for quite some time and there just seems to be nothing uh done about them. >> So, what is it that the what is the issue? I guess >> the intention >> the um things like the fishing derby signs are pulled down and you know town events. >> Um even putting when the kids graduate high school, the signs going up along Albuquerque right in front of the building. those aren't really even supposed to be there. >> So, what we're trying to do is allow those situations for the fish and derby, for Christmas in Lichfield, for parades, for that kind of stuff to
069be granted, but we don't want to have a bunch of, you know, I'll do your roof, I'll hire me for paving signs for the time. >> Okay. >> And I think it was going to come between the before the board to get approval, right? Was that the intention or planning? >> I don't think so. No, >> I think it needs to come before the board for approval. >> Just if it was town events, you know, because we've always put the fishing derby signs up page in Albuquerque. >> Would these be for a temporary use or just um >> temporary? Yeah, >> temporary. >> Should say temporary. >> Okay. >> All right. So, I guess I don't know if that's something that you can >> Yeah, I could do that pull together for next time. One
070thing that um I noticed on the ZBA meeting as well is we've had our second equitable waiver in the last few months because of improperly locating house foundations in setbacks. Um and one thing that was brought up is that um Lichfield doesn't require a certified plot plan. >> Yeah, the plot what is it? The plot plan >> certified. Yeah, >> they they require after the building's up, but these require a foundation permit. >> Yeah, a lot of towns will require, you know, that you have a certified plan for the foundation. Yeah, >> might be time for us to consider that. >> Yeah. >> Yep. Um, I'm assuming that's a minor >> additional cost to the builders, but cheaper than moving a building. >> Um, >> or going to the VA. >> Yes. Is probably that
071they don't have to once it's up. >> Yeah. That's Yeah. Yeah. They they just use an equitable waiver at that point. >> Um, ask for forgiveness instead of permission. Mhm. >> But yeah, this this revising this process would help prevent this from happening. Um, so what would the process be for that if we wanted to consider that? I I can draft a requirement on that. >> I just have to think about where it's going to go. >> Yeah, the build building >> might go or it might go in the subdivision. >> Yeah, let me think about that. It's not just >> Yeah, it's not subdivision. It's got to be because that you want it to apply to, you know, existing individual lots also. >> Um, >> so it might be zone. Let me let me
072just noodle that a little bit, but I'll come up with something. >> Sounds good. Yeah, a lot of the neighboring towns to it, so I'm sure we can use those as >> Absolutely. >> Sounds good. >> All right. I think it was mentioned last night that Hooks and Lfield you that don't the gentleman who was sitting there talking really fast. It was kind of hard to catch everything he was saying as I was making dinner and trying to watch the meeting but he did mention hooks at and Lichfield in one of his statements about that >> as as what >> that didn't require it. Oh >> yeah, I I know Hudson does and it gets circulated. It has to be signed off by you know the zoning administrator. Yeah. Yeah. It makes sense to prevent
073like clearly it happened like these mistakes happened twice in the last few months. Like that's unusually frequent >> just made by errors in um surveyors and reading of surveyor um pinpoints. >> Yeah. It's also helpful for things like wetland setbacks and you know you typically also have other improvements that are there or roughed you know at the time also. So it makes sense. Okay. Anything else Jay or I think that's it for now. Okay. All right. Well, thank you very much for >> We walked in with four and we're walking up with six, so we'll see where we go from there. >> Sorry. >> So, you're making some headway. >> You have a lot of um warrant articles for >> cut those money articles. >> All right. Committee reports. Um any reports from any committees?
074Uh Jay, anything on economic development? Excuse me. >> Uh economic development uh has wrapped up. So >> Mhm. >> There should be a final report. >> Okay. >> You know, coming forward. >> Okay. >> Good. Uh anything from the board of select? >> I was out of town in the last meeting, so no catch up. >> That's it. No more travel this year. Okay. >> Um let's see. Capital Improvement Committee. Obviously, we presented our public hearing tonight. That'll be going before the board of selectmen on December 8th. Um, oh, the um Laura Marramac Local River Advisory Committee. Pete, when's the next meeting? >> Tomorrow. >> It's tomorrow night at 7 o'clock in Nasha City Hall. >> What are you guys talking about there? >> Liver. >> It's Well, yeah, that's But I mean, >> what
075do you advise on? >> Um, there are usually folks that come in with um AOT alteration terrain or shoreline permits. If any properties within the quarter mile of the Marramac River are affect affect the river, um they have to go before the local advisory board um which basically makes recommendations to dees. >> Okay. So, you need quite a bit of activity on that. >> We do. We also do other things too. We looking at water quality testing and >> bunch of other issues. PAS is one of them as well. So there are some other uh subjects that do come up. >> So now in our town, how would that work? If someone came before the ZBA or the planning and they live along the river and they wanted to do something, we'd have to send
076them >> if they if they live within I believe it's a quarter mile of the Marramac. >> It's required. it there is a requirement that you have to come before if you have a project that you know obviously >> would it be a ZBA thing or would it be planning or how do they >> No, it could be um that they need a state permit. >> Oh, okay. Like alteration of terrain or shoreland. >> I was just trying to figure out how that gets triggered. >> We flag it though on on our checklist. So we do >> we'll flag it and we'll let them know if they haven't that they need to. >> Yeah. So >> uh I think that's everything. >> We have NRPC tomorrow night >> and NRPC tomorrow night full commission. So
077>> probably um uh the main items will be um adopting safety targets for which is a federal requirement but essentially it's um h how many um fatalities and you know severe injuries are we can tolerate on our highways. Um >> yeah, it's always a fun exercise on Yeah. Um but that always seems to generate some interesting conversation like why isn't it zero? Why isn't it zero? So there's that. >> And uh there will be a discussion. I don't know if there'll be a vote on whether or not the commission wants to take a position on a potential toll increase andor gas tax increase. um some commissions have my don't I I don't want to speculate but um so we did decide to agenda it and um few other updates uh including I'll just note um
078since I know it'll be a issue here that I I did get notice that the DOT is beginning the process of decommissioning the circumferential highway and so that's a process and it'll take some time but essentially what that means is it will allow them to reach the point of declaring the land surplus and that impacts obviously Lichfield, Hudson very much so. Um, but I was not aware it does also impact Marramac and Nasha. There are some parcels that are affected as well. So, there'll be more to come on that. All right. Just Okay. Well, thank you um approval of the November 4, 2025 minutes. Did the board have an opportunity to take a look at those? Have any questions, amendments, concerns? Nothing jumped out at me, but >> Okay. And if there aren't any questions
079or concerns or amendments, does anyone want to entertain a motion to approve them? >> Mr. Chair, I make a motion that we approve the minutes from November 4th planning board meeting. >> Okay. I have a motion by Letha. Do I have a second? >> Second, Jesse. Okay. Any further discussion? All right, take a vote. All those in favor of the motion to approve the November 4th, 2025 minutes, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Anybody abstained? >> Abstain. >> Oh, okay. Well, you seconded. So, >> that's allowed. Yeah, you can actually vote if you watched the meeting and you read the minutes and you feel confident you could actually vote. >> Yeah. If you believe the meeting minutes accurately reflect the meeting's content. >> I do. >> Having not been at the
080meeting, I'm abstaining from voting on on that. >> Okay. I don't think you don't have to abstain. I'm just saying that. Okay. >> I wasn't present. >> He weren't present. >> Two, three, four. So that's Looks like it four. >> 43. >> Be five3. >> 53. >> Two. That's eight. >> No, that's eight. Yeah. Five zero. >> Four. >> No, not four. Um >> 503 because Russ Jeremy wasn't around, >> right? Jeremy. >> So, it's either 403 or 502. >> Yeah. No, there were four of us at the the last meeting. I know that. So that's four. >> And and Jesse's voting. >> And Jesse, >> are you voting or abstaining? >> Abstaining. >> He abstained. But he seconded the motion. >> Seconded the motion. >> There were one, two, three. There were four people
081absent. So I think it's Let's see. >> You need my fingers to come with >> pretty bad. So, we got seven people here. >> So, be Oh, yeah. Cuz Jerry Mo was in there. So, right. Okay. >> 403. Yeah. >> Wow. >> That was pretty bad. Okay. >> We're very thorough. Like, >> well, uh, yeah, and they had to make sense somehow. We had to figure it out. >> All right. Um, are there any other business this evening? Does anybody have Jay? Do you have anything? >> I do not. Um Joan, >> no. >> Anybody have anything? All right. That I guess concludes the business of the planning board for this evening. Um our next meeting is when? December >> second. >> 2nd Tuesday. First Tuesday of the month. So we will be meeting on
082December 2nd. Um, and with that, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Have a motion by Travis. Do we have a second? >> Second by Letha. All right. Any discussion? All right. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed, abstain. This should be really easy >> now because you're all 700. Okay. >> Thank you for joining us this evening. We'll see you in December. Happy Thanksgiving.