Posted by Dennis Herrick on June 24, 2009 at 09:58:01:
Why don't you go over to Nashua, Salem and Seabrook and ask those folks how they like commercial development in their towns. These communities have been destroyed. Why do we have to become another Salem? Why have Plaistow Planners become fixiated on this? Get in your cars and drag your asses over to Salem if you love these "shopper paradises". Block all further commercial development on RT 125 north of Sanborn's Candies. And I notice just like pro-public kindergarten, pro-Atkinson communication tower and the pro-Plaistow's Walmart SuperStore, these pro-development people never go away until they get what they want. I think the Walmart Superstore should be built on the former Goudreault Trailer Sales / Plaistow Drive-In lots. Then at least all that asbestos will get cleaned up. Then the kids can walk out the High School's back door and walk right into Walmart's back door and save us from all these carbon emissions. We should be looking to the bedroom community of Atkinson for our model, not DRED. Again Selectman John Sherman has it right. Before promising anyone anything you need to get community input and update the Master Plan.
And this is the kind of stuff we don't need and it came right out of the 1-Jun-2009 Selectman Meeting:
"M. Dorman discussed towns on the list which he spoke to that supported the project and noted that he supports the project 100% and thinks it is good for the Town."
Who's in favor of sending Mike back to Methuen, Ma, Dexter, Me or from whatever rock he crawled out from under?
Adios Plaistow, you're screwed! Taxes will be low enough, but who wants to live in a shopping mall?
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Tim Moore, Steve Ranlett - Route 125 Transportation Improvement Program/
Leigh Komornick – Economic Revitalization Zone
Tim Moore, Vice Chair of Planning Board, Leigh Komornick, Town Planner and Mike Dorman, Building Inspector, were present.
T. Moore discussed the Route 125 project noting it has been ongoing for awhile; wanting to modify state transportation improvement program; the increased funding for preliminary work on Route 125; nice to see positive signs that things are moving forward; administrative aspects; meeting with Cliff Sinnott; Federal funds being divided up into a number of areas; transportation enhancement funds; deadline for applying for certain projects; meeting with representative from Wal-Mart and economic development people; large parcel that Wal-Mart was interested in and the state criteria being 400 feet between traffic lights.
M. Dorman discussed and showed locat1on of the 400 feet which is near New England Reptile.
S. Fitzgerald discussed broader vision which would make Route 125 work; conversation with Steve Ranlett, Chairman of the Planning Board; transportation issues forth coming and discussions with NHDOT.
D. Poliquin discussed the serious impact to businesses along the Route 125 strip.
J. Sherman and M. Dorman discussed zone of Commercial I area locat1ons.
Board members discussed zoning area, development options, problems, safety concerns, improvements for Route 125 and feelings toward Route 125.
D. Poliquin read the draft scope of work from Rockingham Planning Commission pertaining to the Plaistow Main Street Traffic Study.
L. Komornick discussed signal warrant analysis.
S. Fitzgerald discussed taking information to NHDOT, defining scope of work, traffic safety, evaluation, state roads, funding, and getting legislative delegations on board.
Consensus of the Board is for Sean to bring this information to the members of the NHDOT.
M. Curran discussed broader look at all businesses along Route 125, not staying to a specific parcel of land and having a broader discussion to help all businesses.
J. Sherman agreed with Michelle. Any parcel of property that is big enough to cause an impact, such as properties with large depth which would be problematic because they could house the biggest stores and be the biggest traffic problems should be studied along with any and all intersections on Main Street should be studied.
Sue Edwards, beige house on the corner of 121A and Old Danville Road approached podium and discussed traffic counting done on her road.
L. Komornick discussed signal warrant analysis done on Danville Road and the request by previous Town Manager. She noted the State does not have this area on their project list.
J. Sherman inquired what the Master plan had to say about encouraging commercial on Rte 125.
T. Moore discussed width and noted it is not mentioned in the plan but it could be looked into. He spoke about pros and cons about rezoning areas on Route 125, holding a series of public hearings, and binding resolution which would support rezoning.
Leigh Komornick – NH Economic Revitalization Zone
S. Fitzgerald discussed follow up from the NH Economic Revitalization Zone (ERZ) discussions with representatives from Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED). He noted ERZ is a New Hampshire designation not the Towns. He discussed the previous meetings topics regarding strategies to help, incentives for business that want to relocate to NH, the effect on market ability, looking at vacancies, areas not being zoned correctly, and the struggle to turn some parcels into a broader utility to be more consistent with commercial vigor.
L. Komornick showed map of zoning locat1ons of Plaistow. She gave overview of properties, ERZ, Industrial I versus Industrial 2, and rail usage for certain areas regarding transportation.
D. Poliquin discussed Tax incentives and noted they are not offered by the Town, they come from DRED.
R. Gray noted he was in favor of this type of program to revitalize through tax credits and discussed his concerns regarding the previous conversation had by the Board regarding land growth.
M. Dorman discussed conversations with other towns and noted this would be something that you would want to do to get on the books in case a developer is looking for an ERZ piece of property.
D. Poliquin inquired if the Board needs to take a vote.
S. Fitzgerald noted the Board would need to vote to support this application submission.
J. Sherman inquired if the designation would affect assessed values of the property in any way.
S. Fitzgerald discussed conversation he had with Wil Corcoran from Corcoran & Assessing.
Motion by R. Gray to authorize the Town Manager to sign the agreement to go forward with NH Economic Revitalization Zone overlay as recommended by the Planning Board.
2nd by J. Sherman.
Vote 5-0-0.
Motion carries.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT:
S. Fitzgerald discussed:
Meeting with Wal-Mart’s Real Estate Broker, Scott Walker regarding the future potential for a superstore in Plaistow.
Highway Safety Committee meeting with the Rockingham County Planning Commission regarding the review of traffic management in Plaistow.
Old County Road sign which was approved at the last BOS meeting is in need of a variance. The memo was in the Selectman’s Signature folder for review.