Planning Board Meeting

DURHAM PLANNING BOARD

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Town Council Chambers, Durham Town Hall

7:00 p.m.

AGENDA

I.          Call to Order

II.        Roll Call and Seating of Alternates

III.       Approval of Agenda

IV.       Town Planner’s Report

V.        Reports from Board Members who serve on Other Committees

VI.       Public Comments

VII.     Review of Minutes (old): 

VIII.    Public Hearing – Amendment to Site Plan Regulations regarding Accessory Freestanding Solar Arrays.  Proposed amendment to allow for freestanding solar arrays that are an accessory use to be reviewed under the Minor Site Plan process.  Recommended action:  Adoption of amendment.

IX.       Workforce Housing – Potential Zoning Amendment.  Discussion about rough draft (second iteration) of a proposed workforce housing ordinance.  Recommended action:  Scheduling public hearing if draft is acceptable.

X.        Amendment to Zoning Definitions.  The Planning Board prepared an extensive set of changes to Article II – Definitions, including related changes to the Table of Uses, and forwarded the proposal to the Town Council.  The Town Council offered numerous comments and returned the proposal to the Planning Board for further consideration.  As part of this review the board may also discuss a change to the definitions of Household and Family (possibly affecting the “three-unrelated rule”) and additional changes to the Table of Uses  Recommended action:   Discussion.

XI.       Other Business

XII.     Review of Minutes (new):  June 26, 2024

XIII.    Adjournment

*ZOOM ACCESS

The Town of Durham offers access to meetings with Zoom and Durham Cable Access Television (DCAT) as a convenience to the public. Zoom is generally reliable for watching meetings and offering comments when allowed.

However, due to factors outside our control, occasionally access on Zoom does not work properly.  We cannot guarantee that Zoom will always be available seamlessly and suggest that people who want to ensure being able to watch and participate attend the meeting in person.

To access any LIVE Zoom Public Meeting, you must be Registered.  This link will take you to the registration page for all public meetings: https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/boc_dcatgovernance/zoom-video-meeting-schedule.   If you have difficulty logging in, contact DCAT: 603-590-1383.

*OTHER INFORMATION

1)       Role of the Planning Board.  The role of the Planning Board is to oversee and plan for the harmonious and functional physical development of the town of Durham by preparation of the Master Plan, adoption of Site Plan and Subdivision Regulations, making recommendations about the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map, reviewing development proposals, providing comments on the Capital Improvements Program and generally advocating for smart growth principles.

2)       Public hearings and public comments.  The public is welcome to speak at all public hearings and during the Public Comments time.  Comments on all matters, except those for which a public hearing is on the agenda, should be made during the Public Comments time (including comments on agenda items this evening).  The public may speak and submit written/email comments on any subject germane to the business of the Planning Board except active matters where the public hearing has been closed.   When a public hearing will be scheduled soon for a specific item the board may require that comments at the meeting be made at the hearing.

3)       Submission of comments in writing.  Emails and letters should be sent to Michael Behrendt, Town Planner, at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us or at the address above. Correspondence pertaining to current Planning Board matters, except where the public hearing has been closed, will be a) emailed to the Planning Board; b) mailed to the board members if received by the Thursday prior to the meeting or distributed to members at the meeting if received later; and c) posted on the Town’s website.   

Any email, letter, document, or other information that is pertinent to a decision which the Planning Board is expected to make at the upcoming Wednesday meeting, must be received in the Planning Office by the prior Monday at 5:00 p.m. or the board will consider the submitted material only at its discretion (This limitation does not apply to comments made at the actual public hearing).

4)       Other information.  Files on the agenda items above are available for review on the Town website https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/.  Agendas marked as “Preliminary Agenda,” are subject to change.  The final agenda will be posted on the Town’s website on the Friday prior to the meeting. To see background documents related to specific agenda items, see the agenda on the website and click on any green highlighted items.

5)       Contacting us.  Contact the Planning Department with questions or comments about any planning-related matters.  Call (603) 868-8064 or email Michael Behrendt, above, or Tracey Cutler, Administrative Assistant, at tcutler@ci.durham.nh.us.

6)       Recommended actions.   Actions recommended by the Town Planner are shown at the end of most items.  The Planning Board may or may not take these actions and may take other actions not stated.

7)       New items of business.  Unless approved by a 2/3 vote of members present, no new item of business shown on the agenda will be taken up after 10:00 p.m.

8)       Communication aids.  Please provide the Town 48-hours notice if communication aids are needed.

9)       Next meeting.  The next board meeting will be on August 14, 2024.  A special meeting to discuss the Zoning Rewrite will be held on July 31, 2024.