Planning Board Meeting

DURHAM PLANNING BOARD

Wednesday, November 20, 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.     9-11 Young Drive Condominium Conversion.  Application under the Subdivision Regulations to create a two-unit condominium.  One half of the proposed structure is completed and the other half is planned for construction.  Young Drive LLC, property owner, c/o Francis Chase as agent.  Map 107, Lot 92.  Coe’s Corner District.  Recommended action:  Accept as complete and schedule a public hearing.

IX.       Public Hearing – Parking Requirement in Site Plan Regulations.  Amendments to the Site Plan Regulations to bring them into compliance with state law – reducing the number of required parking spaces for multi-family developments with 10 or more units to 1.5 spaces and allowing for alternative parking solutions to reduce the number of required parking spaces.  Recommended action:  Adoption.

X.        Public Hearing - Amendment to Zoning Definitions.  Proposed significant rewrite of Article II – Definitions of the Zoning Ordinance .   Recommended action:   Vote to initiate amendments if acceptable.

XI.       Draft Ordinance regarding Student Rental, Three-Unrelated Rule, and Habitable Floor Area.  Discussion about prospective ordinance prepared by ad hoc group working with the Town Administrator.  Recommended action:  Continue discussion.

XII.      Planned Unit Development Ordinance.  Continued discussion about proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance.  PUD’s are special zoning tools which allow for flexible and innovative planning for large-scale mixed-use projects.  A draft ordinance has been prepared to accommodate the potential development of The Edge project at UNH, located westerly of the intersection of Main Street and Mast Road along with other similar potential projects.  Recommended action:  Continue discussion.

XIII.     Other Business

XIV.    Review of Minutes (new): 

XV.      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: 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)      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 germane subject except active matters where the public hearing has been closed.   When a public hearing will be held soon for a specific item the board may require that comments be made at the hearing.

2)      Submission of comments in writing.  Send emails and letters to Michael Behrendt, Town Planner, at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us or at the address above. Substantive comments about current board matters, except where the public hearing is closed, will be a) emailed to the board;  b) mailed to the board if received by the Thursday before the meeting or given to members at the meeting if received later; and c) posted on the Town’s website.   

Any email, letter, or document 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 material only at its discretion (This limitation does not apply to comments made at the public hearing).

3)      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.   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 above.  The board may or may not take these actions and may take other actions not stated.

7)      10:00 pm.  The board will take up a new item of business after 10:00 pm at its discretion.

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

9)      Next meeting.  The next regular board meeting will be on December 11, 2024.