Design Review Board Meeting

Present: Shirley Maiden, Brenda Madkour, Perry Green, John Watanabe, Devin Halligan, Julie Nolan; Tim Waker, John Watanabe, Alan Benoit, Gerry Deyo, John Griffin, Howard Kalinsky; Kaitlyn Filippi, Sydney Schiffman; also Planning Director/Zoning Administrator Lee Krohn, and others per sign in sheet.

Motion Kalinsky to approve the minutes of 12/16/09; seconded by Benoit and OK by consensus.

Design Review applications:

Sean Kimball, 54 Highland Avenue: Design Review OK with new proposed projecting sign and bracket with new shielded lights; motion Kalinsky to approve as presented; seconded by Benoit and OK unanimously.

Trifari, Magic Sleigh, 4960 Main Street: Design Review OK with replacement of slate roof and small cupola (neither are original) with IKO Cambridge architectural grade asphalt shingles, charcoal grey color. Motion Kalinsky to approve as presented; seconded by Griffin and OK by all.

Wood Fired Pizza Company, 4478 Main Street: The owners of JJ Hapgood Store in Peru wish to open a second location here in Manchester. Design Review OK with new free standing sign using the existing structure; lights to be shielded if they are not already. Motion Griffin to approve as presented; seconded by Deyo and OK unanimously.

Aubuchon, 1131 Depot Street: the clear and stated intent of this evening was that Ellis Speath, P.E. would present what all hoped would be a final concept plan for the revised access/curbcut that would satisfy Aubuchon’s needs, resolve the DRB’s concerns for safe truck access, and work for the neighbors and other affected parties. At the last meeting, it appeared that resolution was close at hand.

Speath was not responsive before the meeting to requests for advance information as routinely sought and submitted for review in advance of the meeting. Instead, letters were received from Aubuchon’s counsel, Jay Kenlan. Kenlan appeared in person to represent Aubuchon’s position that they have actually completed this work, and also requesting release of their escrowed funds. Kenlan also stated that even in that light, Aubuchon remains willing to work toward cooperative resolution of these issues. Kenlan showed last summer’s plan by Speath; he was not aware nor informed of the most recent Speath plans until shown them by the Board. Aubuchon is apparently displeased by what appears to be an elongated process; the DRB shares that feeling, wanting itself to bring this to closure – but Aubuchon itself has been the only party not present during all of these discussions. It has not been the Board’s intent to drag this out; in fact, the DRB has given Aubuchon great latitude in allowing this process to play out long after clear deadlines stated in permits, on the belief that Aubuchon was making good faith efforts to resolve issues. Both parties share a desire for closure, which is good; but it remains Aubuchon’s responsibility to resolve matters in a satisfactory manner, which they offered and agreed to do from the very beginning, in the very first permit proceeding. Other claims of being unaware of issues, needs, and concerns are difficult at best to understand or accept. Kenlan agreed to revisit these issues with Aubuchon; the DRB suggested strongly that Aubuchon must bring all of the parties to the table (including Aubuchon itself) to work toward closure as soon as possible for benefit of all.

Upcoming meeting schedule, and other informational items were discussed. The zoning boundary change on the High Ridge property, part of a package of boundary changes proposed and discussed by the Planning Commission and Selectboard over the past year, was approved by Australian ballot this week by a 4 vote margin.

A decision was signed in the Northshire Day School barn amendment case.

With no other business, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 P.M.