Greenfield Zoning Board of Adjustment
Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2008
The Zoning Board starts to gather at 7:30 and goes over mail; the full board arrives by 8:00. John Gryval opens the public hearing for case 08-2 at 8:10 with Dale, Dan, Craig, and Kevin in attendance.
John asks for and receives confirmation of hearing notifications.
John asks Michael Redmond from Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center to proceed with his presentation.
Mr. Redmond gives an overview of CMRC’s over fifty years of history in Greenfield, and their dedication to conservation, recently placing 1165 acres of their 1400 acres into conservation easement. They’re also committed to making the natural surrounding of the area more accessible. To this goal they’ve engaged landscape architect Rick Cox to design an accessible trail that is over four miles in length from Sunset Lake, to a clearing near the site of the old windmills, passing natural vistas and wetlands along the way. Mr. Redmond also explained that the trail will be have a permeable surface and that most of the vertical grades will be below five percent to allow wheeled access. Also and all structures will be made of natural materials from the area.
At this time Mr. Redmond turned the discussion to Rick Kohler from Todd Land Consultants to explain the wetlands crossings and buffer incursions. Mr. Kohler explains that they have 2275 square feet of impact, but the final number will be less because that includes the area under bridges being built.
Craig asks if all the impacts will be in Greenfield.
Mr. Kohler replies no, 13 in Greenfield and 10 in Francestown.
Abutter Terry asks when they looked at the water flow.
Mr. Kohler replies in the spring.
John states the trail appears wheelchair accessible.
Abutter asks if it’s near the snowmobile trails. Mr. Redmond replies no, and the trails not for motorized vehicles except powered personal devices like wheelchairs.
John asks if the trail will be open to the public.
Mr. Redmond replies yes, the lands legacy requires that.
Al Burt states his concern with the wetlands crossings in light of the recent legal case against the town. If we have the ordinance, we should enforce it, or forget zoning altogether.
An abutter asks if they’ve chosen wetlands to show the wetlands.
John replies yes, with an impact.
Mr. Redmond replies they’re asking for the Special exception because the design was to get next to the wetlands to show them working within the maximum vertical slope of five percent. They went around them where possible, and dropped three crossings because they could go around them.
Dan asks what is the best minimum impact, and how can they achieve their goals and minimize that impact.
Mr. Redmond replies they are working by standard designed by the State of NH for trail construction in wetlands.
John states that looking at the map seems to show most of the wetlands crossings to be in Francestown, and most of the buffers in Greenfield.
Al Burtt states he doesn’t like it and thinks they should go around the wetlands; maybe cutting trees further back so the trail can see the wetlands.
In response to a question from an abutter as to how the town handles wetlands.
Karen Day states she feels there’s a big difference between a trail with a permeable gravel surface for foot traffic and a paved road with autos.
Craig asks of an old beaver dam, and if the beaver come back will the trail still be usable.
Mr. Redmond replies yes, the bridge and trail are above the spillover height. If the beaver come back, they’ll be OK.
John asks what the Planning Board comment was, Kevin replies favorable, to grant the exceptions.
At 8:45 a motion is made by Craig, and seconded by Dale to close the Public Hearing and go into the deliberative session. Motion carries unanimously.
Dale states all the buffers seem OK.
Craig states it looks like the drainage ways are OK.
Dan states he feels it’s very little impact.
John replies the impact seems to be in the buffers, not the wetlands.
Dan replies “ and it is for an accessibility trail.’
Dale makes a motion to grant the Special Exceptions as required in the plans presented, seconded by Craig.
John asks for the vote and the motion passes unanimously.
Board goes over Minutes from December 18, 2007 case 07-4.
Motion made to accept the minutes as published, motion seconded and passed unanimously.
Craig makes motion to end meeting at 9:10. Motion seconded and passed unanimously.
| 
