Kensington Conservation Commission

Minutes for February 12, 2008

Members in attendance: Joan Skewes, Sydnee Goddard, Heather Douglas

1. Call to order 7:35pm

2. Minutes approved

3. Bill Buxton and Dick Parker presented redesign of proposed driveway for Buxton property on Osgood Road.  Redesign reduced wetland impact from 1900 square feet to 550 square feet.  Driveway grade reduced to existing grade so water could pass over during high water.  Dick will get the plans and letters to be sent to DES to Sydnee.  Sydnee and Joan will write a letter in response to DES.  Commission agreed that plans were more reasonable.

4. Kimball easement update.  Sydnee shared that easement language has been sent to NRCS for approval.  Now we will be waiting for NRCS to complete their end of the work.  If we don’t close by March 27^th, the Kimball’s will have to get the appraisal updated.  IRS will only honor appraisals for 6 months.

5. Cole easement update.  Sydnee explained what transpired at the appeal on Jan 15^th.   The National Appeal Division officers who heard the appeal has 30 days from Jan 30^th to make a ruling and determine whether NRCS needs to stand up to their original FRPP award offer which allowed the Cole’s to retain their landing strip.

6. Sydnee shared that no one (besides she and Rob) showed up for the Hodge’s cross country ski/snow shoe event.

7. Discussed new Query-Bates easement on Drinkwater Road.  The Query’s donated the 39 acre easement.  The easement is being held by the Southeast Land Trust.  One acre is reserved for a potential house lot, but the right to build a house can only be used by the Query’s.  Sydnee will write a letter of thank you from the commission.

8. Discussed our Agenda for 2008.  Discussed the following as potential agenda topics:

• Road regulation for developments and fact that road width seems excessive. 
• Existing open space subdivision plan. 

Discussion of open space subdivision generated the following questions:

• Why aren’t developers proposing open space subdivisions in Kensington?
• Could we get more workforce housing by encouraging open space developments?

Decided to find out more.  Sydnee will contact Jill Robinson and ask her why developers aren’t choosing open space subdivisions in Kensington and how to make them more attractive than standard subdivisions.  Joan will contact Peter Merrill to see what aspects of town regulations he thinks could be changed that would help the planning board do their job and lead to more environmentally friendly developments.   Joan also suggested contacting Cliff who sits on Epping’s Planning Board and has a similar position as Jill Robinson, because Epping has been making some bold and creative moves in term of environmental regulations. 

9. Motion to pay Sydnee for photocopying for Cole Appeal paperwork.  Seconded and approved unanimously.

10. Adjourn 10:00pm