ZBA Meeting & Hearing
Preliminary
Town of Stoddard
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Minutes of Meeting & Hearing
May 21, 2020
The meeting was called to order by the Chairperson at 7:33 pm. This meeting was a virtual meeting using Zoom.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jason Kovarik.
Members present: Chairperson Jason Kovarik, Vice Chairperson Franz Haase, Herb Healy, Doug Summerton, Bud Record
Members absent:
Alternates present: Milosh Bukovcan
Others present: Compliance Officer Harry Power, Heather Plante & Christopher Fontaine
Hearing: Heather Plante Application for a Variance
Jason read the Rules of Procedure to everyone. The Secretary read the Notice of Hearing and how applicant and abutters were notified. Jason invited Heather to explain her Application. She stated their tractor & tools have been stored outside and are being ruined from the weather. They want to build a garage next to the house, but due to the way Route 9 curves one corner of the garage is 114.5 feet from the road not the 125ft required. She feels having the garage will increase their property value, keep their property cleaner and protect their equipment.
Franz asked where the figure for necessary frontage came from. Jason replied the state requires 100 feet from the center line of the highway and the town then requires 25 feet from the lot line.
Herb asked, from the property line how far is it to the corner of the garage. Heather stated that Gordon measured from the center of the road and it was 114.5 feet.
Herb & Jason feel they do not have a good measurement. A more exact measure would be to find their boundary line and measure from there. Jason stated her deed would give them the boundary markers. With them identified, they could then measure 25 feet and might not even need a Variance.
Chris asked how far off the road do they usually put the property line. Herb said Route 9 has a 200 foot swath and we don’t know if the road is in the center of that swath. Heather knows where one marker is located and asked how to measure her frontage from the post.
Jason utilized the town’s GIS map onto the screen, to show the property and the hand drawn picture Heather had sent him. Franz suggested measuring from the post to where the garage is marked. If it’s 25ft from the right of way and lot line to the garage you do not need a Variance. Herb state there should be multiple markers along her property line and Route 9 to measure from.
Harry suggested Heather contact the Swanzey division of NHDOT, which is the headquarters for our district, and ask to see the map of her area. They have exact maps of the entire stretch of Route 9.
Jason asked for a motion to continue the hearing, stating if Heather finds she doesn’t need a Variance she can let us know and then contact Harry with her findings. Herb made the above motion. Doug second the motion. Roll call vote was taken: Franz, Doug, Bud, Herb and Jason voted to accepted the motion to continue the Hearing to June 18, 2020.
New Business: Vote for Chair/Vice Chairperson
Jason asked for nominations for Chairperson. When asked, Jason said he is willing to run.
A vote was taken by Roll Call: Franz, Herb, Doug, Bud, Milosh and Jason all voted in favor for Jason to continue as Chairperson.
Jason asked for nominations for Vice Chair. Franz nominated Herb. Herb asked to respectfully have is name removed from nomination. When asked, Franz said he is willing to run.
A vote was taken by Roll Call: Jason, Herb, Bud, Doug, Milosh and Franz voted in favor of Franz to continue as Vice Chairperson. The Town Clerk will be notified of the results.
Minutes
All members voted in favor of accepting the minutes of 4/23/20 with the amendment of correcting the date of tonight’s Hearing to 05/21/2020.
Correspondence/Reports
Jason showed a copy of the proposed 2020/2021 budget on screen to members. This year the ZBA was under budget with the money going back to the town. The 2020/2021 budget will be approx. $300 less than this year.
Old Business: None
A Motion was made by Doug to adjourn. The Motion was seconded by Franz. The Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 pm. The next meeting will be June 18, 2018 at 7:30 pm at the Stoddard Town Hall or Virtually utilizing Zoom. That information will be updated on the Town Web under ZBA, Meeting Agenda, June 18, 2020.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Ellis
Secretary to ZBA