PLANNING BOARD
Gardiner Planning Board March 17, 2003 6:30 PM
Planning Board Workshop
ROLL CALL
Present: Deborah Willis Pat Hart
New Members Present: Susan Crawford Ed Lawrence
Absent: James Montell, Chair Bob Moody, Alternate
New Members Absent: Allie Vigue Pam Mitchell
Also Present: Jeffrey Hinderliter, Planner/CEO
Dorothy Morang, Planning Board Recording Secretary
1.) Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM by Jeffrey Hinderliter, Planner/Code Enforcement Officer
2) Jeffrey welcomed everyone and introduced the new members. He mentioned that he has been unable to locate new member Pam Mitchell as no address was given to him and she is not listed as a homeowner or in the telephone book. Susan Crawford said that Pam s husband s name is Phil Garwood and probably the property and telephone is listed under his name.
Members were given copies of sections from the Maine Municipal Association Planning Board Manual covering Conduct of Meetings and General Conduct of the Public Hearing. and an article from Maine Townsman concerning conducting hearings on zoning issues and the necessity of following appropriate procedures.
Jeffrey gave an overview of the current Zoning Ordinance, the proposed Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map and talked about the work done by the Comprehensive Plan Review and Implementation Committee.
Other issues addressed were:
a. Oath all new Board Members must take an oath and sign it before performing duties
b. Liability Members cannot be held liable for any decisions that they make unless the decisions are deliberately contrary to the Ordinance
c. By-Laws Ex. Membership, Quorum
d. Right to Know Law Public s right to be present in meetings when three or more Members involved. Exception, executive session
e. Conflict of Interest
Statutory Law defines Board Member relationship to applicant, i.e.; officer, director, employee of, stockholder
Case Law defines bias by blood or marriage or if a Board Member cannot make an impartial decision
f. Individual Board Member investigations Ex. checking out things yourself relative to the application could be seen as another form of bias
ZONING/PLANNING 101
Jeffrey Hinderliter said a site plan can allow you to take a two-dimensional drawing and create a three-dimensional reality.
He discussed zoning and land use issues, State DEP laws & floodplain laws. Looked at Zoning Ordinance standards, ex: parking, lighting etc. Planning Board deals with performance standards and specification standards, Board of Appeals deals with issues such as set backs and lot coverage.
Jeffrey described the process from the time a project is brought to his office through the Planning Board review. He also described the new proposed Site Plan Review process vs. the current Conditional Use Permit process. He suggested that once the new Ordinance is adopted, the Board should get together to go over it. He would like to see the Planning Board procedures codified within the by-laws.
3.) Adjourn
7:52 Meeting Adjourned
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