PLANNING BOARD
Gardiner Planning Board
July 16, 2003
City of Gardiner, Maine
Regular Monthly meeting 6:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Pat Hart Pamela Mitchel Susan Crawford Edward Lawrence
Absent: James Montell Deborah Willis Allie Vigue Bob Moody, Alt
Also Present: Jeffrey Hinderliter, Planner/CEO
Dorothy Morang, Planning Board Recording Secretary
George McDonough
David Gardner
George Phelps
Francis Grey
1.) Pat Hart, in the absence of Chair Montell, made a motion to call the meeting to order. Susan Crawford seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Pam Mitchel made a motion to elect Pat Hart as Acting Chair. Sue Crawford seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Meeting called to order at 6:06 PM by Acting Chairperson, Pat Hart
2.) Roll call taken.
3.) Motion to approve both the minutes of the June 18, 2003 meeting and the May 9, 2003 Site Walk was made by Pam Mitchel. Seconded by Ed Lawrence.
Jeffrey Hinderliter recommended that they vote on the two sets of minutes separately.
Pam Mitchel amended the motion to accept the minutes of the June 18, 2003 meeting. Sue Crawford seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Pam Mitchel made a motion to accept the May 9, 2003 Site Walk minutes. Several members present indicated that they did not attend the Site Walk. Jeffrey Hinderliter said that they could carry the minutes over to the next meeting.
4.) ? E. J. Prescott Site Plan Review
? Applicant, SMRT
? Proposing to construct a 30,273 S. F. building for Office, Warehousing and Distribution and Retail uses
? 40 Prosperity Street, Map 7, Lot 18A-4
? Planned Industrial/Commercial Zoning District
Acting Chair Hart read the Application information from the Agenda. She asked what the Applicant provided that shows that they have standing. Jeffrey Hinderliter indicated that SMRT is authorized through E. J. Prescott by Mr. Gardner and E. J. Prescott by QuitClaim deed, a representation of a real estate transfer document and a letter from a financial institution that E. J. Prescott can finance this project.
Acting Chair Hart asked the Board members if any one of them felt that they couldn t avoid the appearance of impropriety with respect to this Application. All Board members said no.
Acting Chair Hart asked the Applicant to come and introduce himself and share the plans with the Board.
David Gardner, Senior Vice President of E. J. Prescott introduced himself and Architect, George McDonough of the company, SMRT. Mr. Gardner said that E. J. P has been working with SMRT and Ouellette Associates on this project. They have had 7 or 8 lengthy meetings. They feel they are ready to move ahead on this. Harry Crooker of Brunswick will be the site contractor. They hope to begin by the end of August of this year.
George McDonough gave more detailed information about the project. It will be a 3-story, 31,273 S. F. (corrected from previously quoted 31,300 S. F.) building (footprint). The front will be 3 stories, the rear a high bay warehouse. It is in a Planned Industrial District. A Maine Department of Enviromental Protection (MDEP) permit has been issued for all of the Libby Hill Business Park and there is a stormwater detention pond on the site. He indicated that they anticipate that there will be a maximum of 50 employees, but have planned 80, 10 x20 parking stalls. They meet all of Gardiner s setback requirements. From the road, the setback is 150 , side 100 , rear 220 and they will maintain the natural vegetative buffer of 25 and in most places that buffer is actually
several hundred feet. A buffer will screen the parking from the road. There will be minimal lighting on the site. They have planned for 2 light poles with 4 fixtures on each of them. They are certified cut-off fixtures and the light will not spill off from the site. There will also be a light pole in the back parking area. There will be a lot of earthwork and cutting and have erosion control methods in place. All of the run-off will be directed toward the pond. The wires will run underground from the CMP pole to the building. The building will have a back-up generator with a noise reduction device. There will be a wash bay in the rear of the facility with a drain in the floor. The drain will have an oil and grit seperator. Run-off from all impervious surface areas will end in the stormwater pond. The west side will have a riprap, stormwater dissipater that will lead to a grassy swale and then to the detention pond. The hours of operation are 7 AM through 5 PM. The
front façade will be brick and drive-it (stone-looking material) with brick trim (had samples to show the Board members). There will be a canopy over the front entrance and a small canopy at the retail door. The rear of the building, the warehouse, will be constructed of an insulated metal panel (sample shown to the Board members).
Pam Mitchel asked about the landscaping. George indicated that they plan to use bayberry, forsithia and dogwood adjacent to the proposed parking lot.
Ed Lawrence asked if there will be fueling provisions on site. David Gardner said no.
Pat Hart asked about the potential for noise. In previous projects, several neighbors had concerns about noise, especially trucks backing up and beeping. David Gardner said the trucks will coming and going out of Prosperity Street. There are no loading docks to back up to. The site is designed to allow the trucks to enter and be able to turn and go straight through. Backing up would be minimal and the trucks will come and go between the regular hours of operation. There is at least 250 between their driveway and the nearest neighbor s structure. In between there is a natural vegetative buffer.
6:34 PM Acting Chair Hart opened the meeting for public comment.
George Phelps, an abutting property owner, said he is here for information on the project. He is pleased and impressed with it and has absolutely no problems with it. He indicated that they need another business in the Park.
Acting Chair Hart asked the Planner/CEO, Jeffrey Hinderliter if there had been any informaiton or comments received relative to this Application. Jeffrey said no comments were received in the office or by phone. Jeffrey said that he had some new information that was not in the packets relative to supporting documentation and approval from Gardiner s Public Works Department, Gardiner Water District, Gardiner Sewer District, Police and Fire. They all have indicated that they have no problems with this proposal.
6:36 PM Acting Chair Hart closed the meeting for public comment.
Acting Chair Hart read the Findings of Fact. (General and Property Information). Pam Mitchel asked if P & M Reallty was the correct name for the property owner. David Gardiner said that it had been changed and is now PMP Realty. The Application was corrected to read PMP Realty. Jeffrey Hinderliter referenced the Municipal Quitclaim Deed, dated 01/28/00 and the Real Estate Transfer document dated 01/28/00. Jeffrey also discussed the new application and the purpose of various sections within it.
Pam Mitchel questioned George McDonough about the square foot of the building. He had previously stated 31,300 S. F. George stated that the footprint is actually 30,273 S. F. A correction has been made to the previously stated size of the footprint.
Acting Chair Hart read the Applicant s response to each of the Review Criteria, A through T.
Review Criteria A.
Jeffrey Hinderliter recommended that a condition be added to this Review Criteria concerning signage.
Pam Mitchel made a motion to approve Review Criteria A with the condition: Signs shall be constructed and installed in accordance with Section 3-Y. 1, 2 of the Gardiner Land Use Ordinance. Sue Crawford seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria B.
Sue Crawford moved for approval. Pam Mitchel seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria C.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria C. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria D.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria D. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria E.
Sue Crawford moved for approval with clarification of 30,273 S. F. Footprint. Pam Mitchel seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria F.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria F. Sue Crawford seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed
Review Criteria G.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria G. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria H.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria H. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria I.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria I. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria J.
Sue Crawford moved for approval. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria K.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria K. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria L.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria L. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria M.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria M. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria N.
Sue Crawford moved for approval. Pam Mitchel seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria O.
Pam Mitchel asked if any of the oil washed off the trucks was considered hazardous? David Gardner said no.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria O. Sue Crawford seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria P.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria P. Sue Crawford seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria Q.
Acting Chair Hart referenced a 06/26/03 letter from Citizen s Bank discussing E. J. Prescott as borrower and related entity.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria Q based on the letter from Citizen s Bank dated 06/26/03. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria R.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria R. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria S.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria S. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Review Criteria T.
Pam Mitchel moved to approve Review Criteria T. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
Acting Chair Hart referenced the Planner/CEO s Memo. There was no further discussion.
Pam Mitchel made a motion that we approve the Site Plan Review Application with the condition: Signs shall be constructed and installed in accordance with Section 3-Y. 1,2 of the Gardiner Land Use Ordinance. Ed Lawrence seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
David Gardner said it was nice to see this new process and he thanked everyone for their time and Jeffrey s assistance on this proposal. He asked about the signage requirements. Jeffrey said that the Ordinance is almost silent on this issue as long as it isn t a bill board type sign. The Ordinance refers more to materials. David said that they planned to add their sign to the sign at the entrance of the Park and something on the building, but was not sure yet. He said it would be done tastefully.
OTHER BUSINESS
None
5.) ADJOURN
Sue Crawford made a motion to adjourn. Pam Mitchel seconded the motion.
Vote: 4 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion passed.
7:14 PM Meeting adjourned.
| 
