Standish Planning Board

                                                             Meeting Minutes

                                                               June 02, 2025

The meeting of the Standish Planning Board meeting was called to order by Chairman Charles Brown at 6:00pm. Present were Andrew Walton, Frank Nappi, Patrick Gere, Todd Delaney, Carolyn Biegel and Town Planner Scott Hastings. Absent was Deb Boxer and Jackie Dyer, Admin.to the Town Planner and Planning Board.

Open Meeting

           a.        Call to order by Chairman Charles Brown

           b.       Opening Statement from Planning Board Chairman Brown

           c.        Declaration of a Quorum-6 present, 1 absent

Approval of Meeting Minutes from May 05, 2025

Mr. Delaney made a motion seconded by Mr. Nappi to approve the meeting minutes. All in favor with Mrs. Biegel abstaining as she was not at the meeting.

Approval of Finding of Fact :

• Shaw Earthworks, 333 Pequawket Trail, Map 5, Lot 70- 5-year renewal of gravel pit without any changes
• Gorham Sand & Gravel, 186 Fort Hill Road, Map 14, Lot 54- 5-year renewal of gravel pit without any changes
• WASH, LLC 67 Chadbourne Road, Map 14, Lot 45- 5-year renewal of gravel pit without any changes.

Mr. Nappi made a motion to accept all three Finding of Facts, seconded by Mr. Delaney. All in favor with Mrs. Biegel abstaining.

 

New Business:

• Jay & Donna Fohs, 63 Smooth ledge Road, Map 43, Lot 86-Shoreland Zoning Application to rebuild a single-family residence

Joe Williams of Lakeside Construction was present to represent the applicant. He said a site walk had been done today. Joe said that there was a structure that had been removed due to shoreland erosion and damage. He said they are proposing to build a new structure and move it back to the maximum practical extent. The shoreline had been stabilized, and the rip rap wall was fixed per permit by rule through DEP. He said there is an existing septic, but they have no record of what it was. He said they have designed a new system and will put that in. Mr. Brown asked about the land across from this and Joe said it’s pretty much all wetlands. Mr. Hastings said this looks good, all the calculations check out and feels the Board has what they need. He said they are moving this back approximately 25 feet, he said he has the existing condition survey with the proposed. Mr. Williams said the closest point from the water will be 40 feet to the corner of the deck. Mr. Brown said that there is a benchmark on the road set in by the telephone pole.

Mr. Delaney asked about the trees and what would be removed. He said there was one that was dead, and the removal of any trees was discussed at the site walk. Joe Williams said they work with the Code Enforcement Officer about a replanting plan and the tree removal. He said they are told what trees need to be replanted and how big they are. Joe said that they also have the Code Officer come out when they are digging at the lot. Mr. Hastings said he did put a condition in about a replanting plan being approved before any building permits were issued. Mr. Hastings said that construction might require some tree removal and if an arborist gets involved, are any trees diseased or dangerous? Mr. Williams said he thought that all the trees by the road were fine and didn’t appear to have any issues. Mr. Hastings said the trees by the road will be an ongoing discussion and any others as they start construction.

Mrs. Biegel asked if they owned the other side of the road and Joe said they did not. Mr. Williams said the septic with the new plan is an algin system and they do not plan on using the on-site system at all. He said this will be a pump system. Mr. Williams said the driveway is the same. Anthony Folsom asked if the building is going back in the same spot and Mr. Brown said it’s going back 35 feet from the water as the other structure was over the water.

Mr. Brown went over the application check list. Mr. Gere asked if the road counts towards impervious coverage and Mr. Hastings said the Town does not own the road, but the Town does do winter maintenance. Mr. Brown said he doesn’t think the Town addresses this. Mr. Hastings said the Town does not own the right of way over the road. Mr. Hastings said this is a shared right of way and the applicant has no control over it. Mr. Brown said the road is beyond the 100-foot mark from the water. Mr. Williams said that this is 16% coverage and below what there was. Mr. Hastings said he feels the Board can be very comfortable with what has been given to them.

Mr. Hastings said these lots are small lots and the applicant should not be penalized as to how the road is situated. Mr. Brown said the building’s height is the same as the previous building. He asked if anyone wanted to make a motion to find the application complete, motion made by Mr. Delaney and seconded by Mr. Gere. All in favor.

Mr. Hastings asked about the 35 feet from the water and Mr. Williams said it’s the deck. Mr. Williams said it is 25 feet, and the deck comes out by 10 feet. Mr. Brown read the following;

“Move that the Board grant approval under the provisions of the Standish Land Use code for the application submitted by Lakeside Construction on behalf of Donna and Jay Fohs, for the replacement of a legally non-conforming house at 63 Smooth Ledge Road in Standish. Having found the application to meet the requirements of §237-12, §237-15, §237-16, and all other applicable sections of the Standish Code of Ordinances with the following conditions:

V. CONDITIONS –

1. All work shall be in conformance with materials and plans submitted by Lakeside Construction which consist of site plans, building elevations, and supporting application materials.  
2. This approval shall lapse and become void in one year as laid out in §237-16 F.
3. The CEO will approve a replanting plan for significant trees removed, if any, as part of this project prior to the issuance of a building permit.
4. Per standards found in §237-12 C.1.b the Planning Board approval of this site plan is limited to structure setbacks to the maximum practical extent. The new structure will be setback from apparent normal high-water line by approximately 25’ and this represents a practical relocation as allowed under the ordinance.
5. This approval is dependent upon, and limited to, the proposals and plans contained in the application and supporting documents submitted and affirmed by the applicant or applicant’s agent ( either orally or in writing) and that any variation from the plans, proposals, and supporting documents are subject to review and approval by the Planning Board, except for minor changes which the Code Enforcement Officer may approve.

A motion was made by Mr. Delaney and seconded by Mr. Nappi to approve the application. All in favor.

• Chris Martino, 26 Watchic Crossroad, Map 30, Lot 50-Shoreland Zoning Application to remove outbuildings and add addition to expand residence

Joe Williams of Lakeside Construction was present to represent the applicant. He said a site walk was done before the meeting. Joe said they would like to remove the outbuildings and expand the residence. He said that this is within the hundred-foot setback. He said they would be expanding by 328 feet and a two-story expansion, which doesn’t exceed the height restrictions. Mr. Hastings said where the building is located is not changing and this is going to be on the back of the existing building, and he doesn’t see anything wrong with this application. Mr. Brown said a utility building is being taken down as well as another structure.

Mr. Williams said they are hoping to use the existing septic on site. Mr. Brown said there is a 1000-gallon concrete tank for the septic. Mrs. Biegel said they had talked about the removal of both sheds, but one was still on the plan. Mr. Williams said one shed will be placed elsewhere, the error on the plan is his and he will provide an updated site plan with the shed removed. This was added as a condition of approval. Mr. brown asked about the new addition and Mr. Williams said it is on concrete piers and will have a crawl space.

Mr. Brown went through the application checklist and said the Board has everything that it needs. Mr. Walton asked if a map of the property was included and Mr. Hastings said we require a site plan, but not a stamped survey, as long as the Board can make a decision that meets the Ordinance. Mr. Brown said a study was done of the high water for Watchic Lake and that is provided to the Code Enforcement Officer, he said there is nothing proposed for the septic. Mrs. Biegel said she doesn’t see the elevations and Mr. Williams said they didn’t put the heights on because they are not exceeding the height restrictions. Mr. Brown said the measurements are on page 4 of the application. Mr. Brown made a motion to find the application complete, seconded by Mr. Delaney. All in favor.

Mr. Brown asked for public comment. Anthony Folsom asked what the difference between conforming and non-conforming. Mr. Brown told him the difference and Tony said it’s very confusing as to what is what’s conforming or non-conforming. Mr. Brown said it pertains to what the ordinance is at the time when the lot was formed. He said they still must meet the setbacks. He said he just wonders why places are being built when they are either non-conforming or other. Brandon Watson asked about the buildings coming down and who makes sure those are done. Mr. Brown said the Code Enforcement Officer makes sure that those will be removed. The public hearing was closed.

Mr. Brown read the following:

Move that the Board grant approval under the provisions of the Standish Land Use code for the application submitted by Lakeside Construction on behalf of Chris Martino, for the replacement of a legally non-conforming house at 26 Watchic Crossroad in Standish. Having found the application to meet the requirements of §237-12, §237-15, §237-16, and all other applicable sections of the Standish Code of Ordinances with the following conditions:

V. CONDITIONS –

1. All work shall be in conformance with materials and plans submitted by Lakeside Construction which consist of site plans, building elevations, and supporting application materials.  
2. This approval shall lapse and become void in one year as laid out in §237-16 F.
3. The CEO will approve a replanting plan for significant trees to be removed, if any, as part of this project prior to the issuance of a building permit.
4. The CEO will approve an erosion and sedimentation control plan prior to the issuance of any permits.
5. This approval is dependent upon, and limited to, the proposals and plans contained in the application and supporting documents submitted and affirmed by the applicant or applicant’s agent ( either orally or in writing) and that any variation from the plans, proposals, and supporting documents are subject to review and approval by the Planning Board, except for minor changes which the Code Enforcement Officer may approve.
6. The applicant is required to provide Town staff with an updated site plan showing both sheds removed.

Mr. Delaney made a motion seconded by Mrs. Biegel to approve the application. All in favor.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:10pm