NELSON PLANNING BOARD POLICY BOOK Adapted from The NH State Planning Board Policies - A Handbook for local Officials Adopted by the Nelson Planning Board September 2010 PLANNING BOARD, TOWN OF NELSON
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AUTHORITY ( 1. These rules of procedure are adopted under the authority of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes (RSA) 676:1. MEMBERS L The Plaiming Board shall consist of five (5) members. The Selectmen shall designate one selec an ex-officio member with power to vote. 2. Selection, qualification, term, removal of members, and filling of vacancies shall conform to RS 3. Alternate members shall serve on the Planning Board as authorized by RSA 673:6. 4. Each newly elected or appointed (including re-elected or re-appointed) member shall be sworn take an oath of office as required by RSA 42:1. 5. The Secretary shall forward to the municipal clerk for recording the appointment/election and e dates of each member of the Board. OFFICERS 1. The officers of the Board shall be as follows: Chairperson: The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings and hearings; shall prepare, with assistance of the Secretary, an annual report; and shall perform other duties customary to the office. Vice-Chairperson: The Vice-Chairperson shall preside in the absence of the Chairperson and sh full powers of the Chairperson on matters that come before the Board in the absence of the Chairpers Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a full and accurate record of the proceedings of each meet the names of the members present; notify applicants and abutters of hearings; and prepare such cor and fulfill such duties as the Chairperson may specify. In the absence of the Secretary, the Chairpers appoint a secretary pro tern to keep records of the meeting. 2. The officers of the Board shall be elected annually at the first meeting of the Board following To Meeting, by a majority vote of the Board. If requested by a majority of those present, voting shall be b ballot. MEETINGS 1. Regular meefings shall be held at least monthly at the Town Offices at 7:00 PM on the second T of each month. Public hearings shall be scheduled in the Town Hall or some other designated locatio accommodate attendees. 2. Special meefings may be called by the Chairperson or in her/his absence, by the Vice-Chairper the request of three members of the Board, provided public notice and notice to each member is give 48 hours in advance of the time of such meefing. The nofice shall specify the purpose of the meeting. 3. Non-public Sessions shall be held only in accordance with RSA 91-A:3. 4. Quorum: A majority of the membership of the Board shall constitute a quorum, including altern sitting in place of regular members. If any regular Board member is absent from a meeting or hearing, or disqualifies her/himself from sit
particular application, the Chairperson shall designate one of the alternates to sit in place of the abse disqualified member. Such alternate shall have all the powers and duties of a regular member in rega matter under consideration on which the regular member is unable to act. The alternate should conti matter is completed; the regular member does not vote on the matter. 5. Disqualification: If any member finds it necessary to be disqualified from sitfing on a particula provided in RSA 673:14, s/he shall notify the Chairperson as soon as possible so that an alternate ma requested to fill the place. The disqualificafion shall be announced by either the Chairperson or the m before the discussion or the public hearing on the application begins. The member disqualified shall Board table during all deliberations and the public hearing on the matter. If uncertainty arises as to whether a Board member should disqualify her/himself, on the request of t or the request of another member of the Board, the Board shall vote on the question of whether that should be disqualified. Such request and vote shall be made prior to or at the commencement of any public hearing. A vote on a question of disqualification shall be advisory and non-binding, and may n requested by persons other than Board members. 6. Order of Business shall be as follows: a) Call to order by the Chairperson b) Roll call by the Secretary c) Minutes of previous meeting d) Reading of communications directed to the Board e) Report of officers and committees f) Unfinished business g) Hearings on subdivisions/ site plans ( i) Other business - public comment 7. A motion, duly seconded, shall be carried by an affirmative vote of the majority of the members Voting shall be by roll call which shall be recorded in the minutes. APPLICATIONS FOR SUBDIVISION AND SITE PLAN REVIEW 1. Completed applications shall be accepted by majority vote of the Board and shall be scheduled fo consideration within 30 days of acceptance 2. Applications for hearings before the Board shall be made on forms provided by the Board and sha presented to the Secretary of the Board or the Board's agent who shall sign and record the date of re 3. Notice shall be given as required in RSA 676:4,1(d) 10 days before a completed applicafion is subm the Board. 4. The Board shall reject all applications not properly completed. 2
FORMS All forms prescribed herein and revisions thereof shall be adopted by resolution of the Board and sha part of these rules of procedure. Applicant's Forms 1) Agreement, Release and Covenant Ruiming with Land 2) Annexation (Voluntary Merger) Application 3) Boundary Line Adjustment Application 4) Subdivision Application 5) Quorum Agreement Board's Forms 1) Notice of Decision for Boundary Line Adjustment 2) Notice of Decision for Subdivision 3) Notice of Decision (Generic, for other cases) 4) Outline for Conducting Hearing 5) Motion Sheet (for complex motions) Clerk's Forms 1) Agenda 2) Public Notice for Town Bulletin Boards 3) Public Notice for Newspaper 4) Notice to Abutters 5) Reminder to Applicant of Hearing Date and Time 6) Reminder of Continuation or Postponement of Hearing 7) Recording of Subdivision or Boundary Line Adjustment 8) Recording of Annexation and Receipt of Payment 9) Itemized Charges for Hearing 10) Schedule of Fees NOTICE 1. Public notice of the submission of and public hearings on each application shall be given in le of The Keene Sentinel and by posting on the bulletin boards at the Nelson Town Hall and in Munsonv less than ten (10) days prior to the date fixed for the submission and consideration of the application subject property lies within a Lake District, notice must also be given to the Lake Associafion. 2. Personal notice shall be made by certified mail to the applicant, all abutters and any profession seal appears on any plat, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date fixed for submission for the app the Board. PUBLIC HEARINGS The conduct of Public Hearings shall be governed by the following rules: 1. The Chairperson shall call the hearing in session, identify the applicant or agent and ask for th
Secretary's report on the proposal. 2. The Secretary shall read the application and report on the manner in which public and persona was given. 3. The members of the Board may ask questions at any point during the presentation. ' 4. Any party to the matter who desires to ask a question of another party must go through the Ch 5. Any applicant, any abutter or any other person with a direct interest in the matter may testify i or in writing. Other persons may testify as permitted by the Board at each hearing. 6. Each person who speaks will be required to state her/his name and address and indicate whet part to the matter or an agent or counsel to a party to the matter. 7. The applicant or agent shall be called to present the proposal and those appearing in favor of proposal shall be allowed to speak. 8. Those in opposition to the proposal shall be allowed to speak. 9. Those neither in favor nor in opposition may speak. 10. Other parties such as representatives of town departments and other town boards and commi have an interest in the proposal shall be allowed their comments in person or in writing. 11. The Chairperson shall indicate whether the hearing is closed or adjourned pending the submis additional material or information or the correction of noted deficiencies. In the case of an adjournme additional notice is not required if the date, time and place of the continuation is made known at the adjournment. DECISIONS days after the decision is made, as required in RSA 676:3. If the application is disapproved, the Board 1. The Board shall render a written decision within 65 days of the date of acceptance of a comple application, subject to extension or waiver as provided in RSA 676:4. 2. The Board shall act to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove. { 3. Notice of decision will be made available for public inspection at the Town Offices within 5 bus provide the applicant with written reason for this disapproval. RECONSIDERATION The Planning Board may reconsider any decision to approve or disapprove an application, for good c provided it is within the statutory appeal period. This may be done through a motion and that specifie reasons for reconsideration. Upon successful passage of the motion, the Board shall schedule a pub with notice as provided in 676:4,1(d)where they shall consider whether or not to revise their original d Should the Board reach a new decision, a new appeal period shall be considered to have begun purs 677:15 et seq. RECORDS 1. The records of the Board shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be made available for public at the office of the Town Clerk, as required by RSA 91-A:4 2. Minutes of the meetings including the names of the Board members, persons appearing before and a brief description of the subject matter shall be open to public inspection within 5 business day meeting as required in RSA 91-A:2,II. 4
JOINT MEETINGS AND HEARINGS 1. The Planning Board may hold joint meetings and hearings with other boards pertaining to land including the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the site inspector, and the Conservation Commission. Ea shall have discretion whether or not to hold such joint meeting or hearing (RSA 676:2). Planning Board, shall be the same as these rules of procedure except that the order of business shal 2. Joint business meetings with another local land use board may be held at any time when calle the chairpersons of the two boards. 3. A joint public hearing must be a formal public hearing when the subject matter of the hearing i the responsibilities of the boards convened. 4. The Planning Board chair shall chair all joint meetings and public hearings when the subject m involves the Planning Board. 5. The rules of procedure for joint meetings and hearings, the subject matter of which involves th follows: a. Call to order by the Chairperson b. Introduction of members of both boards by the Chairperson c. Explanation of reason for joint meeting/hearing by Chairperson d. In the case of a public hearing relative to a requested permit or an application for a plat approval, or both, the applicant shall be called to present his/her proposal. e. Adjournment 6. Each board involved in a joint public hearing makes its own decision, based on its criteria for t particular matter. AMENDMENT ( 1. The Board's rules of procedure may be amended by a majority vote of its members. The Board a public hearing prior to adoption of new rules or amendment of existing rules. Notice for the time an the hearing shall be as provided in RSA 675:7. The amended procedures shall be filed with the Town