Orange Live

TP&Z Chair Ozzy Parente

The Town Plan and Zoning Commission had a lengthy agenda on Tuesday, June 19. Following are brief notes of what was discussed.

• Zoning enforcement: The Hotel on Marsh Hill Road is coming along well, there are a few things that still need to be discussed.

A home on Buttonball that had an issue with trailers is being dealt with.

• Urban Air did some outdoor plantings and there is a matter of additional business coming in.

The architect spoke on the request for a larger occupancy in the amusement business originally 400, now requesting 700, which would mean an increase in parking.

The application was approved pending a letter from Fire Marshal Tim Smith.

• The Former Bear And Grill Building had a proposal for a virtual reality business “Spot VR Lounge”, to be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The parking meets the regulations, no changes to the footprint of the building,

Unanimously approved. 

Public Hearings:

The Gherlones on 535 Highfield Road, requested an elderly apartment permit, received all the necessary signatures and meets all the town requirements.

Unanimously approved.

Special request by Chinmaya Mission on Derby Avenue for a 25% reduction in required parking spaces from 80 to 60 spaces. (use an existing basketball court that is not in use, for parking if needed)

This matter has been continued to the next meeting. 

Senior Housing on Turkey Hill Road. The room was filled with concerned citizens who opposed the application.

One concern is that the septic system could fail. The plan includes each building having its own septic system.

Department heads submitted their comments for the record. Sanitarian said soil testing has been done on the site since 2008, and there are areas of “special concern.”

Public Works Director said he also had concerns depending upon how many units there are and if there will be DEEP

Police Chief said the development would put a strain on police and emergency services, both of which already are overtaxed.

The attorney for the applicant said the following revisions have been made:

She clarified that there is no restaurant in the proposal.

The UNH Campus is NOT a part of the site plan.

Waste systems would be privately owned and not the town’s responsibility.

Reduced maximum building coverage from 30% to 15%

Several residents sent in letters expressing their opposition to the application, citing everything from traffic congestion to safety concerns and the idea that a zone change would open a can of worms that would negatively impact this and other areas in town.

The Attorney presented several letters of support (mostly copies of the same form letter) from residents, most of whom do not live in the immediate area of the proposed development.

Turkey Hill resident Mike DeVito, whose property abuts the proposed site. Initially, he didn’t oppose the plan, but as time went on and the site plan changed the idea became much less desirable. The traffic alone would be unacceptable.

His neighbor and her husband oppose the proposed amendment change.

A resident from Wheelers Farm Road, whose children attend Turkey Hill Road, said he is not opposed to smart growth, but why not put this development in an already approved zone instead of changing a zone to try and fit it in.

Dr. Mohammed from the Health Department said this is not an appropriate location for such a development.

One brave woman stood before the opposition crowd and said some people would actually like to live in a development like this.

The attorneys and other speakers later in the meeting were very chatty. Since I had other work to do, I stopped watching and suggest you click on the video on demand link under the OGAT button to the upper left side of this site and watch the remainder of the meeting.