MC Ordinance Committee Minutes

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Town Hall Auditorium

7:00 PM

Members present: Councilor Gilday, Councilor Kimball, Len Johnsonand Councilor Kelcourse - arrived late

Members absent: Christian Scorzoni

Councilor Kimball moved to approve the minutes for April 26, 2011. Mr. Johnson seconded and it was Unanimous (3) Gilday, Kimball and Johnson.

2011-028 Precinct Boundary Map as amended by 2010 Federal Census

Bonnijo Kitchen, Town Clerk presented. She stated that this is the results of the 2010 Federal Census which is done every 10 years and which the state then requires a review of city/town census maps and changes to precincts/districts and reporting back to the state for their approval. This won’t go into effect until January 1, 2012. It must be voted on at the June 14, 2011 Municipal Council meeting to meet the June 15, 2011 deadline.

Councilor Kimball moved to send 2011-028 back to the Municipal Council a recommendation to accept the precinct boundary map as amended by the 2010 Federal Census as submitted by the Town Clerk to the Ordinance committee on May 17, 2011 with the final draft legal description to be submitted prior to the Municipal Council meeting on June 14, 2011. Mr. Johnson seconded and it was voted Unanimous (3) Gilday, Kimball and Johnson.

2011-030Request to amend the Amesbury Zoning Bylaw and Map– Mayor Kezer and Councillor Gilday sponsor

Summary: Amend Sections V, VI, VII, VIII, XI, XI.J, XI.J2, XI.O, and Map

These sections were reviewed and discussed with Denis Nadeau for explanation of each section.

Mr. Nadeau stated that Section V, Table of Use regulations, is to allow mixed use buildings in the Commercial District by special permit.

Section VI (i); would change the setback to 5 feet of the property line. It allows the buildings to come 5 feet closer to Rt. 110 and he did not feel it would create any more safety issues than there is already.

Section VI (ii).; is to amend the dimension of a standard 2 car garage by 2 feet or 24 X 24 and to allow 2 principle structures on one lot which is allowed on other districts now and this just adds it to the commercial district.

Section VI (iii) is to allow multiple principle structures on one lot as long as the lot meets the requirements.

Section VII Signs is to allow multiple wall signs and up to two ground signs in all non residential areas.

Section VIII Off street parking requires no more than 50% of lot frontage and a 5 foot pedestrian walkway along parking areas and public ways.

Section XI will allow two access driveways for projects with multiple structures and uses and modifies landscaping requirements.

Section XI.J would allow mixed use buildings in the commercial district.

Section XI.J2 allows authority to grant permits to allow a common access driveway to be used for frontage and access.

Section XI.O allows Common Access Driveway to satisfy zoning frontage requirements for Cluster Residential, Planned Unit Development and Historic Preservation by special permit.

The map changes are for approximately 1200 square feet shown on Map 77, Lot 31 from R-20 to C and approximately 15,750 square feet on Map 77 Lot 72 and 72A from C to R-20.

Councilor Kelcourse moved to send 2011-030 back to the Municipal Council with a recommendation to accept the proposed changes as submitted. Mr. Johnson seconded and it was voted Unanimous.

Councilor Kimball moved to adjourn at

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon Dunning

Administrative Assistant

May 17, 2011