[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6213008,"mediaKeyId","3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b","parentId",3682679,"title","Board notes federal court dismissed lawsuit against town and individuals","audioSeconds",110,"startMs",4347000,"endMs",4457000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b&start=4347&end=4457","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b/thumbnail_4347000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213008/West-Swanzey/Cheshire-County/New-Hampshire/Board-notes-federal-court-dismissed-lawsuit-against-town-and-individuals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213008-d8873b66924a042680b521c5072bf436/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194201&Signature=dPcSL~D~qBsGCiDI1EyvW53bjeRlvIjno3x3bww5t9B3Xy6XML7x7N9e05BO5H~PKnbN1W5eF6qZQb~iIQThDM0kaKurgrzBwfnsa~Zx~g-ebODqUe7Ww6RI4-DMkEO4dW0t9PqnW1cXKE7-bvxWKyilG2vP8FKj1lv-R-C5C1XJTz-A2k6Hz1f0-EtAm8YppRHArmHkElekgywXQy2f-L8o71SEsMNRF6xWsx3lo8BfaNF022chpGnTImSpGP19JUeWLnOBD~OE459B7r7Zsh~YE9Vjx85MCpiuNh1RhumqX0Vaz81qQp326rjPJZkFKNTIHx4Yl8TB14vIFZsJXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of West Swanzey NH","date","2025-06-05T17:36:08Z","article","A board member reported that a federal court has dismissed the federal portion of a lawsuit naming town officials and private individuals, and that the federal dismissal was with prejudice while some state claims were dismissed without prejudice.

The board member said the federal case was dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning those federal claims cannot be refiled. Portions of the state-level complaint were dismissed without prejudice, the member said, which would allow the plaintiff to refile in state court. The board member did not know whether the plaintiff intends to appeal or refile at the state level.

No formal action or vote was recorded in the transcript excerpt; the statement was made as an informational update to the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Swanzey Planning Board: April 24th, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","Board members reported that a federal court dismissed a lawsuit against town officials and individuals with prejudice; the state-level claims were dismissed without prejudice and could be refiled, according to the board's summary.","taxTitle","West Swanzey, Cheshire County, New Hampshire","taxId",75717,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213013,"Planning board reviews merger of two small parcels into new tax map lot",640,136000,776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b&start=136&end=776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6213013/West-Swanzey/Cheshire-County/New-Hampshire/Planning-board-reviews-merger-of-two-small-parcels-into-new-tax-map-lot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213013-49a73b359fe5a7d632c99c66dcef1f5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194201&Signature=fD~UaO-L9ZvGw91GgGNrSMwcQH00Tu6wtigHu4vngKL7b3A7wiXYWaDvtbIQ0WftoRQ~G-tj2Gwj8z66zlGkg3nTWvAHwSiL~8UU5gd3AT1BWnm4EWlPFB6a~mgeeQYmf8QDjfHSCOO6VeXR88GhTNgGfIR9f6wjr7c4MWAJ6tlA94YVxmog7e5UHT8G25DqRy-gYffwA6sQUQKEtt1zVsgtqVJwzBk5Duq2e1mjVcvgpI9ljRwB1q19e-7M2kGnpmea2dSWTyU47vs6VnAzGh74SiLZmPbk0nykfbydo6ySfxl-Uk8nsMMdtJ-Lb6-dZ0ORR8BvqvVhlPX~9nPEsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff described a routine lot-merger on the town tax maps that would consolidate two former parcels into one larger lot; the board discussed the map labels and required documentation but did not take formal action in the excerpt.

Staff said the parcels formerly shown on old Map 61 as Lot 12 and Lot 13 are being combined into one parcel reflected on the town’s new tax map (referred to in materials as tax map 247, Lot 302 / noted in the packet as 'Lot 30 2'). The presentation included a frontage and boundary review, a right-of-way note and a note that a quitclaim or similar instrument needed to be submitted to reflect easements or rights-of-way.

Board members asked for clearer map depictions and confirmation of the right-of-way and warranty information; staff indicated the applicants must submit a quitclaim or other documentation showing the right-of-way and that the town requires the paperwork as part of the record. No votes or approvals are recorded in the provided transcript excerpt; the discussion focused on clarifying the mapping and packet details.","Board members reviewed a staff plan merging two former Map 61 parcels (Lot 12 and Lot 13) into a single new tax-map lot; matter was discussed for clarity and documentation but no formal vote was recorded in the excerpt.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213017,"Swansea planning board reviews tighter conditional-use language for wetlands district",355,3526000,3881000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b&start=3526&end=3881","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b/thumbnail_3526000.jpg","/articles/6213017/West-Swanzey/Cheshire-County/New-Hampshire/Swansea-planning-board-reviews-tighter-conditional-use-language-for-wetlands-district","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213017-0948a8a08818641bfd139efe0366e372/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194201&Signature=c~d0X6Wz1nhUy6n-RO-sroaGYx8bmjpy0xPo3cHGEQ0f4gEJoVhEhJMrjD0bV-tgZRFU8BAUoiD~lyOhxCURmcwq0t~qZ3CaoIfjPjeJuf51SIZp0FLM6jX~xTy9GjuLTRAxBrYfc~5RgxZngO5PBBO9xnLLWDXBHQx1C59n5VKhYbprNDAp0O2x~WLA1EXBud8646Ufd8EZr2zElRNpz0TZlBNvUMxm-VfCDGedGMjUM9jYq9XsBt4Bvpx6NgpipyyE8DUfMIoTqmqjzVN8VJ0xmIqfuy8yNP3cyOpKcEY1En8-sHIOLwbm7KTXsoCN1GRqRZkBhgkp5DEoNqwvEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Swansea planning board continued work on proposed revisions to the town’s Wetlands Conservation District, focusing on criteria and submittal requirements for conditional-use permits; the board did not adopt final language and asked staff to refine the draft with legal review.

Planning staff presented a draft that lists categories eligible for conditional use — including construction of roads, pipelines and utility lines — and a set of criteria applicants must meet. The board discussed inserting language that an applicant must show “no reasonable and economically viable alternative” to a conditional use that would result in less wetland impact rather than a stricter “no feasible alternative” test.

Members also debated the appropriate technical submittals. Several board members said a wetland scientist can delineate soils and vegetation, but the planning board should require a civil engineer or other qualified professional to provide a detailed scope of work and fill/drain plans when civil work is proposed. The group agreed the state’s dredge-and-fill permitting process applies to any site work that affects wetlands and that the planning board cannot override state permitting authority.

Other procedural points the board considered included limiting required plan copies to the planning board (with copies to conservation commission), clarifying mitigation-plan criteria, and whether the planning board should retain sole discretion to deny permits that fail the criteria. No vote was taken; staff was asked to incorporate changes and to consult the town attorney on phrasing (including a “qualified professional” umbrella term) before the board’s next meeting.","Members reviewed proposed edits to the Wetlands Conservation District conditional-use provisions, discussed requiring a realistic, economically viable alternative test and the scope of required technical reports, and asked staff to refine language with counsel.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213022,"Swansea board weighs one-time impact fees to help fund roads, schools and water projects",2763,759000,3522000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b&start=759&end=3522","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682679-9b74945244673b1073de6c22914f0c5b/thumbnail_759000.jpg","/articles/6213022/West-Swanzey/Cheshire-County/New-Hampshire/Swansea-board-weighs-one-time-impact-fees-to-help-fund-roads-schools-and-water-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213022-1b64ff986a7d9dc00cf2d8055b491771/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194201&Signature=fJFxyLSqbb0lzVfBGL8jRGoOzI~n3afKJTYnks~9076d6Ew-P-hNQEuHGcRImXG~fIiGFZ5vtggxt8JmxWerbblgcYn82TeVXeNzs3P5qiJmNlCzYbIj6lDgLgNC578AFNa5USrBT7HNNRWaQE9xWoKyOUar6NTiwF3D3wsT9dnhI~NpLl0yTMb3vfxK-1qLqANHtg5nz3iHsKt3pPHMIsuSbVaEOaQu9kMjnksgK3fZBq0vAUyeYYAblSiTAQFajFPvd5Mp0EdHdLNskYvsQtyNI9Iay9aXghCnccCxsBnmpG14u2TbgunDpt7w8Q7IVxRIa1Da-QxEb4Pk8T5ylA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Swansea board members discussed whether to adopt a one-time impact-fee ordinance to fund capital needs tied to new development, but made no formal vote and instead directed staff to compile data for a future decision.

The board considered a packaged impact-fee proposal and an example fee schedule provided by planning staff. Board members raised the trade-offs of charging developers a one-time fee — which can fund roads, water system upgrades and equipment for police and fire — against the risk that high fees could discourage business and housing development.

Planning staff (Adam) presented example calculations from an outside schedule: under that schedule, a 2,500-square-foot single-family house at $5.18 per square foot would generate $12,950 in fees, while an 80-unit apartment project with 600-square-foot units at $4.78 per square foot would produce about $229,440. Staff and board members noted these are examples only and that Swansea would set its own rates if the town adopts an ordinance.

Board members emphasized several design features they want considered if the town moves forward: tying fees to clearly identified capital projects; keeping fee levels low enough not to deter desirable business or modest housing; allowing limited waivers or phased payment schedules for hardship or economic-development cases; and strict accounting so fee revenues are held in separate accounts and used only for their stated purposes. Members noted state/local rules limit when impact fees may be used and that fees must be tracked and expended within a statutory timeframe (discussed in the meeting as up to six years with interest under the proposed framework).

Several members urged caution about administrative costs and staffing to manage fee accounts. The board asked staff to prepare a spreadsheet showing recent building permit activity, annual counts and total square footage (residential and nonresidential) and to model several fee schedules so members can see projected receipts and likely costs. The board agreed to reconvene the discussion at a meeting scheduled for June 12 to review that data.

No ordinance was adopted and no formal votes were recorded during the discussion. The board’s next steps are to receive staff’s data and draft accounting procedures and then determine whether to draft a local ordinance or other formal impact-fee mechanism for public review.","Members discussed adopting an impact-fee framework to pay for infrastructure tied to new development, reviewed example fee schedules and agreed to ask staff for data and a model spreadsheet before the next meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board notes federal court dismissed lawsuit against town and individuals

Planning board reviews merger of two small parcels into new tax map lot

Swansea planning board reviews tighter conditional-use language for wetlands district

Swansea board weighs one-time impact fees to help fund roads, schools and water projects