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Plaistow planning board approves mailing for proposed prime-wetlands designation with 50-foot limited-use buffer
Summary
The Plaistow Planning Board voted to approve a legal notice and abutter mailing for a proposed prime-wetlands designation, attaching a table that sets the limited‑use buffer at 50 feet and schedules a public hearing for Dec. 4; the board asked the Conservation Commission to review and may adjust the table at the hearing.
The Plaistow Planning Board voted to approve sending a legal notice and accompanying abutter mailing for a proposed prime‑wetlands designation, attaching a table that lists a 50‑foot limited‑use buffer and a 100‑foot general buffer. Speaker 3 presented the draft warrant language and maps, saying the designation would be authorized under RSA 482‑A:15 and that maps would be filed with the town clerk as required by RSA 675:3.
Board members emphasized timing: the public hearing was proposed for Dec. 4, which, given local newspaper lead times and statutory notice periods, requires printing and mailing the abutter letters in late October. Speaker 3 noted staff must prepare label printing and postage and that postage would be charged to the Conservation Commission’s fund for mailing costs.
The board debated whether to send the table with a 50‑foot limited‑use buffer (recommended by some members) or a 100‑foot buffer. Speaker 4 and others said the Conservation Commission should review the table; Speaker 5 noted that if ConCom modifies the buffer the matter would return to the planning board for final zoning action. Speaker 3 summarized the practical choice as: send the abutter letter with the table showing a 50‑foot limited‑use buffer now so deadlines can be met, and allow public hearing input (and any ConCom recommendation) to inform a final decision.
After discussion, a motion to approve the abutter/prime‑wetlands letter with the attached table (showing the limited‑use buffer as 50 feet) was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. At the meeting one member stated, "The letter will say 50," reflecting the board’s direction to staff to prepare the mailing as written.
The board instructed staff to finalize the letter and labels, coordinate postage (noting Conservation Commission funding for postage), and distribute the legal notice to the Eagle Tribune per publication deadlines. The public hearing remains scheduled for Dec. 4; the board may consider revisions to the buffer table following Conservation Commission input and public comment at that hearing.
