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Sanbornton Planning Board defers LCA decision, approves most subdivision regulation changes
Summary
On Feb. 19 the Sanbornton Planning Board reviewed Land Conservation Area (LCA) draft language with the Sanbornton Conservation Commission, struck proposed lot-line adjustment text, approved Subdivision Regulation changes except Section 8.H, and granted signature authority for plan approvals to the chair and vice chair.
Vice Chairman Tom Lynch called the Sanbornton Planning Board to order on Feb. 19, 2026, at Old Town Hall and the board spent the evening reviewing Land Conservation Area (LCA) draft language presented by the Sanbornton Conservation Commission.
Dave Perry and Brandon Deacon of the Sanbornton Conservation Commission provided the board with revised LCA draft language, a tracked-revisions document and their reasons for proposed changes. Planning Board Assistant Stephen Laurin said he can "view all registry entries and can track any LCA deferrals on a parcel," which the board discussed as part of how deferrals would be enforced.
Vice Chairman Tom Lynch warned that "holding future landowners, that are not the original parcel landowners, to previously made deferrals, prior to their ownership, can lead to contentious and litigious situations." Chairman Andy Sanborn said enforcement should be uniform—either enforce all deferrals or none—while SCC representatives cautioned that waiving all deferrals could cause the town to "lose valuable LCA opportunities." Dave Perry explained the lot line adjustment language is intended "to protect lots from getting adjusted to sizes that are immune to LCA requirements."
On a motion by Selectman Representative Ralph Carter, seconded by Chairman Andy Sanborn, the board voted to strike Stephen Laurin’s proposed lot-line adjustment language. The motion passed 5-0-0. The board agreed to revisit the LCA deferral language at its March 5, 2026 meeting.
The board also continued its review of the Subdivision Regulation Amendment, beginning with Section 8. Members agreed Section 8.B.1 should require granite bounds along rights-of-way while allowing applicants with other existing monumentation to seek a waiver. Section 8.H was marked pending because the board had not resolved LCA deferral language. Ralph Carter moved to accept all proposed Subdivision Regulation changes except Section 8.H; Andy Sanborn seconded and the motion passed 5-0-0.
Separately, the board voted to grant signature authority for plan approvals to the Planning Board chair and vice chair. Andy Sanborn made the motion, Ralph Carter seconded and the motion passed 5-0-0. The board agreed the interval between approving a subdivision with conditions and recording the plan at the registry of deeds will be 10 business days.
In staff updates, Planning Board Assistant Stephen Laurin said the Torti subdivision escrow check was delivered to pay for Kevin Leonard’s revision of the drainage report and updated the board on the subdivision’s HOA language. Laurin also distributed Home Occupation Application and Permit (Level One) language and said he will present it to the Selectboard so a fee can be established; board members suggested clarifying area standards and will revisit the topic.
The board adjourned at 9:08 PM. The Planning Board will reconvene for regular business on March 5, 2026, when members said they will revisit the LCA deferral language.
