Chichester Planning Board discusses member appointments, CNHRPC role and a conceptual family subdivision

The board used part of its May 7 meeting for internal business and preliminary concept review. Members approved the April 2, 2026 meeting minutes and discussed procedures for appointing new members, with Chair Corie St. Germain saying she would draft a proposal to formalize the historical practice (prospective members attend meetings, state interest and qualifications, then be discussed by the Planning Board before recommendation to the Select Board). Members noted that Frank Swirko has expressed interest in returning as an alternate pending Select Board action, and they welcomed newly seated alternate Seth O'Donnell.

Board members also discussed phasing CNHRPC planner Matt Monahan back into the more limited consultant role he previously held beginning with the June meeting. The stated plan is for Monahan to provide review memoranda and technical support rather than attend every meeting; members emphasized that written review memos are valuable, that those costs are generally recovered through application escrow, and that coordination between staff and Monahan by email or phone should continue.

In a conceptual discussion, David and Naomi Hussey described their intent to reconfigure two parcels totaling about 70 acres to create a 12-acre parcel for their daughter and son-in-law, leaving roughly 10 acres in current-use status and carving out a 2-acre house site. The board advised the Husseys they would need a surveyor to prepare an application, contact the road agent about driveway access and consult the assessing office (Avitar) about current-use implications and potential rollback taxes. The board noted frontage rules may differ by district (residential district frontage shown on the board’s maps is 200 feet; rural/agricultural would require 300 feet) and cautioned that the proposal might function as a subdivision combined with a lot-line adjustment.

Members also discussed bylaws (last updated in 2019), state-level regulatory changes that might require local updates, training opportunities through the regional planning organization and administrative improvements such as centralized email distribution and digital plan sets. Two unrelated site-activity concerns—reported wood-processing near Shirtmasters/West's property and excavation/truck activity near the Merrill property off John Hardie Way—were noted and referred to the appropriate enforcement authority. The board set tentative future meeting dates for June 4 and July 2, 2026, and adjourned by unanimous motion at the close of business.