Waterville Valley, NH – The Planning Board convened on March 12, 2026, to address a range of critical town planning matters, including the review of recent zoning amendments, the election of new officers, and strategic discussions on future development oversight. The meeting emphasized the importance of proactive planning, clear ordinances, and active board participation.
New Member Welcomed to the Board
The meeting began with the introduction of a new alternate member, who resides on Greeley Hill Road. The Chair expressed enthusiasm for the new volunteer’s willingness to join the board. The new alternate’s official appointment by the Select Board is anticipated at their next meeting. (link)
Minutes Approved with Amendments
The Board reviewed and approved the minutes from previous meetings. The minutes from January 22, 2026, were approved with minor amendments, including a correction to the year in the header/footer and a clarification regarding “an as-built” submission. (link) The minutes from February 12, 2026, which included discussions on a draft explanation sheet for proposed zoning amendments, were approved as presented. (link)
Town Meeting Zoning Amendments Review
The Board reviewed the results of the recent Town Meeting, where all proposed zoning amendments passed. The Chair noted the positive outcome, indicating the town’s general support for these changes. Key amendments and their approximate vote counts included:
- Permissive Zoning: 100 Yes, 22 No (link)
- Restrictive Standard: 103 Yes, 19 No (link)
- Definitions: 108 Yes, 14 No (link)
- Food Service Establishments: 96 Yes, 24 No (link)
- Short-Term Rental: 86 Yes, 35 No (link)
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Regulations: 101 Yes, 20 No (link)
- Parking Delineation: 87 Yes, 34 No (link)
- Residential Parking: 82 Yes, 40 No (link)
- Off-Site Parking Measurement: 97 Yes, 25 No (link)
- Political Signs (Clarification Language): 76 Yes, 45 No (link)
- Temporary Residential Signs: 70 Yes, 52 No (link)
- Maintaining Structures: 101 Yes, 21 No (link)
- White Mountain Athletic Club Zoning Designation Change: 88 Yes, 31 No (link)
- Formatting and Grammatical Corrections: 109 Yes, 12 No (link)
Election of Officers
The Board proceeded with the annual election of officers:
- Chair: The incumbent Chair was nominated and accepted the position for another year. (link)
- Vice-Chair: The incumbent Vice-Chair was nominated and accepted. (link)
- Secretary: The incumbent Secretary was nominated and unanimously elected. (link)
- Ex-officio to the Conservation Commission: A member was nominated and unanimously elected to serve as the Planning Board’s ex-officio representative to the Conservation Commission. (link)
Master Plan Action Review and Subcommittees
The Board discussed the need to make the Master Plan more actionable and specific. The current language in some sections was deemed too vague.
- Architectural Balance: A subcommittee was formed, including a new alternate member, another board member, and the professional land use planner, to develop more specific architectural standards, initially focusing on commercial development. They will review examples from other towns and aim to propose changes to the site plan regulations. (link)
- Landscaping: A committee, including a member who is also an alternate on the Conservation Commission, was formed to review landscaping requirements, focusing on site plan regulations. (link)
- Parking: The need to re-evaluate parking calculations in the zoning ordinance was highlighted, as current standards do not align with actual usage, particularly in Town Square. The discussion emphasized the need for more realistic parking requirements. (link)
Follow-up on Past Project Conditions
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the importance of following up on conditions applied to previously approved projects.
- Golden Heights: A board member raised concerns about unmet landscaping conditions from a 2023 approval, specifically regarding an evergreen vegetation screen. The Code Enforcement Officer confirmed that the building permit for Golden Heights remains open due to outstanding landscaping. The board plans to compile a list of unmet conditions for the Select Board to take action. (link)
- Pickleball Court: Concerns were raised about the construction of the pickleball court, specifically regarding the 8-foot solid wood fence condition for noise mitigation. While the Code Enforcement Officer has received no noise complaints, the physical structure may not fully align with the original condition. The Board will review whether the constructed fence meets the approved condition. (link)
- Tracking System: The Code Enforcement Officer offered access to the town’s robust records management system for tracking conditions, which is preferred over a manual spreadsheet. A board member and the Secretary will work with the Code Enforcement Officer to integrate this tracking. (link)
Dark Sky Ordinance Discussion
The Code Enforcement Officer noted ongoing issues with outdoor lighting in town, with some lights being excessively bright or grandfathered. He emphasized the difficulty in enforcing the current Dark Sky ordinance due to its lack of specificity and the absence of clear examples of acceptable lighting. A review of the ordinance was recommended to make it more enforceable. No complaints have been received regarding the lighting for night tubing. (link)
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Planning
The Chair announced plans for a working session within the next two weeks to draft a procedural document for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). This initiative aims to improve the planning and funding of town projects, moving away from last-minute special warrant articles towards more structured capital reserve accounts. The goal is to provide greater transparency and avoid contentious discussions at Town Meeting.
Emphasis on Board Engagement and Future Planning
The Chair reiterated the importance of active participation from all board members, stressing the need to read and understand ordinances thoroughly. He highlighted that effective planning should aim to prevent conditional approvals by having clear, “bulletproof” regulations. The board also discussed the value of continuous learning through resources like the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) and the state Bureau of Economic Affairs.
Next Meeting
The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for April 9th. (link)