FRICK MEETS FRACK‏

I attended the May 24, 2012 Planning Board meeting.

I find that the more Planning Board meetings I attend, the more confused I become.

It is painfully clear that the Planning Board

is clearly out of their element.

First up was Premier Development: Requesting permission to continue on-going work, bringing in and selling materials. A neighbor is and has been complaining about a dust problem. After much discussion an obvious solution was reached. 

Next, 

Case # 11-08    Open Door Bible Church.

The Church is requesting permission to rent out the storage units in a commercial building that was permitted to be built in a residential area. The Town since changed the zoning, spot zoning, so the storage building would be allowed.

A member of the Planning Board did not like the sign advertising the storage units with a phone number to call. A long discussion ensued on that topic.

Next they want the area around the storage units to be landscaped. 

Also brought up was hours of activity and lighting.

  

Talk about locking the barn door after the horses have escaped ! ! ! ! 

All these should have been addressed by Codes Enforcement and the Planning Board during the application and approval process. The storage building was allowed to be built, illegally. Zoning was changed to allow the storage building. 

It would be assumed that renting the storage units was a given.

Why then, did the Church have to endure more than an hour of debate and discussion to allow a sign with a phone number so they can rent the storage units? 

A church member said there is paving in front and on both sides of the building, and lawn at the rear, and that there is no lighting so there is no night activity.

Problem solved. Permit approved.
 

Last on the agenda was Wayne Ricker, requesting permission to sub-divide three (3) lots on Mill Street.

The Planning Board members were asking questions they could have had answers to had they done an "on-site inspection" of the applications.  

And these people were chosen for OUR representation in Lisbon?  Yet another example of Lisbon's lack of leadership.
 

The Town used to have a sign ordinance.

I checked the Town of Lisbon Ordinances and did not find one!

Where did it go? Why do we not have one now?

Especially when in these difficult times of local businesses closing and we are paying a Community Development Director who is supposed to be actively trying to retain what businesses we have and attracting new ones? Where is he and what does he do? 

Town Manager Steve Eldridge tells us at council and budget meetings he has hired a Town Planner, and wants $20,000 in the 2012-13 budget to continue with a town planner; to assist the Community Development Director and Planning Board.

If we have a Town Planner why is he or she not assisting the Planning Board with these issues? Issues that should be cut and dried if we have ordinances in place and a Planner to assist.

Dot Fitzgerald

A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen