The Merrimac Planning Board's 2008 calendar year experienced a slow down in applications from developers. We took this time to focus on areas of improvement for the town. Specifically, the Planning Board (PB) issued an RFP for engineering services over a three year period. Eleven proposals were received from engineering firms as far south as Foxboro and north to Nashua and Stratham, NH. A review committee was organized to review and grade the proposals. We then selected to interview the top three firms and by unanimous vote we chose to contract with Cammett Engineering of
Amesbury.
Our second task was to craft language in order to pass a by-law that created an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The primary goals are to preserve low and moderate income housing for the benefit of households in Merrimac. The trust was immediately funded with $103,916.00 collected by agreement with John Cormier/BC Realty Trust in connection with affordable homes constructed on Mill Street.
There are three current subdivisions currently under construction in Merrimac: Madison Way, Quail Ridge and Lakewoods Drive. The PB continues to monitor these through their various construction phases. The downturn in the U.S. housing industry and economy has significantly impacted the completion of these subdivisions. In addition, two special permits were approved in 2008 for 128 West Main Street and 16 & 20 Birch Meadow Road and one Approval not Required (ANR) was approved on 31 Highland Road. The PB collected $400 in application fees and $607 in Zoning By-Law booklets.
Annual elections in April resulted in the welcoming of Ron Barnes as the new member of the PB. Ron ran unopposed in the election as we said farewell to retiring Chairman, Rick Pinciaro. Rick completed his eighth year as a member of the PB including the last three years as Chairman. I would like to personally thank Rick for his many years of service and leadership to the PB. We were pleased to later have Rick appointed by the selectmen as an alternate member of the PB to assist in special permit hearings.
The PB reorganized in May after town elections and voted John Thomas as MVPC Commissioner, Dennis Brodie as Merrimac Housing Authority representative, Sandra Venner as Vice-Chairman and Ray Gingras as Chairman. I would like to thank Vice-Chairman Sandra Venner for her key roles in the Engineering RFP process and creation of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, John Thomas for his active role as MVPC commissioner and Ron Barnes for his valuable insights and contributions to project reviews. And of course, many thanks to our secretary, Pat True, for her dedication, professionalism and support throughout the year.
Raymond L. Gingras
Chairman, Merrimac Planning Board
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