An applicant may elect to forego or engage in preapplication review or either phase thereof.
A. 
Preliminary conceptual consultation phase.
(1) 
The applicant may request a meeting with the Board to discuss a proposal in conceptual form and in general terms. Such preapplication consultation shall be informal and directed toward:
(a) 
Reviewing the basic concepts of the proposal;
(b) 
Reviewing the proposal with regard to the Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance;
(c) 
Explaining the local regulations that may apply to the proposal; and
(d) 
Guiding the applicant relative to state and local requirements.
(2) 
Preliminary conceptual consultation shall not bind the applicant or the Board. Such discussion may occur without formal public notice, but must occur only at a posted meeting of the Board.
B. 
Optional preapplication review.
(1) 
Prior to submission of a completed application for Planning Board action, an applicant may request to meet with the Board for nonbinding discussions beyond the conceptual and general, involving more specific design and engineering details of the potential application.
(2) 
The optional preapplication review phase may proceed only after identification of and notice to abutters and the general public as required by RSA 676:4, I(d).
(3) 
Persons wishing to engage in optional preapplication review phase shall submit a Request for Pre-Application Review (Attachment 2)[1] and associated fees not less than 20 days before the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. The request shall include:
(a) 
A list of abutters and their addresses from municipal records not more than five days before submission; and
(b) 
A check or cash to cover mailing and advertising costs.
[1]
Editor's Note: Attachment 2 is included at the end of this chapter.
(4) 
All discussion in the optional preapplication review phase shall be informal and nonbinding. Statements made by Board members shall not be the basis for disqualifying said members or invalidating any action eventually taken on the application.
(5) 
The Board shall not accept any formal submissions by the applicant at this time.
A. 
A formal application shall consist of the forms and data as shown in Articles VII, IX and X of these regulations. It shall also include all fees required by the Town under the provisions of RSA 676:4, I(g).
B. 
Upon receipt of a formal application, the Planning staff will review it using the Site Plan Application Checklist. When all requirements have been met, the application will be scheduled for submission to the Planning Board by placing it on the Board's agenda.
C. 
A formal application shall only be submitted to the Planning Board at a regular meeting after notification has been given as required by RSA 676:4, I(d). The Planning Board shall consider the application, and act to accept, reject or continue consideration of the application within 30 days of the meeting at which it is submitted. Such action shall be by a majority vote of those Board members present.
A. 
Once a formal application is accepted, the Planning Board must act on the application within 90 days and shall consider it at its regular meetings or at workshop meetings if required. A site visit may be scheduled. Additional reports or studies may be required by the Board, including, but not limited to, high-intensity soil survey, traffic, school, fiscal, and environmental impact analyses, to allow the Board to make an informed and educated decision concerning the application.
B. 
Prior to the approval of a site plan application, a public hearing shall be held as required by RSA 676:4, I(d), with notice given to the applicant, abutters, and the public.
C. 
The Board may apply to the Board of Selectmen for an extension of the ninety-day time period, not to exceed an additional 90 days, before acting to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove an application. An applicant may waive the requirement for Board action within the time period specified in these regulations and consent to such an extension as may be mutually agreeable.
D. 
If the Board has not taken action on the formal application within 90 days of its acceptance, and has not obtained an extension, the applicant may obtain from the Board of Selectmen an order directing the Planning Board to act within 15 days. Failure of the Board to act on the order shall constitute grounds for the applicant to petition the Superior Court as provided in RSA 676:4, I(c).
E. 
The Board shall act to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the formal application within 90 days of acceptance. (See Attachment 4a.)[1] All conditions of approval will be stated in the form of "Notice of Action."
[1]
Editor's Note: Attachment 4 is included at the end of this chapter.
F. 
Approval of the application shall be certified by written endorsement on the plat and signed and dated by two members of the Board, one being the Chairman or Vice Chairman.
G. 
A financial surety, adequate to cover the cost of site stabilization and the cost of landscaping improvements approved as part of the site plan application, shall be posted with the Town prior to signing the plan. The following financial sureties are acceptable to the Town: cash, passbook savings account in the Town's name, or a bond. Any interest accrued from the financial surety shall accrue to the applicant.
H. 
If any application is disapproved, the grounds for such disapproval shall be adequately stated in the minutes of the Board and in the Notice of Action given to the applicant within 72 hours. (See Attachment 4b.)[2] Applications may be disapproved by the Board without public hearing on the grounds of failure by the applicant to supply information or to pay fees as required by these regulations.
[2]
Editor's Note: Attachment 4 is included at the end of this chapter.
A. 
Notice of an optional preapplication review, submission of a formal application, or of a public hearing, shall be given by the Board to the abutters and the applicant by certified mail, and mailed at least 10 days prior to the meeting. (See Attachment 3a.)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Attachment 3 is included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
The public shall be given notice at the same time, by posting in two public places and in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town.
C. 
The notice shall give the date, time, and place of the Planning Board meeting at which the application or other item(s) will be formally submitted to the Board, shall include a general description of the proposal which is to be considered, and shall identify the applicant and the location of the proposal. (See Attachment 3b.)[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Attachment 3 is included at the end of this chapter.
D. 
If the notice for the public hearing was included in the notice of submission or any prior notice, additional notice of the public hearing is not required. Additional notice is not required of an adjourned session of a public hearing, provided that the date, time and place of the adjourned session was made known at the prior public hearing.