PRESENT:  MIKE YAWN- CHAIRMAN, DAMON SAVAS, PAUL DORAZIO,

DON MARTIN, SUE TUMAN, GUNNAR MATTHEWS, GARY ROWLAND- ALTERNATE, DEBORAH HILL- ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, TERRIE WOODLE-PERMIT TECH/ RECORDING SECRETARY

NOT PRESENT:  GERALD RIGGLEMAN

I.  CALL TO ORDER: 

Mr. Yawn called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. in the North Topsail Beach meeting room.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

Mr. Savas made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected.  Mr. Martin seconded the motion, motion passed unanimously.

II. DISCUSSION:

Policy & Procedures: Private Bridges- Ms. Hill presented the Planning Board with the Policy & Procedures on bridges. She stated that this is the procedure she and the Building Inspector used during the process of the last bridge they permitted which was the bridge on 23^rd Ave.  Ms. Hill stated that this is a synopsis of what we used in the past and expect to continue to use in the future.

Maintenance Plan shall be included with the Building Permit Application.

Private bridges shall meet the weight requirements of the fire apparatus which is 50,000 lbs (25 tons) and minimum width of 14 feet.  This will meet adequate firefighting needs to respond to these structures, according to Thomas D. Best, Jr. / NTB Fire Chief & Public Works Director.

Plans shall be submitted to NC Division of Coastal Management to determine the need for any State authorization.  Soil disturbances shall be avoided or minimized in the wetlands.  At no time will wetlands be filled or excavated during construction.

Ed Curtis, NFIP Engineer stated that neither an Elevation Certificate nor V Zone application is required for private bridges. 

Generally, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization is not required: however, plans shall be submitted to the USACE for their review.

Final inspection with Project Engineer and Contractor shall be conducted on-site by NTB Building Inspector, Zoning Administrator and Fire Chief. 

Mr. Yawn stated that we don’t need to change our Ordinance but to have a process in place for the future.  Mr. Matthews asked if there was a height restriction for a bridge.  Ms. Hill stated that she didn’t believe there is a restriction but she would check on that.  Mr. Rowland asked if there is an inspection frequency on the bridge.  Ms. Hill stated that there will be a maintenance plan submitted and the Building Inspector will do the inspections.  Mr. Rowland asked how frequent will the inspections be on the bridge.  Ms. Hill stated that at this point and time the time frame of the inspections is going to be up to the Building Inspector. 

Mr. Yawn stated that what ever the State Standard is on inspections then the     Town should do the same.

Mrs. Tuman stated that she would like the word may replaced with the word shall in the NOTES that Ms. Hill printed off from the NC Attorney Generals Office which reads (A private bridge for automobiles that are used by more than one house, townhouse or duplex needs to meet the minimum safety outlines which may include the (NC Department of Transportation) AASHTO Standard specification for Highway Bridges in accordance with Section 503.2.6 of the NC Fire Protection Code for emergency vehicle access.)  Ms. Hill stated that she would like to talk with Randall Moudy the Building Inspector on this first.

III. PUBLIC FORUM:

Gene Graziosi had a question about the Zoning Map, he asked if property is being rezoned are the owners being notified of the rezoning.  Mr. Yawn stated that the Town is not rezoning anything; we are returning the Zoning Map to the correct zoning.  Ms. Hill stated that there will be a period of time after the Board of Aldermen adopts the Zoning Map for challenges and corrections.

Mr. Yawn stated that the Planning Board has two vacancies, one full time and one alternate.  He asked if anyone was interested to please log on to the website or go to the Town Hall to pick up an application. 

Mr. Yawn stated that the Town Manager is bringing in a consultant (Ms. Booker) to go over our Zoning Ordinance, if anyone on the Planning Board knows of anything that needs to be changed to please let staff know.

IV. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Savas made a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Matthews seconded the motion, motion passed unanimously.

The Planning Board Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. January 11^th, 2007.  Minutes prepared and submitted by Terrie Woodle Permit Tech/ Recording Secretary.