Planners approve only application before the board

by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members approved the only application on their May 27 agenda and postponed everything else.

Natasha Littlefield, owner/operator of Littlefield’s Gym, in the former Farrington building, at 9 Legion Memorial Drive, in South China, applied to use office space in the building for her accounting business.

She’s run the business remotely from her home since 2013, she said. She plans no changes to disturb neighbors – no additional lights or noise, no changes to landscaping or parking, no additional employees, maybe a few more clients’ cars during the day.

The three planning board members present decided no public hearing was required. They found the application met all ordinance criteria and unanimously approved it.

The gym, Littlefield said, has about 150 members. It is open 24 hours a day, but seldom used between early evening and early morning.

The agenda for May 27 included discussion with members of China’s comprehensive planning committee and review of two draft ordinances, a new one to prohibit new high-speed power transmission lines through town and a new section of the subdivision ordinance.

Board chairman Toni Wall said she invited five comprehensive planning committee members to the meeting. None responded and none came.

Wall had not had time to continue work on ordinances.

The next China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 10, in the town office meeting room. Wall said Town Clerk Angela Nelson does not expect the board meeting will interfere with voting in the adjourning portable building, or vice versa.

China’s June 10 annual town business meeting will be by written ballot, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.