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5 <br /> PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS: The Planning Board <br /> considered the Flexible Development proposal are its January 17, February 7, and <br /> February 19 meetings. Rather than prepare a recommendation on the entire <br /> proposal, the Planning Board elected to focus on the specific issues raised at the <br /> public hearing and provide recommendations to the Commissioners concerning <br /> them. Those issues and the actions taken by the Planning Board are summarized <br /> below. <br /> 1. Affordable housing annlir cability. The specific issue is whether it is <br /> discriminatory to allow developers of affordable housing to submit a <br /> conventional subdivision plan only. <br /> Planning Board Decision: That both conventional and flexible development <br /> plans be required of all subdivision, including those which are to provide <br /> affordable housing. Vote: 8-2. <br /> 2. Groundwater resources - quantity and quality. The specific issue is <br /> whether cluster lots will be subject to well failures because of the <br /> number and proximity of wells. <br /> No decision - The Planning Board asked that it be kept advised of the status <br /> and findings of the USGS groundwater resources study so that this concern <br /> may be addressed in the future. <br /> 3. Community sewage disposal systems. The specific issue is whether <br /> community sewage disposal systems should be allowed, given problems <br /> encountered with such systems in the past. <br /> Planning Board Decision: That the Planning Board is generally supportive of <br /> the use of community sewage disposal systems to encourage open space <br /> development. However, the Planning Board has specific concerns about the <br /> financial security of such systems and asks that the appropriate staff be <br /> directed to deal with such issues as soon as possible. Furthermore, the <br /> Planning Board wishes to stress that a "yield plan" is a determining factor in <br /> terms of how many units or house lots may be served. Vote: Unanimous. <br /> Planning Board Decision: That the number of lots permitted in a subdivision <br /> be based on a "yield plan" (e.g., conventional subdivision plan) as the <br /> Flexible Development proposal permits. Furthermore, that the staff <br /> continually evaluate the use of the soil survey and the effect on"yield plans" <br /> prepared using survey data. Vote: 8-2. <br /> 4. Higher administrative costs. The specific issue is whether the adoption <br /> of the Flexible Development provisions will require additional staff and <br /> whether developers will incur additional cost to adhere to the standards. <br />