MilliporeSigma is planning to reconstruct the western parking lot of its facility on Prescott Road after finding traffic and soil-settling issues.
On Tuesday night, Lauren Swett, technical manager for engineering firm Woodard & Curran, met with the Planning Board to amend MilliporeSigma’s existing site plan to fix the issues with spacing, traffic and soil-settling. According to Swett, the plan is to build more parking spaces and help traffic flow better for vehicles passing through Prescott and Turnpike Road.
Swett also said the proposal includes one way of entry into the parking lot adjacent to Prescott Road.
“The goal is to make the parking lot work smoother for people,” said Swett.
Currently, the western parking lot on MilliporeSigma’s property is primarily dealing with soil-settling issues, which can lead to the parking lot and the cars moving slightly downward into the ground.
Board members requested a third-party review of the project, with the third party yet to be determined. To conclude the amended site-plan review, the board moved to discuss the development further on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
In another matter, the Planning Board voted to allow the applicants of Stony Brook Village to connect their sewer and water lines to the town systems.
On Tuesday night, applicant Jamison VanDyke from Barkley Enterprises LLC requested amending the existing 28-home subdivision on Mountain Road and authorize that the plans extend the water and sewer lines to the town’s systems.
Kirk Stenersen from Higher Design, representing Stony Brook Village, said the sewer pumps will run along Route 124. Stenersen also said developer Robert VanDyke will be responsible for funding the estimated $600,000 construction project. The Town of Jaffrey will not be responsible for any upfront costs of the project.
Planning Board member John Peard expressed interest in the proposed plan, saying that connecting the town’s systems and the subdivisions’ systems is the best-case scenario.
“I think this is going to be less of an impact to the environment instead of having individual septic systems,” said Peard.
According to Conservation Commission Chair Carolyn Garretson, the committee gave developers the green light to move forward in their expansion project after completing a site walk of the property. Garretson said she is pleased with the developer’s plans and their considerations for the environment.
“This is an improvement and it gives more space to recognize the wetlands,” said Garretson. “Given the fact that [the plan] has been approved, the project will be better than individual septic systems.”
Despite approval from the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission, Director of Planning and Economic Development Jo Anne Carr said she would like to see a compliance hearing before the project is finished.
Attorney John Ratigan, representing the VanDykes, said he’s looking forward to the construction of the project.
“This is going to be wonderful,” said Ratigan.