The Peterborough Zoning Board of Adjustment voted Monday night to approve a variance for Catholic Charities of New Hampshire to fill in a small, man-made wetland where the entity plans to build a 32-unit affordable housing development at 10 & 12 Vose Farm Road. The hearing was a continuance of a previous meeting in which the ZBA had requested more information before deliberating.
“We got a lot more information. Some was from the applicant, some was from the Conservation Commission, some was from the Building and Planning Department. Our board is in agreement that we have a complete application now, and we have updated site plans,” chair Sharon Monahan said at the start of the meeting.
Francie Von Mertens of the Peterborough Conservation Commission stated that she had a conflict and was unable to stay for the hearing, but wanted to answer any questions the ZBA might have. Von Mertens said she wanted to be very clear that the commission did not have any issue with the variance being granted and is fully in support of the project moving forward.
“This is a man-made wetland, and the new stormwater treatment plan will address it,” Von Mertens said.
George Chadwick, senior design engineer with Bedford Design Consultants, spoke on behalf of the applicant. Jeff Lefkovich, executive director of Real Estate and Affordable Housing Development for Catholic Charities, also was present. Chadwick presented an updated site plan, noting that the group had already received permitting to fill in the small pocket of wetland.
“This was a stormwater breach that flowed onto the property. The berm behind EMS was breached, and the water puddled into a depression in the land. We have contacted the owner of the property to the north. There should not be any more runoff coming from the neighboring property … it will be amended regardless of this project, ” Chadwick said.
At a previous meeting, Erik Burbank, representing SoClean, which had purchased the neighboring property from EMS, stated SoClean’s support for the project and willingness to resolve the stormwater overflow issue.
ZBA member Loretta Laurenitis asked for clarification on the different boundary lines on the map, and board member Sharon Monahan asked if there were any more concerns in the groundwater protection zone or the shoreline. Danika Malone of the Town Planning Office responded that as far as other wetlands, including the shoreline and wetlands buffer, everything had already been permitted.
“Everything else is all squared away,” she said.
When a member of the audience commented that all of this information was already in the packet for the meeting, Sharon Monahan responded that “people don’t read things, it is okay to ask questions and explain.”
Monahan said that in order to receive the variance, the applicant had to show they had considered other alternatives. Chadwick said they did look at rotating the buildings on the lot and have reduced parking, but that rotating the buildings would affect the natural wetlands.
“In order to make this a viable project, there is just no other way to do it,” Chadwick said.
Monahan then opened the hearing for public comment. James Kelly, a member of the Peterborough Affordable Housing Committee and the Peterborough Economic Development Authority, stood and expressed support for the project. He indicated that several members of the public had come to show support.
“That’s why all these people are here, because we support the project,” he said.
Lisa Stone of Peterborough said she felt the ZBA had “taken a lot of time discussing other matters which had already been approved and permitted.”
“All we are talking about is one little m-shaped parcel here. Anything else is way out of the purview of the land use committee,” she said.
Monahan then asked Chadwick to review the five criteria for the variance, which had also been reviewed at the previous meeting. Chadwick summarized that the the ordinance is to protect naturally occurring wetlands, that this wetland is from stormwater runoff; and that filling in the wetland will cause no harm to the public.
At the close of public comments, the ZBA deliberated on the five criteria. All members were in agreement that allowing the applicant to fill in the man-made wetland would benefit the public by allowing the housing project to go forward, with no negative affects on public welfare.
“If we had delayed for a year until they fixed it, it might have dried up on its own anyway,” Selby said.
The variance was granted unanimously.