The Hancock Planning Board heard a preliminary design review for a subdivision at 97 Peterborough Road on Wednesday, and postponed the public hearing after deciding the application is unfinished.
Daniel Davis of 97 Peterborough Road is applying for a “re-subdivision” of his property to properly follow frontage and setback regulations.
“It’s clear that our regulations did not anticipate this circumstance,” Kevin Murphy, chair of the Planning Board, said.
The plan reconfigures four existing lots into four new lots with a private gravel road. By changing the lots, the goal is to provide the correct amount of frontage and have better conforming setbacks.
Davis plans to eventually sell two of the vacant lots for single-family residential homes.
After much discussion, the Planning Board decided to consider the application a minor subdivision with a private road instead of a major subdivision given the lots already existed.
Rebecca MacNeely, member of the Planning Board, recommended that the three properties touching the private road own it to avoid an additional easement.
Jacques Belanger, from J.E. Belanger Land Surveying PLLC representing the applicant, agreed with MacNeely’s idea and the recommendation to add 350 feet to the proposed private road, allowing for the back lot to have the correct frontage.
The additional 350 feet means the private road would be more than 1,000 feet long, requiring a New Hampshire-licensed engineer to work on the road following statewide regulations on erosion and water systems.
The Planning Board also wants Tyler Howe, director of public works, to review the private road.
Since the board decided to consider the application a minor subdivision with a private road, J.E. Belanger Land Surveying will have to reapply following the separate expectations for a minor subdivision instead of a major.
This meant the originally planned public hearing for the night was postponed until a later date. With five abutting residents attending, they were not happy when told they could not participate formally.
The board ended up opening up discussion for the abutters to share their concerns before the applicant returns with the new application.
The majority of concerns had to do with the wetlands and access to water from the property, including Edward MacDowell Lake and Ferguson Brook behind the largest lot on the property.
Anne Tellithrope Luker of 103 Peterborough Road said she feared the impact on water supply with additional septic and wells in the neighborhood.
“That’s a big strain on the infrastructure, which we have basically no infrastructure. It makes a huge impact on our quality of life and our water safety and availability,” she said.
She also shared she felt there should be no waivers on the application because the subdivision should follow all expectations.
Marilyn Wyzga of 96 Peterborough Road said she had similar concerns about the wetlands and the local issues with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), widely used and long-lasting chemicals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The board discussed eventually following up with a site visit, but promised a public hearing where abutters and concerned residents can share their perspectives. Belanger said they could get the application done in October.
The next Hancock Planning Board meeting is Aug. 5 in the Meetinghouse Hall at 47 Main Street to continue the public hearing for the communication tower and the vote on the site plan regulations for Floodplain Management and Flood Insurance Rate Maps.