The new owners of 133 Hay Hill Road in Francestown are considering a possible subdivision for a family compound which would be used for farming and other agricultural use.
Liam Russell told the Francestown Planning Board his family is exploring the possibility of subdividing the 59-acre property into four lots, one which would include the existing home and cottage on the property, as well as three new lots for houses for family members.
“We just want to make sure it is a viable option to potentially subdivide before we take any further steps,” Russell.
The family has not yet submitted an application to the Planning Board.
According to Russell, the subdivision would consist of three front lots and a back lot.
“We are thinking that the new houses would each have the frontage on the road, and the existing house would be the backlot,” Russell told the board.
In discussing the issues impacting a potential subdivision, members of the Planning Board said the town would consult town counsel about the status of Hay Hill Road. Chair Gerri Bernstein said that as far as the board can determine, the road appears to be a Class V road, as the town has maintained the road for more than 5 years.
“The town had maintained the road for over 20 years,” said Bernstein said. “The road has been maintained up to the garage, and the road agent has been doing what has been done all along.”
David Jonas, an abutter to the property, expressed concerns about the town’s possible classification of the top part of Hay Hill Road as a Class V road. Jonas said that in the 50 yeas his family have been neighbors to 133 Hay Hill road, the gravel section of the road has remained a private driveway.
Planning Board member Betsy Hardwick said that in researching the town’s road transcripts, she did not see any record of Hay Hill Road being formally adopted by the town.
Bernstein said the board will consult town counsel about the status of the road and report back at the next meeting, and said the road will probably require some improvements such as widening and a turnaround for town and emergency vehicles.
“We knew from the get-go, driving up and down this road, that the road will probably need improvements,” Russell said.