The Jaffrey Planning Board held a compliance hearing for a new development on Squantum Road, where the board found some plans needed to be updated to match the as-built conditions.

The board met Tuesday with Jonah Ketola of SQ19, to discuss the required compliance hearing for a 6-unit development on 291 Squantum Road. In particular, the board felt that the development did not comply with the original plans in two areas – stormwater management and drainage, and landscaping. Neighbors who attended the hearing also said that outdoor safety lights also were disturbing them, despite testimony when the plan was approved that they would be muted and non-obstrusive to neighbors.

Ketola spoke at the hearing, saying that the plans he submitted should be sufficient to show the as-built conditions of the drainage and water management. He submitted a letter, written by his engineer, suggesting that the plans he’s submitted are more detailed than what board’s typically see at this stage in the approval process.

Planning Board Chair Amy Meyers said the plans of the stormwater management system did “not give us the detail that the town and Planning Board expect,” and that specifically, the board wished to see more information on the grading on the property. She said in the approved plans, there were trees and other plantings that were not installed.

“I don’t think that I, for one, am comfortable with the stormwater as you’ve laid it out here, and I don’t think you’ve complied on the landscaping. We try to be fair,” Meyers said.

“You’re not being fair at all,” Ketola responded. 

Planning Director Jo Anne Carr said that Fieldstone, the agent representing SQ19, had provided plans to the town for other projects, with a similar level of detail that the board is now asking for. She said as to landscaping, there were some plantings and trees asked for that were not planted, including some maple trees. 

“If there’s reasons the landscaping wasn’t installed as originally proposed, it’s perfectly reasonable to explain why that happened,” Carr said.

Ketola said that there had been plantings put in, calling the objections “ridiculous” and adding, “If we have to add seven trees, we’ll add seven trees.”

Planning Board member John Peard pointed out that there was some vegetation planted, which while currently low, would grow. 

Planning Board member Margaret Dillon said that submitting a plan with grading information and either an updated landscape plan, or – her preference – complying with the original plan, were not “unreasonable requests.”

Some neighbors to the property objected to the light on the garage impacting their property, as it was set to be on during dark hours all night. Ketola said he would be amenable to making the light motion-activated. 

The board agreed to continue the hearing until June 24 at 5 p.m., when they would do a site-walk of the property.

The board reviewed an application by L. Richard and Elizabeth F. Littlefield Revocable Trust, which requested a 2-lot subdivision of a lot on Nutting Road. 

Surveyor Jed Paquin, acting as an agent for the trust, explained that the lot is about 6.8 acres. While there are some wetland areas on the lot, the subdivision would meet the town’s frontage and area requirements, with each potential new lot being over 3 acres. 

When asked by neighbors, Paquin said there are no planned developments for either of the lots at this time. Carr explained the lots are zoned for single-family homes, and that if a developer sought a multi-family development, they would have to apply through the town’s Open Space Development ordinance. 

The board unanimously approved the subdivision.

The board also had on their agenda for Tuesday’s meeting a continued public hearing for an application for the Hope Fellowship Church, located on 16 Prescott Road. The proposal includes the expansion of the existing church to add an additional sanctuary, the addition of more parking and a reconfiguration of the existing lot. 

The applicants requested a continuance of the hearing, and were not present during the meeting Tuesday. The board agreed to continue the hearing until its July 8 meeting without discussion on the matter. 

During Tuesday’s meeting, the board also welcomed Jim Douglas as a new alternate to the board.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.