Last June, the Board of Selectmen declined to use their right of first refusal on the sale of a property near the Tom Paul Trail. On Monday, the Planning Board talked about the same property, just for different reasons.
The Planning Board will continue their hearing regarding a proposed sub-development that will transform an approximately 26 acre lot, 64 Main St., into three homes of approximately two acres each and a large landlocked conservation area that will be given to the town.
As in June 2014, neighbors of the property voiced concerns over the three new homes, most notably from John and Regina Conway of 66 Main St.
Under the plans for the 64 Main St. proposed by developer David Guthrie, a portion of 66 Main St. would serve as a right-of-way for a new street called Kinloch Drive that would connect the three new homes to Main Street itself.
The Conways voiced frustration with the process, citing that they had not been contacted by Guthrie in planning for the potential new homes despite their property’s critical role in their feasibility. Helena Conway also disputed the Planning Board’s reference to frontage upon the proposed street, stating that it was currently only a right-of-way, and that she and her husband were the ones with frontage on Main Street.
“If they wanted to buy the land and have the access, they had that opportunity. They can’t just take something that doesn’t belong to them”, she said. “And I don’t feel that should bestow that upon them.”
Initially it was believed that the right-of-way could only be used to serve one home on the 64 Main St. lot, although Town Planning Jeff Morrisette indicated that documents related to 66 Main St. from the 1960s indicated that more than one home could be built on 64 Main St. with Planning Board approval.
There were also some concerns about drainage and vegetation from neighbors as well as safety concerns from the adjacent Wheeler Lane, which will be very close to Kinloch Drive near Main Street if the sub-development is approved.
Attorney Douglas Deschenes, representing Guthrie, noted that the proposed street would be 20 feet wide and have five feet shoulders on each side, compared to 12 feet of pavement and curbs on Wheeler Lane.
The sub-development includes a 50 foot buffer between the edge of the Tom Paul Trail and any developed land, although property boundaries from the trail will vary from 42 to 50 feet.
Although the Planning Board moved to continue discussion on the issue until their next meeting on Sept. 8, the large proposed conservation land will conveyed to the town on a date before the Aug. 19 deadline.
The new, non-buildable property is also expected to have a conservation restriction and land covenant 30 days after the conclusion of the Planning Board’s decision regarding the sub-division.
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