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Concord approves Silver Hill Road infrastructure plan with stormwater treatment; neighbors press for wider drainage fixes
Summary
The NRC issued an order of conditions for Phase 2 of the Silver Hill Road infrastructure project, which replaces an old water main and adds stormwater quality devices. Neighbors raised concerns about existing overland drainage that the project does not fully address.
The Natural Resources Commission voted May 7 to issue an order of conditions for the Town of Concord’s Silver Hill Road Phase 2 infrastructure project (DEP file 1371705), which includes replacement of an aged water main, pavement reclamation and installation of stormwater quality devices to remove suspended solids from roadway runoff.
Jason Gallant, of Wright-Pierce, presented the plan on behalf of the town and described the work as primarily "water main replacement, and pavement reclamation, and also some associated stormwater improvements," noting the project will install hydrodynamic separators at two outfalls that convey treated roadway runoff to Silver Hill Pond. "The primary elements of this project are very similar to phase 1," he said, adding that the proposed structures will be within existing easements and the roadway right-of-way.
Several abutters raised concerns that the project scope does not address an existing overland drainage channel — a topographic concentration of runoff that bypasses the roadway drainage system and flows directly to the pond. Neighbors and property owners worried the unaddressed overland flow could continue to contribute sediment and elevated runoff to the pond even after the town installs the new in-road treatment devices.
"We're not proposing to alter that system," Jason Gallant said of the overland drainage. The town engineer confirmed the project focused on roadway runoff and meeting current stormwater standards for the project limits. He noted the town's stormwater enterprise fund article is scheduled for a town meeting vote; if the fund and rate structure proceed, the town could pursue broader drainage projects in the future.
Commissioners and staff said the Phase 2 proposal represented a net improvement for roadway runoff quality under current regulatory standards, but several commissioners acknowledged the project would not solve all neighborhood drainage issues. The commission unanimously moved to close the hearing and issue the order of conditions with findings A–D, standard conditions 1–20 and special conditions 21–51.
Ending Staff will file the order and monitor for compliance; neighbors were advised the town has limited budget for stormwater work currently but that the stormwater enterprise fund, if approved, could enable broader drainage improvements.
