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Neighbors sharply oppose Whispering Woods subdivision; concerns about water pressure, emergency access and wetlands dominate hearing
Summary
A proposed 19‑lot subdivision called Whispering Woods drew sharply critical public comment Tuesday in Manchester, where neighbors warned that low water pressure, single‑point access for emergency vehicles, tight roadway geometry and wetland impacts make the plan unsafe as presented.
A proposed 19‑lot single‑family subdivision called Whispering Woods, located off South Ridge Drive and accessed from a 50‑foot right-of-way, drew sustained public opposition at Tuesday’s Manchester Planning Board public hearing.
Brent Cole of Granite Engineering presented the plan for a 31‑acre parent parcel to be subdivided into 19 buildable lots served by a 28‑foot-wide municipal loop road and municipal water, private sewer, underground utilities and a closed drainage system. The project would cross two wetland corridors; the applicant said it has submitted a wetland crossing and Alteration of Terrain application to state agencies, that the Conservation Commission had given a favorable recommendation and that traffic counters showed only a modest number of new peak‑hour trips from the project.
Residents who live on South Ridge Drive, Bryant Road, Forest Hill Way and adjacent streets spoke in numbers during public comment. Recurring themes:
- Water pressure and fire response: Multiple speakers said water pressure is low at the top of Bryant Road and that Manchester Fire…
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