Planning board delays decision on 17‑lot Christian Hill subdivision after neighbors press stormwater and slope concerns

The Lowell Planning Board on July 21 continued a definitive subdivision application from Christian Hill Homes LLC to Sept. 18 after lengthy public comment and board questions about stormwater runoff, steep slopes and erosion control.

The proposal would create 17 single‑family lots on existing public streets at 129 Lewellen and 115 Christian Street. David Plunkett, attorney for the applicant, and Mark O’Hara, the civil engineer for O’Hara Engineering, told the board the lots meet dimensional requirements and that Lots 16 and 17 are already under construction. O’Hara said each house’s roof runoff will be routed to a 500‑gallon dry well on the lot and that the design storm used is “1 inch in 10 minutes,” a more intense, short‑duration event intended to capture severe thunderstorm runoff.

Neighbors urged the board to require more detailed, engineered mitigation. “There need to be some well‑thought‑out engineered stormwater mitigation efforts,” said Corey Robinson, a nearby resident, who said clearing the former orchard removed trees that previously reduced runoff and that the cleared slopes now send concentrated flows toward lower properties. Sandy McNamara, president of the Centerville Community Coalition, told the board the cleared site already produced muddy runoff during recent storms. Mike Harrington, a neighbor, asked the board to require soil testing for potential historical contamination and said many existing homes in the area rely on French drains and sump pumps.

O’Hara described topography that drops about 110–115 feet across roughly 1,000 feet (he cited a highest elevation near 210 feet and a lowest near 96 feet) and said the design strategy uses terracing, perimeter curtain drains behind foundations, and infiltration chambers in front of lots to intercept and infiltrate water. He said soils are “group C” (limited permeability) with many boulders and that the project team will tie roof and perimeter drains into infiltration chambers and the existing separated storm system in Christian Street.

Board members and staff pressed for missing documentation. Multiple board members said they had no engineering/stormwater comments on file from city departments and asked staff to obtain written reviews. The board requested revised plans showing lot frontages and dimensions, erosion‑control and stabilization details, profiles of proposed infiltration trenches, locations of any additional catch basins or storm inlets, and a separate streetscape/landscaping plan that includes street trees. The applicant agreed to provide the updated drawings and details and to coordinate further with city engineering, wastewater/stormwater divisions and planning staff.

The board voted to continue the matter to the Sept. 18 meeting to allow time for the applicant to supply the requested information and for departmental review. No variances or waivers were approved at the meeting; the continuation preserves the board’s ability to require technical revisions or conditions.

Next steps: the applicant will submit a revised plan set showing frontage, grading, profiles of infiltration features, and erosion‑control details; planning staff will circulate the materials to city engineering and stormwater/wastewater for formal comment prior to the Sept. 18 hearing. The board noted all materials will be posted on the city’s planning webpage in advance of the next meeting.