Board approves two‑lot subdivision on Curtisville Road with conditional use permit for wetland‑buffer disturbance

The Concord City Planning Board on June 18 approved a two‑lot subdivision of an 11.6‑acre parcel on Curtisville Road and granted a conditional use permit (CUP) to allow temporary disturbance of wetland buffer to provide driveway access to a rear buildable area.

Erin Lambert of Wilcox & Barton represented the applicants and described the property as an 11.6‑acre parcel with about 4.75 acres of wetlands (not including buffers), leaving limited contiguous buildable land. “The buildable land is in the lower left corner…we do need to disturb the wetland buffer. It's just over 3,000 square feet,” Lambert told the board.

Board members raised concerns about sight distance, driveway width and whether tree removal in the city right‑of‑way might be needed to meet required sight lines. Planning staff and the applicant explained that a precedent condition requires submission of a driveway plan and a driveway permit before building permits would be issued; the driveway plan must meet site‑distance and slope requirements. The applicant said the driveway would be 12 feet wide and that the site is generally flat; if the driveway location must change and additional buffer disturbance is necessary, the applicant would need to seek a wetland permit and return to the board.

Conservation Commission recommended approval and staff supported the requested waivers. The board granted the waivers, the CUP for wetland‑buffer disturbance and minor subdivision approval; approvals are subject to the precedent and subsequent conditions noted in the planning packet.