Planning Board reviews TNN Realty warehouse, approves buffer, delays final site approvals pending DEP and easement language

The Town of Wells Planning Board heard public testimony and staff comments Monday on a proposed 12,800-square-foot warehouse for TNN Realty LLC and related subdivision and parking-lot amendments. Austin Fagan, with BH2M Engineers, told the board the building would be used for the applicant’s other businesses and that the site plan proposes 13 parking spaces to meet a 1-per-1,000-square-foot parking ratio.

The board opened a public hearing on the warehouse site plan, took no public testimony, then closed the public hearing and unanimously moved to proceed with plan review. During discussion staff noted the project expands an existing paved parking area and will enlarge an existing stormwater basin; because the project and an abutting lot are under a common scheme of development, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) stormwater permit will be required.

Mike (planning staff) told the board the DEP permit process is likely to take time and that an easement across the adjacent lot is necessary to provide common access through the parking area. The board received a separate subdivision amendment application to record that access easement; planning staff recommended the board act as completeness agent for the amendment and directed the applicant to provide draft easement language for recording. The board voted unanimously to receive the amendment, name staff as completeness agent, and to find another public hearing was not required.

On the warehouse site plan, the board voted unanimously that a 40-foot no‑cut buffer along Louisville Road — with allowed clearing only at the entrance — met the Local Industrial (LI) zone buffer requirements. Because one abutting lot has an observed buffer disturbance, staff recommended, and the board approved, a continuance of the warehouse site plan review contingent on resolving that buffer issue and on completion of the DEP stormwater permit process. The board set the continuance period by motion (contingent on DEP) rather than issuing final plan approval.

Separately, the board received a site-plan amendment application for the adjacent T&N parking lot. Staff found a 40–50-foot opening in the tree line at the front of that lot consistent with previous construction activity and recommended planting replacement trees to meet the ordinance (a tree every 30 feet in the LI zone). The board set a planting deadline (May 15 of next year) to rectify the disturbance and voted unanimously to continue the parking-lot amendment to allow the applicant to submit corrected plans and confirm pavement, drainage inverts, and power service details.

Why it matters: The DEP stormwater review and the need to resolve buffer disturbance on an adjoining parcel keep final approvals pending. The board approved the buffer approach and the procedural steps (completeness agent, required easement language) but declined to finalize site plan approvals until state permitting and recordation steps are complete.

Quotes "This proposed project is a 12,800 square foot, warehouse facility off of Willie Hill Road," said Austin Fagan, representing the applicant. "We are proposing 13 parking spaces for the new building to meet the 1 parking space per thousand square foot of warehouse area."

"Because the lots are under a common scheme of development, the DEP requires a stormwater permit," said Mike (planning staff).

Ending The board left the warehouse and related amendments in an active review state. Applicants were directed to supply recorded easement language and to continue coordination with DEP on stormwater permitting; the board will reconvene on the applications after those contingencies are addressed.