Skowhegan Planning Board approves Oak Pond Estate 7‑lot subdivision with condition from neighboring town

The Skowhegan Planning Board approved the Oak Pond Estate Subdivision application, a seven‑lot development on Route 2 and Oak Pond Road submitted by Maine Highlands Development LLC on behalf of Asset Investments, LLP, with conditions that the neighboring town of Canaan provide written acknowledgement or approval.

Paul Bridal, a civil engineer and owner of Green Highlands Development representing Asset Investments and partner Brett Davis, presented the plan and described the seven lots as ranging from about 1.08 to 1.32 acres. Bridal said the subdivision footprint covers about 8.18 acres and that the developer will retain roughly 48 acres of the larger parcel.

Bridal told the board the proposal includes an on‑site fire pond sized to meet the fire department's storage requirement (he said the town required 35,000 gallons and the pond was designed to store about 36,200 gallons). He said most of the pond water will be drawn from an existing wetland and that soils tests were favorable for storage. The presentation noted a small portion of the fire pond lies across the town line in Canaan and that preliminary plans and applications had been shared with Canaan officials for review.

Bridal reported wetland impact for the project as roughly 3,647 square feet, which he said falls below the Maine DEP permitting threshold cited by staff (the plan stayed under the 40,000‑square‑foot trigger he referenced). The board and the applicant discussed hydrant connection details, driveway coordination and space for emergency vehicle turnarounds.

Jason Finley (site‑plan review committee) requested that future individual driveways be coordinated directly with the road commissioner; the applicant confirmed that request and said the required turnaround space for emergency vehicles on the rear lots (lots 6 and 7) was added to the final plans.

A nearby property owner, Lee Hawes of 1277 Canyon Road, spoke as an abutter and asked whether the subdivision would affect wetlands adjacent to his property. Bridal said the area near Hawes’s parcel will be retained and that no development is proposed in the wetland area near Lake George.

The board moved to approve the permit with the condition that Canaan provide a formal acknowledgment or approval; a second was recorded and the chair called for a vote. The board’s raise‑of‑hands vote passed with no opposition and the chair issued the permit subject to the stated condition and the site‑plan conditions noted on the record.

The board asked staff to follow up with Canaan for written confirmation. The applicant indicated he would expect an informal email acknowledgment but agreed that formal written approval was to be secured for the record.

No further appeals or additional permitting steps were decided at the meeting; the applicant will continue coordination with review agencies and local officials as noted.