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Panel questions wastewater package plant, hill grading and water impacts for proposed hilltop hotel
Summary
Reviewers pressed developers of a proposed 30-unit hotel on a steep hill for more detail on a packaged wastewater-treatment plant, phasing of earthwork, well impacts and stormwater controls.
Town reviewers raised detailed concerns about a proposed hotel development sited on a steep hill off Route 17M, focusing on erosion control during grading, the developer’s proposed packaged wastewater-treatment plant (a modular above-ground treatment system), and the potential effects on nearby wells and the mapped aquifer.
Why it matters: Large earthworks on steep slopes and a packaged wastewater treatment system both carry erosion, groundwater and odor risks. Reviewers asked for additional engineering detail and for the applicant to consider phased construction to limit exposed soils during storm events.
Main issues discussed - Erosion and phasing: Board members recommended limiting exposed disturbed acreage at any one time and performing earthwork in phases so that vegetation or temporary stabilization can be established between stages. They referenced town stormwater rules that limit the area of disturbance without special controls. - Packaged wastewater-treatment plant: Officials asked for details on the proposed packaged system — its odor-control measures, expected effluent quality, and whether the town or county health department has specific approval requirements. Reviewers noted packaged plants are used elsewhere for camps and bungalow colonies but cautioned they can produce odors if overloaded or poorly sited. - Water-supply and wells: The board noted a recently drilled well in the nearby area and said water availability and draw on the aquifer should be reassessed in light of new wells and other nearby developments; they asked the applicant to confirm well-yield tests and account for other recent groundwater withdrawals in the area. - Visibility and tree removal: Members observed that landscaping now screens the site from certain vantage points but that the proposed RDM warehouses up the road could remove screening; the board suggested a balloon test or other visibility demonstration.
Requests and next steps Reviewers asked the applicant to provide a phased erosion-control plan limiting disturbance to less than the town’s trigger acreage at any time, to submit manufacturer specifications for the packaged wastewater-treatment unit (including odor control and capacity assumptions), and to re-evaluate groundwater drawdown and nearby well impacts in coordination with the local health department.
