Residents and developer debate 19‑lot Valley View subdivision over wetlands, stormwater and wells

Courtney Herz, an attorney representing neighbors, told the Hooksett Conservation Commission the Valley View proposal “is on property with so many wetlands, that raise significant concerns of importance, obviously, to this commission.” She said the project would add impervious surface and disturb wetlands, and that “if you disturb wetlands … the water has to go somewhere.”

Why it matters: Neighbors said runoff from the proposed subdivision would concentrate in new detention ponds near existing homes and streams, could affect private wells and groundwater levels, and may intersect habitat records for Blanding’s turtle. The developer, Rokey Consulting, said the plan has been modified to address state and agency comments and that wetland impacts would be limited compared with the overall wetland area on the parcel.

Residents raised multiple concerns during public comment. Jim Flynn, who said he lives at 39 Corriveau Drive, urged the commission to review submitted materials including video of wetland conditions and reports that list a 2024 Blanding’s turtle sighting. A second neighbor described two streams on their property that merge downstream of the proposed development and urged commissioners to “walk their proposed subdivision property, and determine firsthand the impact of wetlands this proposed development of 19 homes would have on the environment and the abutting properties.”

The developer, John Rokey of Rokey Consulting, presented the subdivision plan and described engineering changes made after agency review. Rokey said the project would extend Valley View Drive and include multiple wetland crossings; he told the commission the plans now include upsized crossings and detention design intended to preserve hydraulic connectivity. Rokey said, “we have a total of 8,680 square feet of impact for the entire development.”

Technical and regulatory points raised in the meeting included: - Hooksett regulations require stormwater modeling for 2, 10, 25 and 100‑year events; residents and consultants noted an earlier stormwater report omitted a 100‑year analysis and cited town regulations that call for it. Meeting participants referenced a stormwater management report dated 06/27/2024, revised 09/25/2024. - Commission and residents pressed whether private wells would be affected; developers said a hydrologic/well‑specific analysis would require a third‑party hydrologist and is typically handled if the planning board or town requests it. - Agency input: Fish and Game flagged potential Blanding’s turtle connectivity concerns and suggested design changes; the developer described changes (upsized box culverts, outlet modifications, and riprap adjustments) made to respond to those comments and said a wetlands functions and values report was still pending. - Lot and setback notes raised by residents: examples discussed included a 5.52‑acre lot with only about 15% contiguous buildable area (residents said this was due to wetlands) and references to a 75‑foot septic setback and 50‑foot building setback noted in the plans.

Commission action: The commission voted to prepare written comments to the planning board and to request a joint site walk with other land‑use boards to review the property in person. The motion was seconded and approved. Commissioners discussed enlisting technical reviewers, including Bear Paw or other experts, for the site visit.

What remains: The developer said the wetlands functions and values report was outstanding and expected relatively soon; Fish and Game has not yet signed off. The planning and zoning applications were in process. Neighbors urged continued review of stormwater design, wetland crossings and potential impacts on wells and wildlife connectivity.

The commission’s written comments and results of any joint site walk will be forwarded to the planning board as part of the project’s review record.