North Berwick planning board accepts 9‑lot sketch plan, records withdrawal of storage-yard request

The Town of North Berwick Planning Board on a regularly scheduled meeting accepted a nine‑lot sketch plan for a subdivision off Diamond Hill Road, agreed to a site walk for July 24 at 5:30 p.m., and recorded that an applicant withdrew a conditional‑use request to add a storage yard at 16 Winska Road.

The board voted unanimously to accept the sketch plan submitted by TDS Properties LLC and represented by Austin Fagan of BH2M. The proposal is for a conventional subdivision of nine single‑family lots in the Family Forest zoning district; all lots are planned to be served by individual septic systems and wells, and the applicant indicated units would likely include fire sprinkler systems. Planning liaison Matt McCallard said the subdivision application had lapsed and the developer returned for sketch‑plan reinstatement; escrow from the prior submission remains active.

The board also recorded an applicant’s decision to withdraw a conditional‑use amendment for Big Boy’s Truck and Heavy Equipment Repair LLC, listed on the agenda as Jason Day at 16 Winska Road. The applicant told the board he no longer sought the additional outside storage use and described plans to construct a berm and plant trees along the property line; the board accepted that retraction and treated the minutes as the official record of withdrawal.

Why it matters: approval of the sketch plan allows the developer to move to preliminary engineering and trigger statutory referrals and reviews. The withdrawal of the storage‑yard amendment ends the planning board’s consideration of that change and preserves the property’s previously approved auto‑service facility conditions.

Board discussion and next steps

Austin Fagan of BH2M told the board the project would extend off the end of an existing private way from Berwick, referencing a neighboring Mackenzie Subdivision now under construction. "This project is going to extend off the end of that right of way that was approved by Berwick," Fagan said. He said there were no major alignment changes from the earlier submission and that the developer planned five paved roadway sections built to town standards.

McCallard recommended a site walk to inspect field conditions after recent clearing and to confirm how the proposed layout ties into existing work. He confirmed the escrow from the prior application remains active and noted that, as part of the preliminary plan stage, the town will circulate plans to the fire chief, police and the school superintendent for comment. "The fire chief will. He's seen the plan, this week. At least first glance," McCallard said.

Board members asked for front property pins to be marked for the site walk so the board can verify lot boundaries in the field. The board set the site walk for July 24 at 5:30 p.m., and voted 5‑0 to schedule it.

On the Winska Road item, the agenda identified the applicant as Jason Day of Big Boy’s Truck and Heavy Equipment Repair LLC. The applicant told the board he wished to revoke the previously requested storage‑yard amendment and said he planned to construct a berm and plant trees along the property line. The planning liaison said the withdrawal would be recorded in the minutes and the board accepted the retraction; no further permitting for the storage yard will proceed.

Permits and change of occupancy clarified

During general discussion the board clarified that conditional permits are tied to the property, not the owner. McCallard used a local example of the Town Pizza building, saying a new tenant of the same use category could occupy the space without returning to the planning board so long as the new use fits within the previously approved footprint and occupancy. If a new owner or tenant proposes a larger structure or a use that exceeds the original approval, the board would require a return for amended approval.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes of June 12, 2025 (with one amendment): passed, 5‑0 (motion and second not specified in the record). - Big Boy’s Truck & Heavy Equipment Repair LLC (16 Winska Road): applicant retracted storage‑yard amendment; board accepted retraction (treated as withdrawal in the minutes); formal vote not recorded. - TDS Properties LLC (Diamond Hill Road) — sketch plan (9 single‑family lots): motion to accept sketch plan passed, 5‑0 (mover/second not specified in the record). - Site walk for Diamond Hill Road subdivision (EDS property): scheduled for July 24 at 5:30 p.m.; motion passed, 5‑0. - Adjournment: motion passed, 5‑0.

Board attendance and meeting context

Members introduced themselves at the start of the meeting as Mark Ray, Jackson Williams, Justin Perry, Mark Kevin and John Moore. Matt McCallard, code enforcement officer and planning liaison, staffed the meeting. Engagement on the subdivision item produced the most substantive discussion and several requests for field verification; the Winska Road item concluded quickly after the applicant’s retraction.

What’s next

With the sketch plan accepted, the developer may submit preliminary engineering and supporting materials, at which point the town will initiate technical reviews and consult the fire chief and other responders. The board’s site walk on July 24 will inform any remaining sketch‑plan clarifications prior to preliminary submittal.