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Board approves public water booster station to serve approved Legacies subdivision
Summary
The Board of Appeals approved a conditional-use request (case 555) Nov. 6, 2025, to allow a public utility pumping/booster station to serve the Legacies residential subdivision. Planning staff recommended approval; the applicant said the booster is required to meet water pressure and fire-suppression standards for higher elevations within the new
The Board of Appeals unanimously moved to approve a conditional-use application (case 555) for a public utility pumping/booster station to supply water pressure to higher elevations in the recently approved "Legacies" subdivision.
Eric McLaughlin, attorney for the applicant, adopted the Department of Planning staff report and introduced Mitch Enser of Baystate Land Services as the applicant's expert. Enser testified that site topography creates areas that cannot be supplied with adequate pressure from existing tanks and that a booster/pumping station is needed to meet the Adequate Public Facilities (APF) requirement for domestic and fire flows. He said the station would be designed to meet local design guidelines, be reviewed by the Department of Public Works, and could be finished with residential-friendly materials to reduce visual impact.
Department of Planning staff told the board the structure is a minor, required facility to meet APF requirements and recommended approval under the special-exception criteria. During public comment, residents asked about potential construction impacts, stormwater management, and whether the station would serve properties beyond the subdivision; staff and the applicant responded that the design and service area would be coordinated with the Department of Public Works, and that the developer is paying the construction costs and the facility will be dedicated to the city for maintenance after construction.
After closing the record the board moved to approve case 555 based on the facts and staff report. The motion passed and the conditional-use approval allows the booster/pumping station to proceed to the technical site-plan and Department of Public Works reviews required for final construction.
