Planning board approves Patton Oil site plan, home-based business at 42 Monadnock Highway with conditions

The West Swanzey Planning Board on Nov. 6 approved a site plan and a home-based business permit for Patton Oil at 42 Monadnock Highway, subject to conditions that the board of selectmen approve the home-based business and that the applicant show the septic system and the driveway to the parking area on the filed plat.

The approval covers a proposed 1,350-square-foot parking area intended to hold two oil delivery trucks and one 10-foot box truck. The board voted to grant requested waivers for items 14–25 on the site-plan checklist and deemed the application complete before taking final action. Motions were recorded as moved and seconded by board members; the board approved the waivers, completeness determination, and final site-plan and home-business approval by voice vote.

Why it matters: The property lies in the town’s Business District (Tax Map 102, Lot 13). Conservation staff had flagged the site because it sits above a highly transmissive portion of the local aquifer; the board conditioned approval on measures meant to reduce spill risk and asked that any future change in the number of parked trucks return to the board for review.

Applicant presentation and safety measures

Applicant Mark Patton described operational and safety procedures he said the company uses to minimize spill risk. Patton said drivers complete a written 30-point inspection before leaving the yard and again when they return; trucks carry a spill kit, a 20-pound fire extinguisher, and an emergency-response guide; and older industry safety devices are standard on modern delivery trucks. “I am absolutely 100% sure that no drop of…