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Planning board approves preliminary subdivision for 61 Walden Street; conditions set for grading, tree removal and drainage
Summary
The Concord Planning Board unanimously approved the preliminary subdivision plan and certificate of approval for Stampski & McNary Inc. at 61 Walden Street, adding conditions to separate roadway/driveway tree removal and to require definitive-plan responses to engineering, fire and public-works comments.
The Town of Concord Planning Board on Aug. 27 voted unanimously to approve a preliminary subdivision plan and certificate of approval for a proposal by Stampski & McNary Inc. to construct a new roadway and create two building lots at 61 Walden Street (Parcel 0274-2).
Planning staff summarized a draft decision that included previously discussed waivers and explicit conditions requiring any later definitive plan to address engineering, fire-department, board-of-health, and Concord Public Works (water and sewer) comments. Staff emphasized a specific condition that definitive plans must clearly separate grading and tree removal associated with the roadway and drainage from tree removal for individual house lots, noting that roadway/tree removal is exempt from the town's tree-preservation bylaw while lot-level tree removal is not.
Board members discussed jurisdictional limits: planning board authority over subdivision and site plan review differs from the Board of Appeals' authority over earth-removal and special permits. Planning staff noted precedent from a past Main Street subdivision that involved large volumes of earth-moving and litigation, and stressed that a preliminary plan has no standing to give the applicant any build rights; definitive plans will be subject to more detailed review.
When members asked whether the board could condition applicants to pursue specific driveway configurations (for example, a joint driveway), staff replied the board lacks jurisdiction to require specific private negotiations but may strongly suggest applicants explore options with adjacent landowners.
The chair called for a motion to approve the preliminary plan and certificate of approval for 61 Walden Street. The board voted in favor by voice; no members opposed.
Staff said signatory pages will be signed following the statutory timeline and submitted to the Land Court/Registry of Deeds as part of post-approval procedure. The applicant confirmed they had reviewed the draft decision and had no objections at the hearing.
