Developer proposes 19-lot Brookside Farms Phase 2; board delays site walk because of weather

Jason Levante, the developer, asked the Planning Board to receive a pre-application for Brookside Farms Phase 2, a single-family subdivision that would add 19 lots to an existing project.

Levante said the 51-acre proposal would retain roughly 59% open space, include five proposed wetland crossings (four for a road and one for a driveway) and rely on individual septic systems and wells. "What's proposed are 19 new lots," Levante said. He told the board the wetlands were delineated by Chris Kopi and noted a potential vernal pool that will be researched in spring.

Staff flagged regulatory reviews the project will need: Maine DEP site law major amendment review and an Army Corps wetland impact review. Levante provided impact figures: "A total of 8,600 square feet of new wetland impact is proposed," and he said the cumulative wetland impact with Phase 1 would be about 36,000 square feet.

Board members discussed scheduling a site walk and sidewalk review. Because snow cover and a forecast of further storms would make a site walk impractical, the board voted to receive the pre-application and defer setting a firm site-walk date. The board advised the applicant he could continue work on plan materials "at your own risk" while the sidewalk/site-walk is delayed.

Why it matters: The project will require state and federal review because of the wetland impacts identified by the applicant; the board and staff asked for vernal-pool confirmation, updated house footprints to reflect wetland setbacks and digital survey data for plan accuracy.

Next steps: The applicant will submit full preliminary materials that incorporate the lot-line elimination noted for Phase 1, revised house footprints to respect wetland setbacks and the revised open-space plan. The board will revisit the site-walk and sidewalk scheduling at a future meeting when snow cover permits.