Planning board continues review of proposed single-family house for David Russa, requests staff review

The New Shoreham Planning Board heard an application by David Russa to replace an existing, deteriorated dwelling on Payne Road with a new single-family timber-frame house and continued the item for additional staff review.

Applicant representatives described the plan as a three-bedroom, two-story timber-frame home roughly comparable in overall size to the existing house. "He wanted it to be roughly the same size — around 3,000 square feet, with 3 bedrooms," said Sarah Hayes, project architect with South County Post & Beam, summarizing the applicant’s request and design approach. The proposed design reduces bedrooms from five in the existing structure to three in the new house and relocates the new structure slightly northward to meet zoning setbacks; the applicant said the existing house was built before zoning and sits on the lot boundary.

Seth Lemoine, a professional civil engineer with Principia Engineering, told the board the site is primarily gravel (Category A soil), that the design includes a walkout basement and minimal grading with two small retaining walls, and that stormwater will be handled by an underground infiltration system. "The stormwater controls ... far exceed the minimum standard required through DEM and the local zoning ordinance," Lemoine said, and he projected a decrease in runoff from current conditions. Utilities were described as a force-main sewer connection with an external grinder pump and a one-inch water service to an existing lateral at the edge of Payne Road.

Board members asked for additional detail and raised items for staff review, including a landscaping plan and lighting consistent with a new lighting ordinance now under council review. The applicant’s team said landscaping will be provided around the house and the back area will be left largely as-is. The board also asked the applicant to check retaining-wall height limits; the engineer said grading shows up to a five-foot retaining wall at the foundation, tapering to zero toward the setback line.

Planning Board Chair asked town planner Peter to review the application and provide a report in two weeks and suggested the board could vote at the next meeting if no issues are raised. The applicant indicated they are scheduled before the zoning board in August and are agreeable to returning to the planning board next month for a final vote if required.

No formal action was taken; the board directed staff to review the plans and return with comments. The board indicated that, unless Peter flags issues, the applicant likely will not need to return in person for the August meeting.