Board delays vote on amended site plan at 7 Crows Nest Circle after peer‑review request

The Merrimack Planning Board on May 6 continued consideration of an amended site plan for 7 Crows Nest Circle (UTSI Properties) to its May 20 meeting to allow the town’s peer-review engineer to assess drainage impacts from the proposed increase in impervious surface.

Matthew Ruthier of TF Moran, representing the applicant, said the amendment would shorten a portion of the approved building by 13 feet, add 57 parking spaces with marginal pavement increase and move a transformer to accommodate a later phase. He also said the applicant is asking to add up to 20,000 square feet of mezzanine space that would not change the building footprint. "He's looking to add an additional 20,000 square feet of mezzanine, which would have no impact on the building layout," Ruthier said.

Staff advised the board that three waiver topics related to parking-lot landscaping and tree setbacks had been granted previously and that Fuss & O'Neil wanted to review the increase in impervious area; Fuss & O'Neil staff told staff they could complete a first review by May 12. Board members voted to continue the item to May 20 to allow that review and to determine whether any waivers would still be required; the continuance passed unanimously (6–0–0).

The applicant requested no continuance, arguing the changes do not alter drainage capacity, but the board preferred to wait for the peer review before final action. The board instructed staff to circulate Fuss & O'Neil's findings and to bring any recommended waiver requests back to the board at the continued hearing.