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Millis planning board continues hearing on 44‑lot Woodlands open‑space subdivision
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Summary
The Town of Millis Planning Board heard a presentation from the applicant’s engineer on a 53‑acre, 44‑lot open‑space subdivision, fielded resident safety and traffic concerns about North Street and Cottage Ave, and unanimously continued the public hearing to April 7 to allow responses to peer review comments.
Dan Merricken of Legacy Engineering presented the definitive subdivision application for the Woodlands open‑space subdivision, describing a roughly 53‑acre site north of Main Street and a proposed 44‑lot single‑family open‑space subdivision. Merricken said the open‑space special permit remained valid after COVID tolling and subsequent extensions and that the application therefore proceeded under the prior approvals.
Merricken described the plan’s footprint (from Main Street to Environmental Drive, with J. Williams Heights and Crestview Drive to the east and Cottage Ave, Dale Ave, Winter Street and Railroad Ave to the west), and said 44 open‑space lots are proposed so green areas can be preserved. He said the project would provide an 8‑inch water main through new roads, a mix of gravity sewer and low‑pressure sewer where topography prevents gravity flow, and reconstruction of the Dover Road sewer pump station to handle additional flow. On stormwater, he said infiltration basins are proposed in sand and gravel soils and the design reduces net runoff; he said peer reviewer Beta recommended an overflow tie to the town’s Main Street drainage and the applicant will include that in revised plans.
Merricken noted a soccer field appears on illustrative plans but would require a separate site‑plan process and select‑board acceptance if the developer built it and offered it to the town. He also described proposed sidewalks, a typical waiver path (including a donation equal to the cost of a second sidewalk), and proposed light poles at intersections and cul‑de‑sacs but asked the board whether additional poles were wanted.
Residents raised traffic and safety concerns. Mitch Bobinsky (26 Cottage Ave) said, “My big concern is this conglomeration of roads funneling into my street,” warning that narrow local streets, a steep hill and sun glare at about 4:30 p.m. could make a North Street connection hazardous and change the character of the neighborhood. Merricken corrected a claim about lot count, saying the prior special permit approved 44 lots and the current plan matches that approval. Julie Philpott (5 J William Heights) asked whether the illustrated 50‑foot green strip would remain wooded; Merricken said that strip would be left undisturbed and new development would be lower than J William Heights. Sharon Aigler (3 Dale Ave) urged the board to consider traffic controls at Cottage Ave and Winter St; board members said stop signs or stop lines could be requested as part of subsequent reviews. James Manning (12 J William Heights) asked about layout changes; Merricken said easement mappings and land‑court determinations about fee ownership required leaving 40‑foot easements in place or relocating them, which altered lot shapes and road lengths.
The applicant has already submitted a traffic study; Merricken said the board will hold a later session with traffic engineers and the peer reviewer to discuss those findings. Board members and staff said they will work with town counsel and town staff on definitions and technical requirements for related agenda items.
After discussion, the board voted to continue the Woodlands public hearing for two months and set the continuation for April 7 to allow the applicant to respond to peer‑review comments and provide revised plans. The motion passed unanimously.
