Developer seeks sewer connection for 33-unit 'Villages at North Main'; commission delays pending pump‑station, treatment review

An applicant identified in the meeting as Mr. Tetro presented plans for "The Villages At North Main," a proposed roughly 6‑acre development at North Main Street and L. Stevens Road that would contain 33 two‑bedroom units and, by Title 5 calculations, about 7,260 gallons per day of wastewater flow.

"There are 33 units now proposed at 2 bedrooms," the applicant said, describing a plan to use individual grinder (e/1) pumps at each unit that would discharge via short force mains to a proposed manhole and then by gravity into the town's existing main on North Main Street. He said the driveway serving the units (Olga Lane) and several small force mains were proposed to route flow to that new connection point.

Commissioners and staff raised immediate capacity concerns. "The North Main Street pump station cycles about every five minutes to keep up with current flows," one commissioner said, noting the station receives flow from multiple upstream pump stations. Town staff added that while the system has flow capacity, the treatment plant "is near capacity for constituents" and that the plant struggles when unit processes fail, citing biological oxygen demand, ammonia and copper as constraints.

Project counsel Corin Peterson (Bowditch & Dewey) questioned the commission about infiltration and inflow (I&I) metrics and how Title 5 estimates compare with expected actual flows. The commission said it is working on better data to quantify I&I and treatment limitations and that Title 5 numbers are used for planning even if they may overestimate actual use.

Commissioners also flagged other practical questions: whether the proposed pump configuration (multiple grinder pumps connecting to a single force main under a sidewalk) would be accepted in the town right‑of‑way, who would own and maintain the private drives and pumps (the applicant said the drives would remain privately owned by GM Properties), and whether upgrades will be required to the North Main pump station before any large new tie‑in is approved.

Given those unresolved engineering and capacity questions, the applicant requested a continuance. The commission suggested a follow‑up check‑in in two months and indicated more detailed engineering, a plan for pump‑station improvements, and the outcome of the commission’s rate/tie‑in fee study will be necessary before the board can grant approval.

The applicant agreed to provide the presentation PDF to commission staff for distribution and to return for further review. The commission took no formal vote on the project at this meeting.