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Board approves five‑lot subdivision at 147 Metaburg Road with conservation easement
Summary
The board accepted and approved a major subdivision for 147 Metaburg Road to create five lots, noted ~55 acres to be placed in a federal conservation easement, and approved a waiver to omit mapping natural features outside the development area; a neighbor raised concerns about water/runoff and access via a right of way.
The Rochester Planning Board voted to accept and approve a major subdivision application for 147 Metaburg Road submitted on behalf of Hans Olsen. The plan would create five residential lots fronting the existing state‑maintained section of Metaburg Road; the applicant said roughly 55 acres of the parcel would be placed under a federal conservation easement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Ashley Rowe of Norway Plains Associates described the proposal and explained the project will meet frontage and minimum lot‑size requirements. She said the project requires state subdivision approval and two shared‑driveway driveway permits from New Hampshire Department of Transportation for shared access points. Rowe added the applicant requested a waiver to omit depiction of natural features on the larger parcel area slated for conservation, saying the omission would impose an undue cost on future homeowners.
A neighbor, Eileen Hickman, told the board she is concerned about water and drainage, saying recent nearby development has increased runoff and she provided photographs. She also sought clarification about whether proposed work would use or affect her existing right of way.
Planning staff told the board that stormwater management plans and a local stormwater permit (for soil disturbance of 5,000 sq ft or more) will be reviewed by the city engineering staff at building permit stage and that test‑pit data will be added as a precedent condition and recorded. Staff also noted the conservation commission recommended approval of the conditional use for wetland buffer work.
After discussion the board voted to approve the waiver request and the subdivision application with standard conditions and the staff‑recommended recording items. Staff advised the state DOT will review driveway permits and the city’s approval does not supersede those state reviews.
Next steps: the applicant must supply the required soil/test pit information and confirm any state driveway approvals; engineering staff will review stormwater submissions at permit stage before site work begins.
