Planning board accepts Integra Biosciences filings as complete, grants several waivers and continues full review to Dec. 16

The Merrimack Planning Board on Nov. 18 accepted as substantially complete two linked Integra Biosciences applications — a subdivision to tidy a deed/right‑of‑way remnant and a site plan for a phased, multi‑story 349,395‑square‑foot manufacturing, warehouse and office facility — and then continued formal review to Dec. 16 so staff and peer reviewers could evaluate late comments.

Jim Petropoulos, a professional engineer with IMEG representing Integra, said the proposed facility would consolidate three operations under one roof and remain in New Hampshire to retain employees. He described a phased project with an eventual building footprint of roughly 349,395 square feet, an integrated six‑level parking garage in later phases, and an initial employment estimate of about 225 people with a full build‑out of roughly 400 across three shifts.

Petropoulos acknowledged a wetland impact in the project center of about 2.4 acres but said the plan avoids a higher‑quality wetland to the east and preserves more than 70% of the site as open space. He described stormwater treatment measures including cartridge filtration (a small “jellyfish” vault), bioretention devices, infiltration and extended detention basins to ensure post‑development peak rates are lower than predevelopment.

The applicant requested three waivers tied to the industrial nature and site constraints: relief from constructing a sidewalk along the Mass Road frontage (SPR 3.08.d) because wetlands and right‑of‑way challenges make construction impractical; waiver from the town center/jog‑and‑projection façade articulation requirement because uninterrupted interior manufacturing bays would be disrupted; and a waiver from mapping all trees larger than 15 inches dbh because the scale and function of an industrial layout make that requirement unduly onerous. The board voted to grant each waiver in separate motions (all recorded 5‑0).

Board members and staff also questioned the applicant on traffic and rail operations. Petropoulos said the traffic study estimates approximately 250 inbound trips in the AM peak and 250 outbound in the PM at full build, about 1,500 total daily trips, and modest truck activity (roughly 10 truck trips per day). On the rail spur, he said the project anticipates the ability to receive a single 60‑foot rail car about once per month and to transfer resin pellets via a buried HDPE conduit and pneumatic vacuum system; he said the applicant will respond to detailed DPW and rail consultant comments.

Casey, planning staff, emphasized that peer‑review comments arrived late and recommended a continuance to give the town and peer reviewers time to review revised submittals. The board voted unanimously to continue the matter to the Dec. 16 meeting and directed the applicant to resubmit revised drawings and a response letter for staff and peer review.