Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Planning board continues CR Hansen Construction hearing on Beach Middle Road to April 1
Loading...
Summary
The Planning Board continued a public hearing for CR Hansen Construction’s Beach Middle Road site plan after reviewing letters from the applicant’s and town attorneys and noting outstanding engineering sign-offs, especially to verify a private right of way and load-bearing capacity over a septic area.
The Town of Charlton Planning Board on March 18 continued the public hearing for CR Hansen Construction’s site plan on Beach Middle Road to April 1, after the board reviewed correspondence from both the applicant’s counsel and the town attorney and identified outstanding engineering and documentation needs.
Chair (S1) told the board it had received a letter from the applicant’s attorney at Bowditch and a reply from the town attorney, Christopher Alford, and explained the board’s legal guidance: “if he can show that, in fact, it is part of his deed for this right to pass and repass, that he can, in fact, improve on it,” the work could proceed through the subdivision process. The chair emphasized the town still needs an engineered plan that demonstrates whether the existing soils and septic configuration can support a roadway and vehicle loading.
Nearby residents pressed the board for clarity on timing. Earlyn Murray (S2), who said she lives at 86 Highland Road and that the contested lots lie behind her property, told the board the applicant’s delays were causing financial strain and asked how long the applicant would have to submit required materials. Planning staff and board members noted that once a formal subdivision application is filed the board generally has a 90-day review period that can be extended by mutual agreement, and that the applicant has indicated he will submit a subdivision plan with waiver requests.
The board recorded a motion to continue the hearing to April 1 so the applicant can provide engineer-stamped plans and the town attorney’s reply requested in file discovery; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The board requested copies of the town attorney’s response be provided to interested parties ahead of the next meeting and said it will circulate any engineering comments once the consultant review is complete.
Next steps: the applicant is to submit the subdivision application, provide engineering prints showing how the private way will be improved and confirm any deeded rights of way; board staff will post the town attorney’s reply and any engineering reviewer comments before the April 1 continued hearing.
