Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Subdivision Pierceville topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors press board over drainage, trees and HOA terms for Pierceville Road subdivision
Summary
Residents at the Pierceville Road subdivision hearing told the Wareham Planning Board they fear increased runoff, tree loss and weak HOA enforcement; the board said it will require a revised HOA, peer‑reviewed stormwater measures and a performance bond before approval.
At a lengthy public comment period on Feb. 9, dozens of residents raised specific concerns about a proposed subdivision off Pierceville Road, telling the Wareham Planning Board that stormwater, tree removal and homeowner association enforcement must be strictly defined before any final approval.
Applicant William Connelly of Zenith Consulting told the board conservation commission approval and an order of conditions had been issued and that the applicant had submitted draft HOA documents; board members and the applicant agreed the HOA draft needs clarifying edits before the board will approve a final subdivision. Board member Julie Marian said she would forward marked‑up HOA comments to the applicant’s counsel and asked that the HOA spell out budgets, reserves, responsibilities for road/ stormwater maintenance, and enforcement measures. The board also confirmed peer review of drainage designs by Allen & Major.
Neighbor testimony highlighted two recurring themes: (1) stormwater and erosion concerns at the Pierceville/County Road area, including requests to extend culverts or Cape Cod berming to reduce washouts, and (2) cumulative landscape/wind impacts from tree clearing. Several residents reported trees that fell in prior winters after nearby clearing and expressed fear that additional clearing will expose existing homes to stronger winds and storm damage. The board and peer reviewer said that while stormwater is regulated and the conservation commission required a performance bond (reported during the hearing as $270,000 covering 20 years of stormwater maintenance), there are limited zoning tools to regulate neighbor wind impacts from tree removal on private lots; the planning board suggested reasonable site‑design mitigations but said there is no specific "wind management" ordinance.
The board voted to continue the public hearing to Feb. 23 with the explicit expectation that the applicant supply a revised HOA document addressing the board’s edits and that the planning board receive the final peer‑review letter and any outstanding conservation conditions. The board reiterated it will not take final action until the HOA, performance bond and peer reviewer comments are satisfactory.
Next steps: applicant to submit revised HOA language for staff and counsel review, provide documentation of performance bond and inspection/road construction checkpoints for the board’s conditions; hearing continued to Feb. 23.
