Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wetlands Mitigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Applicant seeks temporary clearing, mitigation and driveway changes for Fortn Road property; public hearing set
Summary
An applicant for a Fortn Road site-development and wetlands permit asked the New Castle Planning Board to approve temporary clearing and grading adjustments, a driveway parking extension using a turf-grid system, and a 232-square-foot deck replacement; staff and board confirmed the mitigation requirement and requested additional details before a public hearing on June 17.
An applicant representative, Jean Vrono of Site Design Consultants, told the New Castle Planning Board on June 2 that work begun earlier at a Fortn Road property included tree removals and excavation and that the team is seeking temporary adjustment of the clearing and grading limit while they remove stockpiles and re-establish the permanent line. Vrono said the project includes a driveway parking extension using a grid/turf block system and Cambridge pavers, and a 232-square-foot expansion and replacement of a deteriorated rear deck.
Board staff flagged several missing details and a small clerical error in the mitigation calculations. Staff said Chapter 64 requires a 1.5:1 mitigation ratio; Vrono reported the area requiring mitigation at 6,587 square feet and a proposed mitigation area of 12,411 square feet, which exceeds the required amount. Staff asked the applicant to correct a chart entry that was off by five square feet and to place the corrected coverage numbers and the clearing/grading lines clearly on the plan sheets.
The board and staff also discussed whether the proposed turf-grid (described on the plan as a “tough track” or grid system) is counted as impervious surface or as development coverage; staff asked the applicant to provide prior memos, product details and any technical notes used in previous town approvals. Vrono said the team would re-submit a memo from Bob Sioli and provide a fence detail, planting/species lists and revised charts.
Board members raised the practical issue that stockpiles of stumps, wood chips and boulders are currently on the site and asked whether the building department could allow a limited temporary permit to remove debris before full approvals. Staff said the building inspector may be reluctant to create a new temporary-access precedent; the board agreed to announce a public hearing for June 17 on the assumption the applicant will submit the requested information in time.
The board closed the discussion by instructing staff to verify coverage calculations and memos, and the applicant agreed to provide the missing plan details and the corrected mitigation chart ahead of the June 17 hearing.
