Planning board schedules habitat mapping presentation and hears MS4 stormwater update

At the June 4 meeting the South Berwick Planning Board heard two informational items: a proposed presentation from Beginning with Habitat on habitat resources and a staff update about MS4 stormwater permit obligations and pending Low Impact Development (LID) standards.

A board member read an email from Greg LeClaire, who identifies himself as the municipal planning biologist for the Beginning with Habitat program, offering to visit in late summer to discuss resources, at‑risk species, growth‑management, and wildlife habitat conservation strategies. Members supported scheduling a presentation so the board can better interpret habitat guidance and avoid repeating past cases where preliminary sidewalk reviews differed from final environmental reports.

Staff also briefed the board on the town’s coverage under an MS4 general permit (2022–2027) and noted municipal responsibilities including public education, illicit‑discharge detection, construction runoff control and post‑construction runoff management. Staff said model LID ordinance language is in development and will likely be circulated as amendments for local consideration once finalized.

Board members discussed that environmental reviews by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife can affect project timelines and encouraged applicants to initiate reviews early when a project overlaps mapped habitat or wetlands. Members asked staff to pursue training and to consider whether application materials should prompt applicants to obtain state environmental reviews before filing.