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Belfast planning board approves waiver for Little River subdivision road standards
Summary
The Belfast Planning Board approved technical waivers for road width and base depth in the Little River subdivision, and adopted related findings and conditions after members stressed pedestrian-safety measures and recommended traffic calming be considered at future road adoption.
The Belfast Planning Board voted unanimously June 18 to approve a technical waiver and adopt Amendment 3 to the Little River Drive subdivision, allowing a reduced gravel base and narrower road section than previously approved.
The board met the waiver requirement of a four-fifths vote before moving to approve the amended findings and conditions. Pippa Jolly made the motion to approve the waiver; Shannon Charmer seconded. The chair thanked the applicant after the board concluded the motions.
Why it matters: The applicant, Ben Hooper, owner of B and B Belfast Homes, told the board the change is driven by construction costs and the need to make the project financially viable. Hooper said the revised typical section reduces the gravel base and pavement thickness while retaining shoulders and a curb section intended to slow traffic. "We should probably put a 25," he said when asked about posted speed limits, adding that narrowing the road helps calm traffic and preserve trees.
The board and staff focused on safety tradeoffs. Planning staff noted the board was voting only on a technical waiver and that formal road adoption, acceptance for public maintenance and any required traffic-calming measures would be determined by the city council and the city engineer at the adoption stage. The planning director offered drafting an additional finding to recommend the city consider stop signs and posted speed limits when and if the city adopts the road.
Board members cited pedestrian-safety concerns tied to shoulder design and cross slope. One member noted the drawing shows a 6% cross slope on the shoulder and raised ADA and safety questions; staff replied that gravel shoulders would not meet ADA standards and that sidewalk requirements are not generally applied outside the urban compact. Multiple members said they favored adding findings that flag pedestrian-safety concerns and recommended traffic-calming measures.
Process and outcome: The board approved the waiver for narrower pavement and a reduced base, accepted the related findings as amended and approved the Little River Subdivision Amendment 3. Staff will incorporate the board’s recommended language about traffic calming and pedestrian safety into the final documents.
Next steps: The board’s action allows construction under the amended technical standards, but the council will still review road adoption decisions and the city engineer and public-works director will evaluate maintenance and plowing needs once the road is offered for adoption.
