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Hollis planning board continues multiple subdivision reviews, schedules site walk and presses for stormwater and tree‑protection details
Summary
The board continued several subdivision cases to July 21, scheduled a site walk at Lone Pine, urged applicants to address fire, police and DPW comments, and discussed tree‑preservation and ordinance work after staff hired a planning assistant.
The Hollis Planning Board continued multiple subdivision and site‑plan matters to its July 21 meeting and set a field inspection for Lone Pine Lane as it pressed applicants for additional stormwater, septic and landscaping details.
On a final review for a three‑lot project on Silver Lake Road (file PB2022015, "Tidybrook Estates") staff reported the board remains dependent on a hydrogeological study and long‑term well‑yield tests. Chad Brannon, the project civil engineer, said the applicant submitted a memo the afternoon of the meeting showing both on‑site wells tested about 19,000 gallons and that the project demand is roughly 10,000 gallons; he said the hydrogeological study and alteration‑of‑terrain permit remain in process. The board granted the applicant’s request to continue the application to July 21 so outstanding reports can be reviewed.
For a separate large proposed subdivision (35 homes) and the Lone Pine Lane major subdivision, staff and department memos flagged safety concerns: the police and DPW noted potential winter visibility and turning issues, and the fire department raised apparatus access and NFPA compliance questions. Applicants and their engineers discussed alternatives, including a gated emergency access and use of the Hillside Drive cul‑de‑sac as a conventional stormwater basin instead of a proprietary filter manhole (described in the record as a filtered or "jellyfish" manhole). Board members and staff expressed concern about ongoing maintenance burdens for proprietary equipment and asked applicants to consider more conventional ponding or infiltration solutions.
The board scheduled a site walk for the Lone Pine property at 5:00 AM on July 21 (meet at the Lone Pine end) to check centerline staking, lot corners, wetlands flags and remediation limits; applicants were asked to stake corners and provide sketches that show how proposed houses, driveways and septic systems will be sited. Brad Caspersen and Brett Caspersen, engineers representing applicants, said additional profiling and drainage work will be provided ahead of the July meeting.
On Cutter Place Properties’ three‑lot minor subdivision (PB2026008), the board accepted the application for review but left open a waiver for a common driveway that would serve three lots (where typically two are allowed). Staff asked for a complete common‑driveway profile, landscaping/buffer detail and individual stormwater management plans before final approvals; the applicant agreed to continue the case to July 21.
Public commenters raised environmental concerns during Cutter Place and other subdivision hearings: Dr. Peter Zemek urged additional test pits and septic safeguards to prevent contaminants — including PFAS/PFOS — from leaching into a nearby pond and a private well. Brad Caspersen said seven test pits had been dug and observed by the town’s inspector, with ledge encountered at roughly 70–74 inches in two pits, and that septic designs and state reviews will govern final separations and mitigation.
The board also took up master‑plan work and staffing: Kevin Anderson announced the hiring of planning assistant Lily Navaroli and presented an internal analysis of about 240 vacant parcels to guide ordinance updates. Members discussed tree‑preservation and potential ordinance language to require tree counts or survey‑level tree mapping for larger projects to prevent premature clear‑cutting.
The board adjourned after routine other‑business items.
