Planning board approves engineered retaining wall and revegetation plan for 34 Hickman Road

The Shapleigh Planning Board voted Feb. 24 to approve a replacement retaining wall at 34 Hickman Road, subject to conditions requiring engineered plans, a specified revegetation schedule, post‑construction photos and licensed surveyor confirmation.

Applicant materials revised the scope of tree removals and set replacement plantings across multiple planting grids. The presenter described replacement trees that include river birch, red maple and gray birch, and a shrub mix of blueberry and juniper varieties; the board required replacement trees to be a minimum of six feet in height at planting. The presenter also explained that mulch and increased topsoil depth were added to enhance early root establishment and improve survival rates.

On engineering and drainage, the presenter said the backfill and drainage design were sized to handle a 50‑year storm without increasing runoff to adjacent properties. The board received sheet C2 (engineered plan) and sheet C3 (wall details, revised 02/12/26) and confirmed the wall is necessary because the existing wall was failing and encroaching on the lake.

Conditions the board read into the record included filing pre‑ and post‑construction photographs, written confirmation from a licensed surveyor that the new placement meets the approved specifications, adherence to BMPs until stabilization and completion of the approved planting plan. The board set a project completion deadline of Dec. 31, 2027; if that date cannot be met the applicants must return to the board to set a new date or the approval will lapse.

The motion to approve was moved, seconded and passed unanimously. Presenter (speaker 3) said the contractor on the job will be Jeff Goodwin and affirmed the work will follow the engineered drawings.