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Neighbors and planning board weigh tradeoffs for proposed Cotswold subdivision and shared driveway
Summary
An applicant presented a conceptual subdivision for a double lot in the Cotswold/Kempster area; the board requested lot‑by‑lot size comparisons, renderings from the intersection showing tree screening, and clarity on driveway access, deed language for tree protection, and fire‑district and maintenance arrangements.
At a July 1 conceptual review, the planning board discussed a proposed subdivision of an oversized parcel in the Cotswold/Kempster area. Applicant Emilio Escaladas described three options, including a conventional curb cut (which would require removing established trees) and a shared‑driveway approach that would split access from an existing driveway serving neighboring houses.
Neighbors and board members focused on preserving the neighborhood’s wooded character and ensuring safe access. Questions included whether the shared driveway could legally serve multiple homes, whether a 14‑foot‑wide, approximately 200‑foot shared drive would meet fire‑access standards, how maintenance responsibilities would be handled (easement vs. HOA), and whether deed restrictions or plat notes could lock in tree‑preservation commitments. The applicant indicated willingness to consider deed‑based protections and to prepare a simulated rendering from the Kempster intersection to show how trees could screen the new house.
The board advised the applicant to supply a list of surrounding lot sizes for comparability, to consult with the fire district, to prepare a conservation or preservation plan for trees and to coordinate with neighbors before a formal application. No formal action or recommendation was made; the board asked the applicant to return with a full submission.
