Planning Board continues hearing on proposed five‑unit open‑space cluster at 359 King Street

The Littleton Planning Board continued a public hearing on a proposed five‑unit open‑space cluster development at 359 King Street after hearing an applicant presentation and neighbor questions.

Attorney Cheryl Gold, representing applicant 359 King Street LLC, told the board the plan would place approximately one acre of new residential development near King Street and preserve about five acres as open space. The proposal calls for two new single‑family three‑bedroom houses, reuse or reconstruction of an existing barn into a single‑family unit, and conversion of the existing house into a two‑family dwelling, with the homes using a shared septic system, Gold said.

Why it matters: The property is in the town's village common district, where some commercial uses, including automotive dealerships, are not allowed. Board members repeatedly cautioned that any change of use would require review and permitting; earlier in the meeting some members had been asked about rumors the nearby Donalins/Donalan property may have been sold to an automotive interest, which would not be an allowed use without formal change of zoning or special permit.

During the presentation, the applicant highlighted site constraints: an intermittent stream and associated wetlands dissect the rear of the lot, and the plans show a 0–100/50–100 setback/buffer area. The team said they implemented a restoration plan for pasture areas and that peer‑reviewed wetlands work would limit impacts to the footprint shown on the plan. "No trees will be removed that are existing trees to be able to construct these two houses," an applicant representative said.

Neighbors asked about soils, groundwater and septic design. The applicant said test pits showed predominantly sand and gravel and that the planned septic is chamber‑based with an adjacent reserve field. A neighbor who identified himself for the record as Steve Collegeman asked for details about the testing; the applicant said more detailed information and a waiver list would be supplied to the board and peer reviewers.

Board members also discussed ownership form and infrastructure: the applicant said units would likely be sold as condominiums with shared access and maintenance responsibilities, and acknowledged concern about minimizing impervious road area for a cul‑de‑sac. The applicant said the historic commission had reviewed aspects of the work and supported the design approach to preserve the streetscape while rebuilding the barn portion on a new foundation.

Outcome and next steps: The board voted to continue the public hearing to July 9 at 6:35 p.m. so the applicant can provide a list of required waivers and allow the peer review process to proceed. No permit decisions were made at the June 25 meeting.

Quotes: "We propose to redevelop the property with a five‑unit residential open space cluster development," Cheryl Gold said, summarizing the submission. "We tested the soils very thoroughly," an engineer for the project said in response to neighbor questions. "We'll get the list of waivers as soon as our engineer gets back," the applicant added.

What to watch: The board will review the waiver list and peer review results at or before the July 9 meeting. Details on wetlands mitigation, final septic design and any requested design waivers will be material to whether the board advances the special permits.

Sources: Planning Board hearing on June 25, 2026; presentation and public comment recorded at the hearing.