Pownal planners press applicant for clearer wastewater, maintenance plan on proposed 4‑unit mobile home park

The Town of Pownal Planning Board on April 16 pressed the applicant for a proposed four‑unit mobile home park to provide clearer wastewater plans and a maintenance agreement for any off‑site pump station before the board schedules a site visit.

Town Planner Tom Ursia told the board he prepared a two‑part checklist to track submissions across the ordinances that apply to the sketch plan. "This is the first mobile home development," he said, and the checklist is intended "to track and record what is and isn’t submitted." He flagged soils, ledge, drainage and finished elevations as critical outstanding items and recommended staff coordination with the applicant’s civil engineer and code officers.

Tom explained the HHE220 is an engineered, DEP‑permitted wastewater system that is technically more elaborate and costly than conventional subsurface systems but could provide additional capacity if the family’s contiguous acreage is developed in a later phase. He said the HHE220 "is a lot more of an elaborate process" and noted DEP review can significantly lengthen the timeline.

The planner also raised concerns about the off‑site pump station: "Any time there is a mechanical structure there should also be a maintenance agreement," Tom said, urging the board to require clarity about ownership, access and long‑term maintenance arrangements. He asked the applicant to identify easement or right locations for system components and said the board may request peer review by a third‑party civil engineer at the applicant's expense if staff cannot fully assess complex elements.

Neighbor Russ Allen, who lives at 939 Elmwood Road, said he reviewed the punch list and urged stronger protections for access to septic infrastructure. "I think the Board should insist that these septic’s be on its own land not an easement," Russ said, adding he is also concerned about water for the development. The board said it will wait for soils test results, pump station siting and other flagged items before conducting a site visit; Tom said field work was expected to begin in roughly two weeks.

The board did not take a final vote on the sketch plan; next steps are receipt of the soils and system data and a site visit once the applicant has flagged contours and system locations. The applicant’s civil engineer was asked to coordinate directly with the CEO’s office so code officers can review preliminary materials in advance.

Actions recorded in the minutes related to this agenda item were procedural; no approval or denial of the sketch plan occurred at the April 16 meeting.