Planning Board approves drilling test wells for two Thompson projects with bonds and engineer sign-off

The Town of Thompson Planning Board on May 13 approved requests to drill test wells at two separate residential projects, while imposing identical conditions for oversight and financial assurance.

Joel Kohn, the project representative for both Camp Shalva (624 Heiden Road) and Old Liberty Estates (766 Old Liberty Road), told the board the projects may need up to five test wells but expect to use two or three depending on yield. Neighbors had raised concerns about roadside parking at Camp Shalva; Kohn said the applicant added more than 150 on-site parking spaces.

Town Consulting Engineer Matthew Sickler told the board he had no objections to the test-drilling requests in principle, but recommended final approval be conditioned on his office’s sign-off and on a per-well bond of $2,500. Consulting Planner Kevin Schwenzfeier said the Old Liberty project will need to file a long-form Environmental Assessment Form once the project advances; both projects remain subject to any DOH clearance required for well locations.

The board voted to approve the drilling requests on the conditions recommended by the Town Engineer and consultants. The approvals were procedural and limited to authorization to drill test wells; neither vote adopted final site plans or environmental findings.

Next steps: applicants must secure the Town Engineer’s final approval, post the required per-well bonds, and for Old Liberty submit the long-form EAF and resolve outstanding DOH matters before proceeding beyond test drilling.