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Chichester Planning Board conditionally approves Bear Hill four-lot subdivision with bond, pond and attorney review conditions
Summary
The Chichester Planning Board on May 7 conditionally approved the previously granted four-lot Bear Hill subdivision (Map 8 Lot 28), requiring updated 2026 bond figures, pond and fire-pond easements, proof of a 30,000-gallon fire water capacity or cistern, removal of an existing structure, and town-attorney review of the road maintenance agreement. Motions passed unanimously.
The Chichester Planning Board on May 7 conditionally approved the Bear Hill four-lot subdivision (Map 8 Lot 28), reiterating many conditions from an earlier 2024 approval and adding updates to reflect current costs and legal review. The board’s action followed a public hearing and unanimous roll-call votes granting application completeness, a TRC waiver and conditional approval.
Planner Jon Rokeh of Rokeh Consulting told the board the plan before it was the same subdivision approved in 2024 but delayed while ownership issues were resolved. Rokeh said wetland permits, roadway documents, easements and bond estimates had been completed; the only remaining technical update was a paving line item in the bond estimate to reflect 2026 costs. CNHRPC planner Matt Monahan told the board the application was essentially unchanged from the prior approval but identified four principal items that still needed tracking: recognition of the prior approval, waiver from TRC review, updated bond figures, and ensuring prior conditions and waivers appeared on the final plan.
The board’s conditional approval carries multiple required items: pond-area and fire-pond easements; notation that an existing on-site structure will be removed; deed language describing the across-street portion of Lot 1 as unbuildable pending town-attorney review; either installation of a fire cistern or demonstration that the fire pond can hold and deliver 30,000 gallons; town-attorney review and updating of the road maintenance agreement (the packet listed outdated Select Board names); a roadway construction performance bond updated to 2026 figures; posting of a performance bond and a post-construction inspection escrow as determined by the town engineer; final road review and developer compliance with the town engineer’s recommendations; and required professional stamps, signatures and incorporation of any waivers and conditions on the final plan.
An abutter, Leon Kosko of 103 Bear Hill Road, asked when the town would assume responsibility for the private road and voiced concern about tax impacts and potential overflow from the fire pond. Chair Corie St. Germain and the applicant explained the town generally does not consider road acceptance until about two years after construction following inspection and acceptance procedures; Rokeh and Monahan said the drainage design was reviewed and is not intended to increase off-site runoff.
Motions: Sanford Way moved to accept the application as complete (seconded by Andrea Deachman); the board voted unanimously. The board unanimously found the application not of regional impact (motion by Andrea Deachman; second by Tom Jameson). The TRC waiver under Section 3.20.8 was approved unanimously (motion by Matthew Stolnis; seconded by Andrea Deachman). The board then conditionally approved the subdivision with the conditions listed above (moved by Brooke DeYoung, seconded by Matthew Stolnis); the motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
Next steps for the applicant include finalizing plan stamps and owner signatures, incorporating the waivers and conditions on the final plan, updating the bond estimate to current 2026 costs, posting the required performance bond and escrows, and obtaining town-attorney approval of the road maintenance agreement before the subdivision can be fully signed and recorded.
