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ERB presses on impervious coverage and bridge capacity for Jessup Switch warehouse
Summary
The proposed fourth warehouse at Jessup Switch remains over the town's 70% impervious-coverage limit (applicant reduced coverage from 87% to ~82%). The board emphasized hydrology, floodplain sensitivity and whether local bridges and access roads can safely accommodate the freight traffic.
The board heard an update on a proposed fourth warehouse in the Jessup Switch area where the applicant reduced requested variances but remains above the town's 70% impervious-coverage cap. Members expressed concern that the higher impervious percentage could harm aquifer recharge and increase flooding in an environmentally sensitive area adjacent to black dirt flats.
Impervious coverage and hydrology: S2 noted the applicant reduced impervious coverage from an initial 87% to about 82% by shrinking parking but remains 12 percentage points above the 70% limit. The board stressed the 70% threshold is based on hydrologic analysis and has implications for recharge, heat-sink and habitat.
Access and bridge capacity: attendees discussed narrow roads and a bridge on Pumpkin Swamp/Jessup Switch with uncertain posted weight limits. The applicant said box trucks, not 18-wheelers, are expected; board members asked the town engineer to confirm weight limits and whether upgrades would be required prior to heavy use.
Mitigation ideas: members suggested nontraditional parking (porous pavement, geogrids, gravel, or millings) and reconfiguring parking islands to increase recharge, and asked whether adjacent athletic-field parcels could be counted toward impervious budgets if legally eligible.
Next steps: the ERB asked planning and the town engineer to verify bridge weight limits, revisit impervious calculations considering wetlands that don't count toward developable area, and explore low-impact parking alternatives to bring impervious coverage closer to the 70% standard.
