Francestown planning board deems Coombs driveway conditions satisfied pending bond and stamped plans

The Francestown Planning Board voted March 17 to deem the conditions precedent for the Coombs driveway application on Mountain Road (Map 8 Lot 16-3) satisfied, pending administrative verification of a $36,371.80 restoration and stabilization bond and the submission of revised, stamped plans.

Town Engineer Kevin Leonard provided his fourth technical review and reported that required fixes documented in the January 9, 2026 notice of decision had been addressed, including an updated entrance design, revised drainage calculations, the addition of a culvert at STA 2+60, and correction of a label for Storage Pond 2P. The engineer advised that the entire driveway, including shoulders, must be hardpacked; the Board recorded that Fieldstone will revise the plans accordingly.

Chair Gerri Bernstein moved to deem the conditions satisfied, and Betsy Hardwick seconded. Board members Robert Lindgren and Scot Heath recused themselves from the vote because of prior absences; alternates John Ludlam and Jeff Rider served as voting members for that item. The minutes record that the motion passed with all voting members in favor. The Board required submission of two 11" x 17" plan copies plus one full stamped set before administrative sign-off and asked staff to verify the bond amount listed in the engineer’s estimate.

The action advances the Coombs application toward final approval but does not record final construction authorization; the Board’s approval is conditioned on the administrative verifications noted above. The Planning Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m., when outstanding administrative items may be confirmed.