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Tyngsborough Board of Health approves three local septic variances with conditions
Summary
The board approved local upgrade and variance requests for repairs at 10 Davis Road (two‑foot groundwater reduction with root‑barrier/tree condition), reduced setbacks for a Mount Paul Road lot, and multiple reliefs for 16–18 Cannon Gate condominiums, including depth and wetland offsets; all motions passed by unanimous voice/roll call votes.
The Tyngsborough Board of Health on July 13 approved three separate local septic‑system variances and repair plans after presentations from applicants and technical consultants.
10 Davis Road: Jeff Hannaford, representing the property owner, described a failed Title 5 inspection on a steep lot served by a private well and proposed a Presby Enviroseptic repair that would require a two‑foot reduction in required groundwater separation to avoid extensive grading. The board approved a waiver under 310 CMR to reduce the separation to 2 feet, subject to conditions in the LandTech letter, a deed notification, no increase in design flow, standard conditions, and either installation of a root barrier or tree removal if necessary to protect the system. As Hannaford explained, the Presby Enviroseptic can be sited on the slope with enhanced treatment and avoids the need for a larger retaining wall footprint.
Mount Paul Road: Seth Donahoe of Bill’s and Roy Civil Design Group outlined a constrained, pie‑shaped lot at the intersection of Mount Paul and Frost roads with private wells and limited buildable area. The board approved reductions from standard setbacks to allow a Presby Enviroseptic leach field sited to maximize offsets from wells and abutters. The approvals included a 57‑foot setback for the leach field and a 36‑foot setback for the tank, a five‑foot groundwater separation reduced according to the proposal, and standard conditions including well‑sampling for baseline data.
Cannon Gate Condominiums (Buildings 16 & 18): Brian Gidrow of Amp God and Associates reported a repeat failure of a 2020 system. He said the likely cause was dirty effluent and missing filters; contractor excavation showed effluent retention in chambers and surface sealing of the sand. The board approved variances that maintain existing bed locations, reduce certain setbacks to wetlands and groundwater separation (mounding yielded an approximate 4.07‑foot separation), and require upgrades to tankage, installation of appropriate filters, and pressure testing of force mains when work is completed.
All three motions were seconded and carried on recorded voice roll calls. The board attached standard conditions and, where noted, required deed notifications, well testing for baseline E. coli data, root‑barrier installation or tree removal, improved tank/filters, and pressure testing of force mains.
The approvals allow property owners to proceed with repairs and replacements subject to the conditions imposed by the board and the town’s LandTech recommendations.
