Planning board grants 90-day extension for Molloy Brook Phase 2 subdivision

The Chair of the Town of Berwick Planning Board on July 6 announced the board voted unanimously to grant a 90-day filing extension for the Molloy Brook Phase 2 major subdivision, a 17‑lot proposal off School Street and Heritage.

Ken Wood of Atar Engineering, representing the applicant, told the board the team needs a spreading sedge study that “can only be done in the spring,” and that the study is part of the site location and development permit required by the Department of Environmental Protection. “We can’t go forward without the spreading sedge study,” Wood said, and said the firm has contracted Longview Partners to complete the work, which he expected to finish within one to two weeks.

A Committee member moved to grant a 90‑day extension, finding the applicant had made due progress toward final plans and in pursuing approvals with other agencies and that no municipal ordinance changes would affect the application. The motion was seconded and the Chair recorded “five in favor.” The board’s recorded outcome was a 5‑0 vote to approve the extension.

Under the ordinance the board cited, the extension preserves the applicant’s filing deadline while DEP reviews and required seasonal field work is completed; no substantive conditions or amendments to the subdivision were recorded at the meeting. The board did not discuss any alternate mitigation or additional permit requirements beyond the DEP process noted by the applicant.

Next steps: the applicant will complete the spreading sedge study and continue DEP permitting and return to the planning board as required by the subdivision process.