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Board asks for road‑safety study for Stetson Farm subdivision and hears call to repair Poland Range Road
Summary
Deputy CEO Bill Schmidt urged the Board to inspect Poland Range Road for severe frost heaves and base failures; CEO Tim Giddinge confirmed the Board may require an applicant to fund a road safety/impact study (not covered by current impact fees) once an initial subdivision plan is accepted, as raised in the Stetson Farm review.
Poland Range Road’s poor condition and the need for road studies for future subdivisions were prominent transportation items at the Feb. 18 Planning Board meeting.
During public comment, Deputy CEO Bill Schmidt urged Planning Board members to drive Poland Range Road (route between Route 9 and Route 136) to observe failing gravel base, frost heaves and seasonal mud issues. "If a development is ever permitted in that location a road needs to be factored into it," he said, urging the Board to account for road upgrades when developers propose projects along poor stretches.
In the CEO update, Tim Giddinge reported the town has authority to require a safety/road‑impact study for the Stetson Farm subdivision and that the applicant would pay for the study; he said the cost is not currently included in the town’s impact‑fee schedule. Giddinge circulated a memo on a prior subdivision (the Roscoe Bigelow file) and recommended staff and Board review backlot and right‑of‑way language to avoid replicating earlier problems where a small frontage strip was preserved for future road access without a defined build‑out plan.
Board members discussed whether past practice of reserving narrow frontage strips (e.g., 60 feet) created long‑term problems and agreed revisions to the backlot/right‑of‑way ordinance language are warranted. The Board did not vote on any changes at the meeting but asked staff to pursue clarifying language and to require appropriate transportation studies with development review as needed.
