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Planning board approves Devaney Energy propane facility with conditions on groundwater, hours and truck routing
Summary
The Newton Planning Board unanimously approved Devaney Energy’s site plan and a groundwater conditional use permit for a proposed propane distribution facility at Industrial Way, imposing spill-prevention, inspection and operational conditions, and limiting routine hours and truck routing to address neighbor concerns.
The Newton Planning Board voted unanimously July 28 to approve a major site plan and a groundwater conditional use permit for Devaney Energy’s proposed propane distribution facility at Industrial Way.
During the presentation, Verdantus representative Andrew Proni described the proposal as “a propane distribution facility with propane trucks,” showing a layout with room for up to three propane tanks (two to be installed initially), design for up to 10 delivery trucks and three stormwater treatment ponds. The board’s approval included conditions staff drafted under the groundwater ordinance: no floor drains beyond domestic wastewater, diesel pump maintenance in accordance with state and federal rules, hazardous-substance handling consistent with law, and a spill prevention, control and countermeasure (SPCC) plan submitted to the fire department for review.
The board also adopted site-plan conditions to limit routine operational impacts on nearby residents: standard hours were set at 06:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday (with exceptions for emergency fuel deliveries), a requirement that fuel trucks turn right to proceed to New Hampshire Route 108 unless they are making deliveries to left-side properties, no outside storage outside the area indicated on the plan, and no servicing of delivery trucks on-site. Staff required the applicant to submit recordable mylar plans, a town-engineer letter certifying that engineering comments are satisfied, and evidence of all state and federal permits (including any DOT driveway permit amendments) before building permits or certificates of occupancy.
Chair (planning board) said the approvals are conditional on completion of required pre-construction items, and the board emphasized utility coordination: the planning board’s conditions include a requirement that the applicant notify natural gas transmission operators before activities within 1,000 feet of the pipeline in accordance with RSA 6:74–75. The board recorded the approvals as unanimous votes.
