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Board conditionally approves driveway at 14 Byam Road after fire-chief review ordered
Summary
The planning board approved a driveway at 14 Byam Road contingent on the fire chief’s confirmation after staff reported a roughly 1,300-foot driveway with an 88-foot segment measuring about 13.2% grade (above the 10% standard). The board directed a fire-chief site visit and approved the driveway contingent on that sign-off to allow the buyer's closing to proceed.
An applicant seeking approval for a driveway at 14 Byam Road told the Planning Board the driveway is roughly 1,300 feet long and that about 88 feet of the driveway measures approximately 13.2% grade. The applicant said the certificate of occupancy is ready and a closing is scheduled for Friday, and that the grade issue was first called out at a recent inspection. "About 88 feet of that 1,300 foot driveway is at a 13.2% grade," the applicant noted during the meeting.
Board members debated inspection responsibility (road agent vs building inspector) and the practical effect of the grade on fire apparatus access. Several members said many local driveways exceed 10% grade but emphasized the importance of fire-safety review. Members proposed and supported a site visit by the fire chief; a motion to approve the driveway contingent on the fire chief being "comfortable with it" was made and seconded and carried by the board. The conditional approval allows the CO and scheduled closing to proceed provided the fire chief signs off on the grade and access arrangements.
