Hillsborough Planning Board approves Jost subdivision with non-building condition tied to road upgrade

The Hillsborough Planning Board on Sept. 17 approved a subdivision that splits 20 acres from a 94-acre parcel owned by Don and Marilyn Jost, with the Board imposing two conditions: the Washington Planning Board must approve the new lot and the parcel will be designated a non-building lot until Sleeper Road is upgraded to Class V standards.

Planning Director Robyn Payson introduced the application and recommended a site walk; the Board accepted the application for review and later voted to approve the subdivision with conditions. Hunter Payeur of New England Forestry Consultants presented the proposal on behalf of the Josts and said the 20-acre parcel is intended to remain undeveloped for recreational use and that the current prospective buyer has hunted the property for many years and “has no building intention for the property at this time.”

Several Washington officials and abutters urged precautions because an approximately 800-foot segment of Sleeper Road lies in Washington and is Class VI (unmaintained), meaning increased traffic from future development could shift maintenance burdens onto Washington. The Board read two conditions into the approval: Washington Planning Board approval, and a restriction that makes the new lot non-building until Hillsborough’s segment of Sleeper Road is upgraded to Class V. When the Board voted on the final approval, the motion carried unanimously.

The Board’s findings of fact recorded that the Board of Adjustment had already granted a variance for the lot’s lack of Class V frontage, and that Washington’s Planning Board had submitted suggested conditions after a site walk. The Josts said they had no objection to the condition. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.