Planning Board continues gas-station site plan at 281 Second NH Turnpike after neighbors raise drainage, septic and traffic concerns

Chairperson Susanne White said the Planning Board continued the public hearing on a site-plan amendment for 281 Second New Hampshire Turnpike after neighbors and board members raised unresolved technical and neighborhood-impact questions.

Planning Director Robyn Payson introduced the application and said the applicant had requested a waiver for a landscape plan; the Board granted that waiver and accepted the application for review. Applicant Myank Patel told the Board he intends to locate a gas station on the rear of the property and said the project has approval from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. "The Department of Environmental Services deemed this site clean," Payson said during the hearing.

Residents spoke at the public hearing about site size, past test wells, wastewater and surface runoff. Resident Alan Hillsgrove told the Board, "There is .07 acres and they want to put a modern facility in," and other neighbors described water flowing from the Corner Store onto private property. Tim Sutherland and others questioned whether an earlier state taking affected the property's leach field and whether there is sufficient room to relocate wastewater infrastructure.

Board members said the submitted plan did not clearly identify the sanitary system, well locations or existing contours for the entire site. Vice Chair Dana Clow told the applicant the grading shown for the pump area slopes toward Route 9 and away from neighbors, but members asked for a complete grading and drainage plan. The Board voted to continue the hearing to its Dec. 3 meeting and required new plans that identify the septic and leach fields, well locations and protected radii, labeled contours for existing grades across the entire site, and a photometric plan for lighting. The motion also required that the applicant's engineer attend the next meeting to answer technical questions.

The applicant addressed neighborhood questions about lighting and hours of operation. Mr. Patel said canopy lighting would be downward facing and that "the hours of operation will be from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm." He also said restroom facilities are currently provided and would be upgraded to required standards if needed; the Board noted the Building Inspector will verify compliance.

The matter is set to return to the Planning Board on Dec. 3, 2025, with the revised plans and the applicant's engineer present.