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Neighbors, historic board press applicant on cemetery, sightlines and stormwater at Old Army Road hearing; planning board adjourns to Sept. 2
Summary
Public hearing on a steep‑slope single‑house proposal at 0 Old Army Road drew historic‑preservation concerns, questions about driveway sightlines and possible blasting, and requests for a conservation easement; the hearing was adjourned to September 2 to allow the applicant and abutters to confer and to give the applicant time to update landscaping plans.
The planning board opened a public hearing on the application by Mr. Demagani for a steep‑slope permit, tree removal permit and associated site work for a single‑family home at 0 Old Army Road. The applicant’s representative, Mia Marci, told the board the project proposes substantial cut and excavation, 87 trees to be removed, and 16 dry wells plus a rain garden to manage stormwater runoff.
Madeline O’Shea, chair of the Historic & Landmarks Preservation Board, urged protections for two contiguous historic properties — Underhill Tavern (350 Old Army Road) and the Greenville Church Cemetery — and delivered a set of suggested conditions: site‑condition video documentation, photographic cataloging and retention of artifacts uncovered during earthwork, an on‑site qualified monitor paid for by the developer, and developer responsibility for any damage to adjoining historic properties. O’Shea asked that “Any artifacts uncovered during the earth movement should be photographed where it was found, cataloged, and retained.”
Neighbors and other public commenters raised repeated concerns about sightlines to Old Army Road, driveway length, potential blasting and impacts to stone walls and old trees, flooding from increased impervious area, and wildlife displacement. Janine Shah asked about stormwater design and recounted nearby flooding; Deputy Commissioner Schmidt said the town’s stormwater code requires systems to be sized and reviewed by the town engineer and that the applicant had proposed design work to accommodate a 50‑year storm (above the town’s 25‑year baseline request). Several speakers urged the applicant to consider a conservation easement on a 40‑foot swath along the rear property line to protect the cemetery edge; the applicant said the idea was under consideration.
The board heard from the Greenville Fire District and Police/Traffic staff: the fire district required a widened driveway profile to permit emergency vehicle access, and the police asked that sight triangles remain unobstructed. A land‑survey question from an adjoining owner triggered an exchange in which the applicant offered to meet with the neighbor to confirm property lines and tree locations.
Given outstanding conservation‑easement questions, need to combine landscaping plans into a single sheet and the late hour, the board adjourned the hearing to its September 2 meeting and set a seven‑minute speaking limit for public comment at that session.
What comes next: the applicant will supply a consolidated landscaping sheet and discuss a potential conservation easement with staff and the abutting property owner; the hearing will reconvene on September 2.
