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Plaistow board continues review of Couillard 12‑unit subdivision, seeks road and condo fixes
Summary
The Planning Board continued review of Albert Couillard’s proposed 12‑lot subdivision and extended the application timeline to Aug. 19 for further engineering, condominium documentation and permit clarifications; a resident called the nearby intersection 'very dangerous.'
The Plaistow Planning Board continued public hearings on a proposal from Albert Couillard to consolidate several parcels and create a 12‑lot residential subdivision on roughly 84.42 acres. The plan would include three single‑family lots, one duplex and eight triplexes served by on‑site wells and septic systems and accessed by a new roughly 1,800‑foot roadway from Hoyt Farm Road. Planning Board Chair Richard Anthony said the board will revisit remaining technical issues at its August 19 meeting.
Engineering consultant Steve Keach told the board he received updated materials but could not support conditional approval at the meeting because zoning questions, condominium documents and outstanding permits still require resolution. Keach recommended the applicant, the town planner and the Board’s consultant have 30 days to assemble an objective list of conditions. Applicant Albert Couillard and his representative Phil Christiansen agreed to the need for clearer condominium governance and noted an umbrella association would be needed to manage open space and the small condominium parcels.
Board members focused on roadway geometry and sight‑line limitations at the existing Hoyt Farm Road/Forrest Street intersection. Secretary Dan Kane pressed for an engineering analysis; Keach and Christiansen agreed to re‑inspect the intersection with Town engineer Dan Garlington and Planning staff before the next meeting. Resident Dianna Huff of 75 Forrest St. urged the board to consider qualitative safety impacts in addition to trip counts, saying for the record that "the intersection is very dangerous."
The Board voted to extend the 65‑day review timeline for PB 26‑05 to Aug. 19, 2026, and continued the hearing to that date to allow time for revised plans, condominium agreements to be reviewed by town counsel, receipt of any necessary state permits and resolution of outstanding checklist items. The applicant granted the same extension for the related conditional use permit application (PB 26‑18).
