Planning Board — June 5, 2024

Here's what happened at the Amherst Planning Board meeting on June 5, 2024 — and what residents should pay attention to heading into the June 19th meeting.

At 70 Chestnut Hill Road, a conditional use permit is being sought for existing conditions — a portico and sidewalks already in a wetland buffer area. One board member raised a pointed concern: pervious pavers installed within 75 feet of the property's well could direct the first inch of rainfall — which carries the heaviest concentration of surface pollutants — directly into the ground above that well. This is a potential drinking water safety issue for the property owner. The application was deemed incomplete at the time of the meeting. The board chose to allow a conceptual discussion rather than a formal hearing, and continued the matter to June 19th. Residents should watch whether the full stormwater and drainage documentation is submitted before that hearing proceeds.

At 110 Spring Road, a couple is seeking to subdivide their nearly 5-acre lot into two residential parcels so they can downsize to a smaller home. The board voted to require a stormwater management plan — with a notional house layout — before moving toward approval. The board's rationale was explicit and worth knowing: if they approve the subdivision without one, a future buyer could purchase the vacant lot and then present a house plan that forces stormwater infrastructure into wetland buffers. As one board member put it, 'It's hard to say no to an individual that's already bought the property.' That's responsible long-term planning, and applicants must submit the required plan by the Monday before the June 19th meeting.

Finally, a procedural note: the board chair confirmed that it is routine practice in Amherst to formally accept applications as 'complete' while still reserving the right to request additional studies later. If the word 'complete' carries a specific legal meaning under state statute — but doesn't reflect whether an application is actually ready for full technical review — then neighbors relying on that designation to gauge a project's status may be getting an incomplete picture. That's worth asking about at a public meeting.

Next Planning Board meeting: June 19, 2024 at 7pm.