Accountability posts
Drafts ready to share. Click to copy, then post. Planning Board · Amherst, NH · August 20, 2025.
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Individual posts for different angles. Pick the one that fits your audience.
Critical traffic safety data raised in public comment went entirely unacknowledged by the board, with no indication it will be formally evaluated before approval
At the 8/20 Amherst Planning Board meeting, a resident presented data showing a 41-lot subdivision on County Road would add 619 car trips/day to Thornton Ferry Road — a road that currently handles 570 cars/week. The board said nothing in response.
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Environmental protection versus developer-preferred timeline on aquifer-sensitive land
Amherst Planning Board 8/20: A board member called deferring stormwater review on the County Road subdivision 'irresponsible' — noting it sits on the town's last remaining aquifer. The applicant wants to push those plans to the building permit stage. No resolution yet.
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Unaddressed legal question about whether residents have statutory rights to participate before protected natural features are destroyed
At the 8/20 Amherst Planning Board meeting, a resident asked whether state scenic road law (RSA 231:157-158) requires a public hearing before trees and stone walls are removed for the County Road subdivision. The board did not respond. That question is still open.
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Transparency about the limits of local authority to protect rural character under state law
Amherst Planning Board chair on 8/20, re: the 41-lot County Road subdivision: 'There is not local control over development. There is statewide imposition insisting on more development.' The board's own words — residents should know what constraints exist.
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🧵 THREAD: Amherst Planning Board met 8/20 on a proposed 41-lot subdivision on County Road. What happened — including things that weren't on the agenda — affects your roads, your water, and your town's future. Here's what you need to know. (1/8)
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The board's own chair called this 'essentially a 55-unit subdivision' and 'a very significant change to a large tract of land.' Despite that characterization, multiple critical questions remain unresolved as the case continues to Sept. 17. (2/8)
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🚨 NOT ON THE AGENDA: A resident presented data showing the development would add 619 car trips/day to Thornton Ferry Road — a road currently handling ~570 cars/week. That's roughly a 6x increase. The board offered zero response. Residents had no advance notice this would come up. (3/8)
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🚨 ALSO NOT ON THE AGENDA: Resident Nancy Williams asked whether RSA 231:157-158 scenic road regulations apply — which would require a public hearing before trees and stone walls are removed. The board did not address it. That legal protection may still apply. (4/8)
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On the environment: the subdivision sits on what a board member called 'the lone remaining aquifer in town.' The applicant wants to defer stormwater plans until the building permit stage. One board member called deferring that review 'irresponsible.' No resolution reached. (5/8)
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On roads: the board flagged that County Road is currently inadequate for the development — 9 culvert installations required. There's a live dispute over whether homes can be occupied before the road is paved. One member said leaving a widened dirt road for up to 8 years is 'stupid and not the way it's done.' (6/8)
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A public commenter alleged the developer broke past promises — building a 6-bedroom house after promising 3-4 bedrooms, plus alleged unpermitted tree removal and construction near wetlands. The board did not respond to these allegations. (7/8)
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The case continues Sept. 17 at 7:00 PM. Before then, ask your Planning Board: Will traffic impacts on Thornton Ferry Road be formally studied? Does scenic road law apply? What happens if stormwater plans are wrong on aquifer-sensitive land? (8/8)
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#Amherst #NH #PlanningBoard #LocalGov #CountyRoad
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Longer-form draft.
📋 AMHERST PLANNING BOARD — August 20, 2025 What happened at the County Road subdivision hearing — including what wasn't on the agenda The Amherst Planning Board met Wednesday night to continue reviewing a proposed 41-lot residential subdivision on County Road (Bonded Properties LLC / Vonderosa Properties). The board's own chair described it as 'essentially a 55-unit subdivision' and 'a very significant change to a large tract of land.' The hearing continues September 17th at 7:00 PM — and there are several things every resident should know before then. 🚨 TWO SIGNIFICANT ISSUES CAME UP THAT WERE NOT ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA: 1. TRAFFIC ON THORNTON FERRY ROAD: A resident presented data at the meeting showing the development would generate approximately 619 additional car trips per day — onto a road that currently handles about 570 cars per week. That's roughly a sixfold increase, with obvious implications for pedestrian and cyclist safety. This was not listed on the agenda, so residents who live on or use Thornton Ferry Road had no specific reason to attend. The board offered no response to the data presented. 2. SCENIC ROAD LAW: Resident Nancy Williams raised a specific legal question — whether RSA 231:157-158, New Hampshire's scenic road statute, applies to the planned road improvements. If it does, it would require a public hearing and planning board consent before trees or stone walls are removed. The board did not address this question. Residents may have statutory participation rights that have not yet been acknowledged. ⚠️ OTHER UNRESOLVED CONCERNS FROM THE MEETING: • AQUIFER PROTECTION: The subdivision sits on what a board member called 'the lone remaining aquifer in town.' The applicant wants to defer stormwater management plans until the building permit stage. A board member called deferring that review 'irresponsible,' noting you cannot properly size detention basins without knowing what will be built on individual lots. No final decision was made — this goes to September 17th. • ROAD CONDITIONS DURING CONSTRUCTION: The board is debating whether homes can be occupied before County Road is fully paved. One board member said leaving a widened dirt road for potentially eight years during phased construction is 'stupid and not the way it's done.' No binding requirement has been set yet. • DEVELOPER CREDIBILITY: A public commenter alleged that the developer broke previous commitments — building a 6-bedroom house after promising 3-4 bedroom homes — and raised concerns about alleged unpermitted tree removal and construction near wetlands. The board did not respond to these allegations. • STATE LAW LIMITS LOCAL CONTROL: The board chair stated plainly that 'there is not local control over development — there is statewide imposition insisting on more development,' and that municipal land purchase may be the only way to prevent this type of project. Residents deserve to understand this constraint — and to ask whether the town should be exploring that option. The next hearing is September 17th at 7:00 PM. If you live near County Road, Thornton Ferry Road, or simply care about Amherst's aquifer and rural character, this is a meeting to attend.