Planning Board — April 14, 2026

Roll call identified members including Jim Harvey, Victor Helenic, Paul Pelletier, Chuck Saba, and Damon Norcross. Jacob LaFontaine was present as Planning Director. No withdrawals were noted.

Motion to accept minutes passed 5-0-1 (one abstention).

Applicant confirmed opaque freestanding sign face and no logos on directional signs. Planning staff recommended carrying over three conditions from the North Broadway case (no roof sign, opaque sign face, incorporation of applicant representations).

Plan accepted as complete unanimously; conditional use permit granted unanimously subject to the three conditions.

Applicant Kurt Meisner described swapping a strip of land to enlarge the residential lot and transferring two triangular pieces to the farm parcel. No state subdivision required as one lot increases in size; all zoning standards met.

Plan accepted as complete unanimously; board voted to hear in one hearing and grant conditional approval unanimously subject to three staff conditions (staff approvals, monumentation, incorporation of representations).

Applicant Ian Ainsley described the sixth unit matching prior designs, with drainage trenches and screening. Extensive discussion focused on a longstanding wetland encroachment by the abutter at 5 Hampshire Street (identified on the 2023 plan as required to be removed), flooding complaints from neighbor Steve Goulet at 12 Plain Street, code enforcement history, and options including removal versus mitigation. Board members expressed frustration over the three-year delay in compliance. Board members questioned the source and behavior of wetland water, prior mitigation on Pond Street, and risks of the site becoming a 'sponge' without adequate outlet. Applicant representative confirmed flow direction and stated water would travel through without elevation increase. Debate followed on whether to continue the entire application or grant conditional approval for two units while holding the sixth unit.

Plan accepted as complete; after debate on enforcement leverage, the board voted to continue the hearing rather than grant conditional approval. Motion to continue the plan passed after the chair noted the split board would not support conditional approval; continuance selected as the practical path.

Applicant to work with town staff on a wetland mitigation plan or legal steps for encroachment removal and return to the board with a concrete resolution proposal before the next hearing. Applicant to return May 12 with mitigation plan, update on town/abutter discussions, and any wetland replication proposal.

Updates covered 15 Armour Road daycare (+5 students), 11 Manor Parkway door relocation, Hedgehog Park Pavilion, 15 Trolley Lane showroom clarification, Miles for Moms event, Tuscan Village lighting/landscaping, casino facade permit, State Line Paysaver flower sales, Kennedy Lake Toyota site changes, and dumpster enclosure fencing. Staff sought board feedback on sequencing and material changes.

Board expressed comfort with most items; staff directed to require resolution of architectural comments before signing certain permits.

Applicants to submit clarifications or revised plans; staff to coordinate with building department on permit sequencing.