Minutes
(No quorum of Planning Board members present. Not a meeting. These are notes, not official minutes.)
NEWMARKET PLANNING BOARD SITE WALK
JULY 21, 2014
NOTES
Site Walk of property located on Bald Hill Road near the Newmarket/Newfields Town line
Tax Map R7, Lot 24, Newmarket – R-1 Zone)
Monday, July 21, 2014
6:00 p.m.
Present: Applicant Mark Hayden, Matt Assia of Chinburg Builders, and Christian Smith of the Beals Associates, Planning Board members Janice Rosa and John Brackett, and Diane Hardy, Town Planner.
The site walk concerned the application for a ten (10) lot Residential Open Space Design Development requested by the Hayden Family Revocable Trust on a 36 acre tract.
The meeting was convened at 6:03 p.m. Those present viewed the access point to the development on Bald Hill Road. The sight distance at this location was more than adequate.
Traversing the applicant’s back yard, the group followed a trail through the woodlands to a trail running parallel to Bald Hill Road. At various locations along the way, test pits were pointed out. The topography along the front portion of the lot where the house lots will be located consisted of moderate slopes. The topography became steeper as we approached the land that will become conservation lands. The conservation lands will be approximately 21 acres. As we approached the entrance to the open space at the end of the proposed cul-de-sac, there were two rows of large sugar maples that had been planted. The owner indicated his interest in preserving those trees. We observed sections of stone walls that will be utilized to define the entrance to the conservation land in order to maintain the character of the area. The soils on the lot were very well-drained, and sandy- ideal conditions for septic systems.
The end of the cul-de-sac would be designed as a one way loop so cars could park off to the side of the roadway, if members of the public wanted to hike up the trails to the top of the hill. The engineer indicated that he would be willing to draw up a detail to show how the parking on the side of cul-de-sac would work. There was a defined pathway to the top of the hill, where the conservation land is proposed. There were no views per se, as the vegetation was well-established at the top, although views could be cleared to open up scenic vistas of the area. The group then went out to the area that is being reserved for timber cutting next to the conservation area. The owner expressed interest in having the conservation lands be preserved as is, with deed restrictions not to allow ATVs and other uses that might damage the resources.
The site walk was adjourned at 7:08 p.m. The applicant requested that a TRC meeting be scheduled to review the special use application. The application will be taken up at the next Planning Board meeting which is scheduled for August 12, 2014.