On Aug. 14, the Conservation Commission reviewed plans for several proposed commercial and residential developments. They also discussed how to handle what appeared to be encroachments by commercial businesses along the Rail Trail.
One of the commercial projects is a complete redevelopment of the site of the current Citizen’s Bank at the intersection of Route 102 and Michel’s Way. When completed this parcel would have three buildings, a smaller Citizen’s Bank building, a ConvenientMD and a retail space.
The Commission did not have much to say about the project because there are no wet areas on the property; however, they did add a comment for the Planning Board to explore how snow storage would be handled when the plan comes before them.
The project is envisioned as multiple phases. In the first, a temporary bank building would be in place while the current bank building is razed. Then the new bank and ConvenientMD would be built. Finally, the new retail building would be added.
Bruce Gilday of BAG Land Consultants returned to the Commission with a revised concept for a commercial property. The property at 14 Page Road is owned by the Evans Family Limited Partnership. In response to feedback from the Commission at an earlier meeting, the owner agreed to shrink the size of the planned building and remove roughly 40% of the parking area to reduce the amount of impervious surface and reduce the wetlands impact. The commercial building was reduced from 400,000 to 320,000 square feet and five parking areas were removed.
As part of the project more that 20 acres of land on the property would be subdivided off and permanently conserved One option would be for the town to own the property, but given its shape, town regulations would require getting a variance for the property to have less than 150 feet of road frontage. Another option is for a 3rd party conservation organization to hold an easement on that parcel.
A second project from the Evans Family Limited Partnership, this one residential, was also reviewed. This one would create an 8-lot subdivision along Wilson Road starting in the area of Lance Avenue. A ninth lot that contains substantial wetland areas would not be developed and would provide access to land behind the development also owned by the Partnership. The Commission had no objections but did wonder how useful a wet piece of property would be as an access way.
The Commission reviewed plans from Sean Leblanc of Manchester, NH for a small subdivision on Mammoth Road across from Woodland Drive. The plan would subdivide an existing lot with a house into three lots, one for the current house, one for a duplex and one for a single-family home. Commissioner Gene Harrington asked that a proposed raingarden in the plan be moved out of the 50-foot conservation buffer.
Another small residential subdivision plan was reviewed, this one at 6 Harvey Road on a property bounded by Harvey, Litchfield and High Range roads. DHB Homes is proposing to subdivide the property into three lots, one for the existing home and two new ones for new single-family homes. The Commission had no objection to the plan.
In other business, the Commission discussed a report from Londonderry resident Jack Grube who reported that it appeared that businesses at 2 and 3 Commercial Lane were operating part of their business in land that is part of the Rail Trail in that area. Grube had reported the potential violation to Londonderry Trailways and the town. The land on which the Rail Trail resides is owned by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, so the potential encroachment is being reported to them for investigation.