On Monday, the Planning Board reviewed a letter submitted by the Peterborough Conservation Commission recommending changes to the language defining the Wetland Protection Overlay Zone. 

Francie Von Mertens, chair of the Peterborough Conservation Commission, said that the recommendations stipulate four times that wetlands retain a natural vegetative buffer. Von Mertens referred to recent large projects at the Old Stone Barn on Sand Hill Road, the Catholic Charities residences on Vose Farm Road, the proposed solar farm on Old Greenfield Road  and the Peterborough Fire & Rescue station where the Conservation Commission recommended builders use swales instead of retention ponds to mitigate stormwater. 

The Conservation Committee has stated that they are opposed to stormwater management systems in the buffer.

“We are trying to figure out, how can you put this requirement into the conditional use permit so that people don’t ignore it? How can we put ‘teeth’ into the conditional use permit so that people won’t come to you with plans that allow for stormwater in the buffer? ” Von Mertens said. “The Conservation Committee does not want to see stormwater in the buffer; we want to see swales instead of retention ponds.” 

The Conservation Committee also recommended adding a clause stipulating that parties must pay for a third-party stormwater engineering firm if necessary to establish a path for mitigation.  In a discussion about the proposed clause, Staley raised the issue of how the board would handle conflicting professional opinions if third parties were required. Planning Board members Gary Gorski and Sarah Steinberg Heller said they felt the recommendation created additional hurdles for property owners. 

The board agreed to continue discussions on the recommendations from the Conservation Committee at their Feb. 10 meeting.

Solar farm hearing rescheduled 

A scheduled hearing for site plan application for NH Solar Parent, LLC for a ground-mounted solar facility with associated fencing, equipment pad, electrical connection and access drive was continued to the board’s next meeting on Feb. 10. 

“They have formally asked us to continue this to the next meeting,” said Staley 

Solar Parent is seeking a conditional use permit application for an access drive through the wetlands buffer on its property at 585 Old Greenfield Road. The lot is in in the Rural District and Wetlands Protection Overlay Zone.  In further discussion about the application, the board noted that the site contains significant amount of wetlands, and that the property owner would need to alter existing plans accordingly. 

Subdivision gets approval

The Planning Board unanimously approved an application submitted by Dan and Arlene Shows for a two-lot subdivision at 39 High St.

The Shows have applied to build one new house with an ADU.  The lot is split between Family and General Residence districts.

“We had been looking to downsize and build a home for our son, but there was nothing available,” Shows said. “We reached out to the Derbys, who own a large portion of land, and they very kindly agreed to a subdivision.” 

Town Planner Danica Melone recommended the board find the application complete. 

“This project will help complete that section of High Street,” said Select Board member Bill Kennedy. 

Heller fully supports the project. 

“I live on High Street, and I think it’s great,” said Heller. 

A community member asked if the lots being distributed over two different zones will impact what is allowed on the lot. 

“Whatever the property owner does will be conforming to either the Family District or the General Residence District,” said Planning Board Chair Carl Staley.

Melone said that the use of lot in either zone is still “very limited” and that the property owners intend to build a single-family home with a ADU.