Two developers made proposals at pre-construction meetings in front of the Wilton Planning Board Tuesday, but only one left with a start date on the calendar.

San-Ken Homes of New Ipswich presented its timeline for developing a seven-lot subdivision off Barrett Hill Road. San-Ken first proposed this development in the fall of 2023, according to town Land Use Administrator Caryn Case, but two issues arose at the time.

“There was concern about development’s proximity to wetlands, and the presence of spotted turtles in the area,” Case said.

That species of turtle is on the state’s imperiled list, a step below endangered species, and last spring, individuals in the area proposed measures to protect the turtles in light of the planned building.   

“San-Ken downplayed the uniqueness of the habit there,” Peter Howd, who has a doctorate in oceanography, said Wednesday. “Some oversight from Fish and Game would be in order. There was no indication that (San-Ken) abided by best practices for vernal pools.”

“Ultimately a buffer to provide for the wetlands at a distance of 50 feet was agreed to by the builder, but the concerned parties had wanted 150 feet,” Case said. 

On Tuesday, however, San-Ken still faced a challenge to get started.  While all other permits have been granted, the Alteration of Terrain permit application remains outstanding, which caused the board to refrain from letting San-Ken begin work. Company counsel Roy Tilsley of the Manchester law firm Bernstein Shur requested a break in the meeting, and after a short recess, said that he would take up this impediment with the town’s legal counsel. 

The meeting ended without San-Ken getting permission to proceed.

Your Daily Puzzles

Cross|Word

Flipart

Typeshift

SpellTower

Really Bad Chess

Better Built project set to begin

Better Built Homes of Amherst has plans to develop residences on a private road it will build off Route 101 in the Abbott Acres area. The stretch of road is also known as Gibbons Highway and referred to as such for development purposes. 

“Prepare for it to be a private road, but for it to be a public road,” said Chad Branon of Fieldstone Land Consultants regarding the plans. Fieldstone is the surveyor and environmental services firm on the project.  

The Planning Board still must approve a bond for the project, but board member George Holt expressed optimism about the project moving forward.

“I feel pretty confident it’s going to happen,” said Holt.

Work is expected to begin at the site on Dec. 16.