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Chamberlains Mill Subdivision Preserves Views Along Schoolhouse and Lowell Roads

Plans for a proposed subdivision at the intersection of Lowell Road and Schoolhouse Road will feature nine lots including the one for the existing house on the 25-acre parcel. The site, which is part of the estate of late Rita O'Connell, will be called Chamberlains Mill subdivision. Attorney Bob Collins, representing Groton developer Bob Kiley, told Planning Board, "This is a really nice piece of property, and is special in many ways." The plan calls for approximately half of the site to be given to Groton Water Department, as there are significant wetlands as well as reasonable proximity to the town's municipal well fields. The land also abuts power lines.

Collins said that there are both aesthetic and environmental considerations in developing this property. The development team will use flexible development and major residential development bylaws for their design. Engineer Stan Dillis of Ducharme and Dillis advised that because Martins Pond Brook crosses Lowell Road at Schoolhouse Road there is a portion of the site that is associated with a 'riverfront' area. All the new development will be outside this area and the plan is to utilize the flattest part of the land to avoid grading. The proposal is to construct five-bedroom homes on one to two-acre parcels. The plan also calls for single access to the site with driveways located off a rotary.

Collins pointed out that under a conventional development bylaw, there could actually be two more house lots on the site, adding, "We could obliterate the site if they were all ANR - Approval Not Required - lots," without using the flexible bylaw. He stressed that it is Kiley's intent to preserve the views along the two roadways, placing the homes to the side of the parcel.

There will be a traffic study conducted at the intersection Collins said. The Board continued the public hearing to Thursday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Myette Property

The Planning Board conducted a pre-submission review of the P.C. Myette property at 120 Boston Road. Planning Board Chairman John Giger stressed to those in attendance that "this is not a process to make a decision, but to present concepts and get Planning Board reaction," adding, "This is not a public hearing."

Myette is proposing eliminating his existing power equipment business building, and constructing a new 16,300 sq. ft., two-story building on his three-acre lot to house a Pediatric Medical Office Center. He will install town sewer and include the abutting tile business owned by Dorothy Mack Janes as part of the municipal system as the two currently share a septic system.

Myette's engineer Stan Dillis told planners that the building originally planned for the rear of the property will be eliminated, and that per order of Mass. Highway, there will be only one entrance/exit onto Rte. 119. The state also wants some of the vegetation on the opposite side of the road cleared for a better line of sight. He said that a portion of the site would be raised to mitigate runoff into Cady Brook.

Planner Russ Burke asked if he had considered moving the building slightly, and Dillis responded that the problem is the drainage and moving the building would create an issue for the mitigation plan.

Dillis indicated that the majority of parking would be located to the rear of the property with a few spaces in the front. Dillis said that there are currently 94 spaces and that the project would be requesting a waiver as they need 135 spaces. He added that there would be a full traffic study and impact report.

Abutter Janes said that she has documents that indicate there are two entrances, and she said that this cannot be changed. Her partner, Shane Grant, asked the Board for five minutes to counter some of the information that had been presented, especially maps of the area. He indicated that the drainage as proposed would not work.

Chairman Giger declined to allow the time, advising Grant that the Board was not discussing engineering plans or comparing compound drawings as this was only a pre-submission review. He stressed that this was a pre-submission and the time to bring this information forward is when the board received a formal application from Myette. Burke added that Myette and Dillis was showing what is being proposed for the site. Following some questions from the Board, he moved onto the next agenda item.

Groton Herald

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