Wells Planning Board Advances Subdivisions, Revisits 900 Post Road Plan

The Wells Planning Board approved findings and plans for the Perkins Pasture, Goodale, and Seaview West applications, and received a Pine Tree Village subdivision amendment. The board sent the 900 Post Road convenience store and gas station proposal back for a revised design and scheduled a site walk for Pine Tree Village. Members also voted to ask the Comprehensive Plan Committee to review growth area rules ahead of a state deadline.

Key points

• The board declined to accept the 900 Post Road concept as presented, with members objecting to fuel tank placement, a possible Hampton Inn driveway connection, and tractor-trailer access; the applicant will return with a revised drawing.
• The board voted unanimously to receive the Pine Tree Village subdivision amendment and set a site walk for October 17 at 7:30 a.m.
• The board unanimously deemed the Perkins Pasture subdivision application compliant and approved its findings of fact.
• The board unanimously approved the Goodale Subdivision findings and plan, a new five-lot subdivision with 8.8 acres of open space.
• The board found the Seaview West campground application compliant and added a special condition requiring the applicant to notify the Code Office and Planning Office when two outstanding buffer items are completed by April 1.
• Members discussed state laws LD 1829 and LD 2173, warning that new density rules could allow four dwelling units on 5,000-square-foot lots in designated growth areas, and voted to refer the growth area question to the Comprehensive Plan Committee.

Next steps

• The 900 Post Road applicant will return with a revised plan, and the board will schedule a site walk.
• A site walk for the Pine Tree Village subdivision is set for October 17 at 7:30 a.m., with the property line and road center line staked or marked.
• The Seaview West applicant must notify the Code Office and Planning Office when the two buffer items are complete by April 1.
• The board will sign approved plans and findings at the end of the meeting, with the chairman to sign the amended Seaview West findings later.
• The board's motion referring the growth area review to the Comprehensive Plan Committee will go to the selectmen, who would need to reconvene the committee.

Read the full transcript