Discussion of proposed 33-lot subdivision plan at the intersection of Maki Road and Appleton Road was continued again by the Planning Board Wednesday, though the last-minute request to continue by the applicant resulted in a split decision, with some board members saying the application should be denied without prejudice, and resubmitted at a later date.

The application for Brook Haven Farms includes the construction of a new road, which would cut through the property and have an entrance on Maki Road and one on Appleton. The lots range in size, but none would be smaller than two acres or have less than 200 feet of frontage.

Chuck Ritchie, an engineer for Fieldstone Land Consulting, representing Brook Haven Farms, appeared before the Planning Board on Wednesday to request a continuance of the application. He said following conversations with the town’s engineer, Bert Hamill, the applicant is working on a yield plan that would result in fewer proposed lots.

Ritchie requested at least two weeks to finish the new yield plan.

The application has been continued several times by the board, after having been first submitted in late 2023, and some board members expressed displeasure at this latest request coming only a day before the scheduled meeting on Wednesday.

“I have, in 25 years, never had an applicant do something like this, and quite frankly, I would be opposed to granting a continuance,” said board member Liz Freeman. She said the last-minute request was “not appropriate” and “doesn’t respect the Planning Board.”

Freeman suggested the board vote to deny the application, without prejudice, meaning the applicants can resubmit when ready.

Some board members agreed, with member Craig Smeeth noting he was “tired of getting kicked in the head” and member Tim Somero saying he would not want to see this pattern of behavior continue.

Other members disagreed. Select Board ex-officio Shawn Talbot said he heard the frustration, but said the board’s current schedule allowed for some amount of leeway in continuing the hearing.

Planning Board Chair Dee Daley noted there were costs associated with resubmitting an application, such as abutters being noticed, and that the fees were substantial with an application as large as this one.

Talbot motioned to continue the hearing to the board’s April 17 meeting at 7:30 p.m. The board agreed in a 4-3 decision, with Somero, Freeman and Smeeth opposed, and Talbot, Daley, Nicole Talbot and Bruce Ruotsala in agreement.

The board cautioned Ritchie that should his clients need to continue the hearing again, that the board should receive at least a week’s notice.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.