The Peterborough Planning Board accepted an initial application for a six-lot subdivision at 477 East Mountain Road during Monday night’s meeting.

The proposed subdivision on what was formerly the McLaren property would create five housing lots across 16.3 acres with frontage on East Mountain Road. The property has 2,200 feet of frontage on East Mountain Road, and lies within the Rural District and the wetlands overlay protection zone.  A sixth lot includes nearly 70 acres that are in permanent conservation easement.

Dan Barowski of Fieldstone Land Consultants, representing Grand View Homes, LLC, said that while the project is classified as  a major subdivision because it includes six lots, three of the lots already have buildings on them and the sixth lot will remain green space.

“The property has a main house, a barn and a carriage house already, and each of these will be a separate lot,” Barowski said. “This development is considered ‘major,’ but it will have minimal impact to the neighborhood.” 

Planning Board member Lisa Stone noted that “these are all conforming lots.” 

Town Planner Danica Melone said her department had received staff reports on the property and that the Peterborough Fire Department had determined there is enough water that a hydrant will not be required. The DPW has requested a plan indicating the elevations on the lot, as it contains a steep slope on the western edge. 

Each lot will have a separate driveway. according to the initial design. 

Barowski explained that his client had requested a waiver for the conceptual review requirements on the sixth lot, as the land is in permanent conservation easement. 

“We did not do a complete survey of the remaining 69 acres of conservation land.  It is perpetually not developable; we did not venture into conservation land,” Barowski said. 

Planning Board member Lisa Stone made a motion to grant waivers on the conceptual review requirements for the lot. The board unanimously passed the motion.

In answer to a question from Planning Board member Stephanie Hurley about wetlands, Melone said she did not believe there are enough wetlands across the five building lots to require a change in lot size. 

“I will confirm with the Conservation Committee that the property conforms to updated wetlands requirements,” she said. 

Barowski said “the lots are not going to change.”

Conditions for final approval of the design include a stormwater plan and indication of the building envelopes in relation to the wetland buffer. The property includes an artificial pond which is not classified as a wetland.