BETHEL – Two residents raised concerns about a 14-lot subdivision proposed for Taylor-Smith Road as the Bethel Planning Board held a site walk and public hearing Wednesday.

Geoffrey Gaudreau, who owns a junkyard abutting the 32-acre site of the proposed Mountain Valley subdivision, said he is worried about safety issues in relation to his business.

“We want to be sure that we’re going to be able to continue to operate without problems,” Gaudreau said, calling for the site developers to erect a fence between his property and the subdivision.

He raised the possibility of children from the subdivision wandering onto his junkyard and getting hurt.

Darryl Brown of Main-Land Development Consultants Inc. was on hand representing Western Maine Custom Builders, the subdivision developers. He said no one wanted to affect Gaudreau’s business. But, he said, “We have no intention of building a fence.”

“We think that’s a requirement that goes way beyond the purviews of sound planning.”

Planning Board Chairman Al Cressy curtailed the discussion before it became a debate. He noted that such concerns could be raised in the coming months as the board considers the subdivision plans.

In fact, although the 6:30 p.m. public hearing on the Mountain Valley subdivision soon wound to a close, a 7 p.m. regular meeting of the Planning Board brought the discussion back to the table.

The board took no action on the subdivision application, but said safety concerns relating to adjoining properties will have to be considered as the project is examined in more detail. Fire protection, storm-water management and road safety will be considered as well.

The board also considered plans for seven other subdivisions Wednesday.

The board voted 6-0 to approve the Country Acres subdivision proposed by Savage Land Development for East Bethel Road. Members and alternates Cressy, Rocky Freda, David Nivus, Larry Engdahl, Wally Hannigan and Nancy White were present for the vote.

The board also voted 6-0 to approve site plans for the expansion of the Eden Ridge Townhouses subdivision.

Cressy said he expects an amended plan for the Taylor Woods subdivision to be ready for approval at the board’s next meeting.

A subdivision application for a proposed Farwell Mountain Estates subdivision on Swan Hill Road was tabled.

An amendment to the plans for the Will View subdivision, for the second phase of the site’s development, was rejected by the board. Members said they wanted developer David North to submit a full subdivision application for the second phase of the project.