BETHEL – A junkyard owner’s request to have a subdivision developer build a fence next to his property was denied by the Planning Board on Wednesday.

The board voted 5-2 against the fence after considering the case of Geoffrey Gaudreau, who said developers should be required to erect a fence between his land and the proposed 32-acre Mountain Valley subdivision. He said he feared children living in the subdivision could be hurt on his property.

Planning Board member David Nivus made a motion that the subdivision developer, Western Maine Custom Builders, not be required to build the fence, planning assistant Sarah Tucker said Thursday. The motion was seconded by board member Nancy White.

Nivus, White and members Al Cressy, Larry Engdahl and Rocky Freda voted in favor of the motion, Tucker said. Wally Hannigan and Suzy Harrington voted in opposition.

Cressy, who is chairman of the board, did say other buffering options could be considered as the subdivision plans continue through the approval process, Tucker said.

In other business, the board signed off on plans for Countryside Acres, a 17-lot subdivision to be built on East Bethel Road. Members also approved plans to expand the existing Eden Ridge Townhouses subdivision.

The findings of fact were approved for a 13-lot subdivision proposed for Swan Hill Road, to be called Farwell Mountain Estates, Tucker said.