MINOT – The Planning Board gave final approval to an amendment increasing the number of lots in the Grange Homestead Subdivision from three to four.

The approval, given after Tuesday night’s public hearing, stipulated that the 6.1 acres of remaining land still owned by Thelma Verrill can’t be sold for house lots for five years without first obtaining a second amendment to the subdivision plan.

Grange Homestead is on the left side of Grange Avenue as one proceeds from Goodwin Road toward West Minot Road.

At the evening’s second public hearing, the board agreed to present amendments to the town’s road ordinance for voter approval at March town meeting. The amendments make a tear-drop-shaped cul-de-sac the only acceptable turnaround for future dead-end roads. No T-shaped hammerhead turnarounds will be accepted.

Road Manager Arlan Saunders helped develop minimum specifications for the cul-de-sac turnarounds by measuring the path a plow truck needs to follow in order to clear a 12-foot-wide travel lane in one sweep. Saunders figured the turnaround should have a 225-foot minimum diameter with a 300-foot minimum length, which creates the tear-drop shape and gives the turning loop proper access and egress.

Since traffic on the loop would be one way, the paving width for the travel lane would be reduced from 20 feet to 12 feet as it goes around the loop.

The board also agreed that a cul-de-sac could be made large enough to accommodate as many as three building lots inside the loop and still make the concept of one-way traffic workable.