By Winslow Durgin,Special to the Sun Journal

MINOT – Selectmen said Tuesday night that they would stand behind Road Manager Arlan Saunders’ refusal to issue a driveway permit for one of the lots in the Brighton Hill Acres subdivision.

Saunders explained that he had issued a driveway permit to developer Gary MacFarland to serve a house located more than 500 feet off Brighton Hill Road. But, now, after the Planning Board’s approval of an amendment to the subdivision that adds more lots on back land off Brighton Hill Road, MacFarland wants a second driveway permit, for one of the newly approved lots.

Saunders noted that the first driveway permitted runs down the amended subdivision’s road, which has not been constructed; and the second driveway, if permitted, would enter onto the first driveway, laying the groundwork for what Saunders termed a messy situation if anything goes awry.

Backing Saunders’ decision, Selectman Dean Campbell questioned whether it would be advisable to issue an occupancy permit for a house built off the already-permitted driveway because access to such a house would be blocked off during the construction of the subdivision’s road.

Saunders also reported concerns with roads under construction in two other subdivisions. He said that he was not notified when Highland Drive in the Center Minot Heights subdivision received its surface paving. He said the developers should test it for composition and to make sure it binds properly to the base paving.

Fortin Drive, located in the subdivision at the end of Jackass Annie Road, suffered severe erosion in recent heavy rains, and, while the developer has taken steps to stabilize the area around the fire pond, Saunders said he will monitor work to make sure problems with scoured-out ditches and sediment that likely washed into the pond are addressed.

In other business, selectmen agreed to reconstitute the committee that put together the town’s development impact fee ordinance so it could consider expanding the fee to new demands placed on the town’s recreation facilities and public safety services. Presently, the impact fees cover capital needs at the school. Also up for consideration is a per-foot charge for new roads.

Selectmen also agreed with the recreation committee’s recommendation that the new area being developed near the Minot Consolidated School be called Minot Community Park.

Lisa Cesare, speaking for the recreation committee, told selectmen that the Minot/Hebron Athletic Association had come forward with money, to be used mostly for fuel to allow work on the new fields to continue a few weeks longer.

Responding to citizens’ requests that something be done to improve safety at the intersection of Woodman Hill Road (Route 119) and Center Minot Hill Road, selectmen asked Saunders to contact the state Department of Transportation to seek suggestions.

Selectman Eda Tripp noted that, while efforts have been made to alert drivers to the intersection, two accidents there in the past week suggest that something more is needed. She pointed out that driver inattention is obviously involved, and that perhaps better lighting would help.

The board voted to accept a franchise extension agreement with Adelphia that specifies that the rules under which cable television is provided will continue unchanged until Dec. 10, 2009. A significant feature of the agreement is that it calls for the extension of cable services into areas less densely developed than most new contract agreements call for.

Copy the Story Link