NEW GLOUCESTER – Tobey Pines, a 12-lot subdivision under Planning Board review since last winter, has edged slightly closer to meeting preliminary submission requirements.
“This takes time. Environmentally, this is not an easy one to do,” Board Chairmwoman Jean Libby said this week.
Brothers Roland and Robert Hale want to use 82 of 210 acres off Tobey Road for house lots of between 5 and 8 acres. A road has been constructed over an old woods road, and a fire pond has been built.
Access to the Hale land through a right of way owned by two neighbors crosses over wetlands that include a dammed beaver pond along steep roadway inclines.
The board grappled with road issues, since the right-of-way access road washed away last fall. Three 30-inch poly density culverts will be installed to replace 18-inch culverts. The steep access to Hale’s land will be paved, and roadway grades will meet town standards of a maximum 10 percent grade incline.
Roughly a dozen submission requirements were defined by the board, including ditch details, erosion sedimentation plans, an executed easement for the fire pond, erosion control plans, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife input for wintering wildlife areas and trench details for underground utilities.
Also, evidence of tree-growth penalty payments to the town are needed before any lots are sold. Plot lines delineating remaining land are required. A revised culvert plan will be reviewed by engineer Steve Roberge, the board agreed.
Engineer Chris Branch said three different planners have given input to the plan, causing confusion. “What exactly does the Planning Board want?” he asked.
Town Planner James Isaacson reviewed the plan initially last winter, then resigned. The Greater Portland Council of Governments provided a planner to the board for one review session. Recently, New Gloucester hired a full-time planner, Amanda Simpson, who is reviewing the plan now.
Simpson said cross-section drawings are need for the pavement of the hill area, as well as a design plan for storm-water culverts and cross-section drawings.
The private road will be deeded over to homeowners eventually, said Roland Hale.
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