The Planning Board denied the extension of Meadowbrook Drive at their meeting last week.

The plans for the two lot subdivision on Meadowbrook Drive were first presented to the board over three months ago, on March 31.

Chairman Roy Gardner discusses his concerns with the two lot subdivision of Meadowbrook Drive.

  It was John DeLano and Associates’ recommendation and opinion that the plans were not ready for the board’s approval.

The plans for both Lots 1 and 2 did not meet the minimum width requirement of the Zoning By-Law. The proposal of a two lot subdivision on a 20’ wide road was a major concern for those on the board.

DeLano believed the road would not provide safe and adequate access to the lots, and suggested the road be paved rather than a gravel drive.

Another concern was that it would be difficult to provide year round fire protection with the use of the existing hydrants and the gravel drive.

The plans also needed to show that the water service to the lots meet the standards of the East Bridgewater Department of Public Works, he said.

The plans did not propose grass strips and there were no waivers requested on the plans, and there were no underground utilities shown in the plans.

The board said they felt the lot was inadequate and that there would be major problems with the Fire Department not being able to turn their vehicles around.

“The feedback from the Fire Department was pretty negative,” said Planning Board member Bill Nolan, who excused himself from the final vote. The board received a letter on April 2 from the Deputy Chief of the Fire Department Robert Fairburn stating that he did not approve of the plans.

“These are pretty substantial things,” said Nolan. “They are not minor things.”

“What happens when the plans are not approved is the applicant will come up with other alternatives,” said Chairman of the Planning Board Roy Gardner. “They [the applicant] had an extended period of time to come up with alternatives for these concerns.”

The board originally wanted to post pone voting on the Meadowbrook subdivision because there were only three members who felt they were informed enough to make a ruling: Gardner, Linscott Snow and Bernie Smith.

However, the remaining members of the board were then brought up to speed on the matter because the board had to record a vote within 135 days of the hearing being closed. Waiting until the next meeting would be stretching it, said Gardner.

Gardner, Snow, Smith, and Robert Condon voted to deny the plan.

In other business:

• The board motioned for a continuance of the Public Hearing on Peloquin Lane.

• The board closed the public hearing for the extension of Industrial Way.

• The Planning Board approved reducing the White Pine Village bond to $41,675.

• The addition to Superior Iron and Rail on West Street was approved. The board felt this was a minor modification and that it will not require a modification or new special permit.