Ed. note. This article appeared in the Eagle Times last week.

Walpole Developers Shrink Subdivision Proposal 

by Sue Bingaman, Contributing Writer

    D & D LLC's controversial 13 lot subdivision proposal attracted most of the crowd of 45 people to the Walpole Planning Board met Tuesday, July 10, but the Board continued at the the hearing until the 3rd Tuesday in August so that a hydrologeological study can be completed.

   Fred Dill and Randy Daniels, the Ds of D & D, LLC. announced that they had scaled down the proposed 13 lot subdivision to 10 lots since the June meeting. At the June meeting of the Planning Board abutters, and others who live on Hooper Hill, raised concerns about the existing water supply and how the demands a subdivision of the size D & D had proposed might impact their already scarce supply. Several residents near the proposed development told how they had already had to to drill a second, and one person a third, well to meet their needs. Other residents informed the board that they had low levels of water in their 500 and 600 foot deep wells.

   Dill on Tuesday suggested that, "There should be deed restrictions such as limiting sprinkler systems and, if there is a swimming pool, it must be filled by trucking in the water."

   Lots 4 & 5 were consolidated to make Lot 3 and lots 9 & 10 were consolidated to make lot 7. There is a right of way to lots 7, 8, and 9 from Hooper Road. Dill said he was trying to listen to nearby neighbors' concerns.  He said "Less lots means less wells".

   Board Chairman Jeff Miller reported that he had contacted two or three engineering firms for proposals for studies on the water well issues but did not receive replies. Fred Dill told Miller about Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. in Portsmouth, NH. Miller contacted them and they replied. The board reviewed a hydrogeological study proposed by Peter J. Goodwin, P.E. of Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. and its terms and scope of services. Fees for the services provided are estimated to be $5,000 for review of data, meeting presentation and letter report.

   Miller said that the developer would pay these costs. Dill made it clear "I did not talk to Brian Goetz [of Weston & Sampson] until after Jeff talked to him". Miller stated that "I'm confident that it will be a fair assessment."

   Weston & Sampson also provided a questionnaire about water supply and water use on properties on Hooper Hill to assist  in performing their technical review for the Planning Board. Pam Aslinger, Planning Board secretary, will mail the questionnaire to abutters and others in the area.

   Dill said he has road redesign and a drainage plan with solils overlay information on the new plan and will add that description on the revised plan.