Holden planning board approves two subdivisions

HOLDEN – The town’s planning board on Wednesday unanimously endorsed final plans for two subdivisions that will add a total of 25 new home lots to the community, but not without a few questions for one of the developers.

Deliberations over the Little Stream subdivision, a nine-lot residential project to be built off Mann Hill, lasted nearly two hours before final approval was given.

In contrast, Brookfield Estates, a 16-lot subdivision off Eastern Avenue, was deemed complete and given final approval in just four minutes.

The time was spent on the Little Stream subdivision re-addressing several concerns raised at previous meetings and considering comments and a letter submitted by John Bryant, a town councilor and former planning board member who is an adjacent landowner to the Mann Hill property.

“I remain dissatisfied with the proposed Little Stream subdivision plan,” Bryant told the board. “Any approved subdivision must adequately address the spirit of Holden’s subdivision ordinance, not simply meet minimal standards in order to achieve approval.”

Bryant’s concerns centered on a deer wintering habitat on the property, open space, tree crowns, wetlands, stream and road buffers, and access to a snowmobile trail that runs through the property.

After Bryant made his comments, including seven suggestions for the planning board to consider, Dale Henderson, who owns 400 acres in the area, including the Little Stream subdivision, asked that Bryant’s comments and letter be removed from the record because Bryant had failed to fulfill a contract with him to purchase the subdivision land.

“John Bryant has a definite conflict,” Henderson said, adding that he has worked diligently with the board and town for several months to get the project approved.

Bryant’s comments remained because they were made during public comment, Henderson was informed by the town attorney, and several times throughout the meeting the board or Stephen Condon, Holden’s code enforcement officer, called on Bryant, who is a licensed forester, to answer questions.

To address the issues, Little Stream was approved with six conditions, including: leaving 50 percent of the tree canopy, increased from 30 percent; limiting the designated trail usage to snowmobiles only; adding two speed limit signs at the entrance; clearing a sight-distance of 450 feet at the entrance; changing a lot line; and providing financial guarantees.

“Thank you for your endurance and patience,” Chairman Jeffrey McBurnie said after the 7-0 vote.

Three minor conditions were tied to Brookfield Estates before the board gave its approval. The subdivision will be located near the Holden-Brewer town line, and is listed under Pell-Mull LLC of Bangor, which is owned by Greg Mullin, Scott Pelletier and James Pelletier.

The subdivision approved on Wednesday is a scaled-down version of the original design, which was split into two projects.

With final approval from the board, the developers can now move forward with constructing their projects.