The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved a three-lot residential subdivision for the west side of Taunton Lane, about 650 feet south of Mt Pleasant Road (US Route 6).

Following a recent public hearing, P&Z members approved the project for 10 Taunton Lane for a firm known as Ten Taunton Lane, LLC, which owns the 11.8-acre site. The site currently holds one house.

The developer initially had proposed designating 2.2 acres at the site as open space land.

But following town officials’ determination that such open space would have little practical usefulness for the public, it was decided that the developer should instead donate a fee in lieu of open space to the town’s open space fund.

The subdivision would require no new roadways, with access to all lots provided from Taunton Lane.

The project has received a wetlands protection permit from the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC). All construction would be done outside of wetlands and outside of wetland buffer areas. 

The town fire marshal is requiring that the subdivision include one 30,000-gallon underground water storage tank for firefighting.

Engineer Dennis McMorrow of Berkshire Engineering & Surveying, LLC, of Bantam, represented the applicant at the P&Z public hearing on the application.

The project will include two frontage lots and one interior lot, Mr McMorrow said.

P&Z Chairman Robert Mulholland noted that the open space area which had been proposed by the applicant posed some public access issues and some vehicle parking issues.

Resident Andrew Morano of 8 Taunton Lane, who lives next to the development site, raised several questions about the proposed construction. Those questions involved the presence of rock ledge on the site, the installation of utility lines, drainage, and erosion.

Mr Morano said that physically altering the northern edge of the site could cause problems.

Mr McMorrow told Mr Morano that applicant is leaving the land on the development site near Mr Morano’s property undisturbed. He also noted that some blasting may be needed to create a driveway on the site.

Mr Morano responded that he is concerned about the possible negative effects of blasting.

Blasters are licensed and are regulated, Mr McMorrow said.

Conservation Commission Chairman Ann Astarita urged that suitable environmental protection measures be put in force for the 2.2-acre area on the site which would have been designated as open space.

In approving the development project, P&Z members decided that the application is consistent with the subdivision regulations and with the provisions of the R-1 and R-2 (Residential) zones.

Also, the plans are consistent with the 2014 Town Plan of Conservation and Development, P&Z members decided.

The developer must field-mark the conservation easements and the lot-access easements on the site, according to the P&Z.