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Politics & Government

Planning Board Approves 81W Modification of Westview Estates Subdivision

The Board voted to approved a modification to the long-standing project in last week's meeting.

The Westwood Planning Board voted last week to approve a requested 81W Modification of what is known as the Westview Estates Definitive Subdivision. The move was a crucial step to begin the process of constructing 12 remaining house lots involved with the project.

The Westview Estates Definitive Subdivision is by no means new to the town. It was originally endorsed by the Westwood Planning Board on July 14, 1965. Town Planner Loughnane explained that the plan recorded in the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds has a total of 23 lots, with 12 lots that remain unbuilt. 

The next step, according to Town Planner Nora Loughnane, is for the applicant involved to submit a revised Definitive Plan to be endorsed by the Planning Board.

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“Once this plan is endorsed and recorded, the applicant may proceed with the required public improvements, and may begin the process of obtaining permits for construction on each of the 12 house lots,” said Loughnane.

A covenant prohibiting the building upon or conveyance of individual lots involved in the proejct was recorded in August of 1965, Loughnane added. The prior owner of the 12 lots met with the Planning Board in June 2005 to request the release of the lots and the establishment of what is called a performance bond. This was to cover the cost of constructing the improvements necessary to serve the lots. 

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The original Definitive Subdivision Plan was designed to meet the standards for the mid 1960s and since then, construction standards have changed, and the Rules and Regulations for Subdivision have been amended.

The Planning Board, in 2005, indicated that it would be willing to approve the 81 W Modification of the Definitive Subdivision to meet current standards and regulations.

The Board agreed to accept the performance bond that would be sufficient to covering the cost of necessary improvements, and offered to work with the prior owner with determining appropriate construction standards for the unconstructed portion, located on Thompson Avenue.

However, Loughnane explained that the owner then chose not to pursue the development of engineered plans that would be required for the approval of the project. Therefore, the lots were never built.

The current Board recently received an application for an 81W Modification of the Definitive Subdivision, submitted by the new property owner, Cornerstone Properties. 

Planning Board Chair Steve Rafsky said that questions have arisen about drainage issues involved. Rafsky said that the Board received a letter from the Westwood Board of Health that presented its approval for the project and had no health or environmental concern with the plan that was presented.

Paul Brodmerkle, Managing Partner of Site Design Professionals, presented to the Board that the group had taken into account concerns and reviews of the Planning Board.

In a memo, Brodmerkle explained that all but three drainage swales contain the 100 year storm event. (Swales drain from 35, 45 and 65 minutes in a two-year, 10-year and 100 year event, respectively.)

The bottom of the swales will be two feet above the seasonal high water mark. Brodmerkle explained that 96 percent of storms are two year or less, and that a huge 100-year storm event would only usually be seen in a lifetime.

Forms and applications can be downloaded as PDF files in this article.

Westview Estates will go in front of the Planning Board again on January 25 for them to sign the revised plan.

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