The Hudson Planning Board oversaw a well-attended April meeting that included a site plan presentation by Joe Maynard of Benchmark, LLC, for the development of two new condominium homes and a cul-de-sac at 134 Wason Road.
“The property is currently developed with a single-family home that sits down at the front end of the property near Wason Road. That home was constructed in 2022,” explained Maynard. “Our proposal is to add two additional single-family detached condominium dwellings that will share the driveway with the existing house out to Wason Road.”
A nearby wetland buffer would be slightly impacted. The original home was recently constructed, and several abutters voiced concerns about the potential for additional future development in the area.
“When we were here in 2022, originally the planning was just for one house. Now we’re back for an additional two houses. Are we going to be back in another three, four years? Is there going to be a plan to add more houses? Is this going to be the end?” asked resident Caitlin Hamm. “I think for most of us, that’s what our worry is.”
She noted that a previous property owner briefly floated a plan to build 43 homes and pointed out that the lot contains around 24 acres. Chair Jordan Ulery responded that such speculation was outside the scope of the current site plan.
“If they want to come back and do what you suggest, they’d have to come back and change this and resubmit another site plan with another set of requirements,” he said.
Resident Alex Woodward asked whether the current site plan was entirely new or an update to the original permit. According to the Chair, the addition of two condo units constitutes an update, not a new proposal.
“Is there any blasting anticipated as part of this project?” asked Woodward. “Do the plans before you indicate any trees are going to be removed on the north side of the property?”
Maynard said he did not expect blasting, although it was part of the original project – something not all abutters were aware of in advance. He and the property owner agreed to notify all neighbors ahead of time if further blasting becomes necessary. Tree removal would be “minimal,” as the plan aims to preserve the existing tree line.
Planning Board members also shared feedback.
“Listening to concerns expanding the condos, I don’t see any soil types listed on the plan,” said Board member James Crowley. He added that while the addition of two condos was unlikely to have a major environmental impact, any future expansion likely would.
Maynard explained that test pits had previously been dug to analyze the soil, giving the property owners a good sense of the site’s development potential.
“I don’t think there will be 40 houses on this piece of land, just because of the wetlands and the buffers associated with them,” said Maynard. “Could it support additional units? Probably.”
Board member Victor Oates suggested the possibility of placing a deed restriction on the land to prevent future development.
“My concern is this plan possibly opens up something broader,” said Oates.
The applicant declined to add a deed restriction and said there were no immediate plans to build additional housing. Any such restriction would need to be voluntary.
“We don’t have the authority to mandate, nor do I think we should, regarding what can or can’t be developed,” said Ulery.
The next meeting of the Planning Board is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, at 7:05 p.m. in the Buxton Room of Town Hall.
