Somerset council conditionally approves 5400 Trent addition; requires percolation test and parking plan

The Somerset Town Council approved a building permit for an addition at 5400 Trent Street on March 2, but tied the permit to two conditions designed to address stormwater and neighborhood parking concerns.

Town staff described the project as a two‑story addition that increases impervious surface area by approximately 776 square feet. Staff reported the design includes a front‑yard rain garden sized to treat a one‑year storm (2.6 inches of rain), noting the rain garden was sized to handle roughly 1,318 gallons while the 1‑year rainfall runoff was estimated at about 1,258 gallons. Town administrator Steve Circle (speaker 6) told the council he had not yet seen documentation specifying the soil type or infiltration testing used for the rain garden design.

Council members said soil permeability data are essential for the rain garden to perform as planned. Council president (speaker 10) said he was uncomfortable approving the plan without evidence that the soil is permeable and asked that the council condition approval on a percolation (perc) test. The town attorney (Ron, speaker 11) confirmed conditioning approval and withholding permit issuance until the test results are acceptable would be legally defensible.

Councilors also heard neighbor concerns about parking on the narrow street and about a small driveway expansion. The council required the applicant to submit a parking plan that meets reasonable conditions for the street and limited construction parking: no more than three vehicles on the property at one time with any additional vehicles parked on adjacent streets in a manner consistent with the code and council direction.

On a motion to approve the permit with those conditions (perc test and an approved parking plan), the council voted in favor. The town manager will not issue the building permit until the percolation test demonstrates suitable infiltration and the parking plan is accepted by the town.