Planning board continues wireless-facility review, schedules site inspection and Sept. 1 hearing

The New Durham Planning Board voted to continue its substantive review of a proposed wireless telecommunications facility (PB 2026-7) and set a site inspection for 320 Kings Highway on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. Vice Chair Anne Ross Raymond presided after Chair Bob Pregrath temporarily stepped aside from the matter.

Board members said they had received allegations that the site is not compliant with the initial use permit approved in August 2020 and that several site alterations may not have been shown on the approved plan. "It appears that the site is currently non compliant with the initial use permit that was issued in 2020," Vice Chair Anne Ross Raymond said during the meeting, noting concerns about additional impervious surfaces and changes to the waterfront buffer. To allow time for legal and factual review, the board set the public hearing for Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

The board also voted to extend the planning-board decision deadline for PB 2026-7 to Sept. 15, 2026. A motion to continue the hearing and to set the inspection carried by voice vote; the board recorded the sidewalk scheduling motion as carrying "4-0." The board directed staff to circulate a short description of the sidewalk (site inspection) logistics and to provide any requested materials in advance to attendees.

The board framed the sidewalk visit as a fact-finding observation rather than a decision-making meeting; members said enforcement questions may involve the building inspector or selectboard depending on findings. The board said it would consult counsel before taking compliance-related enforcement steps and will revisit the permit file at the continued hearing.