Planning board approves 15 Central Street subdivision; adds sidewalk and intersection improvements

The Newbury Planning Board voted Sept. 2 to approve the definitive subdivision decision for 15 Central Street, including an off‑site five‑foot sidewalk with granite curbing and reconfiguration at the Central/Church Street intersection.

Engineer Paul Fanucci described the sidewalk as a five‑foot bituminous concrete walk with granite curbing and transitional curbs running roughly 70 feet from the easement, plus lane‑striping adjustments and plantings. Planning Director Kristen Grubbs reviewed the draft decision’s findings and conditions, including peer‑review oversight, a required preconstruction meeting and construction schedule, board‑of‑health approval of septic designs, delivery of homeowners‑association/trust documents before the first building permit, and a two‑year lapse provision if construction does not start.

"We're putting in a new sidewalk, which is a 5 foot wide bituminous concrete sidewalk with granite curbing," Paul Fanucci said during his presentation. The board approved the off‑site improvements by motion and later closed the public hearing and approved the decision with permission for staff to clean up a few highlighted edits before final endorsement. Members emphasized that any changes to grading or design during construction must be reviewed by staff and the peer‑review engineer, and that mailboxes, landscaping details and DPW approvals will be handled administratively as conditions of the approval.

The decision requires the applicant to provide a performance guarantee and to coordinate with the water district, and it incorporates any fire department conditions. The approval enables the applicant to move forward with the formalities required before recording the decision and beginning construction.