Engineer defends twin‑lot Laughlin Avenue plans; commission requests cut/fill, drainage and streetscape detail

Brian Mueller, presenting for the applicants, walked the Planning & Zoning Commission through the Laughlin Avenue two‑lot development and defended the grading, flood‑zone approach and curbing shown on the plans.

“We modeled a lot of different points of concern…we reduced through the hundred‑year storm event for peak rates of runoff,” Mueller said, describing stormwater modeling and porous‑asphalt and compensating storage approaches for tidal flood areas. He also explained the project’s cut‑and‑fill accounting: “Those are per site…50 yards of material that we have to bring in overall to each property,” he said.

Several commissioners said they could not visualize the impacts from the plan set and asked for additional technical materials. One commissioner requested a “very dedicated grading plan showing the cut and fill…how many trucks coming in, how many trucks coming out,” and asked for a full construction phasing plan so staging and stockpile locations are clear. Conservation staff has flagged tree, stump and shoreline soil‑retention questions; commissioners also asked the applicant to address driveway alignment relative to garage doors and to consider streetscape impacts and perceived building height from the park/road.

Neighbors and conservation members raised concerns that extensive hardscape and retaining walls could exacerbate local flooding and reduce permeable area near Mill Pond. The commission asked the applicant to return with DPW and sewer feedback, a separate cut/fill truck‑count and phasing narrative, a clearer streetscape elevation, and an updated S & E (sediment and erosion) plan to 2024 standards.