If you head north on Elm Street from Central Square in Keene and walk the better part of a mile, the houses start to thin out. There are more trees and more wide swathes of lawn. By the time you pass under Route 9 and turn right up Timberlane Drive, the Drummer Hill Conservation Area is most of the view.
On that hill, near the conservation area that is crisscrossed with bike trails, a developer plans to construct six buildings with a total of 36 housing units, according to Keene Planning Board minutes. The project, which comes as a statewide shortage of places to live has cities like Keene looking for ways to boost their housing stock, has been in the works for several years. The site was logged early in the process, raising concerns about potential vulnerability to runoff and erosion. Neighbors have also raised concerns about flooding, increased traffic on a quiet road and a change to the character of their neighborhood.
With plans for the development of townhouse-style condos for rent or sale, the project came before the board for approval in 2022. Nearly three years later, the developer is still working to get things in order to meet the conditions of permits the board granted, the minutes show. The planning board Monday evening gave him another 180 days to obtain the architectural drawings and state alteration of terrain permit needed to proceed to construction.
John Noonan of Fieldstone Land Consultants represented the developer, Christopher Eric Farris, at the meeting. Farris is also known locally as the developer of Troy Mills — a project that has stalled due to a disagreement between Farris and that town’s water and sewer commission over utility hookups.
Noonan told the board he believed the alteration of terrain permit would be approved “any day.”
Planning board member Kenneth Kost asked how long an extension the project would need. The standard extension is 180 days.
“The reason I’m asking is, when I drive by that site — I think I have the right site — it’s pretty much been graded over … so I’m just thinking about, if this goes on for a long time and we get into rainy seasons, we’re looking at runoff and all of that from there,” Kost said.
That’s an issue that has been raised several times when the project has come before the board in the past. At a June 2022 public hearing, a Drummer Road resident who said he worked on the project for about a year and a half said he did not believe the planned detention basin would be able to hold back all the water that would come down the hill after construction work such as blasting adds more veins for water to run through.
Several other residents also noted that homes in the area have persistent flooding issues. Runoff from the hill drains into a wetland at its base.
Noonan said stumps were left during the logging to maintain ground stability. He also noted some brush and trees have started to grow back, helping to stabilize the site.
Mayor Jay Kahn pointed out a 180-day extension takes the project start potentially “about a year out from our last consideration of this proposal.”
Noonan reiterated he believes things are going to come together soon.
The board approved the extension Monday, giving the project until around Oct. 25 to meet the conditions for the permits.
Abigail Ham can be reached at 603-355 8554 or aham@keenesentinel.com.
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