Charlton Planning Board Continues Southbridge Road Hearing, Approves Multiple Subdivision Plans

CHARLTON — September 17, 2025 — Charlton Planning Board continued two development hearings and approved a string of subdivision plans at its September 17 meeting. The board voted unanimously to continue a site plan public hearing for L&B Enterprises at 29 Southbridge Road — a proposed 1,280-square-foot addition on a riverfront lot — to October 1, after surveyor Mika Laszlo of Top of the Line Survey walked members through responses to peer review comments from Graves Engineering; outstanding items include final architectural drawings and a soil test pit at the proposed stormwater infiltration area. The board also continued, without testimony, a multi-family development hearing for GM Villages at 35 North Main Street to October 1 on the applicant's request, with Town Counsel Chris Alphin of Bowditch, Haverdy and Silverstein advising against one-sided deliberation. Alphin separately guided applicant Chris Hansen toward a definitive subdivision filing under MGL Chapter 81FF to improve a paper street called Beach Middle Road for a single two-bedroom house lot. The board approved three annual permit extensions to November 18, 2026, for the North Stirbridge Road solar facility, approved as-built plans for the long-running Hammondwood subdivision in advance of a town meeting road acceptance vote, and acted on four Approval Not Required plans including a four-lot division on North Sullivan Road by PMZ Development. A discussion of decommissioning bond language for a $674,000 solar surety remained unresolved, with Alphin indicating the board could not enforce a 25-percent cash deposit requirement adopted after the original application was filed.