Townsend Planning Board Upholds Peer Review for Three Wheeler Road, 3-1

TOWNSEND — April 6, 2026 — Townsend Planning Board votes 3-1 to keep peer review requirement for Three Wheeler Road earth removal permit modification. The board denied a request by the applicant's representative to rescind its February 23 unanimous vote requiring third-party engineering review of the project, which involves a reduced-scope earth removal operation on a property now owned by Gary Shepherd. The original permit, approved around 2016, covered approximately 107,000 cubic yards of material removal; the revised proposal is roughly 50,000 cubic yards, reduced after a barn slated for demolition was reconstructed in place instead. Brett King cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he was uncomfortable requiring a review that was waived on the original, larger project. "We have to look at this as if it's a brand new project — it's a new applicant, it's a whole new proposal," said member Hartley Plushaw. The public hearing was continued to May 11, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., pending completion of the peer review by a firm identified as Graves.