Whitewood Millwork presented conceptual plans to the Somersworth Planning Board for a proposed light‑industrial millwork facility on a vacant lot off Brenda Avenue. The presentation was conceptual; the applicant, Josh Silley of Whitewood Millwork, asked for feedback on site layout, vehicle circulation and off‑site improvements.
Board members generally welcomed the infill industrial proposal and praised the building’s conceptual appearance, but they raised multiple concerns staff and the applicant will need to address before formal submission. Members advised the applicant to plan for off‑site roadway improvements to Brenda Avenue, advise early coordination with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for any state‑road permitting, provide adequate turning radii and queuing for box trucks (and occasional 18‑wheelers), and include meaningful landscape buffering for the adjacent Hickory Lane residences.
Board members recommended that the applicant consider improving Brenda Avenue at least to the site entrance and to anticipate complete‑street upgrades planned for the Route 108 corridor to avoid redoing short‑term improvements later. The applicant said most vehicle traffic will be smaller box trucks with occasional tractor‑trailers for deliveries; he also said the design team is considering insulated concrete form (ICF) construction to reduce noise transfer and aid energy efficiency. Members emphasized early engineering of stormwater and DOT permitting because DOT lead times have been lengthy on nearby projects.
The board did not take any formal vote; the presentation was recorded as a conceptual review with direction to address access, truck turning, buffering and roadway coordination in future submissions.