Board refers Eversource utility-maintenance permit to Conservation Commission over wetlands

The Greenland Planning Board on June 4 voted to refer an anticipated conditional use permit (CUP) application from VHB on behalf of Eversource for utility maintenance to the Greenland Conservation Commission for review at the commission’s July 9 meeting.

Staff and board members said the project stems from a statewide infrastructure program to replace or repair poles whose bases are deteriorating; the work is expected to include notable wetland impacts that trigger conservation review. In moving to refer the application, members emphasized the statutory 60-day review clock and asked staff and the conservation commission to produce clear written findings or a memo explaining the commission’s recommendations so the planning board can consider them in a timely way.

The referral motion passed with no recorded opposition. Members discussed process improvements to avoid delays: specifically, ensuring the planning board receives the conservation commission’s rationale (a letter or memo) ahead of a planning-board hearing, and finding ways to minimize procedural “clock” impacts so required reviews do not extend beyond statutory windows.

Next steps: the planning board will include the conservation commission’s comments or minutes in future planning-board packets and pursue ordinance language clarifications when rewriting procedures so referrals and joint reviews run more smoothly.