At the forefront of the meeting, resident Laura Ennis emphasized the significance of preserving Hatchville’s agricultural heritage amidst ongoing development projects. Ennis criticized the 40B projects, which she believed threaten the community’s character and exacerbate existing traffic and housing issues. She highlighted the doubling population in the area and its resulting traffic problems, urging the board to conduct a thorough analysis of accident data on Sandwich Road. Ennis voiced that high-density housing developments fail to meet the town’s needs and called for stricter regulations to counteract the influence of profit-driven developers. Her concerns extended to the potential loss of nearly 70 acres of forest and farmland, warning of detrimental effects on local wildlife and the ecological balance.

Following Ennis’s remarks, the board continued discussions on a development project on Sandwich Road. Peter Freeman, representing the applicant, introduced the developments, outlining intentions to address several issues raised in previous hearings. Brendan Berry from Merrill Engineering proposed a spreadsheet to track comments and responses. Berry addressed concerns related to front yard setbacks, utility capacity, compliance with fire codes, and noise from a proposed pet park. Adjustments were made to improve compliance with setback requirements, and ongoing communication with local utility providers and the fire department was confirmed.

Traffic concerns were further elaborated upon by transportation engineer Daniel Lascivita, who presented a traffic impact assessment for the Sandwich Road project. Lascivita reported that the road experiences daily volumes between 10,000 and 13,000 vehicles, with peak hour volumes from 800 to 1,200 vehicles. The discussion addressed the challenges of left turns from side streets onto Sandwich Road and the potential for increased delays. Concerns about pedestrian access and infrastructure along the road were emphasized, with calls for a comprehensive understanding of the project’s impact on traffic flow and safety.

Residents like Keith Loris from DeCostas Circle and Peter Dawson from Sandwich Road expressed concerns about visibility issues and the adequacy of sight distance measurements. They questioned the impact of queued vehicles at intersections and the potential for increased hazards due to the development. The board was urged to consider the implications of emergency vehicles from a newly opened fire station and the cumulative impact of multiple projects on local roads.