The Current Proposal
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Baker Properties, LLC is proposing to develop 49.9 acres of land in Exeter, NH. Just outside the heart of downtown and up the hill from the Squamscott River and Swasey Parkway, the multiple adjoining properties are bordered by the railroad tracks to the east, the Henderson Swasey Town Forest to the north, the "Jailhouse Spring" on Oak Street to the South and Norris Brook Condominiums to the West. The Norris Brook, which flows through this property and its associated wetlands are tributaries to the Great Bay watershed.
On Thursday, January 10, 2019 the proposed Rose Farm residential development appeared before the Exeter Planning Board. Between 10:45pm and 11:50pm the board (at times laughing and making light of the haste with which they were conducting the vote) rushed to approve--without substantive deliberation, consideration for the facts, or even adherence to the guidelines set out in the Town's regulations--all nine of the requested waivers and the project as a whole.
The members who voted to approved the project were: Langdon Plummer, Selectwoman Kathy Corson, Aaron Brown, John Grueter and Kelly Bergeron (who had not attended a meeting in months prior to Thursday). Peter Cameron and Gwen English voted against the project.
The actions of the planning board represent a truly troubling turning point for our town. Aside from the significant negative impacts this specific project will bring to the environment, the neighboring residents and the Town as a whole, the planning board has set a dangerous precedent that will be impossible to undue.
Following the approval, the Exeter Area Conservancy filed an appeal contesting the granting of multiple waivers for the project. One July 30, 2019 the New Hampshire Superior Court ruled in favor of Exeter Area Conservancy and remanded the decision back to the planning board for clarification. The full judgement can be read here.
On September 22, 2019, Exeter Area Conservancy filed a follow up appeal asking the judge to overturn the waiver decisions and the Planning Board's approval of the proposed sub-division and we are awaiting a decision by the courts.
Materials and plans submitted as part of the application process to-date are posted below:
Legal memo regarding waivers
Follow up memo regarding misrepresentation of State AOT support
Letter requesting appearance by third party reviewer
The current application and associated reports and studies are listed below.
November 27, 2018 set of plans
Homeowner Association By Laws
Road Maintenance Agreement
Spillway Plan
Third Party Review Report
Third Party Review Scope of Services
July 10, 2018 Set of Plans
Drainage Analysis
Remedial Action Plan (RAP)
On Thursday, January 10, 2019 the proposed Rose Farm residential development appeared before the Exeter Planning Board. Between 10:45pm and 11:50pm the board (at times laughing and making light of the haste with which they were conducting the vote) rushed to approve--without substantive deliberation, consideration for the facts, or even adherence to the guidelines set out in the Town's regulations--all nine of the requested waivers and the project as a whole.
The members who voted to approved the project were: Langdon Plummer, Selectwoman Kathy Corson, Aaron Brown, John Grueter and Kelly Bergeron (who had not attended a meeting in months prior to Thursday). Peter Cameron and Gwen English voted against the project.
The actions of the planning board represent a truly troubling turning point for our town. Aside from the significant negative impacts this specific project will bring to the environment, the neighboring residents and the Town as a whole, the planning board has set a dangerous precedent that will be impossible to undue.
Following the approval, the Exeter Area Conservancy filed an appeal contesting the granting of multiple waivers for the project. One July 30, 2019 the New Hampshire Superior Court ruled in favor of Exeter Area Conservancy and remanded the decision back to the planning board for clarification. The full judgement can be read here.
On September 22, 2019, Exeter Area Conservancy filed a follow up appeal asking the judge to overturn the waiver decisions and the Planning Board's approval of the proposed sub-division and we are awaiting a decision by the courts.
Materials and plans submitted as part of the application process to-date are posted below:
Legal memo regarding waivers
Follow up memo regarding misrepresentation of State AOT support
Letter requesting appearance by third party reviewer
The current application and associated reports and studies are listed below.
November 27, 2018 set of plans
Homeowner Association By Laws
Road Maintenance Agreement
Spillway Plan
Third Party Review Report
Third Party Review Scope of Services
July 10, 2018 Set of Plans
Drainage Analysis
Remedial Action Plan (RAP)
| uei_review_3_comments_07-25-18.pdf |
| trc_07.19.18_minutes.pdf |
| concom_memo_7-12-18.pdf |
| cup-memo-wetland-waiver-062918-signed.pdf |
| cup-memo-shoreland-v2-pkg-062918.pdf |
| 47175.00-table_of_open_space_calculations_2018-07-11__1_.pdf |
| 47175.00-rtc_letter.pdf |
| 47175.00-oak_st_ext_road_maintenance_agreement__1_.pdf |
| stormwater_mgmt_plan.pdf |
| 47175.00-exeter_rose_farm_draft_hoa_docs_2018-07-10.pdf |
| rosefarm-nrp-v2-053118-signed.pdf |
| 1808a_traffic_evaluation_addendum_1_053118.pdf |
| traffic_evaluation_-_peer_review_ltr..pdf |
| 2018_june29_rosefarm_revconslandsplan.pdf |
| 2018_june29_rosefarm_wetl_shorelandimpactplans.pdf |
| 2018_june29_rosefarm_cup_waiver_nri_wetlval.pdf |
| rosefarm_conslandrequest_amend.pdf |
| case_17-27__exeter_rose_farm_llc___os_s-d_memo_10_.pdf |
| case_17-27__exeter_rose_farm_llc___os_s-d_memo_9_.pdf |
| 47175-00_concept_a_.pdf |
| 47175-00_concept_b_.pdf |
| rosefarm-wetfunceval-040218-signed.pdf |
| rosefarm-natural_resource_plan_040418-signed.pdf |
| pb_17-27__exeter_rose_farm_trc_2_.pdf |
| exeter_rose_farm_review_uei_2.pdf |
| fire_l1_dimensions.pdf |
| application_package__5-14-17.pdf |
| stonehill_environmental_rap_summary.pdf |
| mapoverlays.pdf |
| s.w._cole__draft_geotechnical_report.pdf |
| 47175-00_o___m_2017-09-26.pdf |
| 47175.00_partially-filled_sewer-velocity.pdf |
| 47175.00_preliminary_app_for_connect-discharge_r1.pdf |
| draft_traffic_evaluation__pernaw___dec._2017.pdf |
| traffic_evaluation_letter__tighe___bond__112816.pdf |
