Grafton Planning Board Action – The Future Of The GES Property Is In Doubt Again

by Kieron Kramer
In what may be a blow to the development of a new, high tech business in Grafton the public hearing on the site plan review for a change of use of the Grafton Elementary School property scheduled for August 19 before the regular Grafton Planning Board meeting was tabled. [private]According to Planning Board Chairman Tom Withcuskey, the engineer for Michael Dadachov of Corpuscular Inc., the microsphere and nanosphere laboratory and production company that had entered into a contract with the Berlin School District to purchase the Grafton Elementary School building and five acres of land surrounding it, has identified some structural issues with the building. Planning Board Member James Goyer believes that there may be roof problems.
At the July 8 Berlin School Board meeting the new President of the School Board, Frank Zwack, was authorized by the Board to “sign a contract to sell the Grafton Elementary building to Corpuscular, Inc. at $105,000 and the land.” Last month Withcuskey said that the School District would retain ten acres of property at the former GES site, but a month later it is still unclear how the acreage will be split. All Board members were in favor of the sale.
Now, Withcuskey said, Dadachov is renegotiating the terms of the sale with the School Board through the School District’s realtor from Prudential. The roof has very little incline so a leak in the roof would be expensive to repair, flashing less so. But the area of the roof is large, and if the entire roof needs to be replaced the expense would no doubt scuttle the sale. According to Goyer the roofing material is four inch thick polyurethane that was sprayed on  years ago and replacing it might cost as much as $250,000.
Since Dadachov does not yet own the building, he cannot apply for a change of use at the site. The hearing on the change of use will be held as soon as Dadachov takes possession of the property – if he does. After Monday’s meeting Withcuskey said that although he is still optimistic the outcome is uncertain. He said he is prepared to call a special meeting to facilitate the change of use of GES once the sale is finalized
Hearings That Were Held
Last month the Planning Board accepted a lot line adjustment application from Marcel Forette on Miller Way off of Blue Factory Hill Road. Forette will convey .06 acres to Edward Marchand and is asking for the lot line adjustment “to square off” the property. The public hearing on the lot line adjustment was held at 6:30 pm on Monday. No one attended the hearing.
At 6:40 a hearing was held for a subdivision by David and Donna Wagar. They are separating a five acre parcel from their 22.57 acre property on Stuffle Street to convey to their daughter, Marissa Wagar, keeping 17.57 acres. A check for $150 was tendered by David Wagar during the afternoon before the meeting. No one attended this hearing either except Surveyor Rod Michaels who is representing the Wagars during this process and who had survey maps to drop off.
During the regular meeting the Planning Board voted a negative declaration of environmental impact for both the lot line adjustment and the subdivision, meaning that these projects will not adversely affect the environment. Then the Board voted 3-0, with members Arthur Surprise and Pete Gundrum absent, to approve the Forette lot line adjustment and the Wagar subdivision.
Chit Chat
With the end of the building season only a few months off, the Planning Board seems to have entered the doldrums. No one attended the regular meeting which lasted only three minutes. There was no new business. And the Board, as usual, felt compelled to fill the dead air during the public hearings with incisive comments. The periods of intense rainfall and how much damage to the roads a four inch rain can cause was discussed, particularly the washouts on Fox Hollow and Kautz Hollow roads. The weather was blamed for the small wild turkey poults and the gangly, spotted does on the edges of the road. The early turning of the leaves as a premonition of winter was mentioned. Jim Goyer stared out at the hall and said, “The hickory nuts and acorns are plentiful. You know what that means? A harsh winter,” he said, filling the nonexistent crowd with dread.[/private]