A proposal for a planned unit residential development (PURD) on a property sandwiched between Middle Winchendon Road, Dale Farm Road and Knight Lane is back before the Planning Board.

A similar proposal was withdrawn last year for revisions after soil testing revealed more wetlands than were originally thought to be on the property. The new plan, submitted by Tim Halliday, calls for a 14-lot development, a slightly scaled-down version of the previous plan, which had proposed a total of 17 lots on the 33-acre parcel.

The property has already been granted two variances, including one to allow residential uses in the Business and Light Industry zone and allowing less than 250 feet of frontage.

The development would require a new road, with an entrance on Middle Winchendon Road, about 500 feet from Route 202. The road is proposed to stretch across the property to the property line at Knight Lane, where there will be a turnaround. Engineer Paul Graseqicz, representing Halliday, described the Knight Lane side as being graveled up to the roadway, making it suitable for emergency vehicles or construction equipment, though not a formal driveway.

The project has a proposed 11.8 acres of open space, more than the minimum 8.3 required under the town's PURD regulations.

While reviewing the application, Planning Board members asked questions related to fire suppression, snow storage and whether the turnaround adjacent to Knight Lane was sufficient for fire trucks and school busses. There is a dry hydrant on the property, and Grasewicz said it had been moved from a previous location to one with a more-reliable water source, which should provide about 44,000 gallons of water for fire suppression.

Board members expressed concerns that the turnaround’s 50-foot turning radius was slightly undersized, as the town prefers a 40-foot radius on the inside and 60-foot radius on the outside.

The board accepted the proposal as substantially complete Tuesday in a 5-0-1 vote. Kelen Geiger, an alternate who was a sitting member on Tuesday, abstained.

The board asked for updates to the plan to include a site for snow storage, and feedback from the town’s highway director and director of life safety on issues related to the turnaround and fire suppression.

The board will continue the hearing on Aug. 15 at 7  p.m. at the town offices.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or [email protected]. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.