Gravel Driveway Repair in Fremont, NH

EPPING — A local developer is proposing to construct a 315-unit apartment complex instead of a distribution center on Martin Road, after talks between Epping and Fremont on a road weight limit imposed by the latter community have stalled.

The plan was presented to the Epping Planning Board in a conceptual hearing Aug. 12. Project lawyer Amy Manzelli and project manager James Prieto appeared before the board to discuss the project.

Prieto's father, Thomas Prieto, is the owner of the property located at 46 Martin Road.

He wants to scrap original plans of building a distribution center at the location and instead build an apartment complex, 20% of which will be "workforce housing."

According to Manzelli, Prieto changed his plan due to concerns about the 26,000-pound weight limit on the Fremont portion of Shirking Road, which intersects with Martin Road.

A 'Live, Work, Play' concept

The road is called Shirking in Epping and Shirkin in Fremont, and it is home to a major industrial area in Epping as well as the Seacoast United soccer fields complex. The Fremont Select Board and residents have expressed concern about Epping commercial trucks and their impact on the Fremont portion of the road. The board voted Nov. 12 to impose the weight limit on Shirkin and Rogers roads.

James Prieto told the Planning Board the proposed complex is part of a “Live, Work, Play” concept. It will be located just west of the Route 125 Brickyard Square business center, with Market Basket and other shopping and dining business, as well as O'Neil Cinemas. There will also be a connection to the Rockingham Recreation Trail, he said.

Planning Board member Michael Vose asked about other recreational facilities, and Prieto said plans call for a private clubhouse with a gym and possibly a pickleball court.

Vose also asked about the traffic impact on Martin Road, and Prieto told him the team plans to do a formal traffic study.

While the area is zoned industrial/commercial, workforce housing is permitted in the zone.

Scott Barthelmy of Fremont was the only abutter present. His family has owned farmland in the area for more than a century, and he expressed concern about the trees that would be removed to construct the complex.

Board chair Heather Clark also expressed concern about trees, asking, "Are you planning on clear-cutting, or will you leave some?"

"We will leave as much existing vegetation as possible," Prieto said.

The next steps of the process are a non-binding design review with abutters present. The traffic study will be part of the design review, followed by a full application review and a vote by the board.

The developer also needs to obtain approval from Epping Water and Sewer Department to extend town water and sewer lines for the project.

"The place we've spent the most time so far is the Water and Sewer Department," Manzelli said. She explained that Epping has a shortage of clean water, but also has a new well that is not yet connected to the town water system. The Prietos intend to pay for that connection, and to use about three-fourths of the water produced, with the remaining 25 percent going to the rest of Epping.

Epping, Fremont still at opposite ends in heavy traffic dispute

While the Fremont and Epping boards had several virtual and in-person meetings to discuss lifting the weight limit, communication has broken down, according to Epping Town Administrator Gregory Dodge.

The boards met in June, and following that meeting, the Epping board sent a June 4 letter outlining some options. Option 1 would include Epping repairing Rogers Road and the Fremont end of Shirking/Shirkin, and to maintain the roads until a long-term solution is determined. In exchange, Fremont would be required to lift the weight restriction. Option 1 is a two-step process with a short-term solution, repairing the roads, and a long-term solution, seeking out options for a new access road in Epping.

Option 2 would include Epping upgrading Rogers and Shirkin according to Fremont's engineering study, and Fremont dropping the weight restriction.

In a June 24 letter to Epping, the Fremont board stated that they prefer the long-term solution, with the engineering consultant and contractor to be approved by Fremont and the cost to be borne by Epping. In addition, Fremont is asking for the incorporation of traffic safety measures and "traffic calming" to address public safety concerns. Fremont is also asking Epping to participate in winter maintenance of the roads.

The Epping selectmen responded with an Aug. 9 letter stating that "we are at a stalemate regarding our discussions with your board on the Shirking Road situation. We feel at this juncture it would be best to suspend mutual discussions for the time being."

Fremont Selectman Chair Gene Cordes said neither he nor his board knew why Epping had suspended the joint meetings.

"Epping decided to make a proposal to Fremont, Fremont responded, and then they wanted to suspend the meetings," he said. "We could not find common ground."

Dodge said in a phone interview this week that one of the sticking points for Epping was the lifting of the weight limit.

"Our board was hopeful that Fremont would lift the weight restriction now, pending the road work being done," he said, adding "But that seems to be a non-starter."

Dodge said Epping will continue to explore long-term solutions on its own, and that they are working with the state Department of Transportation, the Executive Council and the town's two state reps. toward a solution.