The neighbors of an eight-home subdivision on Stone Bridge Trail had a chance to weigh in at a public hearing on the widening of their road prior to a Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, August 3.

The subdivision at 3 Stone Bridge Trail is being built by developer Mike D'Amato, who agreed with the stipulations from the Planning & Zoning Commission to widen and pave the roadway up to his subdivision.

The town is now looking to widen the rest of the roadway to 18 feet, and remove some trees to accommodate that, as well as move stone walls and replace the culvert and do some maintenance work on the underlying stream. The road is currently between 11 and 15 feet wide. Town Engineer John Curtiss said that nine trees would be removed from in front of the Coelho property, and a few saplings near the existing paved section. He also said that unhealthy trees that look likely to eventually come down on their own may be removed as well.

The neighbors have been attempting to preserve the character of the narrow dirt road, including applying for and receiving a historic road designation for a section of the roadway from the Legislative Council in early 2025.

According to the application, the section of road includes “a stone bridge which crosses over a stream that cascades down the mountain in a stunning scene — believed to be the road’s namesake dating back to the Revolutionary War era.” The road is “lined by stone walls and mature trees, several of which are native species.

“Winding through dense forest landscape on one side and wetland on the other, the road offers endless views of forest habitats, rock formations, scenic overlooks of mountains on the horizon, a babbling stream, dense bog, and much more that any visitor to the site will be entranced by,” states the application.

Resident Alia Hafiz said she wanted a more detailed transcript of what the town is planning to do.

"We'd like more specifics before we'll feel comfortable moving forward," said Hafiz. "We'd like to see the proposal in writing instead of just a map with text."

Hafiz also wanted more clarity on what would be done with the culvert and bridge. She later expressed concerns that widening the road and paving it would increase the speed of motorists traveling on the road.

Resident Joe Coelho said his property was next to the subdivision so he was one of the most impacted neighbors. He wanted to know if the removed trees would be replaced and had concerns that the look and feel of the road was going to be destroyed — in fact, he felt it already had been destroyed. He also wanted to know if storm drainage would be added or else the "road will be washed away at each storm."

Resident Melanie Roman wanted to acknowledge the passion and hard work of her fellow neighbors in their work to protect the road, and wanted to "recognize the treasure that we had and are having stripped away. All that we have is gone.

"What is proposed leaves nothing of the flavor of the road," said Roman.

Resident Ronald Roman said he was concerned that the information the neighbors had received was "not adequate."

"Things can be worked to be in everyone's best interests," said Ronald Roman. "But we have to be firm. Verbal conversations and contracts are nothing but heart attacks — they're trouble."

Resident Tyler Gregory said it was his opinion that D'Amato should pay to have the road paved and widened.

The Board of Selectmen did not make any decisions on the road widening, preferring to defer any decision to its next meeting on August 17 to give members time to review the relevant information and consider the neighbors' input.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.