KENT—The Architectural Review Board quickly approved two applications during its regular meeting Monday, July 8.
Elissa Potts appeared before the board to request permission for a semi-circular drive on property she is renovating at 71 North Main St.
The original drive provides access to the front of the garage, but she said construction crews opened up a temporary exit to facilitate trucks leaving the property. It has proved to be so convenient, she wants to make it permanent. She reported that she talked to the state Department of Transportation, which found it more sensible to have traffic exit from a semi-circular drive rather an backing out onto Route 7.
She also spoke to Rick Osborne, foreman of the town’s Department of Public Works, who reported he had no issues with the change.
“We will make sure of the sight lines,” she said, adding that they will have to reduce the size of the berm along their road frontage that was previously approved by the ARB.
John Casey applied to create a pocket garden at 12 Kent Green Blvd. Casey said the area could be about 1,200 square feet. “We’re trying to reclaim the site and have cleaned it up a lot,” Casey said. The area was previously used for stored propane tanks.
He plans native plantings around the sides with two patio-like grey stone areas in the enclosure. He said he has consulted arborist Russell Plumb, “a master tree guy,” to prune the large maple tree adjacent to the site and to offer guidance about how close work can come to its roots.
The ARB members were enthusiastic about the concept. Work is expected to start in late summer or fall, with planting being delayed until cooler weather.
