Milford Planning Board Rejects Mason Drive Lot Split, Advances Contested Propane Site Plan

MILFORD -- June 2, 2026, Milford Planning Board votes to oppose a Mason Drive lot-split variance and conditionally approves a long-disputed propane storage site plan. At the June 2 meeting, the board sent an unfavorable recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals on a request to subdivide a 34,290-square-foot lot at 2 Mason Drive into two parcels of 21,342 and 12,948 square feet, both far below the RC district's 45,000-square-foot minimum, finding no demonstrable hardship under Massachusetts General Laws and warning that approval could set a precedent allowing RB-character development across the surrounding neighborhood. Town Planner Matt declined to make a staff recommendation, citing a conflict because the applicant is employed by the town's planning office. Abutters David Dutton of 3 Jencks Road and Lisa Sherman of 4 Jencks Road appeared in opposition. On 31 Bevis Street, the board voted 4-1 to approve an amended site plan for propane storage, conditioned on the fire chief withholding final system inspection until a structural engineer certifies completion of five retaining walls that were found to have been improperly constructed, including walls battered in the wrong direction, improperly shimmed, and missing required geogrid.