WALPOLE, N.H. – After a recent Walpole Town Meeting in mid-August, Phase 3 of the ongoing Abenaki Springs housing development project has been delayed, due to a misunderstanding between the town selectboard and Avanru Development over final, formal approvals from the fire marshal.
Located at 32 Spring Street in Walpole, Phase 3 of the project includes adding a third apartment building to the existing two-building complex that makes up the Abenaki Springs property. Phase 2 of the project was completed in late 2019.
After the decision was made to delay the renewal of building permits for the site, Avanru CEO Jack Franks disagreed with the board’s decision to delay the process, stating that he met the requested requirements by including the state fire marshal to ensure no building codes were being violated.
The board countered, explaining that through an email thread between the board, Avanru, and fire marshal, it was documented the state agreed with the outlines planned for the site, but had not yet officially given approval of the plan in its entirety.
Franks also expressed difficulty during the final phase of the project, due to multiple changes in the approval process delaying the completion of the housing project. Although the board agreed with his assessment, they also emphasized these changes are necessary as the community and its needs develop, and that safety is the number one concern.