Planning Board Continues Prospect Hill Village Hearing, Approves Amazon Expansion

BELLINGHAM — September 11, 2025 — Bellingham Planning Board continues 129-unit Prospect Hill Village hearing to September 25 while unanimously approving an Amazon inspection building. Developer representative Lou committed at the September 11 meeting that Wall Street Development would upgrade the Cross Street sewer pump station to current town specifications at no cost to the town, prior to any certificate of occupancy, citing a comparable 2022 Bellingham pump station project that went out to public bid at $441,000. Town Planner Rob recommended a condition tying the upgrade to first occupancy and referencing town specifications rather than the full bid package, with town counsel drafting the legal language. The board, with member Bill stating "I don't think there's an option" on sewer connection, rejected any pathway toward on-site septic. A supplemental drainage addendum submitted Tuesday missed the deadline and will go to peer review before the September 25 hearing; the project's decision deadline is October 31. The board separately voted unanimously to approve a minor modification to Amazon's existing special permit at 351 Maple Street for a 1,600-square-foot automated vehicle inspection tunnel, with construction project manager Kevin Muchi confirming the structure adds no new impervious surface and will not be visible from Maple Street or Route 495.