Granby Board of Health Approves Three Septic Permits, Holds Three for Corrections

GRANBY — May 5, 2026 — Granby Board of Health approved three septic permits, withheld three others for errors, and took a conditional step to unblock a stalled Batchelor Street building permit at its May 5 meeting. The board unanimously approved replacement and new-construction systems for 50 Taylor Street and 288 Amherst Street — both designed by engineer Alan — and a four-bedroom new-construction system at 107 Cold Hill Road designed by Peter LaBarbara, with Member Bill recused on the Cold Hill application. Three designs submitted by engineer Neil Jackson were held: a School Street plan contained perk rates copied from a different project entirely, a 126 South Street repair had a missing breakout barrier and a well separation below code, and a 294 Amherst Street plan showed conflicting elevations between drawings. The board spent roughly 40 minutes on a structural concern — whether third-party licensed engineers who stamp designs without conducting fieldwork or design work comply with Title V's definition of "designer" — reaching no formal policy but directing Jackson to review the applicable code. Property owner Sarah Hill received a conditional release of her building permit hold after informing the board that a perk test conducted the prior week by Jackson and board member Lee had passed; no certificate of occupancy will issue until the septic question is resolved. The board also directed staff to invite the owner of 12 Ken Lane to the next meeting after learning the town administrator declined to approve a low-interest repair loan because the owner had told him she did not intend to repay it.