[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6286460,"mediaKeyId","2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e","parentId",2559466,"title","Board flags National Grid trimming on scenic roads; asks staff to seek vegetation-management plan","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",12610000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e&start=12610&end=12610","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e/thumbnail_12610000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6286460/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Board-flags-National-Grid-trimming-on-scenic-roads-asks-staff-to-seek-vegetation-management-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286460-0b68fce9665290f500537bedf01492d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204558&Signature=DYJYunLjtepPCTvmxWz09tgrM-wb3yQKGJV7v26TEY9p5p6PHCMpZyuv5UY-MqHlnONztqxmHSKryfmhPoN6adVl8Yv7iK0D49xl88Dw1E9uhCuYQZFnNFxbMZIlQNEo6PFoSmo2nmD1vy99VxGgH0GGbWflQK4MPfU3sMgcShIoF4h8uFlRXAAiw8WwA1a52z3eYRjBXXyYrZUWBD0sdztvO1GlK9jQfFiTYq11s8KcS~zHQW3L8UJdGPI2XQ8GubU0vZn-30oMLhykfbauzIihNOPtMn3kxVCgyUTtz6N3BQ58~WnM8zWkLlAaRVNtcpRydrLoCvy6oISwoXcrNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Southborough, MA","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","Planning board members on March 10 expressed concern about recent National Grid tree-trimming activity on streets that include scenic-road designations, and asked planning staff to follow up with the town tree warden and the utility.

What happened: board members and residents reported that National Grid crews had been cutting trees and vines along several streets (including Edgewood and Corteville) and had left brush, vines and small branches on sidewalks and in the public right-of-way. In one case residents and a board member described sidewalk obstructions and vine debris at eye level that created short-term pedestrian hazards.

Board reaction and staff direction: the board asked staff to confirm whether National Grid had submitted a vegetation-management plan (VMP) for the current season and to remind the utility of Massachusetts statutory requirements (chapter 87 and chapter 87-related guidance) and local bylaw procedures for scenic roads. Planning staff said the town had asked for a VMP annually and had paused activity where an adequate VMP was not on file; staff will send a reminder to the tree warden and the utility and copy the town manager.

Why it matters: trimming and removal of trees on scenic roads is subject to state and local procedural protections; leaving cut material on sidewalks raises safety issues and increases follow-up maintenance costs. The board asked for clearer VMP submissions in the future and for assurance that contractors will clean public ways when work is complete.

Ending: staff said they would contact the tree warden and the utility to confirm the VMP status and to request required documentation, and the board asked the town to remind the utility that cleanup is required after vegetation work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Southborough: Planning Board 3/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","Planning board members raised concerns after National Grid crews trimmed and left debris on scenic roads. The board asked staff to request the utility's required vegetation-management plan and to require cleanup and compliance with state and local rules.","taxTitle","Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",56453,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6286465,"Consultant's FY24 open-space monitoring finds recurring encroachments; offers enforcement and outreach templates",1751,10246000,11997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e&start=10246&end=11997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e/thumbnail_10246000.jpg","/articles/6286465/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Consultants-FY24-open-space-monitoring-finds-recurring-encroachments-offers-enforcement-and-outreach-templates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286465-11c2dea5a60c343103eac1be2e13334a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204558&Signature=UqgCSXz5WCKdhhNmMmZR1nCG5Ru31CAnSdYFPiKioCv2pLWQyreGnjCqJm8YtfG~RIhtODBEYcIm9aWC2kWFABuHu8-TXlgKQVkxslv6HZ0OboDOd0DCjSt9pe5B6VRzd-AoHXMJXvtGy3EZM-etlMDsDY84AUn-FOu-jUdQ4L4K1LfnOauI330mvSII~DZqpJajfsHbdLNqKN8ZQuO7UFF98Tp6cZ7o3SmQbBjoB2PDBTZqLSb0UW7-vwjdr3oqYgcR~q0ix0EsMo8CPjvq4xqrHQVE2nywu2PCFTfVIJK8CorCeArVnn8jPmFrzVw9jTPWy8XlxcDFUzghv9GfJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lucas Environmental presented the Town of Southborough's fiscal-year-2024 open-space monitoring report at the Planning Board meeting on March 10. Consultant Joe Orzel reviewed five monitored sites and proposed an outreach and enforcement approach the town can use to protect conservation and open-space easements.

What the report covered: Lucas Environmental visited five locations with open-space parcels or easements: All American Storage (10 Turnpike Road), Stonebrook Village, Bradford Oaks (Metacomet Lane), East Brook Farm Estates and Hillside Estates. The consultant documented multiple recurring problems: landscape and construction debris deposited in open-space easements, several cases of lawn and landscaping encroaching into buffer or easement areas, and stands of invasive plants (Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry and Oriental bittersweet) that limit access and the ecological value of the protected land.

Key recommendations: Lucas supplied a set of practical templates and policy recommendations the town can use immediately: (1) an \"open-space awareness\" notification letter to inform property owners that an easement or open-space parcel exists on their land; (2) a draft encroachment-notification letter for use when staff identifies a possible violation; (3) an open-space enforcement policy that outlines progressive steps (notice, remediation plan, enforcement if necessary); (4) improved boundary marking (OS-capped rebar or concrete monuments plus 4\" round signage) and updates to the town GIS open-space layer so residents and reviewers can readily locate easements and parcels.

Why it matters: many encroachments appear to come from adjacent properties rather than from the development that created the easement, and invasive plants have colonized some easement corridors, preventing informal public access. The consultant recommended prioritizing gentle outreach first (notice and maps) and using repeated monitoring paired with targeted invasive-species control where access corridors are intended.

Board response and next steps: board members praised the clear report format and the included letter templates. Planning staff said they will coordinate with the Open Space Preservation Commission and the town GIS manager to update the map layer, and they will propose a process to issue awareness letters to abutters and to escalate enforcement only where outreach does not resolve encroachments. The staff said it will include selected parcels for FY25 monitoring and will return the updated schedule to the board.

Ending: The consultant emphasized that marking and mapping recreation or open-space corridors and a predictable notice process will reduce disputes and make enforcement more tractable.","Lucas Environmental's FY24 open-space monitoring report, presented March 10, documents encroachments, invasive-plant problems and landscape debris at five monitored subdivisions and recommends notification templates and an enforcement policy for the town.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6286469,"Planning Board continues Reservoir Meadows revision after extensive public comment; decision deadline extended to May 2",4500,4980000,9480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e&start=4980&end=9480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e/thumbnail_4980000.jpg","/articles/6286469/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Planning-Board-continues-Reservoir-Meadows-revision-after-extensive-public-comment-decision-deadline-extended-to-May-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286469-cb3ed2b95d07a94d1bf97ec85dd40392/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204558&Signature=GhvQ0oelJN5AEmsvw8HRV1SWDrc5qy0LOkbb0V0Nm7Zh66IlDAXpuWba503MzcCYhMnU9Ahe4zGXv02zElVn-fYVWWi1XyUGMEUjgQLsLqzXXO4xjZewb0eh4V39v~0ZCvrBqWIwvxvcp-R7Duvq57W6vMj0qEz8nLWaxU4IR5wIOghXMx09XFJxIkOtOr53W~FGAqrhvlqlEct0g9MsGYia00cHJTCOmxe1a~4wigw-vXLUZ~UX~xrNDdkGkWeopgqMOw4-d3fv9LquyMDXyNP5oBa9a8UZgPVhU2yuthaVwQfhdC0d1YSvVGgPTPXqtbkBLrgXBkGTfSZ6BRqYeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning Board on March 10 continued the public hearing on 26 Meadow Lane (Reservoir Meadows), a revised flexible-development proposal that would change the plan from five to six residential units and reorganize building placement and open space.

Why it matters: the project proposes multiple units on an 8.7-acre property and relies on the flexible-development provisions of the zoning bylaw that trade density for protected open space. Neighbors and the board flagged drainage, groundwater, septic reserve placement and open-space accounting as issues that require careful peer review and follow-up from the Board of Health.

What the applicant presented: engineering consultant Peter Bemis described a reconfigured plan with two duplexes in the rear and two single-family homes forward, a loop road, a proposed on-site infiltration approach for stormwater, a new hydrant on the loop, and an expanded open-space area the applicant said totaled roughly 60% of the site. Bemis noted the plan preserves most of the parcel as open meadow and said the design team supplied updated drainage calculations and a fire-apparatus circulation exhibit.

Neighbors' concerns: several residents and abutters raised concerns about groundwater discharge and the proximity of existing private septic systems. Neighbors asked that Fuss & O'Neil (the board's peer reviewer) examine groundwater and stormwater behavior and suggested additional testing and assurances to protect existing leach fields. One resident said water historically emerges within the horseshoe area and freezes in winter, creating hazardous conditions on adjacent streets; the resident asked for a focused groundwater impact assessment. Other commenters asked the board to confirm how utility and reserve easements affect the open-space calculation.

Board response and votes: the applicant requested time to receive peer-review comments and to refine the conventional \"proof-of-yield\" (conventional plan) calculations that set the maximum number of units. The board voted to continue the public hearing to March 24. The board also voted to extend the decision deadline for 26 Meadow Lane through May 2, 2025, to allow Fuss & O'Neil supplemental review, additional submittals and time for public comment.

Next steps: the planning department will forward the updated submission to the peer reviewer and post comments when they arrive. The board asked the applicant to respond to peer-review items and suggested follow-up coordination with the Board of Health on the proposed septic layout and reserve area. If the Board of Health or peer review requests changes, the board said it will require specific revised plans and possibly additional conditions aimed at protecting existing on-site systems.

Ending: The board emphasized open-space protection and called for clear documentation (maps/exhibits) demonstrating how open-space totals are calculated and how reserve septic areas are treated in the calculation.","The board continued its public hearing on 26 Meadow Lane (Reservoir Meadows) after the applicant revised the layout from five to six units. Neighbors raised groundwater, septic and open-space concerns; the board set a March 24 procedural continuation and extended the decision deadline to May 2 to allow further peer review.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6286474,"Planning Board continues several public hearings to March 24",2029,1000,2030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e&start=1&end=2030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2559466-566f0849758637f5df989d2f20f24c8e/thumbnail_1000.jpg","/articles/6286474/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Planning-Board-continues-several-public-hearings-to-March-24","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286474-ddf6d74edd4204365474c2556653f7b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204558&Signature=Z8ruanMlvQkNIY-zyFAbnlrHpDUkFzWXHPnsr-OJZt9mlzQ300iDMqBVMyH68nHHulv85Dj-LH-4BttKGbCqQeJtLWhWqG8ByTnYuZ1K0rXQKJzt9StLyhillYqZZHmSxsRnrMdo3xUwwc4tELZkmttJ-gZ6Htapv3aHPV8dR6OWghHlx1DTXSy4LMEgW~S6ZphjqHY1~3lJr-QT~MKYdrrBna~vrRi8YWfJKHpYym4EsyuAxGwfYU-DP5gYpoNzZMhSV9S8bC4ByRw4OU7ywLW6nXBvhHn-RXFbPLrogU5vfQv~vDc8JmjwoSRWHepBf5YvyLVbvVvDJym-yQwzog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Southborough Planning Board continued multiple public hearings on Monday, scheduling follow-up sessions for March 24 so staff and peer reviewers could complete comments and applicants could respond.

The board moved to continue the public hearing on a proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw and regulations after staff summarized a revised draft that adds an ADU \"by right\" category in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A, and cross-references the town zoning code. The board also continued its public hearing on a proposed shared-parking zoning amendment and several pending site-plan matters, citing outstanding peer-review comments and the need to finalize warrant language for the upcoming town meeting.

Why it matters: several items on the agenda involve zoning changes that require Town Meeting approval or detailed technical review (stormwater, traffic and landscape buffers). A short delay gives the board time to collect peer-review reports and to finalize warrant text that will be distributed to the select board and included in the warrant for town meeting.

What the board did: the meeting record shows motions and unanimous voice votes to continue public hearings for the ADU bylaw, the shared-parking article, the contractor yard application at 250 Turnpike Road, and other major and special-permit site-plan hearings. For some items peer-review reports had not yet arrived; for others applicants requested more time to submit materials. The board asked staff to forward peer-review comments as soon as they arrive and asked applicants to supply any revised submissions before the March 24 session.

Context and next steps: the Planning Board noted town-counsel feedback on wording for the shared-parking draft and the ADU draft, and said finalized versions will be provided to the select board for its warrant review. Staff said the select board will review draft warrant language on March 11; the planning board asked staff to arrange a brief Zoom meeting with the select board if any last-minute wording changes are needed before warrant printing.

Votes at a glance (recorded as voice votes in the meeting minutes):
- Continued public hearing: Proposed ADU bylaw and regulations → continued to March 24; outcome: continued; voice vote recorded as unanimous in the minutes.
- Continued public hearing: Proposed zoning amendment, shared parking (174-9 and 174-12) → continued to March 24; outcome: continued; voice vote recorded as unanimous in the minutes.
- Continued public hearing: 250 Turnpike Road, contractor yard major site-plan approval and related special permit (low-impact development) → continued to March 24; outcome: continued; voice vote recorded as unanimous in the minutes.
- Continued public hearing: 200 Turnpike Road, modification to major site plan and low-impact development special permit → continued to March 24; outcome: continued; voice vote recorded as unanimous in the minutes.
- Continued public hearing: several additional minor items (including a Valvoline instant oil change minor site-plan item that the applicant asked to continue without testimony) → outcome: continued or noted for later submission as indicated in the minutes.

Board direction: staff was asked to circulate peer-review letters as soon as they are available and to coordinate with applicants to submit revised materials in advance of March 24. Planning staff will also forward finalized draft warrant articles to the select board and asked to be available for a short meeting if the select board requests last-minute clarifications.

Ending: The board emphasized that continuances were intended to ensure technical comments (peer review, building-inspector clarifications) and any town-counsel edits are incorporated before Town Meeting and before the board takes further action.","The Southborough Planning Board on March 10 voted to continue multiple public hearings — including proposed ADU bylaw changes, a shared-parking zoning amendment and several major site plans and special permits — to the board's next meeting on March 24 for further review and peer comments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board flags National Grid trimming on scenic roads; asks staff to seek vegetation-management plan

Consultant's FY24 open-space monitoring finds recurring encroachments; offers enforcement and outreach templates

Planning Board continues Reservoir Meadows revision after extensive public comment; decision deadline extended to May 2

Planning Board continues several public hearings to March 24