[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6103702,"mediaKeyId","2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4","parentId",2793650,"title","Commission continues three hearings, re-authorizes pond treatment and approves tree storage; fee schedule changes to proceed to public hearing","audioSeconds",2240,"startMs",2710000,"endMs",4950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4&start=2710&end=4950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4/thumbnail_2710000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6103702/Town-of-Norwood/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Commission-continues-three-hearings-re-authorizes-pond-treatment-and-approves-tree-storage-fee-schedule-changes-to-proceed-to-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103702-143c0ae61013e88289ef20943e141b59/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574808&Signature=oyWInKt9MPjdgVzngNHR02M4HSEFHJg~M6VHgd2iafqjv1CNL4DRmQ59llo6QH3K6Zdti9JdarlKqNwYTDJ4WYQgcvipyrJFrv8CTPahK2YcxfVCJ6vyuE-uF-C8dyHScR-m413UG96OLk5GWos-VooAhLKnUTCRuDeeheO47i5FLNmFNq1GkfWpyD3nQ9dccakGRnXIXSAy~Ih1Zj-icD7dAqEwYoPu2dEa3bgqITCavnqTf3QttCYzceWtGgCC0w~Jvx3oxhV~sp4yUzNKU7bbIyX1Q1xozzVnrjl-6D9aQAOPLIhVeIDb4Le3M2YACLLmJNopF4N5XkLSbVCY0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Norwood, MA","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Norwood Conservation Commission on March 26 completed its public-hearing agenda with several continuances, administrative approvals and business updates.

Continuances and hearings: The commission continued three matters to the April 16 virtual meeting: a request for determination for 277 Boston Turnpike (a mowing request in a wetland resource area; Norwood No. 2025-02), the Keolis railroad right-of-way RDA (Norwood No. 2025-01) and a Notice of Intent for 61 Endicott Street (DEP 251-0560, Norwood No. 202412). Each continuation was moved, seconded and carried by roll-call vote with commissioners Kelsey Quinlan, Catherine Walsh and Anil Prasad recorded as voting in the affirmative.

Pond-treatment contracts: Carly (Conservation Agent) reported she ran renewal contracts for treatment of nuisance aquatic vegetation in Hawes Pond and Ellis Pond by the contractor Water & Wetland by email with the commission chair, Steve Washburn, because of a tight timeline. The chair agreed the town should renew the contracts to allow spring treatment activities to proceed.

Temporary tree storage and distribution: The commission heard that Subaru New England is gifting 31 young trees (northern red oak and sweetgum, 2–4 feet tall) for an Arbor Day-related distribution. The chair has authorized temporarily storing the trees on conservation land at the Milad Street entrance to Endeen Park so they can be watered for up to two weeks before planting. Town staff are coordinating options for distributing the trees through the town tree giveaway program and for possible plantings at municipal locations.

Community garden plaque and community events: The commission expressed support for a small commemorative metal plaque to be placed on a rock inside the community garden fence to honor the garden’s founder. Separately, the commission reviewed outreach and calendar items: Earth Day/Norwood Green activities (April 27), a seed-packing event (April 10) and volunteer cleanups tied to park dedications and the town’s Cooper Park ribbon-cutting on May 9.

Fee schedule revision: The commission received a consultant presentation proposing a simplified fee schedule intended to reduce administrative burden and variability in current fees tied to resource-area calculations. Commissioners welcomed the draft and agreed to review it before the next meeting; the conservation agent noted that a public hearing and newspaper advertisement will be required before any official change to fee regulations is adopted. Members discussed piloting the new structure for one fiscal year beginning July 1 and re-evaluating after applicants’ and staff’s experience.

Town council opinion on bylaw wording: The commission reviewed a memo from town counsel indicating the existing riverfront-area bylaw and regulations are valid as written; town counsel also supplied optional drafting language if the commission chooses to pursue clarification. Commissioners agreed to discuss the matter further with an interested council member before deciding whether to propose bylaw language changes at town meeting.

Minutes and administrative items: The commission postponed approval of January 29 and February 12 minutes because of access to documents during the meeting. Staff provided a broad agent update including vernal-pool season reminders, drought status, the new temporary part-time community liaison hire, and outreach to students participating in Student Government Day.

The meeting adjourned by motion with a recorded roll-call vote in favor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Norwood: Conservation Commission 3.26.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Norwood Conservation Commission on March 26 continued several hearings, approved administrative actions on pond treatment and tree storage, and advanced a proposal to simplify its fee schedule toward a public hearing.","taxTitle","Town of Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",52806,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6103710,"Commission issues Order of Resource Area Delineation for Lot 9 Sumner Street",360,2318000,2678000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4&start=2318&end=2678","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4/thumbnail_2318000.jpg","/articles/6103710/Town-of-Norwood/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Commission-issues-Order-of-Resource-Area-Delineation-for-Lot-9-Sumner-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103710-257c855c7984b9d153b974a6e84e9454/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574808&Signature=JQ9zLMBgyMgxwPIjSLBvlCOfBhn2CjF8n1KQ9NhcYtwE2559Pjr1wC4xF78-CfhfN6i0mGGqOB6VoWQpOGWz3Yrahb0k47BlT5UDjMC~41qyhQd~BSUxodK1FUA6-80dmldLQQxDCpIhapcAe0DWyoSwOk~EPZGi7W4YK28i-02xla6MuOFb8RdA~Bf3QVTTnidF3J09jMdveaXNrVArjaYPyM43IoR~7Qp~R-UvYUtgWmmD9A54RNc5xY9SdRTb6L6IBDlId48UvBb0Okf~gW08hoqUN8kpzX4SoXHBn-h9KWnr59ZkVSHGBtgiZ7uZuBzXYj9prYS~fRlOKPQ3kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Norwood Conservation Commission on March 26 accepted revised delineation of a bordering vegetated wetland and an intermittent stream at Lot 9, Sumner Street and issued an Order of Resource Area Delineation.

John Rockwood of EcoTech, who performed the November on-site delineation and a follow-up March site walk with Carly (Conservation Agent), presented a revised plan that relocated three or four wetland flags and added a small tributary channel to the intermittent stream network. Rockwood described the dashed blue line representing the bylaw-only 200-foot riverfront area, solid blue lines for the intermittent streams, and the green line denoting the bordering vegetated wetland.

Carly confirmed her observations from the site visit and agreed with the corrected flags and added stream leg. Commissioners voted to issue the ORED. The roll-call vote was recorded as: Kelsey Quinlan: aye; Catherine Walsh: aye; Anil Prasad: aye.

The ORED establishes the official resource-area boundaries for permitting and will be used in subsequent permitting actions for the property. The commission advised the applicant that the ORED will be the basis for future filings and that any work proposed within the delineated resource areas will require appropriate permitting.","After a site walk and plan revisions, the Norwood Conservation Commission accepted revised wetland flags and issued an Order of Resource Area Delineation (ORED) for Lot 9, Sumner Street on March 26.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6103714,"Keolis railroad vegetation plans continued after commissioners seek DEP appeal records",1253,635000,1888000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4&start=635&end=1888","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4/thumbnail_635000.jpg","/articles/6103714/Town-of-Norwood/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Keolis-railroad-vegetation-plans-continued-after-commissioners-seek-DEP-appeal-records","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103714-cf3faf953fab36149fe5d31d63803274/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574808&Signature=dCv9qwLuL6n0s9mRZUClVIUuv-D8ndKLqtgnDqkMzeHbE-Ghh33frJgvSQXPcYREDl2avhD1wPLfqk~tgcwoNSs37pWIQczMxGZ~YetKnW~8klQvm3ms3ZU2Juxs4mQLldW~XAeBjDi4Q1jT7v66MiUDIXUfKjDbPWqxGD7GK9u8Nf8Bt~wtpdFWZTM9aRNjKs5odtTS0FIiI7~Dk8ysGjbG-XSTYgy2Rcz4AyvKvg5r5qSKYmn4V4JQnYkkXo48xfi3NKcOhO36KLCVGPgPkUkgUetZHwmAYBcTt37ZQjbuaH2dIAFf4Nx57eIqMm3in79IpfzE06kqfequGl5HXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Norwood Conservation Commission on March 26 continued consideration of Keolis’ five-year vegetation-management request for the commuter-rail right of way so the commission can review earlier MassDEP appeal records and better understand prior determinations affecting mechanical clearance in wetland buffer zones.

Matt (consultant for Keolis) described the company’s roadside vegetation-management program and the maps used to classify treatment zones. He said Keolis performs two annual chemical applications: a May–June roadbed treatment that targets the track bed and an August–September application that targets brush; treatment mixtures vary year to year and are selected from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ approved list. Matt said an environmental monitor accompanies the applicator and may shut off nozzles where spraying approaches sensitive areas.

Matt told the commission that the blue and yellow zones on the maps represent restricted areas; yellow zones do not receive shoulder treatment and blue zones typically receive roadbed-only treatment and are monitored more closely. He also said mechanical clearing is used where chemical applications are restricted and that mechanical work is conducted “as needed” to keep the right-of-way safe.

Commissioners expressed support for a negative determination for the roadbed chemical application but said they needed more information before issuing a positive determination for mechanical clearing in buffer zones. The conservation agent said she was investigating the status of a prior appeal with MassDEP and requested Keolis provide any superseding determination or appeal resolution documents that would clarify whether mechanical removal in Norwood required separate filings (a Notice of Intent) or whether a superseding order had already authorized such work.

After discussion, the commission voted to continue the hearing to the April 16 meeting to allow staff and the applicant to gather: (1) the status of the five-year-old appeal or any superseding determination, and (2) confirmation whether mechanical vegetation removal had taken place in Norwood in the past five years. The continuation was moved and seconded and carried by roll-call vote: Kelsey Quinlan: aye; Catherine Walsh: aye; Anil Prasad: aye.

Keolis’ consultant said he would provide the town the superseding order or documentation and the operational plan specifying yearly herbicide mixtures and that Keolis would coordinate with Carly (Conservation Agent) and town staff about scheduling continuances if needed.

The commission asked the applicant and staff to return on April 16 with the requested records so the body can act on the remains of the request.","Norwood commissioners continued a request for determination from Keolis for vegetation management in the commuter-rail right of way to April 16, asking the applicant to provide records on a previous MassDEP appeal and clarifications about mechanical clearing versus chemical applications in sensitive zones.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6103719,"MassDOT given OK to hand-dig storm pipes at Moore Street and Route 1 with wetland protections",422,175000,597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4&start=175&end=597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2793650-12a7ea800b37831f1069d06e763981d4/thumbnail_175000.jpg","/articles/6103719/Town-of-Norwood/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/MassDOT-given-OK-to-hand-dig-storm-pipes-at-Moore-Street-and-Route-1-with-wetland-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103719-e71222b69fcaab4e003413c92ce78186/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574808&Signature=kM1IJaFOMTt3pt88o6cHwNadlRS6jgipM-GJfIPpzWGpb68pfMpSvoAjWUFa1cV6p8SN6W11EH3N2oPtCjCXkNilliQSllIr7ltPgPbi5kztHEw~3pu1YCkYPgISmguA4XsT4KxJtnBNc0w9yAmcgWI63fsIlOMtfVlV2f-77VCtlQ1cMFBNR6YKDoS7KXENIqeV1YBkCE8slAFT3KIQHvhL~Y2DgUCsgqct7Me-sDEtf7Xz494yJnoIM4uYxmXkXjjcwKPYQlz2daLBt9UYZ6hoQDesAVHrOAu0DjeprJ4x25paG7jqzPnic0HTIbogdyJ8GG9OSgborR2VjOlf6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MassDOT District 5 will be allowed to hand-excavate accumulated sediment around buried stormwater drainage structures at the intersection of Moore Street and Route 1 to obtain accurate survey elevations, the Norwood Conservation Commission decided March 26.

The work won a unanimous vote after MassDOT environmental representative Dave Pachete described a very limited operation to “hand dig” sediment to expose pipes so surveyors can confirm location, diameter and elevation. Commissioners approved a negative determination of applicability, subject to conditions recommended by the conservation agent.

The determination matters because MassDOT said the survey work will inform planned intersection improvements and requires temporary disturbance in areas near wetlands. Dave Pachete, MassDOT District 5 environmental, told the commission the operation would be brief — “something that’s gonna take 1 to 2 days to complete overall” — and all excavated material would be removed from the site without on-site stockpiling.

Carly (Conservation Agent) recommended site-specific conditions if the commission approved the work: planning for erosion- and sediment-control installation and placement, prohibition on stockpiling within 50 feet of wetlands, flood plains or storm-drain inlets, and reseeding of any disturbed upland slopes with native species where appropriate. Carly said she did not expect reseeding on top of exposed pipes but recommended seeding where staff access disturbed slopes.

Commissioner Catherine Walsh moved the approval; Commissioner Anil Prasad seconded. The commission recorded a roll-call vote of three in favor — Kelsey Quinlan: aye; Catherine Walsh: aye; Anil Prasad: aye — and the negative determination with Carly’s conditions was adopted.

The commission and MassDOT agreed the work will be performed by hand and that any material removed will be taken off site. MassDOT representatives said the hand-excavation is not intended as maintenance but as a short survey operation; if later maintenance is required, it would likely involve more extensive material removal.

Next steps: MassDOT may proceed under the determination once the applicant confirms how it will implement the sediment- and erosion-control measures required by the agent.","The Norwood Conservation Commission on March 26 approved a negative determination of applicability, with conditions, allowing MassDOT District 5 to hand-excavate sediment around stormwater structures at the Moore Street/Route 1 intersection to collect survey data needed for future intersection improvements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission continues three hearings, re-authorizes pond treatment and approves tree storage; fee schedule changes to proceed to public hearing

Commission issues Order of Resource Area Delineation for Lot 9 Sumner Street

Keolis railroad vegetation plans continued after commissioners seek DEP appeal records

MassDOT given OK to hand-dig storm pipes at Moore Street and Route 1 with wetland protections