[{"_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",6168337,"mediaKeyId","5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f","parentId",5408181,"title","Commission ratifies two emergency certifications for beaver-dam breaches at Holt Circle and Black Brook Drive","audioSeconds",63,"startMs",1956000,"endMs",2019000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f&start=1956&end=2019","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f/thumbnail_1956000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6168337/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Commission-ratifies-two-emergency-certifications-for-beaver-dam-breaches-at-Holt-Circle-and-Black-Brook-Drive","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168337-affdc066dd6052f4097b5a5bbe2813e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137520&Signature=MEGjgYALhm5g~PcyhmogtwA8En~W4u3mhyBXQjh~U~KGLjuzxEFebM1BAqtNd3-rHCx0d~w7TmmLjusdO2rbvq~mpFrlkbQ5KTQ7VYejDO0zhMk9jm~xxSfN7QyEjs7wwO77BpFOkF8MAoWsSprBusn2x4eKkcS4pyGc8v0MKNlgloUr3UWeWlgADmOITiHaptKkFlEI7yKTuE4Zd1tOSyLUtF1Y5vXz1BmCKjGYSlUisMbdEq~GawmngAj8JK0tw9C7znsEC3CMWmVGQexTuMph01fTDbiFPSJyvZShtsVldF3igucLcGkA8ondqmn2ipguLZBq-6ZofemeVTsP9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lowell City, MA","date","2025-07-17T00:02:17Z","article","The Lowell Conservation Commission ratified two emergency certifications at its July 16 meeting for beaver-dam interventions performed by the City of Lowell on July 3.
Commission staff reported that crews performed small breaches of existing beaver dams at 20 Holt Circle and at 141 Black Brook Drive to allow water to flow and to abate what staff described as emergencies. Commissioners moved to ratify the emergency certifications and approved both motions unanimously.
According to the on-record discussion, the breaches were completed prior to the meeting; commissioners’ ratification affirms that the work met the procedural criteria for emergency action under local rules. No further special conditions were discussed on the record for these two locations.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lowell Conservation Commission - July 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lowell Conservation Commission ratified two emergency certifications for small breaches of beaver dams at 20 Holt Circle and 141 Black Brook Drive performed on July 3 to allow flow and abate conditions described as emergencies.","taxTitle","Lowell City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4223,"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},6168342,"Commission issues Negative 3 determination with erosion‑control condition for Church Street parking renovations",387,1563000,1950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f&start=1563&end=1950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f/thumbnail_1563000.jpg","/articles/6168342/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Commission-issues-Negative-3-determination-with-erosioncontrol-condition-for-Church-Street-parking-renovations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168342-cbf62f2cb298099a4e27caebea507359/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137520&Signature=Rw9gHBtJXcZA4NBnDZH3E-chLZ8D438BGVF0QVKwvz-XsUDtCHzccRz0jErVO0pXPo2rz67Yg4y20Meo-gxpfqwr1HrfImir8SodqohOaZz1cr5pi6fZnuYnLbwDWWFu1lsQ0rT99-g4flzoTc72C8rTzC326YSzHTrMjCEBV2jsvmLlih8Q3N0b91AD5NIrEPAL0Sw15ExBXhyDSe00YikLjVunphnJ0fWerwBLF3y4yd1hj08AYmufdO8dpVZ44JmFGejKiTm99Q~nyEARitUg1xhZ6dNENGeFpx-GKHfHiW2KnaLj-BNN7sQsiugyLa~ReKA7BR2~Cd-lxNUR0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its July 16 meeting the Lowell Conservation Commission voted to issue a Negative 3 Determination with a condition requiring erosion controls for a parking-lot renovation at 242 Church Street proposed by Community Teamwork Inc.
Andrew Thibault, a wetland scientist with Goddard Consulting, presented plans to repave and reconfigure an existing fully impervious L‑shaped lot at the corner of Church and Warren in Lowell and to add stormwater infiltration systems beneath new concrete pavers and beneath portions of the parking area. Thibault said the work would reduce impervious surface by about 172 square feet, add 39 trees and shrubs and 20 herbaceous plugs, and direct roof gutters into new infiltration chambers. He told commissioners the Concord River and its bordering vegetated wetland had been delineated on April 18 and that the proposed work sits on the far side of the building from the river; the 25‑foot riverfront area lies outside the project and the 100‑foot buffer clips the site.
Commissioners asked about erosion control measures. Thibault said the project team would accept a condition requiring appropriate erosion controls around the work area and would avoid wrapping controls around the city sidewalk unless necessary. A motion for a Negative 3 Determination with a condition requiring erosion controls along the roadways was made, seconded and approved unanimously.
The applicant described the project as a net environmental improvement: addition of below‑grade Coltec infiltration systems, landscaping and a reduction in impervious area were intended to increase on‑site stormwater management where none currently exists. The Conservation Commission attached the erosion‑control condition to the Negative 3 Determination to protect the nearby Concord River during construction.
","Community Teamwork Inc. received a Negative 3 Determination for parking-lot renovations and stormwater infiltration work at 242 Church Street; the commission required erosion‑control measures along adjacent roadways.",{"_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},6168347,"Conservation commission issues certificate of compliance for 91 Leonard Circle after title issue explained",69,1399000,1468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f&start=1399&end=1468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f/thumbnail_1399000.jpg","/articles/6168347/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Conservation-commission-issues-certificate-of-compliance-for-91-Leonard-Circle-after-title-issue-explained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168347-f8810ebf725f070742fc514665149326/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137520&Signature=PTYEjY3hAwqspCjq7MO0DS1ULRvI7pAIQvjadfsQJwaYnrxT0~sDae43xbRSDEIrh91UtbYmNdjI1uPZbxIrjOw8W3kZLeedKrjB5-k31YrlxL-C8iCsOYK9Asj-ajHXfYfdpeeT3KDQPiyo7azZFII2sO9~xAQVdSf9rY30UTF3d~zYDo3NzLkNpOl6sH0r8sg1CLpFPCeg7NtYrm3VV3mt~meo7i7S-ZES62dMoHYJgDMlkn49gptZKxn5Ovs0OahBDBhPJ0APnKmQz6tghTj-G-53xoKy4AJ6MgQrcLFmqYhrCsy8zoFEcFx94s7lXCGeq55Zjme7YjpLXANO6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 16 meeting, the Lowell Conservation Commission voted to issue a certificate of compliance for a 1989 Order of Conditions tied to DEP file number 206320 for the property recorded as 91 Leonard Circle.
Attorney David Plunkett appeared for the petitioner and said Francisco Camacho and family have owned the property since 1991 and were unaware of the earlier order of conditions issued on June 7, 1989. Plunkett said the engineer of record, Gabor Savakavits, has since died and that no compliance complaints had been brought during the Camachos’ roughly 34 years of ownership.
Commissioners asked for no further comment, moved to issue the certificate, and approved the motion unanimously. The petitioner was instructed they could collect the issued certificate at the office the next day.
","The Lowell Conservation Commission issued a certificate of compliance for DEP file 206320 at its July 16 meeting after counsel explained the present owners were unaware of the 1989 order of conditions and that no complaints had arisen during decades of ownership.",{"_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},6168351,"Mass Audubon wins amended permit to reshape Pawtucket Farms pond, add ephemeral pool and resize detention basin",951,385000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f&start=385&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408181-3399952db709b033f1022ad81547583f/thumbnail_385000.jpg","/articles/6168351/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Mass-Audubon-wins-amended-permit-to-reshape-Pawtucket-Farms-pond-add-ephemeral-pool-and-resize-detention-basin","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168351-a9aa7292a63a27beb572d027734b39b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137520&Signature=YanOT8CughlMTLRUQM-w4neG6vFxqn9SG1iWi4--3W8UGhOCGuLF9-7eTXIZ7tmFcpUeivemhRK54VFU8r8piGxoheRWMSj1Mvpe-~UVN-fW0HQHXKcYNJxMjEnhbhpvhrZOHhepAazwVvu2Ui4udhx5Z2sgAp3yFCwFjSH7XwLLqE5FfcSb~jXoIyi5rjnFsoF7FzETbtymi1n7m7TdIF6Di60cUORyIVlWKBgxWB1m4FD-Yk8eYGRpcu6YXCbcRTWajWvEQ8bmcBonUhbP7CN7eVaoMRg-RXD2EQmjOETyB~Opmv1yIh25dJUheiPt1USKWe1C42S1flOFa6h2yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its July 16 meeting, the Lowell Conservation Commission voted unanimously to approve an amended notice of intent from the Massachusetts Audubon Society to alter stormwater and habitat features at Pawtucket Farms, 141–1415 Barnum Ave.
Mass Audubon’s senior director of capital assets and planning, Elizabeth Stetson, told commissioners the amendment would expand the existing pond’s footprint, create an ephemeral pool and reduce the size of a previously proposed upslope rain garden while resizing the stormwater detention basin to reflect new site information. “We feel that groundwater runoff is also a significant, contributing factor to the pond overflowing,” Stetson said, describing new observations and additional soil testing performed since the original filing.
Commission staff and the project engineer said the additional soil testing found sandy, highly infiltrative (“Type A”) soils upslope, which reduced expected surface runoff and allowed a smaller subsurface infiltration system. Jonathan Hedlund of Niche Engineering said the revised design reduces the need for cutting into a steep slope, creates gentler pond edges for more diverse vegetation and meets Lowell stormwater standards.
The applicant also addressed questions about an unrelated petroleum release found in the farmhouse basement. Stetson said the underground tanks had been removed and that O’Reilly Talbot & Oaken Associates (OTO) — led on the project by licensed site professional Laurie McCarthy — prepared a release abatement measures (RAM) plan that will be submitted to MassDEP before excavation begins. She said soil sampling will occur during demolition and that the excavated volume is estimated at about 30 cubic yards. Impacted soils are expected to be “below MassDEP standards,” and OTO will provide on-site monitoring and immediate off-site removal of any contaminated soils; stockpiling is not anticipated. Stetson added the contaminated soil is limited to the farmhouse footprint and is estimated to be about six to seven feet below grade, so the project team does not anticipate adverse impacts to proposed turtle habitat.
After asking follow-up questions and reviewing the revised plans, commission members took public comment, closed the hearing and moved to approve the amended notice of intent. A motion to approve and to issue the City of Lowell standard order of conditions passed with all commissioners voting in favor.
The approved changes combine stormwater-management adjustments with habitat and educational improvements: the expanded pond edge and ephemeral pool are intended to create gentler slopes and varied wetland vegetation for amphibians, turtles and other species while providing outdoor teaching opportunities. The RAM plan and MassDEP submittal are required before demolition and excavation commence.
The commission did not add special conditions beyond issuing a standard order of conditions. Project proponents said they will continue site monitoring and implement measures the licensed site professional requires.
","At its July 16 meeting the Lowell Conservation Commission approved an amended notice of intent from Mass Audubon to expand a pond, add an ephemeral pool and resize a stormwater detention basin at Pawtucket Farms after additional soil testing and a plan to address contaminated soil in a farmhouse basement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission ratifies two emergency certifications for beaver-dam breaches at Holt Circle and Black Brook Drive

Commission issues Negative 3 determination with erosion‑control condition for Church Street parking renovations

Conservation commission issues certificate of compliance for 91 Leonard Circle after title issue explained

Mass Audubon wins amended permit to reshape Pawtucket Farms pond, add ephemeral pool and resize detention basin