Gardner conservation commission approves Negative 3 determination for 71 Kendall Pond East sand replenishment

GARDNER, Mass. — The Gardner Conservation Commission on Sept. 18 approved a Negative 3 determination permitting a small sand replenishment at 71 Kendall Pond East, contingent on erosion controls, documentation of sand source, and staff notification before and after work.

The commission voted to allow the property owner to spread sand across an approximately 15-by-25-foot area to a depth of about 1½ to 2 inches within the wetland buffer zone, so long as waddles (erosion-control devices) are installed, remain through the winter, and staff confirm controls are in place. The property owner was required to provide a soil/sand report and to call commission staff before work begins and again upon completion.

The project was described at the public hearing as a “beach refresh” to replenish existing sand at a family camp. The applicant said the sand would be sourced from Powell (company name provided by the applicant) and that a material distribution or soil report should be available from the supplier. A commission staff member told the applicant, “If you could, before you dump that, can you just email Justin the soil report?”

Commission discussion focused on verifying the sand source and ensuring erosion controls and staking were installed. A commission member asked whether the waddles would remain through the winter; the applicant said they would remove them in spring. The commission required the waddles be left in place through winter as part of the approval. The commission also asked that staff (identified in the meeting as Justin) be notified both before work begins and when it is finished so staff can confirm the controls and placement.

The commission cited the hearing authority under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, MGL c.131, §40, and the City of Gardner Wetlands Protection Ordinance in holding the public hearing and issuing the determination. The approval was recorded as a Negative 3 determination with the conditions described above. The applicant said the work would likely be done the following day and that he would notify staff when complete. The commission signed the determination at the meeting.

The commission’s action addresses only the limited beach replenishment described at the hearing; no other shoreline alteration or structures were approved. The record includes the project address and a parcel identifier referenced during the hearing as map 8-17-14-9.

The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27; items continued to that date were announced during the same session.