Natural Resources Commission issues multiple orders, grants partial COC and backs conservation restriction

The Concord Natural Resources Commission on May 7 closed hearings, issued orders of conditions and resource-delineation rulings for multiple permit files and voted to grant a conservation restriction over the Assabet River Bluff parcel to local land trusts. The commission also issued a partial certificate of compliance tied to removal of a retaining wall inside the 50-foot buffer and set multiple applications for continuation to its May 14 meeting.

The actions included formal orders and compliance certificates the commission recorded on the record and by voice vote. Commissioners repeatedly referenced standard conditions 1–20 and special conditions 21–51 when issuing orders for Notices of Intent. Several administrative items — including certificates of compliance and continuation motions for outstanding DEP files — were also approved.

Key votes and procedural outcomes at the May meeting included approvals and continuances across multiple DEP and RDA files. Staff and applicants were instructed to submit outstanding materials for items continued to May 14. The commission accepted a conservation restriction over the 6-acre town-owned parcel adjacent to the Assabet River and recommended that the Select Board accept the restriction and convey it jointly to the Concord Land Conservation Trust and Sudbury Valley Trustees.

Commissioners emphasized that some approvals were conditional on narrowly defined follow-up tasks. For one property, 336 Lexington Road, the commission issued a partial certificate of compliance for the constructed pool but recorded that the COC would not be finalized until the retaining wall that intrudes into the 50-foot no-build buffer is removed and the site is restored to the approved plan.

The commission also recorded several administrative certifications: one property’s mitigation monitoring period remains active and another property completed its mitigation and received a full COC. Staff were directed to prepare draft orders or certificates for items continued to the May 14 meeting.

The meeting included public comments on several projects and applications. A number of applicants and consultants appeared by Zoom or in person to present plan revisions, reply to Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) comments, or confirm compliance steps required by the commission.

Votes at a glance - Issue order of conditions, DEP file 1371694 (58 Monument Square): approved (order issued). - Issue order of conditions, DEP file 1371703 (263 Great Meadows Road): approved (order issued). - Close hearing, RDA file 257 (93 Monument Street): negative determination issued. - Issue order of conditions, DEP file 1371705 (Silver Hill Road infrastructure project): approved (order issued). - Close and issue ANRAD determination, DEP file 1371708 (363 College Road): verification of resource area boundaries issued. - Partial Certificate of Compliance, 336 Lexington Road (DEP file 1371515): partial COC issued; full COC conditioned on removal of retaining wall in 50-foot buffer. - Additional certificates of compliance (full) issued where mitigation and construction were complete; one other property continued with monitoring conditions. - Conservation restriction over 6-acre parcel at 2 B Upland Road: granted jointly to Concord Land Conservation Trust and Sudbury Valley Trustees; Select Board recommended to accept.

Next steps and deadlines Applicants continued to the May 14 meeting were told to submit any revised plans and required documentation to staff by noon the Friday before the meeting. Staff will prepare orders and certificates for the items scheduled for the May 14 meeting.

Ending The NRC closed its agenda items after the public-comment period and administrative business. Members said they will reconvene on May 14 to finish continued applications and review supplemental materials submitted by applicants.