Commission approves RDA for golf‑course irrigation replacement at 5 Country Club Road

The Woburn Conservation Commission on May 8 reviewed a continued Request for Determination of Applicability for an irrigation system replacement at 5 Country Club Road and approved a composite determination with conditions to protect nearby resource areas.

Brian McKenzie, representing Irrigation Consulting for the Woodland Valley Authority, told the commission the resubmission addressed prior concerns: drawings now include a sequencing plan (work on one hole at a time), a maximum of 250 feet of open trench at once, spoil storage location away from resource areas, and clarified crossings over culverts. "The work is temporary in nature... There are no changes to grade. There are no changes to impervious service," McKenzie said, arguing the disturbance is limited, in managed turf, and will be quickly restored.

McKenzie said two mainline routing changes were made to move pipe further from resource areas at holes 3 and 6; the plan shows the mainline crossing over (not under) culverts using flexible HDPE pipe. He said spoils will be staged at a roughly 5,000‑square‑foot area at the maintenance facility about 600 feet from the nearest resource area and erosion controls (wattles) were expanded and detailed on the plans.

Commissioners pressed on restoration and erosion control. The applicant said sod would be removed with a sod cutter and reinstalling turf would likely use hydroseeding or on‑site sod to avoid visible mismatched strips. On erosion control, a commissioner recommended compost filter socks rather than straw wattles for superior durability and protection in riverfront areas; McKenzie and the applicant agreed to the change.

Schedule and life expectancy were discussed. McKenzie estimated the mainline work could take three to four weeks, with laterals and full installation extending the project to roughly three months, weather and contractor dependent. He gave life‑expectancy estimates: buried HDPE infrastructure approximately 50 years; sprinkler heads roughly 18 years; and minimum operator training of 12 hours built into the contract.

After final discussion the commission closed the public hearing and voted to issue a combined determination: a Positive 2(b) finding that resource area boundaries are not confirmed, plus Negative 2, Negative 3 and Negative 6 findings that the proposed limited, temporary work in the buffer does not require an NOI and is not subject to additional local wetlands review; the commission included a condition that compost filter tubes (filter socks) be used in lieu of straw wattles to protect resource areas.

Commissioners said they will monitor site restoration and noted the applicant is expected to coordinate implementation details, contractor sequencing and training per the submitted specifications.