Applicant to add wildlife underpass, wetlands replication after Southborough 40B review; hearing continued to Aug. 20

Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals members on July 16 heard updates from the applicant and peer reviewers on the 250 Turnpike Road/0 Parkerville Road comprehensive-permit application under MGL Chapter 40B and agreed to continue the public hearing to Aug. 20 while extending the public-comment deadline to Sept. 17.

The most substantive discussion focused on wildlife movement and wetland-buffer impacts on the site. Joe Orzold of Lucas Environmental told the board he had reviewed the applicant’s response letter and that the applicant and its consultants “essentially agree” that migration across the site is occurring and that design changes are needed, most notably a wildlife underpass. Orzold noted best-practice guidance calls for larger passages (Natural Heritage typically recommends about 4-by-4 feet) and that the applicant’s conceptual plan currently shows a 2-by-2-foot opening. He said recommended practices…