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Southborough approves Woodland and Richards Road sidewalk projects with standard conditions; grants waiver for Richards 20‑foot buffer
Summary
The Conservation Commission closed continued hearings and issued Orders of Conditions for sidewalk projects on Woodland Road and Richards Road, granting a waiver for work within the 20‑foot no‑touch buffer on Richards Road and requiring standard erosion and construction controls.
The Southborough Conservation Commission voted Thursday to close continued public hearings and issue Orders of Conditions for two Department of Public Works sidewalk projects: Woodland Road (Woodland Road between Richards Road and Oregon Road) and Richards Road (north side between Cordeville Road and Woodland Road).
Scott Morrison of BHB presented the projects as pedestrian safety improvements intended to provide sidewalks to the Mary E. Finn School and other neighborhoods. He described plan revisions to limit wetland impacts by placing the Woodland Road sidewalk closer to the curb, minimizing grading near a bordering vegetated wetland, and preserving trees where possible. The two proposals were filed as separate Notices of Intent (MassDEP file numbers 290‑1134 for Woodland and 290‑1135 for Richards) and reviewed by the commission’s peer reviewer.
Joe, the commission’s agent, reported he reviewed the applicants’ responses to peer review comments and had no outstanding issues; he asked only that an upland data plot be uploaded to the file. The peer review identified potential concerns about riverfront area delineation and stormwater mitigation; the applicant revised plans to add flagged riverfront limits and clarified that most work would occur on existing lawns, driveways, or gravel shoulder.
After taking public comment — including from abutter Zachary O’Connell, who asked about driveway impacts and construction timing — the commission voted to close both hearings. The commission then voted to issue Orders of Conditions with standard conditions for Woodland Road and Richards Road.
Because Richards Road includes work within the 20‑foot no‑touch buffer, the commission voted to approve a waiver for that limited 20‑foot encroachment. Commissioners also adopted standard special conditions for the projects, including submission of a construction access and erosion‑control plan, stakes and limits for replication or mitigation areas, and a requirement that any plant substitutions for replication be approved by the commission or its agent.
Commissioners recorded roll‑call yes votes on closing both hearings and on issuing the Orders of Conditions; they also recorded a unanimous vote to grant the Richards Road 20‑foot waiver. The Orders will be available after the 10‑day appeal period.
