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Developers and neighbors debate wetland delineation, tree removal at 28 Van Norden Road; public hearing closed
Summary
An applicant’s team updated the Conservation Commission on relocated wetland flags, removal of invasive material and a proposed lot; abutters raised concerns about a 1965 culvert and possible yard flooding. The commission closed the public hearing and said it will issue an order within 21 days.
The Conservation Commission heard detailed field updates Sept. 25 on a proposed lot (Lot 2-A) at 28 Van Norden Road, where consultants confirmed minor adjustments to flagged wetland boundaries, proposed removal of invasive fill and proposed tree removals.
Nick Betts of Meridian Associates told the commission that his team walked the wetland line with Mike DeRosa of DeRosa Environmental and made small plan adjustments: two of seven wetland flags relocated (one by about 8 feet, one by about 10 feet) after the field verification. Betts said the plans were updated to reflect those shifts and that the applicant proposes to remove material that had been dumped into the wetland area so the wetland can reestablish.
Betts also reported the total number of trees proposed for removal is 26; he said most are invasive species and that the site has acted as a dumping ground for decades.
Abutters voiced questions and concerns. Susan Reedus (property owner at 27 Harold Avenue) said she was not previously notified of the earlier hearing and raised concern that a culvert shown on older plans may collect and route runoff from the applicant’s property toward her yard. Peter Victoria, another abutter, said he had not received notice about how frontage or lot lines were resolved and sought clarification about whether the city solicitor had verified the frontage.
Conservation staff read into the record a memo from City Solicitor Mark J. Salvati confirming the city’s position that Lot 2-A is a lot of record with sufficient frontage and that a previously affected Lot 1-A is not part of the current petition. Salvati’s memo was entered into the record for clarity to abutters.
Betts said engineers had located records from a 1965 sewer improvement project that show a 15-inch clay culvert in the town right of way; consultants said they did not excavate to verify the invert elevations or exact outlet and that they had not observed visible flow exiting the culvert. Survey and pipe-locating work remain incomplete; consultants said the pipe’s visible evidence is limited and that some plan notes reflect compiled historical information.
A question about tree-replacement sizes drew a response that replacement red maples would typically be 2–2.5 inch caliper nursery stock, and consultants noted snow and utilities will constrain planting locations.
After public comment and discussion, a motion to close the public hearing carried. The commission will have up to 21 days to issue an order on the matter under the public-hearing record.
