Commission continues review of proposed addition at 11 Glover Road; applicant to supply wetland data and stormwater specs

The commission continued the notice of intent for 11 Glover Road to March 27 after LEC Environmental presented a proposal for a two‑story 770‑square‑foot garage addition, a deck off the addition and a porous pavement driveway intended to offset an increase in impervious area.

Why it matters: The property lies near Rosemary Brook and includes mapped bordering land subject to flooding, a riverfront area and buffer zones. The proposal includes about 4,200 square feet of wetland and 25‑foot buffer restoration (removing lawn and planting native trees and shrubs) and a porous pavement driveway the applicant says will offset approximately 560 square feet of increased impervious area.

Proposal details: Nicole Ferreira of LEC Environmental said the addition is roughly 770 square feet with living space above a new two‑car garage and a deck bump‑out adjacent to the existing patio. LEC described replacing an existing paved driveway with a porous pavement surface slightly larger than the current driveway to serve the two‑car garage. The applicant described a restoration plan to remove lawn from the wetland and buffer area, plant two native sapling trees (2–2.5‑inch caliper) and about 30 native shrubs, and apply native seed mixes (FACWET meadow mix inside the wetland restoration, a mesic‑to‑dry pollinator mix outside).

Commission questions and requests: Staff noted the applicant had not submitted wetland data forms; the commission requested those forms be supplied. Commissioners also pressed for porous pavement specifications and an operations & maintenance plan: the commission emphasized that porous pavement must be maintained (vacuuming/cleaning) to remain pervious. Concerns were raised about stormwater rules for additions — commissioners asked the applicant’s engineer to review the Needham stormwater bylaw and consider whether the proposed design meets local infiltration or other stormwater‑management requirements; the applicant agreed to have the engineer review the bylaw and provide additional calculations or design alternatives.

Restoration and planting details: The applicant described approximately 4,200 square feet of restoration to convert lawn inside the buffer to native plantings and seed mixes and said the applicant will mark the restoration boundary with posts and conservation placards. The commission noted the number of plantings may appear sparse for the area and asked for a planting plan that includes species, spacing and monitoring commitments: the applicant committed to two years of monitoring and annual reports to the commission on survival and success rates.

Outcome: The commission continued the hearing to March 27 to allow submission of missing wetland delineation forms, porous‑pavement specs (or product spec sheet), and further stormwater calculations or design revisions. No order or waivers were approved at this meeting.

Attribution: Nicole Ferreira (LEC Environmental) presented; Deb (Conservation staff) and multiple commissioners asked for additional submittals and clarifications.