Commission waives RDA for Eagle Scout kiosk project with abutter-notification condition

The Woburn Conservation Commission voted to waive the RDA requirement for an Eagle Scout project to install a kiosk and bench on the Middlesex Canal towpath, with a condition that five nearby property owners be notified by regular mail or hand delivery.

Commissioners said the project — proposed by Eagle Scout Molly Murphy under the supervision of a troop advisor — is a learning opportunity and appears to be hand‑built, which informed the commission’s willingness to waive the RDA so the scout can proceed with preliminary preparation. A commissioner noted measurements with engineering showed the bench site is “just a tick under a hundred feet” from the canal; the kiosk would be farther back.

The commission’s motion approved the RDA waiver on the condition that the applicant notify five abutters; the meeting transcript records the commission listing five addresses and specifying that notifications “do not need to be registered” and may be delivered by hand or sent by regular U.S. mail. The applicant was told to return to a future meeting to present the project and receive further guidance.

A commission member asked practical questions commissioners said she should be prepared to answer at the follow-up presentation, including who would manage materials placed in the kiosk, key control for the kiosk, ongoing maintenance responsibilities, and the project schedule.

Why it matters: The waiver removes an administrative requirement that could delay the scout’s work; the condition to notify nearby residents aims to keep local abutters informed while preserving a lower-cost, expedited path for a volunteer youth project.

Next steps: The scout is expected to appear at a future meeting to present final plans and answer commissioner questions; staff will note the notification condition in the record.