Lowell Conservation Commission continues 21 Century Mill notice of intent to March 12

Chair Brad Beutnice of the Lowell Conservation Commission opened a continued public hearing on a Notice of Intent filed by 21 Century Mill LLC for property at Ten‑2B Lane and moved to continue the item to the commission's March 12 meeting.

The applicant's engineer, Scott Goddard, told the commission his team requested the continuance because they had just received comments from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and are still preparing responses to the City of Lowell engineering comments. Goddard said some responses require “street markings” and that recent snow had delayed completing those changes.

Beutnice said the commission has “a pretty clear precedent of 25 foot buffer of no disturb and a 50 foot buffer of no build,” and that the project will need significant changes before he could vote to allow work. He invited members of the public to speak and asked the applicant to supply revised plans in advance of the continued hearing.

Several neighbors asked how frequently the hearing could be continued and requested better notice if the item was continued again so residents would not needlessly attend. Resident John Arnold asked, “How many times can they continue this?” Beutnice replied that applicants can request multiple continuances and that the commission expects demonstrable progress when applicants ask to continue. The commission asked neighbors to provide contact information so staff can notify them about any further continuances.

A motion to continue the Notice of Intent to the Lowell Conservation Commission's March 12 meeting passed with the ayes recorded.

The commission asked that new materials be submitted at least one week before the continued hearing, and staff (Fran, the conservation agent) was asked to help notify neighbors and to record the request in the minutes.