Staff reports missing recording for 7280 Minot Street; several NOI projects expected for commission review

Conservation commission staff reported a missing recording for case DNP 160651, the project at 7280 Minot Street, and said staff will attempt to reconstruct the file and may seek a retroactive recording if the site is found to be in compliance.

The commission’s agent (identified in the meeting as Justin) told members that while drafting an extension request for the project he discovered no recording information corresponding to the case file. Justin said the applicant later reported the original order conditions and signature page could not be found. The staff member said he plans a site visit with the applicant to evaluate compliance and will write an agent’s report to document findings for the commission.

“Upon drafting an extension ... I discovered that there was no recording information to correspond with said case file,” the agent said, describing steps to reprint the original order conditions and, if necessary, have the commission re-sign them for a retroactive recording.

Staff also told the commission that a recently passed permit-extension law (referred to in the meeting as the LEADS Act or Permit Extension Act) may extend the lifespan of permits issued within specified timelines, potentially granting up to a two-year extension by default; staff said it would consider that statute in evaluating any extension requests.

Justin listed several other projects the commission should expect in coming weeks: preliminary inquiries and potential notices of intent for lots on Keith Road that may be proposed for housing; a proposed expansion of a maintenance building on Linus Lane within jurisdictional wetlands; an engineered breach/repair of a dam near Mount Wachusett Community College; and a notice of intent for the planned demolition of the Greenwood Pool, with staff anticipating a March hearing for that demolition.

When asked who is managing the Greenwood Pool demolition project, staff said the matter is signed by the assistant director of planning and that Evan Catmore was identified as the staff member managing the project. Staff also told commissioners that one prior engineer connected to the Minot Street file, Mr. Washington, did not have the paperwork the agent sought, and that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) did not have a recreated copy of the local files.

The commission did not vote on these items at the meeting; staff will report back after the site visit to 7280 Minot Street and when notices of intent are formally filed.