The Middleborough Planning Board on Jan. 7 held its position on a cease-and-desist order for the Cranberry Woods subdivision after a town inspector said field conditions and unfinished erosion controls left the project at risk during freeze-thaw conditions.

Pat, a town inspector, told the board he performed a site inspection on Jan. 7 and had emailed a report to Town Planner Joe on Dec. 13 describing the site conditions. Pat said winter rye that had sprouted was now dormant and would not provide ground cover, that swales along Marion Road were eroding and sending sediment into flared end inlets, and that sediment and debris remained on site. “The swales are now eroding again, probably because of all the heavy rain we had in the freeze thaw cycle,” Pat said. He also said his most recent contact from the contractor, Christian, indicated the contractor had suspended work until spring.

Pat told the board that one remaining drainage item — completion of a swale out to sediment trap 3 — was outstanding and that removal of concrete piles and rebar would be required before staff could complete a bond estimate for lot releases. "Until he gets these items done, I'm...I can't turn a bond estimate to Espin him because he hasn't completed the items he needs to complete," Pat said.

Planning board members pressed on potential flood and overflow risks during wet storms while ground is frozen. A board member asked whether a heavy downpour could push basin water over the overflow; Pat replied that frozen ground and frozen water in the basin reduce infiltration and raise the risk, and recommended the contractor install temporary erosion controls where ground permits and plan for basin bottom scraping and stabilization in spring.

Board members agreed the cease-and-desist should remain in place until the work is completed and the outstanding drainage and cleanup items are addressed. The chair noted the board would not consider the bond estimate or any lot releases until the required stabilization work is finished and verified by staff.

Pat said he would continue to monitor the site and visit again if Christian reports progress or if heavy rainfall occurs.

Ending: The board set no new deadlines at the meeting beyond requiring the contractor to complete the listed stabilization and cleanup tasks before the board will accept a bond estimate or consider lot releases; the item will be revisited once staff confirms the work has been done.