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Hearing on 12 Wood Street septic replacement continued as reviewers request more details
Summary
The Southborough Conservation Commission continued the Notice of Intent for 12 Wood Street to allow staff and peer reviewers to review revised plans and obtain details on septic age and previously degraded areas.
The Southborough Conservation Commission continued a Notice of Intent hearing for 12 Wood Street after staff and the peer reviewer asked the applicant for additional survey and technical information, including the age of the existing septic system and documentation of previously degraded areas within the riverfront area.
Karen Skinner, representing the applicant for owner Alberto Jara, told the commission she had reflagged the riverfront and inland boundaries and that new survey data had only just been received by the applicant’s team. Skinner said the proposed work includes replacement of a failing septic system and construction of a small rear porch and deck.
Commission staff and peer reviewer Joe said several critical pieces are still outstanding. Staff asked the applicant to confirm the age of the existing septic system; the commission pulled the property card and noted the house was built in 1925, which suggests the system may predate modern riverfront permitting requirements. The reviewer also asked for clearer delineation and quantification of previously degraded areas to determine whether the proposed work would exceed a 10% disturbance threshold in the riverfront area.
Peer reviewer Joe also asked the applicant to clarify floodplain contours and whether FEMA flood elevations were shown on the plan; he noted frozen soils and snow limited field observations and recommended revising plan contours and labels to show existing and proposed conditions more clearly. Staff asked for an alternative analysis for work in riverfront areas and for any missing form revisions.
Because the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) file number had not been provided and final survey and plan revisions were only recently obtained, the commission voted to continue the hearing to its next meeting so reviewers can examine the revised materials and the applicant can supply the requested information.
The commission emphasized that clarifying the septic system’s age, providing the alternative analysis, and improving plan clarity (contours, flood elevations, and degraded-area calculations) are necessary before the commission can act on the Notice of Intent.
