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Conservation commission issues negative determination for patio at 10 Dairy Farm Lane
Summary
The Southborough Conservation Commission voted to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability for a patio replacement at 10 Dairy Farm Lane, conditioned on erosion controls and prior approval of those controls by staff.
The Southborough Conservation Commission on Wednesday issued a Negative Determination of Applicability for work at 10 Dairy Farm Lane, approving the applicant’s plan to replace an existing deck with a longer patio provided erosion controls are installed and approved by commission staff before construction begins.
The commission’s vote followed a presentation by the owner, Greg Brown, and staff review. Brown told the commission his house was built in 2002 and that he and his contractor, Stonefire Associates of Westborough, propose permeable pavers over crushed-stone base layers with jointing sand the contractor describes as 78% permeable. Brown also said he and his contractor will add Massachusetts native pollinator plantings as mitigation.
Melissa, a commission staff member, told the panel the proposed paver system and the contractor’s permeability specifications are consistent with what the commission has requested on similar projects. Staff noted the patio is located outside the 20-foot open-space-easement buffer and is consistent with work previously allowed on adjacent subdivision lots. The commission member review raised no objection to the project so long as erosion-control measures are in place.
The motion that passed instructed staff to require erosion controls (straw wattles or compost tubes were discussed as preferred options) at the downslope edge of the work and to approve those controls before the contractor begins grading. The commission also directed that the chosen erosion-control approach be acceptable to staff and that the applicant confirm implementation before work begins.
Commission members voted unanimously to approve the Negative Determination with the stated condition. The applicant and staff agreed the conservation agent (Melissa) will confirm the erosion-control details before construction starts and will coordinate post-approval questions with the applicant.
The approval authorizes work only as described in the application and the plan submitted to the commission. Nearby property owners will still be able to monitor compliance through the town’s normal enforcement processes.
