Charlton conservation commission continues multiple wetland hearings, issues compliance certificates and appoints farm committee member

The Town of Charlton Conservation Commission at its meeting continued multiple public hearings on Notices of Intent for projects affecting bordering vegetated wetlands and riverfront areas, approved several certificates of compliance for completed projects, accepted a minor amendment for the new fire-station access at 4 Oxford Road and appointed a member to the Clay Mountain Farm Committee.

Staff member Mary Anne told the commission that several hearings should be continued to give applicants and peer reviewers time to complete stormwater and wetland delineation materials; the commission voted to continue most of those hearings to Sept. 10. Engineer Joe, representing one applicant for a North Main Street parcel, said the entire lot is within the riverfront area but that the proposed work would be limited to the outer riparian zone and accompanied by riverfront restoration measures. "The whole lot is within the riverfront area," Joe said, adding that proposed restoration and an infiltration chamber were intended to offset riverfront disturbance.

Why it matters: the commission’s continued hearings involve projects proposing work within wetland buffers and riverfront areas, where state rules limit the percentage of riverfront that can be altered and where mitigation (restoration, conservation restrictions) is often required. The outcomes — continuances, certificates of compliance, and a minor amendment for a major municipal project — affect how and when construction and restoration proceed in town wetlands and riparian corridors.

Major continuances and hearings - DEP 128193835 (North Main Street): Applicant filed a Notice of Intent for construction of a 40-unit multifamily development with work in wetland buffer areas. The commission moved and approved a continuance of the hearing to Sept. 10 so outstanding materials (NOI details and reviews) can be completed.

- DEP 1281966 (Lot 2, Sandersdale Road): Commissioners voted to close the public hearing and issue an Order of Conditions after staff reported that wetlands delineation and peer review of stormwater were complete.

- DEP 1281967 (Lot 4, Sandersdale Road): The commission closed the hearing and issued an Order of Conditions following staff confirmation that peer-review comments had been addressed and wetland reports were received.

- DEP 128197180 (Richardson's Corner Road): Applicant requested an extension and widening of a farm road/fill near resource areas. The commission approved a continuance to Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.

- DEP filings for Stevens Park Road, multiple Sandersdale Road lots (Lot 1, Lot 2, Lot 3), and other single-family proposals: most were continued to Sept. 10 to allow submission of missing stormwater plans, per- parcel riverfront disturbance calculations, or peer-review completion. For the three-lot subdivision along Sandersdale Road, staff and the applicant discussed alternatives, the possibility of staying in the roadside area to avoid river crossings, and use of a conservation restriction (a proposed 15-acre conservation parcel) to offset riverfront disturbance; commissioners asked the applicant and engineer to return with per-lot riverfront disturbance numbers and revised lot lines if the commission favors roadside siting to avoid crossing the stream.

National Grid transmission-line work National Grid presented a separate Notice of Intent to reestablish eroded access roads and safe work pads along an existing transmission right-of-way. The company said the line replacement work itself is maintenance-exempt under the Wetlands Protection Act and that this NOI covers non-exempt reestablishment of access roads and work pads. A representative said roads would be graded, capped with crushed stone, and include stormwater measures; some access pads would remain after construction but be mulched to allow vegetation regrowth. The commission approved a continuance to Sept. 10 pending peer-review scheduling and issuance of a project GP/DEP number.

Public comment and site concerns Resident Jim Lavaster, who lives across from the three proposed lots on Sandersdale Road, raised concerns that "between the river and the road, it doesn't seem like room for septic, drainage," calling attention to practical constraints on siting septic systems and leach fields. Staff and the applicant’s engineer (Liz Dupree, a registered sanitarian) explained that Title 5 and setback requirements would govern leach-field siting and that the engineer was preparing designs for Board of Health review; the commission noted it cannot close hearings until Board of Health approvals where Title 5 systems are required.

Approvals, certificates and other actions - Certificates of Compliance: The commission voted to issue complete Certificates of Compliance for DEP 1281875 (150 Daniels Road) and DEP 1281752 (8 Sunset Drive) after site visits and engineer letters confirmed stabilization and plan compliance. Two older Willis Drive orders (DEP 12848618 and DEP 128106218) also received Certificates of Compliance to facilitate sale or transfer of the properties.

- DEP 12812290 (Northside Road): A historical Order of Conditions from 2007 that had not advanced was declared invalid, and the commission approved the document needed so the new property owner may file fresh permits.

- Lot 19 Pumpkin Lane (tree removal RDA): The commission approved a Negative Determination allowing removal/pruning of small trees and brush near the lake; the applicant said stumps would remain and that most trees proposed are small-diameter and overcrowded.

- Minor amendment: 4 Oxford Road (fire station / school access). The commission approved a minor amendment to change a short segment of grading in the driveway approach to achieve a gentler transition; that change will encroach up to 16 feet closer to the bordering vegetated wetland in one spot (reducing the buffer from 25 feet to 9 feet) but was approved as a minor amendment with the commission's condition that erosion controls and the revised grading detail be closely monitored.

- Committee appointment: The commission appointed Brian Sullivan to the Clay Mountain Farm Committee; the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion vs. decisions Commission discussion focused on technical clarifications (stormwater plans, wetlands delineations, per-parcel riverfront disturbance calculations) and process steps (peer review scheduling, Board of Health Title 5 review). Formal decisions included continuances (to Sept. 10), issuance of Orders of Conditions where staff reported complete materials and peer-review sign-off, multiple Certificates of Compliance, approval of the Oxford Road minor amendment and the appointment to the farm committee. Commissioners repeatedly stressed that site visits, Board of Health approvals and finalized plans are prerequisites to closing public hearings in several cases.

What’s next Most continued hearings were set for Sept. 10; staff said they expect some peer reviews to be completed before that date and will follow up with the state reviewer on disputed degraded-area designations. Applicants were asked to supply per-parcel riverfront area calculations, finalized stormwater plans and any Board of Health approvals before the next meeting.

Quoted sources in this report are taken from the meeting record: staff member Mary Anne; Engineer Joe (project engineer for North Main Street); applicant Christopher Hansen; resident Jim Lavaster; and the National Grid representative. No outcomes or factual claims beyond the meeting record are asserted.