Charlton conservation commission to advertise stormwater regulation changes; issues orders and negative determinations for multiple property projects

The Town of Charlton Conservation Commission voted to advertise a public hearing on proposed amendments to the commission's stormwater regulations and took final action on several wetlands and land‑disturbance filings at its meeting, approving orders of conditions, issuing negative determinations and continuing other hearings to August 13.

The commission voted unanimously to authorize advertising a public hearing to consider changes to stormwater section 1.6, which governs how the commission classifies lane/land‑disturbance permits as minor or major. A staff member describing the planned change said the current definition of a "larger common plan of development" has produced expensive, time‑consuming outcomes for applicants and contractors. The staff member said, "It's become unfair in a way. It's becoming expensive, but that's the way the regulations are written," and proposed narrowing the definition so some projects would qualify for the commission's minor permit review instead of triggering a major permit and external peer review.

Why it matters: the amendment is intended to reduce cost and review time for single‑family and smaller projects that, under the commission's current interpretation of "larger common plan of development," have been subject to major permit requirements when older ANR or subdivision plans exist for the same parcel. Staff said several contractors are holding projects pending the outcome and asked the commission to advertise the amendments for a public hearing on July 30 (advertisement and…