LeBaron Hills project paused: ZBA conditions engineering approvals on DEP water and wastewater findings

The Lakeville Zoning Board of Appeals continued the LeBaron Hills LLC site-plan review on May 15 after detailed legal, engineering and resident testimony about the subdivision’s municipal water connections, wastewater treatment capacity and outstanding peer-review engineering items.

Robert Mather, legal counsel for the applicant Residences at LeBaron Hills LLC, and project representatives said they will not proceed with construction of Phase 6 or complete Phase 5 until issues with the municipal water supply and state review are resolved. Mather told the board the applicant would accept a condition that no building permits be issued for further phases until MassDEP confirms whether the development must be treated as a public water supply under 310 CMR 22 or is eligible to be a consecutive (distribution-only) system under department rules.

The board heard an analysis from Matthew Watzke, identified as special counsel and a former deputy general counsel at MassDEP, who described the regulatory test under 310 CMR 22…