Commission issues negative determination for Maple Street gas‑main work; Boston Gas to follow BMPs

The Danvers Conservation Commission on Aug. 14 closed the public hearing and issued a negative determination of applicability for a proposed gas‑main installation on Maple Street by Boston Gas Company (doing business as National Grid), RDA file 2025‑03.

Tracy Studholter, representing Boston Gas, told the commission the work would install roughly 575 feet of buried gas main within the Maple Street right‑of‑way from the corner of Summer Street heading east; approximately 40 feet of that route lies in bordering land subject to flooding. Studholter said the project is largely utility maintenance but includes a short new connection and that no loss of flood storage is expected because the work will be repaved to existing standards. “Once the work is complete, there’s no loss of flood storage as a result of the project…It’s already a developed roadway,” Studholter said.

Commission staff and the applicant agreed the work qualifies as an eligible limited project and a utility maintenance action under 310 CMR 10.53(d); the commission required the applicant to follow the BMPs listed in the staff comments and to obtain any other town permits, including building or engineering approvals, as needed.

Members of the public asked about erosion controls and timing. The applicant estimated construction would begin within four to six weeks, with work completed in approximately four weeks once started; the applicant said they are coordinating timing with planned town roadway work to avoid overlap. The commission voted to close the public hearing and issue the negative determination with conditions that the applicant use BMPs and coordinate additional permits. The vote was unanimous among commissioners present.