Commission issues order of conditions for 9‑unit Slade/Bay Street townhouse project with site‑plan contingency

The Fall River Conservation Commission voted Nov. 3 to issue an order of conditions for a proposed nine‑unit townhouse development on the west side of Bay Street and south side of Slade Street, contingent on pending site‑plan review.

Jeffrey Toman with Northeast Engineers told the commission the applicant revised grading and drainage to reduce the need for riprap slopes and maintain a 25‑foot undisturbed buffer in portions of the site. He said the team added a third Coltec chamber to accommodate lower‑than‑expected infiltration at one area. “We changed the overall grading to cut down on the amount of fill… and we were able to maintain a 25‑foot undisturbed buffer,” Toman said while summarizing test pits and drainage adjustments.

Conservation staff said the revised submittal and drainage calculations addressed staff concerns and recommended issuance of an order of conditions with the special condition that site‑plan review approval be obtained prior to construction. Commissioners voted in favor of the order, with the usual special conditions to ensure board of health and site‑plan review signoffs remain in place before any ground‑disturbing activity.

The project remains subject to final municipal site‑plan approval and any conditions imposed by the review process. The commission’s action authorizes the conservation‑related approvals as described in the order, but construction cannot begin until the applicant secures the outstanding administrative approvals.