At its November meeting the Brentwood Conservation Commission received updates on two separate land-management matters: the Pickpocket Dam removal project and a proposed redevelopment at the former Bessie's site that lists wetlands-related variance requests.

Member 2 summarized a public meeting on the Pickpocket Dam removal: presenters showed a 30% design and a timeline that would begin removal in July 2027 and complete by the end of that year. "They presented a 30% design which was basically a sketch of where the flow will be directed," the chair said, and members pressed project staff to show how the engineering will protect downstream infrastructure in the event of a 1,000-year flood; designers present did not provide detailed engineering at that meeting. Members also reported that the proposal included a parking lot on the far side of the river with a path to the water — a change that drew opposition from some meeting attendees.

Separately, members discussed notice of a Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) hearing from Jones and Beach for the former Bessie's property. The application, posted on the town website, requests variances related to wetlands setbacks and other site changes and is scheduled for Nov. 24. Members debated whether the conservation commission should request a presentation to review potential wetland impacts before the application advances to the planning board; several members said they would monitor the ZBA outcome and raise wetland concerns during planning-board review if needed.

Members left the items open for further monitoring and said they would continue attending public meetings to press for detailed engineering information and clearer remediation plans for riverfront impacts and wetlands protection.