Uxbridge conservation board flags multiple stormwater and wetland concerns; letters and coordination with other boards planned

The Uxbridge Conservation Commission debated a string of ongoing enforcement issues that commissioners say are contributing to downstream sedimentation and roadway water hazards. Field reports and video from recent storm events led the commission to conclude several detention or retention basins are not retaining water as designed, and in some cases erosion controls have been overtopped.

Commissioners described two basins in the Juniper Hill/195 South Main development that, during a heavy rain, allowed water to pass from inlet straight to outlet without pooling or detaining. “I walked from the entrance to the exit of the water and you can watch it flow out the bottom of the basin,” said Speaker 2 (Unidentified commission member), who reported the observation. Board members discussed likely causes including accumulated silt, buried stump/grindings under basins, pipe inverts too low, and lack of maintenance records; some earlier phases reportedly never received Certificates of Compliance.

The commission agreed to take a measured enforcement approach: staff will draft letters documenting observed violations and request corrective plans or meetings with responsible parties. For 619 Quaker Highway the commission noted that a recent ZBA hearing did not reflect active Conservation Commission enforcement and agreed to notify the ZBA and planning board that enforcement is ongoing so permits or approvals are not granted while violations remain unresolved.

Separately, the commission reviewed clearing behind the courthouse at 261 South Main, where roughly 20 feet (about seven to eight parking-space widths) of trees and understory were removed and wood chips were spread within 100 feet of a stream. The agent proposed a draft letter to the property owner, Court Facilities Bureau (Pemberton Square, Boston), requesting the owner or authorized representative attend the August 4 commission meeting to discuss potential violations of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c.131 §40). The commission approved preparing and sending the letter.

Next steps: staff will draft enforcement letters, contact responsible parties, and coordinate with the planning and zoning boards before further approvals are considered. The commission also recommended engineering follow-ups and cleaning/mucking of basins where sediment has reduced capacity.