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Commission approves Lot 1 at Old Lincoln Street despite abutters' stormwater concerns
Summary
The Conservation Commission approved the Lot 1 plan for Old Lincoln Street after peer review found wetlands and buffers acceptable; abutters urged a stormwater study citing recent basement flooding, and the agent explained appeals options to the DEP.
The Town of Blackstone Conservation Commission voted Sept. 11 to approve the permit for Lot 1 Old Lincoln Street, after the applicant's consultant revised the plan to move the house out of the wetland buffer and a peer reviewer indicated the changes met the commission's performance standards.
Mike Rosati of Machander and Associates represented the applicants and said the latest plan was reviewed in a peer review and that the consultant found the adjustments acceptable. Abutters, including Brian McDonald, a professional geologist, and several residents said two neighboring basements flooded within the past year and asked the commission to require a stormwater study to assess downstream effects. John Lopez, the conservation agent, responded that Massachusetts stormwater standards generally apply to larger developments and that the commission's wetlands review is focused on jurisdictional impacts; he noted that abutters can appeal an approval to the Department of Environmental Protection after issuance.
Commissioners questioned delineation and whether proposed grading or septic work could affect groundwater; the applicant and consultant said peer review confirmed the wetlands delineation and that the proposed work would not impact groundwater or downstream groundwater-fed basements. After discussion the commission took a motion to approve the project for Lot 1 and recorded the motion as passing on a 4'to'3 vote.
The approval includes the usual requirement that any orders of conditions be recorded at the registry of deeds and that erosion controls and preconstruction conditions be in place prior to work. The agent outlined the 10-day appeal period that begins on the date the permit is issued and said abutters or the DEP can initiate appeals.
