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Northborough commission backs limited DCR crossings for Whitney Street trail, continues hearing
Summary
The Conservation Commission agreed 4–3 to support moving forward with limited wetland crossings on a proposed trail that would access Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) land, and voted to continue the hearing pending written direction from DCR and updated GPS plans.
The Town of Northborough Conservation Commission signaled conditional support Nov. 10 for a proposed trail extension that would cross a small portion of DCR-owned land at 432 Whitney Street, but continued the hearing to allow the town and applicants to obtain a written position and refined plans from the DCR.
Chair Greg Young said the commission would “feel for” its members before deciding whether to allow wetland crossings. Applicants Bryant and Mariel Stone reported a site walk with five DCR staffers, including an ecologist and an archaeologist, and said DCR suggested minor route changes. Mariel Stone said DCR “did not seem to think there would be too many issues with putting a trail on their property” but that the agency would need to send a written outline of next steps.
Trail designer Vinny Vignali told the commission the DCR portion might qualify as a minor exempt activity because it would be a 3-foot-or-less path in the buffer zone; he said that, because DCR is the property owner, the local bylaw may not apply to that parcel. “I think the exemption pathway might be easier,” Vignali said, and offered to draft the minor-exempt form for submission to DCR.
Commissioners questioned slope, alignment and proximity to wetlands. John Johnson asked for a map showing the DCR-proposed modifications; Mariel Stone said the grade in the suggested location measures about a 16% slope and that DCR recommended following contour lines and using switchbacks to avoid ponding. Dan Clark said the DCR segment appears to be a small loop that offers limited public benefit and urged focusing on a town-owned upland loop instead.
The commission reported an informal tally of support “4 to 3” for advancing the limited crossings, but did not finalize an order; instead, members voted to continue the hearing to the December meeting to allow DCR to provide written guidance and for the applicants to submit a GPS-accurate track and any revised plans. Vignali said he would prepare the minor-exempt package if the commission favored that approach.
The commission emphasized that any future larger expansions onto the DCR parcel would not be rubber-stamped and should return to the commission for review. The hearing was continued to the commission’s December meeting.
