Developers ask Charlton conservation commission to OK multifamily plan after wetlands-trimming revisions
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Summary
An applicant seeking to build multifamily housing on North Main Street told the Conservation Commission the plan has been reduced from 40 to 33 units and includes infiltration trenches and a temporary 808-square-foot wetland disturbance for a small force main; the commission continued the hearing to Feb. 11 for further review and a site walk.
An applicant seeking approval to build multifamily housing at North Main Street told the Town of Charlton Conservation Commission that the project has been scaled down and amended to reduce impacts to nearby wetlands, but the commission asked for more documentation before taking action.
The developer said the original plan for about 40 units on roughly a 6-acre parcel was reduced in planning‑board review first to 36 and later to 33 units. The filing showed work in the buffer zone of a wetland associated with an intermittent stream; the applicant disclosed a temporary wetland disturbance of 808 square feet to accommodate a buried force main they said must avoid the town right‑of‑way.
Why it matters: the parcel contains substantial wetland resource areas and neighbors and commission members flagged the project’s density and the proximity of retaining walls and road alignments to bordering vegetated wetlands. Resident Ashley Briscoe, who said she and neighbors had followed the planning‑board process, told the commission, “It’s just such a dense and aggressive project for the area that it’s being put in,” and urged care because the site contains a large swath of wetlands.
The applicant described specific plan changes intended to reduce impacts: removing a block of units, shortening Drive A to connect at a safer point on North Main Street, adding sidewalk and parking adjustments, pulling some buildings farther from the wetland, and installing infiltration trenches and a riprap splash pad to address total phosphorus in runoff. The design team also said it had prepared geotechnical stabilization for slopes where retaining walls are proposed; wall heights shown in plan review varied, with locations ranging from a few feet up to about 20 feet at the tallest spots on the site.
Commission and staff questions centered on the accuracy of the wetland boundary, stormwater controls and the details of the proposed infiltration trenches and retaining‑wall stabilization. The applicant said Graves Engineering had performed reviews for the town and that remaining comments were “relatively small items” to resolve. Staff asked that the revised plan set and narrative be provided as a downloadable PDF or link so every member could review the changes prior to the next hearing.
Action taken: the commission voted to continue the NOI to its February 11 meeting and scheduled a site visit so members can inspect the areas closest to the wetland and the proposed hammerhead/fire turnaround on Olga Lane. Staff told the commission it will follow up with the Board of Health and provide the revised materials to members ahead of the continued hearing.
Next step: the commission will review the revised plans and Graves Engineering’s outstanding comments at the Feb. 11 meeting; no order of conditions was issued at this session.
