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Neighbors raise stormwater, wetlands and forest‑loss concerns at Rugged Trails subdivision hearing; board continues to April 14
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Summary
At the March 17 public hearing on the Rugged Trails subdivision (228 Ruggles Street), abutters and technical reviewers flagged shallow bedrock at proposed infiltration basins, possible vernal‑pool habitat and loss of a roughly five‑acre tree buffer to I‑90; the board scheduled a site visit and continued the hearing to April 14 for further peer‑review and responses.
Barry Atchison of WDA Design Group presented a proposal to raise the existing house at 228 Ruggles Street and create a three‑lot definitive subdivision accessed by a new town roadway. The applicant requested a continuance while addressing conservation and peer‑review comments; the Planning Board agreed and continued the hearing to April 14, 2026.
Neighbors and technical commenters urged the board to keep the hearing open until the outstanding stormwater and environmental questions are resolved. Anton Abaya, speaking for abutters, summarized written technical concerns: an independent peer review found the proposed stormwater infiltration system may not meet Massachusetts standards for peak flow control and groundwater recharge; subsurface work showed extremely shallow bedrock at the proposed infiltration basin and additional subsurface evaluation and groundwater‑mounding analysis may be required to confirm feasibility. Abaya asked the board to withhold action until those items are resolved.
"Until the infiltration system can be demonstrated to be feasible, supported by appropriate subsurface evaluation, including groundwater mounding analysis where required, and shown to fully drain within the required 72 hours, the stormwater design cannot be considered complete," Abaya said.
Other speakers noted the project affects wetland buffer zones and a potential vernal pool that appears on MassGIS and needs field verification. Several residents emphasized the environmental value of an existing five‑acre forest that currently buffers their neighborhood from noise and pollutants from I‑90, and asked the board to more closely scrutinize potential Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) thresholds.
Atchison said the team had just received conservation and peer review comments and requested more time to respond and to arrange a site visit for board members; the board agreed. Planning staff will coordinate a site visit and circulate the peer‑review comments and the applicant's forthcoming responses before the continued hearing on April 14.
