Templeton conservation commission approves Minuteman Drive wetland plan, backs conservation restriction and housing tweaks

The Town of Templeton Conservation Commission voted March 16 to approve several land‑use items and offer formal support for a conservation and a dam‑removal grant application.

The commission reopened a public hearing and heard from an engineering representative about proposed site improvements at 9 Minuteman Drive (NOI file 3040403). The project includes reestablishing a roughly 120‑foot retaining wall along a manmade farm pond, replacing and expanding patios and walkways, constructing a new deck, and installing erosion controls. The engineer told the commission the project footprint is about 2.07% of the riverfront area and that a habitat study was provided to address DEP comments about cumulative alterations under 310 CMR performance standards. After questions about two existing sheds near a perennial stream and a makeshift ladder‑type crossing, the commission approved the plans as submitted, explicitly allowing the shed and ladder crossing to remain. Roll‑call votes recorded Kristoff/Christophe yes, Joanne no, George yes, and Dave yes; the motion passed 3–1.

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust presented a draft conservation restriction (CR) for roughly 47 acres owned by the Swift River Retrievers dog‑training operation, adjacent to a larger parcel conserved by the Department of Fish & Game. Seth Kelly, Mount Grace’s community conservation program…