Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Permit Modification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
PZC discusses minor berm modification for dentist’s office amid abutter drainage concerns
Summary
The commission discussed a requested minor modification to the berm at 1100 Boston Turnpike (Bolton Cosmetic & Family Dentistry). Staff said the change could be handled administratively but noted prior public‑hearing concerns; the Inland Wetlands Agent indicated she could treat it as a minor modification, and the commission asked that abutters and the property owner be heard before a decision.
Zoning Enforcement Officer Jim Rupert told commissioners that staff can technically manage a proposed minor modification to the berm at 1100 Boston Turnpike, but cautioned that the special permit had been the subject of a public hearing during which neighbors raised concerns about berm location and drainage.
Rupert said the contractor was concerned that creating a swale on the uphill side as approved could damage tree roots that form the vegetative buffer to the west, and that maintenance of a swale could lead to water backing up behind abutting properties. The applicant has proposed shifting the berm one to two feet east while maintaining the proposed height and planting at the top.
The Inland Wetlands Agent told staff she could approve the change as a minor modification. Chairman Adam Teller said the commission should provide direction that staff handle the technical review but that the matter should be returned to the PZC if abutters or the property owner raise strong objections.
No formal decision was made at the meeting; commissioners instructed staff to solicit and consider comments from abutting property owners and the property owner before making a final determination.
