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Eagle Scout’s Valley Road boardwalk draws neighbor opposition; Conservation Commission continues hearing
Summary
An Eagle Scout project to build a 30-foot boardwalk and 1,000-foot trail on Southborough Open Land Foundation property drew objections from abutters worried about parking, trespass and wetland impacts; the Conservation Commission continued the hearing because a DEP file number was still outstanding.
Corey Lou, the applicant and Eagle Scout behind the Valley Road project, told the Conservation Commission on Thursday that his plan would add a roughly 30-foot boardwalk and about 1,000 feet of trail to channel local foot traffic off narrow Valley Road and away from cars.
"The goal of this project is to keep pedestrians off of the busy Valley Road with no sidewalks," Lou said, describing the work as the continuation of a prior Eagle Scout project and saying the boardwalk would be built of cedar or pine and cross beams every eight feet.
Several abutters, led by Allison Pedraza of 25 Valley Road, urged the commission to reject or delay the project. "This is going to increase traffic," Pedraza said. "Putting a boardwalk with the pathway in the woods becomes a destination point. You are inviting people to come and explore." Her mother, Martha Pedraza, added that narrow roadways and limited parking make neighborhood impacts likely.
Supporters, including Jim Stewart — who identified himself as a mentor and the father of an Eagle Scout who has done similar projects — said a raised boardwalk would localize foot traffic, reduce trampling and be less damaging than current informal paths. A trustee for the Southborough Open Land Foundation said recent nearby Eagle Scout projects produced few complaints and tended to be used mostly by local residents.
Staff advised commissioners that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) file number required to act on the notice of intent had not yet arrived. The commission said the site choice minimized excavation in a rocky, seasonally saturated area but that an outstanding DEP action precluded a final decision. Commissioner Mark noted that parking and traffic concerns fall outside the commission's jurisdiction and encouraged neighbors to contact public works and police about speed and parking.
Because the DEP file number and some clarifying materials remain outstanding, the commission voted in roll call to continue the public hearing to its next meeting, giving residents more opportunity to review posted plans and submit additional comments.
The commission invited the applicant to respond to specific concerns at the continued hearing and asked staff to confirm the DEP file number and ensure abutter notices and plan updates are available on the commission’s web packet before the next session.
