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Conservation commission continues hearing on Carlisle fire station renovation after wetland buffer concerns
Summary
The Carlisle Conservation Commission continued the public hearing on a proposed renovation of the town fire station at 80 Westford Street after members expressed concern that a Planning Board recommendation to widen an eastern driveway would encroach about 6–7 feet into the wetland buffer; the hearing was continued to March 26, 2026.
The Carlisle Conservation Commission on March 12 continued a public hearing on the proposed renovation of the town fire station at 80 Westford Street, citing unresolved wetland-buffer, septic, and water-supply protection issues.
Josue Valdez of Fuss & O’Neill told the commission the project team is awaiting revised plans and a peer review from LandTech coordinated with the Planning Board, and that the Board of Health has submitted comments about the proposed septic system. Valdez relayed that Fire Chief Brian Sorrows indicated the current one-way driveway design is acceptable from a safety standpoint.
Commission members questioned a separate Planning Board recommendation to widen the eastern driveway from 14 feet to 20 feet to allow two-way traffic, noting the change would expand into the wetland buffer by about 6–7 feet. Commission members described the proposed widening as appearing to favor convenience rather than addressing a clear safety shortfall. Eric Balles, co-chair of the fire station building renovation committee, told the commission the fire department has said it is satisfied with the current one-way design and that traffic volume is minimal.
Other project details reported to the commission included expanding an outbuilding to roughly 2,300 square feet and addressing snow-storage plans within Zone I of the town’s public water-supply well protection area. The commission noted that wetland delineation must be confirmed before the project may proceed.
After discussion the commission voted unanimously to continue the hearing to March 26, 2026, to allow time for revised plans, the peer review, and additional comments from reviewing boards.
