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Conservation commission approves after‑the‑fact amendments for 81 Surfside Road amid neighbor concerns about driveway and stone surfacing
Summary
The Commission approved an amendment to a prior order for 81 Surfside allowing two timber posts for a generator pad, replacement of a concrete driveway with asphalt in the same footprint, and placement of crushed stone; neighbors raised concerns about stone washout during storms but applicant said materials matched prior conditions and no local rules were violated.
The Scituate Conservation Commission voted to accept an after‑the‑fact amendment for 81 Surfside Road, authorizing two timber posts supporting an elevated generator pad, the replacement of a poured concrete driveway with asphalt in the same footprint, and placement of crushed stone as a finished surface.
Greg Morse, the project engineer, described the changes as minor deviations from the original order of conditions and said the Board of Health reviewed the site and provided comments that have been addressed. Attorney Adam Brodsky, representing the applicant, told commissioners the work complied with local requirements and that the site sits in land subject to coastal storm flowage where loose stone movement in storms is a known condition.
Neighbor Rafael D. Guzman, an owner of 83 Surfside Road, asked why the variations were not submitted in advance and expressed concern about the asphalt material bonding and the nonnative stone being added to the site. “Placing the crushed stone there is in keeping with that,” Morse said, noting similar material was used elsewhere on Surfside Road and at a recent municipal stabilization project. Brodsky said the owner had not received complaints from neighbors about stones moving off‑site.
Commissioners asked for clarification about whether existing vegetation would be removed (engineer: no) and suggested moving stockpile areas or requiring plantings to offset any impervious impacts; the applicant agreed to relocate stockpiles outside the 50‑ft buffer and to add plantings where requested. After discussion, Commissioner Penny moved to accept the amendment and issue a new order; the motion was seconded and the Commission voted to approve the change and issue amended orders.
Next steps: the Commission will issue a new order of conditions documenting the amendment and any standard conditions; neighbors and the public retain appeal rights under state and local rules.
