Commission urges scaling back driveway expansion at 47 Stonebrook Road amid wetland concerns

The Sudbury Conservation Commission on Oct. 7 pressed the applicant for 47 Stonebrook Road to reduce or reconfigure a proposed driveway expansion that would come within feet of an isolated wetland and the 200-foot Riverfront Area near Dudley Brook.

Engineer Ian Ainslie of Meisner Brem Corporation presented plans to raise the driveway about one foot, install two four-inch PVC overflow culverts and add paved turnaround and parking space to address existing ponding. Ainslie said mitigation would naturalize roughly 598 square feet of riverfront inner riparian area to offset about 498 square feet of new impervious surface and proposed planting species such as highbush blueberry, dogwood and sheep laurel.

Commissioners voiced multiple concerns. Chair David Henkels and Vice Chair Ken Holtz said the proposed expansion’s proximity to a presumed vernal pool and an isolated wetland merited shrinking or relocating the paved area. Comm. Mark Sevier and Comm. Holtz questioned the small culvert size and clogging risk—the plans call for two 4-inch pipes of about 25 feet in length—and asked that gratings or trash racks be considered. Assoc. Comm. Harry Hoffman pressed for winter‑maintenance limits because salt use on new pavement could harm nearby wetland vegetation.

Coordinator Lori Capone asked for clearer culvert elevation data, reestablishment of missing wetland flags for boundary confirmation, an invasive‑species management plan for the mitigation area and confirmation that the Department of Public Works would permit culverts in the town right‑of‑way. Ainslie said he would set culverts a few inches above the wetland bottom to avoid changing wetland capacity and would provide updated plans before the next hearing.

Contractor Michael LaPorte of Premier Asphalt Services described the homeowner’s need to park a large work van off Stonebrook Road; commissioners suggested depicting the vehicle footprint on revised plans and exploring alternate surfacing such as permeable pavers or gravel to reduce impacts. Commissioners discussed minimizing paving (for example, paving only a vehicle footprint) and requested that maintenance obligations for permeable surfaces be specified in the Order of Conditions if adopted.

The commission unanimously continued the hearing to Oct. 21, 2024 for revised plans, DPW confirmation, and additional details on culvert elevations, mitigation sizing and invasive‑species control. No permit or Order of Conditions was approved at the meeting.