Danvers conservation commission grants waivers for 267 Centre St., requires full debris removal

The Town of Danvers Conservation Commission voted on June 25 to grant multiple waivers allowing work inside the regulated buffer areas at 267 Centre Street while imposing a firm debris‑removal condition.

John Dick, the applicant’s wetland scientist, told the commission that although the property does not show mapped wetlands in DEP or National Wetlands Inventory layers, a wetland is present on site, marked by skunk cabbage, red maple and other wetland plants and a groundwater breakout at the toe of slope. He described extensive buried debris — concrete rubble, sand, bricks and household items — and proposed regrading the slope, adding at least 12 inches of clean plantable soil and planting four rows of native vegetation to restore the area. The proposed house footprint and an accessory dwelling unit fall within both the 35‑ft No‑Disturb and 35–50 ft No‑Build zones; the applicant requested waivers for both zones, saying mitigation would be substantial and impacts were below applicable thresholds.

Commission discussion centered on two wetland areas on the parcel. Dick said rotating or relocating the accessory unit would reduce impacts in the lower‑quality southern wetland but increase impacts to a higher‑quality red‑maple swamp at the rear. Planning Director Brian Szekely agreed the southern wetland functions mainly as a drainage swale of limited ecological value and noted the application is under the threshold for waiver consideration. Board member Peter Wilson said he was uncomfortable approving a structure that sits deeply within both protected zones; Mike Splaine also raised concerns about the ADU’s placement and asked whether alternative locations were adequately considered.

Neighbor Martha Christensen, who lives at 257 Rear Centre Street, asked whether altering on‑site flow could cause water pooling on her property. John Dick and staff replied that her property is upslope and that the site drains toward the applicant’s parcel; they also noted the project cannot legally redirect water onto an adjacent property.

Before voting, the commission reviewed typical site controls — equipment leak checks, no fuel storage or concrete washout in the buffer, and no dumping of yard waste — and the applicant agreed to staging away from the wetland. The commission added an explicit condition requiring that all debris be removed from the site and not left buried in the buffer.

Paul McNulty moved to close the public hearing; the motion passed 4–1, with Peter Wilson opposed. McNulty then moved to grant the waiver to allow work within the 35‑ft No‑Disturb zone and the 50‑ft No‑Build zone, and to allow work within the 50‑ft No‑Build zone conditioned on full debris removal; each motion was seconded by Lorraine Drapek and passed 3–2, with Mike Splaine and Peter Wilson recorded as opposed.

The commission’s votes allow the applicant to proceed under the conditions set by the commission and subject to the town’s and DEP’s regulatory procedures (DEP File No. 14‑1454).