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Staff says aqueduct protection area flags applications but commission only reports to water company
Summary
Staff told the commission the aqueduct protection overlay requires referral of applications to the water company but is not an enforceable conservation overlay, leaving regulatory decisions to other bodies.
Staff explained that a large mapped aqueduct-protection area on the commission’s overlays requires the commission to report certain applications to the water company, but it is not an enforceable conservation overlay triggering automatic commission regulation.
The staff member (S4) said the “large blue area is the aqueduct protection area” and noted the commission must send applications in that area to the water company; there is no separate town standard making it a conservation overlay that would automatically bring the item before the commission. “That just means we have to report to the water company,” S4 said. Staff further said she had spoken with water-department personnel about types of applications they want flagged.
Commissioners discussed whether this reporting arrangement gives the water company sufficient influence to protect drinking-water infrastructure and agreed to collect suggestions as they revisit town regulations and bylaw language.
The exchange clarifies an administrative check in the review process and identifies the water company as a stakeholder to be notified when proposed projects fall within the aqueduct protection area.
