Conservation Commission - Regular Meeting

Call the meeting to order. I'm Travis Mass. When I call your name, confirm you can hear me. Verifying that you are present. Starting with the commissioner commissioners. Jonathan uh present. Amamira present. And Noah present. And how about staff? Leah, I'm here. Jan, present.

This open meeting of the Conservation Commission is being conducted remotely via Zoom pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12th, 2020 order. Recently extended to March 28th, 2025. Access info for the public has been provided on the town website. This meeting is being recorded. Please remember to mute your phone or computer when you are not speaking. This is done on a phone by pressing star six. As share, I'll introduce each speaker on the agenda. Please note, you will not have screen sharing privileges. Jan can display any visuals if you would like. During periods of public comment, participants must use the raise hand icon in the Zoom menu bar to indicate you'd like to speak. Again, this is done on a phone by pressing star 9 and then star six to unmute when you are called upon. Participants who raise their hand will be recognized one at a time and will be promoted to speak. Each vote taken will be conducted by a roll call vote. As a reminder, the commission is concerned with state and town wetland and storm water regulations. Concerns outside of this purview need to be addressed to the appropriate boards such as road conditions must be addressed by the select board. Traffic concerns must be addressed with the planning board. With that, do we need to wait until 7:05 to do the continuence?

The first one, yes, but you could do 21 Metobrook. Pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act and Grafton Wetlands Protection bylaw, the Grafton Concom will hold a public hearing via Zoom to act upon a notice of intent and application for Grafton Wetlands bylaw permit for construction of a single family house at 21 Mealbrook Road and they have requested a continuance to April 7th. So, do I have a I don't have to do public comments, right? Correct. Do I have a motion to continue the hearing for 21 Meadow Brook Road to April 7th?

So moved. Have a second. Second. All right, let's do a vote. Noah, yes. Jonathan, yes. Amira, yes. And I'm also a yes. The motion passes. Can probably fit minutes. Huh? Can probably fit minutes. Yeah. All right. Um, March 3rd meeting minutes. I looked at them. I didn't have any comments or questions. Did everybody get a chance to look at them? Did they have any questions or comments? None for me.

None for me. Jonathan, Noah? None for me either. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes for March 3rd, 2026? I'll make a motion to approve the March 3rd, 2026 meeting minutes. Second. Motion and a second. Uh, roll call vote. Amira, yes. Jonathan, yes. Noah,

yes. I am also a yes. We probably shouldn't get into high fields or the COC. Um, are we starting at the top at 7:05? You can do the 81 Milbury and then uh the the two that we have tonight you can take in whatever order you choose. Got 705 on my phone. Okay.

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act and Grafton Wetlands Protection bylaw, the Grafton Concom will hold a public hearing Tuesday, March 17th, via Zoom act. Upon a notice of intent and application for Grafton Wetlands bylaw permit for resource area restoration at 81 Milbury Street, Grafton. The applicant has requested a continuance to April 21st. Do I have a motion to continue the hearing? I will move to continue the hearing for 81 Milbury Street to April 21st, 2026.

We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Roll call vote. Noah, yes. Amamira, yes. Jonathan, yes.

I am also a yes. The motion passes. All right, let's just go right down the line to 244 Worcester Street, Wy and Gordon. Pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, Grafton Storm Water Management bylaw and Grafton Wetlands Protection bylaw, Grafton Concom will hold a public hearing via Zoom to act upon a notice of intent application for Grafton storm water bylaw permit, an application for Grafton wetlands bylaw permit for the construction of a solar array at 244 Worcester Street in Grafton. So, who is here from the applicant to give us an update since we last met? Um,

I think it'd be my drop off. We'll come right back. Uh Leah, do you want to give your report out or do you want to wait for them? I mean, I was going to let them go first, but they did submit some stuff today that I haven't had a chance to review. So, it's just talking through that stuff with the team and the commission.

So, Nick Fasendola here for the applicant. I I can go over what was submitted, but I'll let Adam jump in. And looks like you were on twice, Adam. That's why the echo. Yeah, I don't know how I did that. Uh the first time I logged in, I didn't have any uh volume, so I I apologize for being just a few minutes late, but uh I'll turn it over to Nick to to kind of walk through things. Just uh uh wanted to say hi and appreciate the opportunity to come in front of you guys again.

Great. So, for the record, Nick Fascinola, Level Design Group. We prepared the uh engineered site plans for this application and the uh application paperwork that was submitted to the commission and to mass D. Um few minor outstanding items uh from our first public hearing. Um as Leah did say uh we did submit some uh revised materials. Apologize that those items came in late. Um we did have a chance to get some additional feedback from um the town's uh consultant on the um MS4 permitting for total phosphorus and TSS removal. Um based on that additional information, we updated our calculations and um with the information provided to us from VHB and how they described how we could uh actually account for some additional um uh removal based on imperous disconnection. um we no longer require a waiver from that um storm water requirement for redevelopment to provide 50% total phosphorus removal and 80% TSS removal. So we um satisfy those requirements based on some revised calculations that were submitted today. additional items that we had outstanding. Um there was a request to look at the seed mix proposed for the interior portion of the array. Um we made that update. If you go to I think it's the last page, uh Jan, if you're if you're driving the plans, I

can kind of point that out. Um but we went with uh New England wet plants seed mix. Um, and I'll show the detail that calls it out once we get there. So, yeah, on the uh top left corner um of the detail. So, we're noting that the array area is to be uh stabilized with the New England wet plants um New England erosion control restoration mix for dry sites and any areas that are we're saying to the west of the proposed gravel driveway that's closest to the resource area. Um we're proposing the New England wet plants um uh conservation wildlife mix and we provided the seeding rates that um are recommended and in the correspondence I provided Leah I included the cut sheets for those um two types of seed mixes. Another comment was regarding the material for the gravel access lane. So, we had a standard mass DOT gravel borrow spec. Um, I modified that to be a mass do crush stone spec. So, that material is going to have a lot less fines and um be a little bit more coarse and provide better drainage um in that gravel access lane. So minimizing the fines and having a more coarse material anywhere from two inches to, you know, three quarter inch stone um to be part of that gravel access lane. Um there was one outstanding comment from Graves Engineering um that we addressed. They wanted us to

note a manhole to be cleaned. I missed it. I I pointed I had a a call out that that had a catch basin to be cleaned right next to this manhole that Mr. Walsh wanted us to note. So on this revised set on page 4.1, um we we took care of that item. Um and that pretty much sums up the changes to the site plans. you know, we've left with a bunch of, you know, a handful of minor um items to address. Um you know, with the phosphorus and TSS removal calcs being um the major item there. So, I've got a couple questions, but I'm going to start with the commissioners and I'll go to Jonathan. Any questions, comments?

I don't have any questions at this time. Thank you. Noah, nothing from me. Amira, I don't have any questions. So Leah on the updated calculations to show the reduction impervious area I believe is that the is that what just came in today Leah?

Yeah I haven't given them back to VHB for their sign off so that part depends on you guys comfort level. Um, I don't have enough it. Would it be easier on you all if Graves did a back check to make sure they're sufficient? Um, is there So, they're saying that if they do this, it eliminates the need for the other requirements. Correct. it it um if their math if the math that they submitted checks out then they do not need the waiver request that I had listed in my report. Um okay

otherwise they need it because they fell short on TSS. Um, all right. So then my other question on the seed mix, Leah, can we put a condition that the spec sheet will be submitted to you before installation to confirm that it's still a native seed mix along with two years of monitoring to ensure like 85% coverage with natives? I think so. This the spec sheet I think was in the package submitted today. Is that correct, Nick?

That's correct. Yeah, I provided both uh specification sheets uh for the interior array seating which is the restoration for dry sites seed mix and the New England Conservation Wildlife seed mix. But um typically what I require when we go to construction is that the contractor you know submit you know a shop on that and I approve the seed mix before it gets sprayed so we don't have any um confusion but I can also if if you want it to be a condition we can uh coordinate with the uh conservation office and provide that information once it comes in for construction.

Yeah. I just I can't find the seed mix in the files. Doesn't mean it's not there. But but to answer your question, yes, we absolutely could make sure that we coordinated uh prior to seating or anything like that just to make sure that's the most up-to-date seed mix. I think that'd be great because maybe you need to go with a different supplier who has a different designation for the seed and then would you be up for two years with monitoring to ensure 85% coverage of natives? Yeah, I mean we we wanted to grow um more than you do. So yeah, I I and I don't mean that as any sign of disrespect, just we have a very vested interest in it growing as well.

Sure, I get that. I just want to make sure it's natives and not fescue and rye. And then you said that your issue, Nick, are you good with that? I apologize. Oh yeah, 100%. Yeah, making sure that it grows is typic is a typical condition. Um, and you know, I'd be looking for at least 80% um, stabilization before I was I would be willing to sign off on a COC on this. So, perfect. But my my thing is 85% native coverage, not stabilization. Yeah, I I I understand what you're saying. Yep. Okay. and we can make sure to um

to accommodate that and if we have to bring on um somebody to review Yeah, that we we can go ahead and do that as well, Travis. Okay. And then just one other thing, if we could make sure the I think you mentioned you were going to spray it, so I assume hydro seed it, correct? Yes. Yeah. I it would just be good that the cover crop wasn't like perennial rye or some other perennial fescue that would take over the site and kind of make the natives. No, we can ensure that as well.

Yeah. So like an oats if you're in the spring, winter rye if you're in the winter or late summer. So that would be my requested condition for the native seeding if that's cool. Leah, I think you had something. Yeah, I have two questions for you. Um, you said two-year monitoring. We typically do two growing seasons, but Oh, yeah. That would be fine with me if we did two growing seasons.

Okay. And um can you say the part that you were just saying one more time about a cover crop? Oh. Um, if there's if they're using a cover crop, preferably some sort of an annual versus a perennial rye or other fescue. Okay. So, if they want a cover crop, something like oats would be my preference. if it's in the spring.

Just so that we don't introduce invasives. Okay. Thank you. Any questions from the commissioners before Leah gives her report? Nope. None for me. No, I thought that was pretty good. You want to give your report out, Leah?

Sure. Um, the only other outstanding item I had was just the D comment that came in day of the last meeting. um which was have alternative layouts been considered which would allow for um existing portions of naturally vegetated buffer to be preserved to a greater extent while maintaining the project goals.

So the the long answer is yes. Um we we've looked at this from about every different available angle. Um and and and and really this is our our opportunity to to be successful while maintaining um you know those goals. I mean we uh uh you know the the plant has you know the the very vested history um uh in the community. Uh we're we're not going to do anything to jeopardize the relationships that that that are there. Uh so I believe we can do this and do this responsibly. But um as far as is is there some ways to trim or move uh we're we're really um at our max right now. Yeah, you know, a possible option pri apologies prior to the sale would have, you know, the sale of the southerntherly parcel would have been somewhere in that field up front, but as you guys are aware, that parcel has been um sold and permitted for development. Um lo, you know, and that it it was a cleared field. um currently still is with some additional parking area up there, but at the same time then you would have a solar field adjacent to Worcester Street, which probably wouldn't um be uh something the neighborhood would want. So, you know, and trying to balance all these items, you know, neighborhood aesthetics and utilizing an area which is primarily cleared up through here, we we are clearing some wooded wooded area, you know, about 2 and a half acres, but of the total of the project development area, it's approximately 10 acres. A lot of that's already open grass fields as we as we said redeveloping um existing parking areas. We're moving about an acre and a half of impervious coverage through those

parking areas and existing buildings. Um the only other option for a solar field which we did look at would be if you can scroll down one sheet uh no two sheets Jen would be there's a wooded parcel that's situated in between that blue uh blob which is flood zone right through there. So behind the Hollywood Drive neighborhood, there's a lot of open land that Wyman Gordon owns through there, but that would require much more forced clearing um and a lot more infrastructure to get the power back to the building. So um you know, and Adam did discuss possibly rooftop solar, but that did not seem to work out well with the existing state of the uh plant roof. So overall we did look at a multiple different options and you know came upon this area on the left of the site which is tucked away nicely um which is good for the abutters redevelops and cleans up a large area of imperous coverage gets rid of a handful of underutilized structures that Wyman Gordon no longer needs um in doing so. So, we feel that this is the most appropriate place for the solar field.

Sandy, welcome. Apologize. It's just over a little over two hours to get out of Boston. I left just after I know how that goes. Yep. Yeah. But I'm here. So, I will kind of take a step back and you guys can finish up. You want us to finish this one? Okay. Um, okay. Leah, if if you want to um open to the public, the rest of the stuff that I have is just reading you guys suggested findings and conditions.

Yeah. Okay. So, this is where I always mess up. Now, I'm going to open it up to the public. Jan, are the lines open? They are. Nothing yet. Okay, Leah, would you like unless someone from the commission has questions or comments, jump in. Leah, do you want to go through the special conditions?

Sure. Um, and just the only other thing I forgot is we do need to vote on the waiver that does still remain um which is for work in the no disturb. Um beyond that I have one finding um which is the site and the proposed activities are managed by an LSP under the Massachusetts contingency plan with D oversight. The area of the proposed solar array has achieved a permanent solution with conditions which have been incorporated into the activity and use limitations. And then um for special conditions I have as discussed should the need for maintenance work arise in the stream channel andor the culverts due to beaver activity another noi will be submitted. Um we want a copy of the finalized swip. The 50-foot section of fence within the no disturb is to be installed with a 6-in wildlife gap at the bottom. the O andM plan that they submitted shall be implemented. And um this one was more a question for the commission um which is what your feelings were about no disturbed signage. They are going to have the proposed fence along the southern portion um which follows the edge of the easement for the water line. Then in the north, um, they have an existing fence, but that's like further toward the wetland. So if we were to ask, first of all, do you feel like we need no disturb signage? My my thoughts were like if if the maintenance is going to be hired out to somebody, then you would want something physically in the in the area that they would see. But if the maintenance is done in house, maybe you guys don't feel that's necessary. Um, and then if you do feel it's necessary, I would just suggest on the fence in that southern portion where it's going

to be the new fence, but then in the northern portion, I would I would suggest that they go on their own stakes along the no disturb line itself versus the old fence that's not on the not disturb line. It's further toward the wetland. Amira, Noah, Jonathan, any comments on that special condition?

So, just one thought is that, you know, based on what Adam's mentioned um prior, it's it's it sounds like this would be maintained by the folks on site at the moment. Um down the road that could change. Uh, and that's probably the the hypothetical I'm keeping in my head is that if if they wanted to subcontract it out to a landscaping company or some maintenance company, we would want those um those signs in place. That's my my two cents.

Yeah, my my thoughts exactly, Jonathan. uh you know it's it's being maintained in house now but just kind of I I don't think it would hurt to have um signage there. All right. And the applicant's good with that? Yeah. Nope. No issues. Uh I'm assuming What's the typical spacing you guys require for for signage? Yeah, it's exactly where I was going. Is there a standard back? Yeah, it'll be in the conditions. It'll lay the whole thing out, but I think it's 20 ft apart. Okay. And you guys have your own placards that you provide or is that something we

don't we don't provide them. We we list out what they should look like, what they should say. Uh local sign shops will know what you're looking for. Okay. And that we just put them on fence posts every however many feet. So, the way I'm proposing it is that um the fence you guys will be putting in along the southern portion, you could affix them right on that fence, but then in the northern portion where that new fence stops, then they would go on um I think we word it as steel post, but just something durable, not a wooden stake that someone can just take out easily. Yeah. Not a problem.

That's acceptable. Thank you. Then the only other condition would be the site will be restored with natives. Yes. Two-year growing season discussion to meet the 85% native coverage. Correct. So those conditions are good. No issues from us. All right. Um so we've got a vote on the one waiver within the no disturb. Yes. Correct, Leah? Yep.

So, do I have a motion to issue a waiver in accordance with section VC5 to remove one building and install the fence? So, moved. Second. Motion and a second. Roll call vote. Noah, yes. Amira, yes. Jonathan, yes.

I am also a yes. Motion carries. All right. So, I guess we can close this out unless there's anything else. That's all I have. I don't think anyone's online either. Yeah, I would just note in the minutes that I came in late and that I'm not responding to anything just because I haven't heard the testimony tonight. So, just make ask for your votes, Andy.

No, no, no. That's okay. I I was just going to say because I haven't heard anything that, you know, I don't need to I don't even need to recuse myself. I haven't heard it. So, just make a note that I came in late, that's all. and that I did not participate in the meeting in the hearing I should say. All right. Do I have a motion to close the hearing and issue the order of conditions as discussed for 244 Worcester Street? So moved. Second. Roll call vote. Noah, yes. Jonathan, yes. Amira,

yes. I am also a yes. The motion passes. Thanks for coming in. Good luck. Great. Thank you very much. Uh Leah, Jan, thanks for all your help. We appreciate it. No problem. Just to echo uh what Nick said. Thanks again. Uh we really do appreciate it. Um I'm sure Nick knows this, but next steps. So will will a draft order be kind of put together? Is that sort of how it works or just curious? Um it doesn't come back to the commission. It's just at the staff level at this point. Perfect. Yep. All right. Well, thank you all very much for your time and appreciate your willingness to look at this opportunity. So, thanks again. Have a good night. Thank you.

So, um Andy, you know, yeah, Travis, you want to keep on going? Be my guest. I I mean, I'm just Do we need to swear you in or anything? No, I just I I would just note it in the minutes that I came in at the end of the first hearing and and now I'm here. I don't think I don't think I need to add anything else, but yeah. Um, so so I guess we can go to 162 Old Upton. Leah, sure.

Um, well, now I need to This is what Sandy deals with all the time. Those are my notes. Okay. Pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Grafton Wetlands Protection bylaw, Grafton Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing via Zoom to act upon a notice of intent and application for Grafton Wetlands bylaw permit for the widening of a driveway at 162 Old Upton Road. Application materials meeting link and access info is posted on the town website. And who is here? I see Norman's here for the applicant to give us an update.

Yes. Good evening. Can you all hear me? Okay, we can.

Excellent. So, um, when we last met, D raised a couple of issues. One was, uh, we had shown a slight increase in the rate of runoff from the site after the new driveway was put in. And to address that, we've uh redesigned it using porous pavement, the previous pavement. So the water and we we've put an under drain layer under the uh proposed pavement. So um in doing so, we've been able to uh provide drainage calculations that now show no increase in any rate of runoff. So, I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

I'll start with the commissioners. Noah, questions on this? No questions for me. Amira, no questions right now. Jonathan, nothing for me. I have a couple questions, but I've been talking so much. So, I'm going to turn it over to Sandy. And you're on mute.

Okay. I just have a a couple of questions. So, um and I think it's probably on a different sheet. I'm just looking what the um the section is for the porest pavement. That's all the detail. I didn't get a chance to take a look at it. It's uh on this sheet here. If you look to the right, a little more to the right. There it is. There.

If you could zoom in on that. I I just uh I think it's probably very standard. I just want to check a couple things real quick. Okay. And again, this is for uh Norm. This is just for a driveway. You're not going to have H20 loading on this because there's not you don't have quite the suction for that. But

yeah, it's just a driveway. Yep. Okay. Yeah. I don't have And you say you're going to have an under drain on this. Well, you've got the 4 in of uh 3/4 inch stone and you've got actually two layers of 4 in of crushed stone.

Yeah. Yeah. You're supposed to have a a um a filter layer, too. Uh it's a it's a driveway. I mean, I was mainly looking for the depth of the porous and it's a single pore, so that's what I was looking for. Anyways, so yeah, typically the Astto 57 is um a little bit different than the uh 3/4 in stone. So yeah, I don't have any I don't have any real things. I was just wondering um what elevation you were putting the um under drain at cuz you mentioned that there was going to be an under drain under the pavement. Well, well, there's two layers of uh crushed stone.

Yeah. Yeah. Not not not going to have an under drain like a pipe. Oh, okay. Okay. That's what I was looking for. I just just curious. Yeah. Okay. All right. No, I mean um I don't have a a particular uh issue with it and Yeah. And then again, it was more just a question and not that I have an issue if there was an under drain. It would be I was just curious which layer it was in and so forth. So, that's the only question I had. So, I'm all set. Travis,

uh Sandy Leah, this is a question for you on the maintenance, vacuum sweeping, leaf removal, no sand. How How does it work long term? We put this condition out there and then it's completely on the the owner to implement this. for the most part. Yeah. Um, we've asked for like long-term maintenance reports. Um, I've never received one from a single project. Yeah.

So, so to me, the most important um part of that maintenance is yeah, it should be swept and so forth and vacuumed, but uh more than anything, you can't sand it. You absolutely can't sand it. So you will compromise that in one one or two times you sand it. So yeah. So that's and if they sand it that they're basically going to have to replace it because it will work. It won't work the way it's supposed to. So um I was um I was suggesting that we put those items require them to put those items on a sign that will be physically out there.

That's not bad. Yeah. And again, it's really just, you know, you hire someone to to plow and they have a little sander on the back. Well, you just compromise a whole lot of money by sanding it. I mean, it doesn't take a lot um a lot of times of putting sand down before it's compromised. So, but and I don't think you need like multiple signs. It's really just something to make sure that, you know, hopefully they'll they'll see it and hopefully the owners will understand that it's a waste of money if they don't make sure their contractors know that plowing is fine, sanding is not. So,

yeah, my client would be willing to do that. Yeah, I I I don't I think that's a good idea, Leah. All right. I think just that discussion and the just having that discussion is helpful too because yeah, I'd hate to see it just get filled in and not do anything. Um I didn't have anything else. Leah, do you have any um reporting items before we go to the public and then special conditions? Um I don't have anything remaining to be addressed. No. Okay. turn it over to public comment. Jan

uh nothing from the public. Leah, do you want to go through your conditions?

Sure. Um this one has the same waiver request uh for work in the no disturb as well. So that'll be a separate vote. Um for special conditions, a lot of them are about the porest pavement itself. Um, I have if the applicant is unable to source the porest pavement, they'll return to the commission to talk about what an alternative would be. Uh, the porest pavement installer must have three years of experience to be verified uh, via a letter to the commission. The system, the porest pavement system shall be installed according in accordance with the specs set forth by UNH's storm water center. Um staff shall witness a test of the porest pavement functionality prior to issuance of a certificate of compliance. As we talked about before, the system will be maintained in accordance with UNH guidelines, including vacuum sweeping, uh leaf removal in the fall, and no sand over uh the winter. Signage stating these items shall be installed on site. Um, if additional development is proposed on the site which would change the use or increase traffic, a plan for either protection or replacement of the system shall be submitted to the commission for approval and then implemented with the system retested and it shall not be replaced by standard asphalt. And then um I was suggesting no disturb signage and a barrier. Um we're right up against it for the most of the driveway, but I'm open to the commission's thoughts on that as well. That's all I have.

So we should probably clarify the no disturb signage. Any thoughts on that? So, I just need to know if you guys want both signage and barrier or one or the other. Um, the stone wall is going to remain, correct? Yes, the stone wall, both sides will remain. Okay. Does anybody have thoughts? If Yeah. If the stone walls are going to remain, that that makes sense as that's a barrier. Just do signage. Yep. That makes sense.

And then Leah, did you say the additional signage about the uh maintenance of the Yes, that was in there. Yep. Okay. Amira, did I interrupt you? I just said that makes sense to me. Okay. So, if there's nothing else, no comments from the public, we ready to vote on the waiver? All right. Do I have a motion to grant a waiver for work within the not disturb? I'll move to grant a waiver for work within the not disturb for 162 Old Upton Road.

Second. Motion and a second. Roll call vote. Sandy. Yes. Noah, yes. Jonathan, yes. Amira, yes. And I'm also Yes. Motion passes. All right. Do I have a motion to close the hearing and issue the order and permit for 162 Old Upton Road? So moved. Second. Roll call vote. Noah. Yes. Sandy, yes. Jonathan,

yes. Amira, yes. I am also a yes. The motion passes. Thank you all very much. Everyone stay well. Thank you. Next one.

We did the meeting minutes. High fields again. Wow. So, I get to leave early. Leah, do you want to do Bolty? Yeah. First, does that work? That's fine. All right. Take it away.

Okay. So, we have a request for a partial certificate of compliance and bond release for Winsslow Point. um I think formerly known as a fanso village at some point. It's the um the uh like townhouse apartments um down the hill from village at Institute Road or Woodland Hill. Um however you know the name of the project has changed many times. Um the whole portion developed by PY is complete. The remainder near Westboroough Road has been split off to its own lot because there were two other buildings proposed out there. Um, but they've split the lot. That half is still owned by Aphonso, who might come back and do those buildings down the road, but PY did their whole uh back half, if you will. Um, which is Winslow Lane. Um, so they're seeking that's why it's a partial certificate of compliance because our permits covered the whole project even though they split it in two. Um, so they're seeking a partial to close out the whole py portion which is done. They've satisfied everything we asked for. The site's stable. Um, we've been out to it. Jeff has been out to it. We have uh their asbuilt plans on file. The one last very small detail is we just have to verify they take their file number signed down otherwise they are good to go. Um so I'm recommending issuance of the partial. Uh and I listed out um like the building numbers so that it's covered for registry purposes. It's 2 4 5 7 9 11 and 13 Winslow Lane. So that's the big buildings with many apartments in them and then as well as I think it's four town houses uh behind there.

Oh, and and just that we need to include language that we're releasing the bond as well. Okay, questions, Sandy? No, I mean I I I was just questioning whether the town houses were included, but uh we already answered that question. All right, Noah, no questions for me. Amira, nothing for me. Jonathan, no questions here.

And I have no further questions. So, can I get a motion to issue the partial certificate of compliance and release the bond? Uh, yes. I'll rattle off the numbers, too, just just in case here. So, I'll I'll make a motion to issue the partial COC and release the bond for 2457 9 11 and 13 Winslow Lane. I'll second them. Do

I have a second? Got a motion and a second. Roll call vote. Sandy, yes. Noah, yes. Jonathan, yes. Amira, yes. I am also a yes. The motion passes. So, next up is Highfields. Is that the last thing, Leah? Yeah, it is. Since I'm recusing myself, can I leave? Absolutely. Sandy, you want to take it away? Ah, you know, I was going to give other people an opportunity, but I'll finish it up for you.

Well, I asked and nobody jumped in. So, all right, I'm gonna sign off since I'm recusing myself. Sounds like a plan. Thanks everybody. See you next time. See you. Byebye. Have a good night. Okay, so uh bring me up to date on what the Highfield subdivision the certification is.

Sure. So, um they are in pursuit of the conservation restriction that is to go on the open space/golfcourse portion of the property. Um when you apply to EA for a CR, one of the forms you can include, it's technically optional, um is a municipal certification which uh that the applicant seeks from the CONOM and it's a form where we're signing off saying that it provides a public benefit. Um the CR provides a public benefit. So um Jan has that to pull up on the screen. Um, I I filled that out um because they just ask you to spell out what the public benefit is. Um, I took some of this language from their drafted CR itself. Um, but we would basically be signing off saying that uh the public benefit is that this conservation restriction preserves the scenic and natural character of the town, protects wildlife habitat and wetland resource areas, and provides opportunities for low impact um public recreation. If you guys have anything you would like added or any edits, um happy to do that. we would take a vote on this and then this will go in the docuign packet that goes around to you guys. Yeah. I mean I don't have any I I you know don't have anything off top of my head to add this pretty uh succinct description of what the uh the restrictions for. So um I don't have any uh comments or questions. Uh Jonathan have anything on this one? No, it looks pretty straightforward. No questions.

Amir,

um, I'm sorry. Please excuse my my ignorance, but could you guys explain like what this what this is about because I guess I guess my thoughts are like uh golf courses are generally not super great for the environment. So, I'm just trying to understand what what this is exactly. So, it kind of goes back through the I think I think this started maybe before even I was on the commission, I think, if I'm correct. Um, so it's it's the um the areas that are under the restriction. Leah, do you have a better sense of where it is? It's not just the golf course. It's all the kind of uh natural areas around the golf course. Correct, Leah?

That that is correct. And I'm not I'm not sure if we're like co-pilots on this Zoom thing, but I can pull up a a map. If I can share my screen and show you guys. Yeah.

No, it's a good question. It's It's kind of not just the golf course itself. It's more what's around the golf course. Um, and you and like a a couple of hearings ago when they were talking about some where they had some issues with uh one of the holes because they cut stuff back and they're not supposed to cut certain things. So, that's what that restriction is about is maintaining that um those areas uh because of the type of uh system. And the other thing that's and to be honest, I've never signed one of these before uh because as Leah said, this is an optional thing. I see no issues with it. It's nice to actually put down in words what we think they do, but I think your question is good because it's people should understand what it's protecting. It's not just the golf course, though. So, it's going to go on the entirety of this parcel that is now in blue. Um, so it is it's like the perimeter of the whole subdivision. So, a decent chunk is the golf course, but there are stretches of woods. Um, they also redid the lot lines for this open space that that wetland replication area that they're that they've done and we will be confirming as uh weather allows is now also on this open space. Um, so we'll have that wetland system as well. So, And that was kind of part of the original permitting and everything as the type of uh subdivision slashdevelopment golf course type of place is that you have kind of the the protection of the wetlands and where the wetlands are within the the uh vegetated areas and they're not supposed to touch any of that and that's what the restriction does.

Got it. So this is basically an agreement that they won't, you know, impact any of the other areas outside of what is already developed. Cor well in general. But yeah, and you know, like what Leah was showing you was that blue line, that's a definition based on, you know, all the permitting done very early, but it's been tweaked over the years. From our perspective, it's about where all the wetlands are and the fact that a lot of the things is not only do the wetlands get protected because they're protected anyway under the the law. However, the areas abudding it and it's not just the the buffer and so forth, it's the general area around it based on that blue line. So,

so it prevents for like another road to come in and add more, you know, uh houses or something closer to the wetlands. So, got it. But good question though. Thank you. Yeah, no other question. Thanks for pulling that up, Leah. No problem. Um, any other questions on this particular one? Um, it will be the first time I signed one like this. I We haven't I don't think we've had one before. Like, right, Leah? I think I've seen I saw one one time um but it was for the land trust.

Okay. So, and I guess I have no opposition. I I am fine with signing this, especially based on what we just saw as far as the wording doesn't bother me at all. So, okay, I'm cool with that. So, uh having said that, uh let's first any other questions, Jonathan? Nothing from me. Um Noah, any questions? No questions. Okay. And then I think the next step is just uh uh doing a motion. Correct. We need to do a motion to uh say that we accept this and then we'll have to sign it in our package motion. Anyone?

Sorry, I might report one way. I'll I'll make a motion to accept the municipal certification language as indicated for the Highfield subdivision CR. Sounds like a great motion. Do I have a second? Second. Motion second. Roll call. Uh Amir, yes. Noah, yes. Jonathan, yes. I am also a yes. And obviously Travis has recused himself. So motion carries. I think that's the last one. Yep.

Right. Okay. Yeah. Apologize for being late. I don't know where the accident was on the Pike, but it really messed up traffic and the one time I go into Boston maybe once a month. You know, I can't do anything about that. So, um, anything else that we need to take care of or anything else except for the last motion? That's all I have. Okay, then we just need one last motion to adjourn. Second. Okay. And roll call vote. Jonathan, yes. Amira, yes. And Noah, yes. And also a yes. Now we can go eat dinner. So,