[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6330342,"mediaKeyId","2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236","parentId",2314596,"title","Votes at a glance: Needham Conservation Commission, Feb. 13, 2025","audioSeconds",2670,"startMs",1536000,"endMs",4206000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236&start=1536&end=4206","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236/thumbnail_1536000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6330342/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Needham-Conservation-Commission-Feb-13-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330342-fa0e66e1c3219fb9d6f374bb1eac5ea5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176842&Signature=YAzeBCx1PqDUpwBRpK1CWsVe~BOPCGhm4ZGGSXsmy7bClgfcHZb7FF23m06BR53PLefyVViOmvZg47QYfnWQ7aqiOUU6rW-bBe-dAEgkpXDNj3vbmZeRN6WqCzZoB53XtZGP6H4X9TAoUg6XIAIKdvqSZzLGrPyHjWDZ5U~Hm3T2gt7S99f53e28nbeKsiyQ7ll2D5hOh-3gU5uk02qgSHqpdR6ZiQFRTVcM7U8Bsw2zhelrhNDvJ01p8jjs87aA8CLC2nJOdyCrqPbfUsgTfkn~6pBzcKZ-vz9phpdeTnu-19SM7D3vDrjDNj1UWNwKSpbURowvxA3xM93hokHlsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Needham Conservation Commission took the following formal votes at its Feb. 13, 2025 meeting.

- Continue hearing: 914 Charles River Street, DEP file 234‑944 — motion to continue to Feb. 27, 2025 (pass). Roll‑call: Fred (aye), Sue (aye), Reid (aye), Paulina (aye), Bill (aye), Chair Dave Harrer (aye).

- Continue hearing: 40 Highland Ave / 14–16 Riverside St, DEP file 234‑945 — motion to continue to Feb. 22, 2025 (pass). Roll‑call: Fred (aye), Sue (aye), Bill (aye), Reid (aye), Paulina (aye), Chair Dave Harrer (aye).

- Close hearing and issue order: 35 Meadowbrook Road, DEP file 234‑942 — hearing closed and order of conditions issued (pass); waivers granted for limited work in the 25‑foot no‑disturb zone and fee waiver (pass). Roll‑call votes for each motion: Bill (aye), Fred (aye), Sue (aye), Paulina (aye), Reid (aye), Chair Dave Harrer (aye).

- Issue order and grant waivers: 0 Cheney Street, DEP file 234‑943 — combined waiver for bank, bordering vegetated wetland and 25‑foot zone granted (pass); order of conditions issued (pass). Roll‑call: Fred (aye), Sue (aye), Reid (aye), Bill (aye), Paulina (aye), Chair Dave Harrer (aye). The commission noted the project is a town project and exempt from filing fees; contractors must submit a dewatering plan and provide MBTA approvals for work beneath the railroad.

- Continue/adjourn procedural matters: Keolis vegetation management plan was deferred to the March 27 meeting by applicant request (no hearing opened); commission did not vote on the matter at today’s meeting.

- Certificates of compliance granted:
• 1616 Great Plain Avenue, DEP file 234‑900 — full certificate of compliance issued (pass).
• 103 Wayne Road, DEP file 234‑910 — partial certificate of compliance issued (pass) (second‑year monitoring for plantings remains outstanding).

Each motion that required a roll‑call was recorded with commissioners voting aye as summarized above. Several hearings were continued to allow staff to prepare draft orders or for applicants to revise planting lists and submit required documentation. The commission included special conditions or follow‑up requirements in each order where staff noted technical items (e.g., monitoring reports, dewatering plans, registry‑of‑deeds recording).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Needham: Conservation Commission 02/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal votes taken at the Feb. 13, 2025 meeting: continuations, orders of conditions, waivers and certificates of compliance.","taxTitle","Town of Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54445,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330347,"Town project: commission waives buffer restrictions and issues order for Cheney Street sewer work",313,4225000,4538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236&start=4225&end=4538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236/thumbnail_4225000.jpg","/articles/6330347/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Town-project-commission-waives-buffer-restrictions-and-issues-order-for-Cheney-Street-sewer-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330347-43a569e8462cef87a68267dc71aacb4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176842&Signature=f7STYN8gO42zIRNPGCEEe8ddEnYdE1Mg79zVlSWZ-XEb7Xy-PT9GNNs-FDtfQIADi-wxw-jW12NCeLQnyI8MjkGLZXt0LDKeQF-Lraujk5b-2SPfCwCXBf~BYrr20cRnLdo7qT1FCGeoqq0zLFpObHkz6JBvFIVi3DZ3DAeESWJDuFrYSnS3XceHBxLyr1IGsrkMarOx~2xebpQM~4HuAZapq9BNzrAg1Y627mdZo8rPKXAruvUc-zQWQ1AQroFF-jWWE9WwEm552OR83A7JFwzCHKc9m3mPx~GTd3MlLS0aHR40iC8MFqrDX4d7DEnXvLQ8MNEf8vQCh8Asxn68iA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Needham Conservation Commission on Feb. 13 granted waivers and issued an order of conditions for a town sewer replacement project at 0 Cheney Street (DEP file 234‑943).

Conservation staff described the work as replacement of an existing pipe within the existing sewer easement; part of the work will occur beneath the MBTA railroad and will involve coffer dams and a pipe‑jacking pit. Staff said about 45 linear feet of stream bank will be disturbed and that 310 square feet of bordering vegetated wetlands will be affected transiently during work but will be restored after construction.

Commissioner Deb (staff) told the meeting that the project is a town project and therefore exempt from filing fees. The commission voted to grant a combined waiver for limited work on the intermittent‑stream bank, limited work within bordering vegetated wetlands (BVW) and limited work within the 25‑foot no‑disturb zone. The waiver motion passed on a roll‑call vote: Fred (aye), Sue (aye), Reid (aye), Bill (aye), Paulina (aye), and Chair Dave Harrer (aye). The commission then voted to issue the order of conditions; that motion also passed by the same roll‑call.

The commission included special conditions requiring erosion‑and‑sediment controls, restoration seeding with a native conservation seed mix on disturbed areas, and a contractor‑submitted dewatering plan prior to the preconstruction meeting. Deb said acceptable dewatering approaches could include a temporary settling/dewatering pond or use of dewatering/filter bags and that the primary concern is capture and treatment of sediment prior to discharge.

Because part of the work is beneath the MBTA right‑of‑way, staff said the commission will confirm written sign‑offs from the MBTA and any required permits before construction begins. The order of conditions includes standard monitoring and restoration requirements and the project team will return record drawings and restoration documentation to the conservation office after completion.

","The commission granted waivers and issued an order of conditions for sewer pipe replacement at 0 Cheney Street (DEP 234‑943), allowing limited work in bank, bordering vegetated wetland and 25‑foot buffer zones; project is exempt from filing fees and must submit a dewatering plan before construction.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330352,"Commission approves mitigation and issues order for Meadow Brook Road demo/rebuild project",3842,300000,4142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236&start=300&end=4142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236/thumbnail_300000.jpg","/articles/6330352/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Commission-approves-mitigation-and-issues-order-for-Meadow-Brook-Road-demorebuild-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330352-e37f5a2ca7452799cdce5df6bfd44795/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176842&Signature=M98lEvGCuc0qNknM7-DN3t9FK-xXpFUEfcXUPzfkpcZeri2Ec5GH6dHSb3UPUis0qAYr55nzjcvGOlYt0qbuVssnSwmOZPp~aRfbDihWg833OtSBvfYn4P6X5LlGb5fTeGk8HjHP2WIIWMVms644vc~k0kEas4tS5ZOj-457km7Dt0w5re~djwWPQuGRA5yx5kD6DAv~mgAQ6YFLjPns6j1klbDD8uZLDpo5HLAPXBeW713j0lINePQ0VN5FRisLnh2NHZReWZd24ndpRVkgzaKmE476lk6Eb8M7ssBeFTliF9Nt59eDkIm9sH8Uregd-MoL7yIRVVjmXbEh8~yl1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Feb. 13 meeting the Needham Conservation Commission closed the hearing on a demolition‑and‑rebuild project at 35 Meadowbrook Road (DEP file 234‑942) and voted to issue the order of conditions after the applicant expanded mitigation in the riverfront area.

Susan (applicant) and Michelle Mandino joined the commission to report that the team had increased the proposed mitigation area adjacent to Rosemary Brook. \"We are now at 3,450 square feet,\" Susan said, describing the expanded naturalized no‑mow area and a plan to install placards to mark the permanent demarcation.

Commission staff said the applicant will use placards supplied by the conservation office on concrete‑bound posts to mark the protected area. Staff added a special condition allowing the new owners to mow the meadow once annually in early spring to keep woody vegetation from encroaching; Deb (conservation staff) told the meeting she would include a two‑year monitoring condition for plant establishment and required recording at the registry of deeds.

The commission voted to close the hearing on DEP file 234‑942. The close‑hearing motion passed on a roll-call vote in which Bill, Fred, Sue, Paulina, Reid and Chair Dave Harrer all voted aye. The commission later voted to waive the regulatory restriction against work in the 25‑foot no‑disturb zone for this mitigation work and to waive the associated fee; both waiver motions passed on roll-call votes with the same six aye votes. The commission then voted to issue the order of conditions for 35 Meadowbrook Road.

Commission staff noted site details for the record: the applicant had originally proposed less mitigation and added roughly 1,400 square feet to reach the 3,450 square feet total; the restoration area will be delineated and protected in perpetuity by the recorded restriction. Staff also provided a placard specification: 48 inches tall with 2 feet set below grade and 2 feet above grade to make the demarcation visible.

Actions recorded: the commission closed the hearing for DEP file 234‑942, approved the waivers for work in the 25‑foot zone and fee waiver, and issued the order of conditions with monitoring and permanent demarcation requirements. The applicant will record the restriction at the registry of deeds and submit a recording reference to the commission.

","An applicant expanded mitigation around Rosemary Brook to 3,450 sq ft of naturalized no‑mow area; commission closed the hearing, waived a 25‑foot no‑disturb restriction and issued the order of conditions with monitoring and permanent demarcation.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330357,"Developers present redevelopment of Highland Avenue and Riverside properties; commission continues review",1497,1599000,3096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236&start=1599&end=3096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236/thumbnail_1599000.jpg","/articles/6330357/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Developers-present-redevelopment-of-Highland-Avenue-and-Riverside-properties-commission-continues-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330357-e3fdfb2df996f95456b0ff39a0a11ad8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176842&Signature=czAwnP7CQG5Ly27edWb5q~bh2JweN7XEqwLUwNSTMzm3lM781rslEXj6OUwhUjUT8ZyOxpHHFA0cafokdM36glhU1yaaOZbW-ViCe7~6~ZHmsCDaXBtsVPqHQAGLDtXULE3Z6Vss2zTu0Fi6SJGv18qjCagDuqBJWB0y5MCcFxuyDJY2DzKCvQ4igmQrVzfyYfQEgosBQ0YQRMbWerzbX9mq~zC54U-MrHyCPaV58oU-fc-XSAPzKylWc6-3McRNTqhXcDPo6eNthc1~tvSRhaHwf4ToadfhNZLiybfZubH1Pb2OPrmdlNKsFXn8EV8w~fuRaUySEZnCdjxiqoyh~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lucas Environmental presented a notice of intent on Feb. 13 for redevelopment and subdivision of property at 40 Highland Ave and 14–16 Riverside Street; the commission continued the hearing to Feb. 22, 2025.

\"This project proposes to subdivide those two lots into three lots,\" Matt Veral, a wetland scientist with Lucas Environmental, told the commission. The filing covers two existing parcels—one with an auto repair use along Highland Avenue and one with a multi‑family dwelling near the Charles River trail—and proposes two residential duplex lots plus retention of the Chestnut Motors parcel.

Veral said an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) and an Order of Resource Area Delineation (ORAD) were completed in 2020 and that the commission later extended the ORAD; the ORAD found portions of the site to be previously degraded by historic fill and dumping. Because the riverfront area portion of the site was found to be previously degraded, Veral said redevelopment performance standards under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act apply and the applicant is proposing remediation and new plantings.

The project design shows roughly 15,850 square feet of riverfront area within the previously degraded footprint. Veral said about 10,878 square feet would become lawn or landscaped area and approximately 4,972 square feet would be impervious surfaces (roadway and building footprints) after construction. He described a planting plan that includes a conservation mix and more substantial buffer plantings along the riverside edge; he also noted the planning board required a driveway sized for fire access.

Commissioners asked whether trees would be removed and about species choice for the planting plan. Veral said much of the site revegetated after the historic dumping ceased and is now dominated by young forest and invasive species (common buckthorn, Oriental bittersweet, tree‑of‑heaven and Norway maple). Commissioner Reid raised concerns about planted cultivars and urged use of native, non‑cultivar species where feasible; Jim Almonte, the project engineer, said planning‑board buffer requests required some plantings along a tight property line and that the applicant would consider substituting true native species where possible.

Paul Prohatsky, a nearby resident, told the commission his family owns adjacent lots and said the historical fill on the property is shallow—about three to four feet in places—and that many existing trees on the parcel are diseased or dead and have fallen onto a boundary fence in recent years.

Commissioner Deb (staff) said she reviewed the stormwater plan and that the town engineer has accepted it. Veral and the project engineer said the site has approved planning‑board plans; because several technical items remain for drafting the order of conditions, the commission voted to continue the hearing to Feb. 22, 2025. The continuation motion passed on a roll-call vote: Fred (aye), Sue (aye), Bill (aye), Reid (aye), Paulina (aye), and Chair Dave Harrer (aye).

The commission and applicant agreed to revise the planting list to favor true native species for buffer plantings where practicable and to provide clearer documentation of remediation materials to be removed from the previously degraded riverfront area. The hearing will return on Feb. 22 for further review of the draft order of conditions, planting details and any outstanding engineering items.

","Applicants proposed subdividing two lots into three with redevelopment and remediation in riverfront area previously used as a dumping ground; commissioners continued the hearing to Feb. 22 after discussion of tree removal, planting species and stormwater.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330361,"Needham commissioners continue review of proposed test-well exploration at Charles River treatment plant",824,693000,1517000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236&start=693&end=1517","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314596-f20d406d73248d8acd18188efda6e236/thumbnail_693000.jpg","/articles/6330361/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-commissioners-continue-review-of-proposed-test-well-exploration-at-Charles-River-treatment-plant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330361-7bd6d0db5e95c7d32f4b44308f5567ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176843&Signature=UKHUNBS1vyyJBk5Ltcoa6cU6c7TF49tYI614mqs7STsLHvpLbzdnzVwbAKOP8jIMS~pYPP7X18iTWRQmEOsN-5hAchNqewrJ7TTRcHNIe0TVH4xVU5shEYlk~cFSbBN-e2jwCah3PWWwyPshAfK9fn6dQOm~s5UPP0gG2ckYAJTrWGDTl1Y7Xp6VUQhcROFhT0ecqdU~W~Qbd1yzToKlac3HT1kWHg~k9bseJKOdrnBLZt0NptZ6RczFdCC6wlgg8bZd1T7ocwsrH~Vz6RCmK2HTLO~MGXipldDYggMMcWGQXoVAlK8bjL6bPkWjKhCpnCR~0-zJP1TJQrfUW8y3Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Needham Conservation Commission on Feb. 13 heard a presentation on a proposed test-well exploration program at 914 Charles River Street and voted to continue the hearing to Feb. 27, 2025.

The test-boring program is being pursued by the Needham Department of Public Works Water and Sewer Division to identify a redundant groundwater well near the town’s existing Charles River well field, consultants said. Haley Page, a consultant with Weston & Sampson, said the work would be exploratory only and that any final well construction would require separate permitting.

\"This project is a well investigation project located at the Needham water treatment plant facility,\" Page said. Frank Getchell, also with Weston & Sampson, told commissioners the team had identified three candidate exploration locations (labeled B, A and C) and intends to advance borings about 100 to 120 feet below grade. \"The purpose of this project is to provide a redundant groundwater supply for Needham,\" Getchell said, explaining the town sometimes takes wells offline for rehabilitation because of iron and manganese issues.

Getchell said the team would use a track-mounted drilling rig to reduce site disturbance, containerize cuttings, and limit vehicle access to existing fire access roads. He said the exploration rig will leave a small surface casing (about 1½ to 2 feet above grade) and a 2‑inch PVC monitoring well and screen for testing.

Consultants identified possible temporary impacts to wetland buffers and the 100-year flood zone. Page said test-well location B lies within the 100‑year flood zone and that up to about 600 square feet of temporary disturbance could occur at that location. She said erosion‑and‑sediment controls would be installed and any disturbed areas would be returned to pre‑investigation condition when work concludes.

Commissioners asked about timing and access. Getchell and Page said the project team prefers to complete drilling while the ground is frozen to minimize rutting and site disturbance and will prioritize minimal work if favorable conditions are found at the first exploration location.

Commissioner Deb (staff) said she would not issue an order of conditions until the commission finalizes permit language, and the commission voted to continue the hearing to Feb. 27, 2025 to allow staff to prepare draft permit conditions. The motion to continue passed on a roll-call vote: Fred (aye), Sue (aye), Reid (aye), Paulina (aye), Bill (aye), and Chair Dave Harrer (aye).

The commission discussed the range of buffer zones that could be affected (25‑, 50‑ and 100‑foot buffers) and confirmed that no permanent road alterations are proposed; temporary workspace and controls would be used for the exploratory borings. The consultants said a separate filing will follow if a test well is selected for construction.

Actions recorded at the meeting included the continuation of the hearing and the commission’s direction to prepare an order of conditions for review at the next meeting.

Plans and filings for DEP file 234‑944 remain under review and will return to the commission on Feb. 27 for a possible order of conditions and votes on temporary impacts and restoration requirements.","Consultants for the Town of Needham described plans for exploratory borings at 914 Charles River Street to find a redundant groundwater source; commission continued the hearing to Feb. 27 with conditions noted for temporary wetland and floodplain impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Needham Conservation Commission, Feb. 13, 2025

Town project: commission waives buffer restrictions and issues order for Cheney Street sewer work

Commission approves mitigation and issues order for Meadow Brook Road demo/rebuild project

Developers present redevelopment of Highland Avenue and Riverside properties; commission continues review

Needham commissioners continue review of proposed test-well exploration at Charles River treatment plant