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.