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.