Conservation Commission - June 9, 2026

I'm sorry, Ben.

Is he coming?

All right, we have the June 9th meeting of the Westborough Conservation Commission. This meeting is being recorded.

Let's stand and salute the flag, please.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right.

First hearing tonight is Vanessa Carballo, notice of intent 38 Sisson Lane, construct single-family dwelling with utilities in the proper zone.

Do we have the green cards for this?

I need them.

All right.

He's got them.

He's reading my mind. He's going to bring them over there.

Thank you, sir.

Yep, thank You can start whenever you're ready. If you have something to hang up on the board, that'd be great.

South Coast Engineering

Where's my packet?

Oh, here it is, in my pocket.

Where is it?

[clears throat] Uh good evening, Matt Pike with South Coast Engineering. We're here for the applicant, Vanessa Carballo.

Uh we're before the commission with a site plan located at Assessors Map 51, Lot 2.

Uh the property is located on Sisson Farm Lane, uh which is off of Drift Road, just south of Old County Road.

The property is currently undeveloped.

It contains about 2.9 acres, uh 1.6 acres of that.

About 67,930 square feet is contiguous upland.

Uh the O red for this for the wetland delineation shown on this plane was issued by West Block Con Com 10 28 2025.

Uh the applicant's proposing to construct a single-family home, a garage, a well, and a septic system uh with required grading and retaining walls.

A straw wattle will be placed um at the limits of disturbance as shown on the plan uh prior to any disturbance and it will be maintained until the landscape's been re-stabilized.

Uh roof run off will be directed to uh this straw wattle.

Here's the the straw wattle there.

Here's the wetland line shown here that was on the the O red.

Um roof run off will be directed to a recharge system that consists of Coltech infiltrators as shown on the plan.

There's three consisting there with the calcium detail. Um Grading and disturbance have been minimized to the greatest practical extent. The closest area of disturbance to the wetland is 7 ft.

And that's [clears throat] right here at this choke point at the entrance uh just for driveway grading.

And the closest um structure to the wetland is 27.7 ft, which is the proposed house.

And that's all I got. I'll turn it over to the commission for discussion.

All right, Chris.

Mr. Chairman, members, Vanessa Cavallo.

This is Sisson Farm Lane. This is a notice of intent application filed by Southcoast Engineering with Matt Pike representing. Report date is June 1st, 2026.

The file number with no adverse comments is SEA02840.

The date of this uh rather the date of the site visit was June 1st, 2026.

Description of the work, the applicant has filed a notice of intent to construct a single-family home, grading, and utilities on a parcel parcel recently created on Sisson Farm Lane. An O rad has been issued in October of 2025 with the wetland line approved as shown on this plan provided a steep area at the very beginning of the proposed driveway access. We will apply a grading proposed within 8 ft. Matt's correcting

me at 7 ft of that wetland edge. That's just because of the topography of the land.

There really is no way around that to access in this location. The single-family house we constructed further into the lot and will be 27.7 ft from the edge of the wetlands. Erosion controls will be staked along the wetland edge and will be the limit of work. Majority of the work is maintaining that 25 ft setback except where the grades and too steep as well as sighting of the house.

As Matt mentioned, all the runoff from the garage and the home will be infiltrated into cultec units and discharge below grade.

That meets the Board of Health's stormwater requirements.

Recommendations for the board the Westport Conservation Commission should approve the proposed single-family house grading and utilities with standard conditions and as stated by the representative erosion control should be the limit of all approved work on this project. That's all Mr. Chairman.

Thanks, Chris. Matt, do you know where the work gets close to the wetlands edge?

Is that's a that's a hill you're cut you're basically cutting into the hill?

Correct. Yes. It's going from east west to east.

So, we're going to be 78 70 yes, still in the hill. The fill on the right side of the hill, yeah.

So, water is going to run away from the wetlands and not toward it?

The water is going to run toward the wetlands.

Toward the wetlands?

Yeah. It's just making this the hill, I guess.

You're leveling the hill?

Push pushing it over. All right.

So this should this should maintain all the existing drainage flow paths that go to the bottom. All right.

So you're not you're not putting any more water than what was there originally correct?

Less.

Less water, okay.

All right.

Do you have any questions? Want to ask the audience?

[clears throat] No. All right. You have You have good.

So any audience have a question?

No. All right.

Guys questions?

Mr.

We're doing good.

You're good, okay.

you asked about the storm water back up.

That's good.

Yeah, so it's less less storm water than what was going in there now.

Yeah.

All right. Well, they're looking for a motion.

I'll move to approve the plan for the the essay Carvallo on Susan Farm Lane.

Um and uh subject to all the erosion controls being within the limit of the uh the work.

Okay, do you have a second?

Second.

That was Phil and Kevin. All in favor?

I.

Opposed? None.

Thank you.

Thank you. Did Bert say he was coming tonight? Yeah. Did he reply?

He He never replied.

All right.

On that meeting with DC R.

Yeah.

Well, we may just recommend that they might come to a full session of the board because they may not because of the extension.

All right, Richard Cormier, Andrade, 174 Old Bedford Road to determine if uh what is this?

Determine if resource area on the plans are accurate.

It's the same charming gentleman as Jim.

[snorts] So five of the seven came back. I don't know if you need to do anything.

That makes majority, Mr. Chairman.

Good evening again Matt Pike for Southcoast Engineering on behalf of the applicant Richard Cormier.

I'm here before the commission with an ANRAD plan for 174 Old Bedford Road, also known as Assessors Map 1 Lot 23. Uh the property is located on the west end of Old Bedford Road between Frontage Road and Blossom Road.

The property is roughly 6.3 acres in size and uh is currently developed with a single-family home, garage, and barn.

The purpose of this plan is to show the delineation of the resource areas located on the property. On the north half of the property, there are uh wetlands delineated by Southcoast Engineering in April 2026.

The lines are shown in the plan as wet flags uh 101 to 1 19 and 201 to 210.

Okay. And that's all I have. I'll turn over this to the commission.

All right, Chris.

Mr. Chairman, members, this is Richard Cormier. This is 174 Old Bedford Road.

This is an abbreviated notice of resource area delineation presented by Southcoast Engineering with Matt Pike here representing. The report date is June 2nd, 2026. The file number is SE802841.

Uh [clears throat] the site visit was also on June 2nd, 2026.

The owner has filed to determine the limit of the wetland resource areas on his property at 174 Old Bedford Road.

The wetland line has been delineated and supporting MassDEP data sheets provided.

Uh those are in the file folder. The wetland borders on an intermittent stream that flows out of the irrigation pond, uh which is on Sampson's Pond uh uh the east the property.

[snorts] Um it drains under this old farm lane that traverses this area. The wetland has been delineated and all flags are accurately located. No changes were made to the delineation. An old field is maintained in the middle of the delineation. As represented on the plan, you can see that circular area.

Um that is accessed by that cart lane way that goes up. So, obviously there's no wetlands in the middle of that little connection. And that area has been used for many years as far as aerial photos and is mowed and maintained. Uh no works are proposed on this application. This is only approval of wetland flags 101 through 119, wetland flag 201 through 210.

I recommend the Westborough Conservation should issue an order of resource area delineation approving those flags as shown on the plan dated May 12th, 2026.

That is all.

So, Matt, I thought those two wetlands lines went parallel and the one which Uh somewhat, yeah. Between through this area there's a path here that goes to the back.

So, so the uplands are on the outside of the little flags?

Upland inside.

Inside?

In the middle, yeah.

Yeah.

In the middle and then to the south.

Correct. So, that piece up top to the left is all wet.

This is wet.

All right.

And this is wet, yeah. And then this is Yeah, and Samson's got a pond just just Samson's uh outside the property in that extent of that wetland area.

All right. Thank you.

Do any of you guys have any questions?

Any questions from the audience?

All right.

Do you have a motion?

Motion to approve.

Motion from Jake to approve. Do you have a second?

Second.

Second from Phil. All in favor? Opposed?

All right, that's unanimous. Sorry.

Thanks again. Have a good night.

Thanks, Matt. Have a good night as well.

Thank you.

David Petty notice of intent 144 Cherry Web Lane garage and coastal dune barrier beach.

Mr. Chairman, it's recommended from the representative to continue this to June 23rd's meeting.

All right. So, we have a motion to continue David Petty notice of intent 144 Cherry Web Lane garage and coastal dune at barrier beach till June 23rd of 2026.

Motion to continue.

That was a motion from Jake. Do we have a second?

Second.

Second.

Kevin, all in favor? Opposed? All right, that's unanimous then.

Next, we have Mass DCR Horseneck Beach reservation, widen the healthy trail access in the coastal dune.

Unless you want to talk about the fact that we can't I'm I'm willing You don't have the quorum.

Yeah.

I I don't understand.

We have Jake abstaining because of the record voter and we would not be able to carry a a vote of yay or nay. So, if you want to go through your proposal and we'll hear it out, but we will not be able to come to a vote.

All right.

Or it wouldn't be in your best interest to come to a vote today.

But, I think a little Q&A and I mean, we're here.

Great gentlemen.

Is is that okay with the chairman?

I mean, I have no problem with it.

Would would we have to come back?

You would.

Yeah, just for the vote?

Well, I would say yes, just a general opening of where we were and what was stated and we can and everything or No, not so much. No.

Cuz we don't want to do it twice. We'll We'll do whatever the board wants to do.

going to figure that the the other members are going to be here next time.

He's going to have to do it again.

So, yes. I would say I recommend you probably go to the 23rd meeting.

Okay.

So, we want to do? Do you want to do it twice or I mean it Um I'll tell you what.

Chris, if you would like to read your report and if the commissioners have any direct questions from your report, we'd be happy to answer them now but rather than do the the full thing only to come down and do it all again.

like to I did provide the Yeah.

Tommy a copy just so you guys knew where I was coming from. So, I'll just read the report just for um sake of uh the representative who would like to [clears throat] hear it. So, this is the uh Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Horseneck Beach State Reservation. This is a notice of intent filing.

Uh engineer record is AECOM. They're they're also their environmental representative. Report date is [snorts] June 3rd, 2026.

File number for this project is SE802822.

Site visit was on June 3rd, 2026.

Uh description of the work, the Mass DCR has provided revised plans for the proposed expansion of the healthy trail within the reservation. The applicant has agreed to reduce the overall asphalt width to 16 ft from 20 ft, provided coastal dune vegetation, uh provided coastal dune vegetation with the remaining areas to be demarcated with sand fencing. The project will be completed in phases. The first phase is

to correct the west section alteration and bring that section into compliance.

has some money. As money becomes available in the following fiscal years, they will commence with further expansions, east and central sections of uh representing. Sand fencing to be also installed at points of access to help to restore the eroded dunes. They have some areas where access is it's it's aggressive access, so they're trying to tighten those access to limit the pathway and try to minimize uh trampling

of those sensitive dune areas by utilizing that wood sand fencing. The commission at the last meeting requested a reduction and restoration of the altered coastal dunes. The new proposal in my opinion provides a compromise and allows a reduction [clears throat] in dune alteration. The approval should be conditioned to describe the methods of removal and attempt to preserve the existing vegetation for replanting. Sand

fencing will be installed with wooden posts along both sides of the access.

Resource areas were impacted with this project as land subject to storm flowage, coastal dune, barrier beach.

Recommendations, the Westport conservation should consider the approval of a 16-ft wide asphalt path through the Horseneck Beach Reservation. The allowance to widen the access to 16-ft feet of width of asphalt.

The project will be with the following conditions. It's to be completed in phases with the western section to be completed first. Revegetation revegetation of the coastal dune species along the western section shall consist of native dune plantings of beach grass, salt spray rose, beach plum, and beach heather during October to April 30th of 2026 to 2027.

The construction method should be as follows. Pre-construction meeting with the commission agent and contractor is required before the start of any sand removal. All limits of work must be surveyed and marked in the field. This will be a phased project with the western section brought into compliance before any other phases will be commenced. All sand must be removed by working off of the existing

path. No equipment allowed on the dunes.

Sand materials removed must be hauled within the Mass DCR property unless off season and coordinated with the police and highway, use of Bridge Street may be considered. A Mass DCR staff or environmental firm representative on site during all phases of sand removal and relocation. The western section restoration plantings and sand fencing shall be started during the fall of 2026 and spring of 2027. Sand fencing

installed as shown on plan. Work can't commence until the other sections until the west section has been satisfactorily completed and or stabilized. Eastern central section sand removal must use best efforts to preserve the existing dune vegetation to use in replanting the disturbed dunes. All dune plantings must be native to New England. Um, that's all, Mr. Chairman. So, I think in this

proposal they have identified methods um, more so when we allowed the first start of that western section. I believe that there could be preservation of some of this vegetation just by maybe scooping it with the loader, setting it aside in in an area that could be and then simply, you know, placing it back in that general area. Um, I think that would limit a lot of that, you know, the

western and the central areas that are highly vegetated to be totally left like the west section. So, I think these commission conditions are acceptable um, and and again, I will let the board continue if if they please.

I I would just comment that Chris and I talked and everything that that you said in the minutes before DCR agrees to the plan.

All right.

There's nothing in there that's really an issue like you know, we would want to uh, argue about.

I don't I mean, I I think it's a big improvement. The only thing I'd love to see is the sand put on the beach above mean high water versus in the parking lot. I think that'd be a, you know, the the reason people the beaches in this park are mostly used to be because of a lot of cobble. I don't think that the dunes never used to be there and that that is

the beach sand blowing up and if you're going to take the part of the dune away, it'd be nice to put it back in the beach above mean high water so it doesn't get taken out, but that's I mean that's I know that's a different uh permit, but something you should think about to make the beach more useful by our patrons.

We do have a beach nourishment program.

I I can bring that to I think that I think that if you have that already, that'd be great.

Yeah, yeah. Um It'd make it more usable.

Do you have any questions?

Um I don't have a question, just to um say I'm really glad that a compromise solution has worked out and just to express my own personal appreciation that when I reached out to the DCR folks cuz I had questions that arose from the previous meeting, um that those questions were answered, you know, and I I felt uh you know, there was a cooperative um relationship that was established to kind of from my

perspective kind of get to the bottom of what the situation was and what your perspective was in making this request.

So, it's very helpful for me.

I appreciate your interest and and uh you know, trying to compromise and figure out a solution. So, thank you for your time.

Kevin, you have anything or you all set?

Any questions from the audience?

No, um Mr.

Mr. Jake Can I make a note?

Yeah, sure. Go ahead go to the microphone.

State your name.

Uh Jake McWiggin, member of Conservation but abstaining from this as well as a select board member. Uh I just want to thank both DCR uh engineering firm for coming to this kind of solution here. I think DCR this year has done a great job with respect to the maintenance and management um of the facility. It looks probably the best it has in a long time, so I appreciate that. Um Um, the only

criticism I have and I've discussed it with Chris and with you, is the sand fencing.

Um, I think you understand what's going to happen to that sand fencing in those dunes. They're probably going to rip it down. And you know that the entrance of Bridge Road, it took less than 2 weeks for them to kick it and break it or what have you. So, that's the only thing I'm saying that I think you may end up doing a lot more work than you have to do.

I think you're correct about that. And you know, just a comment on that comment, when construction does commence, I think we'll walk through with Chris twice and apply. I know the plan shows continuous sand fencing all the way. There may be areas where sand fencing may not be needed and that'll get compromised out between us.

Well, we'll put fence down the whole thing, but if I think you spent a lot of time repairing that fence.

It may be maybe smarter when we're on site to kind of pick and choose where a fence makes sense.

Okay. Appreciate it, buddy.

I tried to explain to him, Tom, that people aren't as crazy as we used to be.

We used to have fires in those dunes too.

All right, so that's there's no one in the audience with questions so I mean, that's it for today. I think you have a I think it's a much better plan.

I mean, if you look at the look at the beach nourishment aspect of that, it'd be great.

Okay.

I think, you know, putting back in the beach where it belongs is probably my would be my opinion, but that's I mean, it's not a requirement, but it's something you should I would look at.

Did I hear June 23rd?

June 12th.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

All right.

All right, so we're going to continue this the hearing for Mass DCR Horseneck Beach reservation uh to June 23rd. I need a motion.

Motion.

Second. So, second from Kevin. All in favor, I. All right. [snorts] Thank you.

Thank you, John. We'll see you.

See you in a couple weeks.

Uh, certificate of compliance, Kristen Bernard, SE 8174 48 65 Jillian Way.

Kristen Bernard, this is 65 Jillian Way.

This is certificate of compliance.

Report date is June 2nd, 2026.

File number is SE801748.

Site visit was also on June 2nd, 2026.

The owner had constructed a garage addition to the existing home within the Jillian Way subdivision in 2010.

All work appears to have been completed according to the plan of record. The garage is there and and everything is stabilized and in order. So, recommendations the Westport Conservation Commission to issue a full release of the certificate of compliance file number SE801748 as all work has been completed according to the plan of record, Mr. Chairman.

Okay, do you have a motion to approve the certificate of compliance?

Motion to approve.

Second.

All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? All right, that's unanimous. That's Jake and uh Phil.

All right, just some uh house housekeeping items here.

Town of Westport request for vacation carry over for Miss Leone.

Okay.

Okay, what do we have here? So, this is Uh there's a letter in here. Oh, this is a letter going out to um we need approval of everybody's been distributed the letter going to um the uh MassDEP for the superseding order for 17 Adams Road for the well project.

So, the letter was uh crafted by our uh consultant and Phil.

Everybody had a chance to make their suggestions and we have the letter here.

So, what I do need is a a vote to for me to sign the letter so we can send this out.

Motion to approve.

You have a second?

Second.

Second from Phil. That was Jake and Phil. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? All right.

That will include George Campbell's uh report as well, Mr. Chairman, okay?

Okay. Thank you.

Two reports.

Two reports, yes. Okay, next we have W.B. Mason office supplies $265.99.

Second.

All right, that was Was that Kevin or Phil? Phil. Okay, that was Jake and Phil.

All in favor? Opposed? Unanimous. Thank you. And that All right, Mac Tools $489. Need a motion to pay.

Motion to pay.

Motion to pay from Kevin. Do you have a second? Second from Jake.

All in favor? Opposed? That was Kevin and Jake.

On Mac Tools. Mac, m a c c Tools. Excuse me.

Okay, next we have $222.84 for forestry supplies.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Motion from Jake, second from Phil. All in favor? Opposed? All right, that's unanimously a yes.

Next we have Campbell Environmental, which is our consultant for the well project $1260.

Need a motion to pay.

Motion to pay.

That comes out of the wetlands fund, Mr.

Chairman.

All right. Second from Phil. All in favor?

I.

Opposed? All right, that's unanimously a yes. Next we have VSP Media for advertising, $129. I need a motion to pay.

Motion to pay.

Motion to pay from Jake, second from Kevin. All in favor? Opposed? All right, that's unanimously a yes.

Next we have Postmaster for $282 in stamps.

Motion to pay.

Motion to pay from Jake. Do we have a second?

Second.

Second from Kevin. All in favor?

Opposed? All right, that's unanimously a yes.

Uh minutes.

We have three sets of minutes. Let's see.

First minutes meeting from April 28th.

I don't remember being Present, myself, Phil, Jake, No.

Tom. All right. That'll be back in the file.

Next we have 5:12 minutes. Present were myself No, I wasn't there.

Okay, that's going to go back in the file.

Next we have minutes from 5:26.

Uh I was there. No.

See that. I can't do that.

I think you did that one.

I just want to see the attendance on there.

Kevin was there.

I was at last meeting, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And there's the attendance on on what's written here. So I just need I was there.

And I'm sure Phil was there. So yeah.

I was here, too. So I was not present.

Okay.

Second.

All in favor?

I vote yes.

All right.

I was there as well, but he's not Correct.

All right. So we got one out of three.

That's all I have in my folder.

Phil, you have a nice folder over there.

We have nothing to say, right? You're all set?

No, I'm fine.

All right.

Okay.

I see you. I know you brought your folder.

We should even battle that.

No, I I can be funny sometimes.

She's trying to string it out to get to a half hour.

No, not too often, but sometimes. All right, so we have Does anybody else have anything you want to discuss? Chris?

No, Mr. Chairman.

All right, so our next meeting is going to be 5:00. Was it 23?

6:00.

5:26.

6:23.

6:23. I'm sorry, 6:23.

All right, so we need a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Second from Phil. All in favor?

I vote yes.

I opposed? No one seemed to say no. All set. Thank you very much.

Leon, I'll go to the floor.