Start uh September >> 9th. We have a >> little reverb. >> Turn the sound off. >> David, is there a way to turn? >> I thought I'd already turned that off. Somehow it went back on. >> Sorry.
>> Hello. >> Hello. Okay. Yeah, we're good. >> It's 7 o'clock, Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. Calling this meeting of the Conservation Commission to order. My name is Carl Bishoff. I'm the chair of the commission. We'll be following the published and posted agenda. This meeting is both in person and through
Zoom in the case of the Zoom not working properly. We will continue the meeting in person. This meeting is being broadcast and recorded by Chser Tele Media and will be available on their website and on YouTube and we have a full quorum tonight. This is great. It's been a while since we've had the whole
crew here. Um so we're good to go. Um we have a couple of adjustments to our agenda. We have three regulatory uh hearings that are all uh three out of the four are being requested for continuence. So the four Russell road uh
hearing is being uh we presuming we will vote to continue it. Um it would be continued to our next meeting on September 23rd with no discussion tonight. The second one is the uh applicant for 152 Steman Street has also
requested a continuence to September 23rd and the applicant for the 265 279 Chumsford Street aka the Chumsford Mall that is also uh requested. That one's due October 14th.
Um I wanted to well we'll talk about Stemann when we get to that in the meeting but um so those are if you are here for any of those um we will not be discussing those tonight in in our discussion. So
uh open session and citizen concerns. Do we have anyone here that would like to speak that is not on the agenda? and we see a familiar face and uh if you could uh give us your your name. >> Hi, it's Linda Carney from 17 Helper Street and 19 Plum Street and I just
wanted to kind of say thank you for inviting Christy Wood and myself to become kind of volunteers with the conservation commission to work to develop conservation values and education and make use better use of our conservation lands. And I wanted to bring you up to date on a couple of things that we've been working on. The
first thing is the article for the manager's newsletter for October is up and running. I I think it just needs a final proof from us and that's on the property at um >> Thanksgiving. >> I'm sorry. >> Thanksgiving forest. >> No, not Thanksgiving forest.
>> Janet Road. >> No, Janet Road. I'm sorry. I will get back to you on that. Yes. Thank you. Okay. And I'd like to share an idea that I have about Thanksgiving forest because we did go and we meet met with the stewards there and just absolutely loved what they're doing. And one of the
things I want to work with um move move to work with the library perhaps even the show schools and also the Chumsid High School with their honor society to get together to put in a story book trail and make it a real collaborative effort and an effort to get more
activity out there and an educational point of view. And I've even found a book, Bee and Me, which fits right in with their garden that they've developed, which is a bee pollinator garden. So, I think it's a wonderful collaborative, and Chrissy and I have some great ideas, and we just wanted to kind of run that by you and make sure
that that was something that you would kind of put your stamp on for us to proceed with. I know the article's been approved, but you hadn't really heard about the storybook trail there. There is one already existing at the gardens, the community gardens down in in Yep. But um this would be a little bit
different. >> Okay. >> And I can as I meet with these other groups, get my ducks in a row and just keep giving you updates. I can send them via email if that's better than coming to the meetings. >> Whatever works for you works for us. Yeah. >> Okay, great. That's all. Just want to bring you up to date. Thank you.
>> I'm seeing nodding on everything, right? Everybody's good on that. >> Anybody have any questions? >> 100% endorsement. So >> that's what I'm looking for. Thanks. >> Love it. Very good. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. So to continue in that same vein, we are now uh is there anyone else
with a comment? Nope. Okay. Nobody else. Nobody on online, David. Uh no. Okay. Uh so now we have uh Karen, Walton, and crew uh talking about speaking of Thanksgiving forest and the pollinator garden. >> Uh I thank you. >> Y so we have some we do have some
slides. >> All right. >> Hello Karen. Make sure to give your name and your address. And >> Karen Walton, 33 Janet Road. Um, thanks for having us. And this has been a real true
model of teamwork and partnership between organizations um for one purpose to get vietis and I know I'm pronouncing these and veans to Thanksgiving forest and uh you know
thank you to conservation and the tree committee the land trust and cost gave us the water cube. and especially Gina Kala for all her mentoring and teaching and guidance and
sharing. Um so this the purpose was Bombas and Bombas Feris and Bombas Vegan. I sent these two photographs to Dr. Richard Gajir
who is in the bee project at uh Dartmouth who monitors all the pollinated gardens in Massachusetts and we didn't get vegan but it was Bombas Gri >> and he's he's not definite but I think
we did get bombas he wanted one more picture that Robin has this wonderful way of cooling them in a refrigerator her putting him to sleep and uh photographing him. That's how we got those two. And she releases them. He
wants the he wants the vervetus turned over so he they could see the abdomen. But as you can see, hundreds hundreds of bee species have been in the garden. C uh can I just ask um did you have a
professional survey done of of the the species? >> In what way? What? >> Well, you know, a professional um entomologist look look at >> that's what she said. >> Dr. Gier, Robert Gir. >> Yes. Did he did he come down and
>> No, not yet. I think I think he will come because Gina Ker and him uh are connected with the Sunny Meadows. He's gone to Sunny Meadows. Uh I think if there's a true viver sighting he will come to he will come. >> Well I I just want to say that the
conservation commission works with a consulting firm that that has experts um who certainly can um you know identify these species and others. I I I I would just say I don't I don't want to, you know, delay this, but I would just say I would recommend the commission think
seriously about hiring them to do, you know, a survey, >> you know, all the species >> come to the garden. >> Yeah. >> And capture them like Robin does. >> Um yeah, they would they would come on a regular basis. Um >> Oh, that would be wonderful. >> Great.
>> That would be wonderful. >> Yeah. I you know, the commission has the money to do that. >> Oh, that would be great. And Robin doesn't pin them. You know, usually epmologists whatever they pin pin them. >> Well, we can you keep them alive and
study. >> Ask a question. >> Um, >> so that's that. And the next slide is um >> Can Peter ask a question? >> Peter, Karen, I'm I'm sorry. For our our television audience, how large they may be, we don't know. Could you just
briefly tell us why uh pollinators and these particular bees are important for the town to to foster? I mean I I could probably explain it too, but I you guys know more. >> Oh, >> like like why why
short answer why is it important? So these two species are natives and they're endangered. And um Gina Kala and South um borrow >> this is Jankala >> Kalpus, >> right? So she's you you've said her name
a couple times, but it's it's Kalpus is her last name and she's like people know her in town as the bluebird lady, but she's now becoming the pollinator lady, too. >> Gina K. I just call her Gina K. Yeah, >> but um through her work and and and the South um South Burough Gardens, Freddy's
work, uh they've created these two pollinator gardens. So, they are here. Once the bees go, we go and these are native bees and native bees are needed
in in the ecosystem. Um and and they're coming and others are coming because we have specific we have 12 specific plants that they need. Just those two bees need >> 12 specific native plants.
>> Yeah, they have specific need of the plants. >> Native. >> Oh, they are native but they have the needs are right. They're native plants and they need these for landing, for nectar, for pollen. >> They're specialist bees for these plants. >> These are specialist bees. Yes,
>> you're good. You're good. That's These are special. They're not generalists. >> David blushed. >> They're not generalists. They are >> specialist too over there. >> They are specialist bees. >> Good. You know, the pollinator gu uh stewardship is at UMass. It's eight weeks and it's very it's a very good
program. >> I'm sure. >> Yeah, I'm sure. >> But um if you looked at the trees, uh the trees are thriving. And if you see that the buckets there, they're called IV buckets. We didn't really enjoy the collars. They were very difficult to
manage. Um, Gina Color Capist gave us um, lent us the IV buckets. They're green and it's like an IV with a a hole in the bottom with a >> carrot. >> A carrot and it feeds them u, it's five
gallons, right? You pour it in and the trees are doing beautifully. Um, and as you can see, the garden is doing beautifully. And with the Norway maples and Robin's house in the back, that's doing beautifully. That's that's the scape we want to um continue to grow and
plant. Uh, but they're doing everything's doing beautifully. Those two women came into the garden. They look for pollinator gardens in Massachusetts in New England. and they were just uh blown away by all the bees there in such a such a young garden.
>> Um so we've been highlighted in um the Massachusetts guard uh garden newsletter. If you click on it, it talks all about what we did in cooperation and in collaboration with with conservation
in the town of Chumpswood. It's called the dirt. And we're working to develop more partnerships, particularly educational partnerships for Jeff's criticams. And um you know, we're thinking of structures there. Maybe a reading bench, a reading, you know, uh
uh benches and structures. So uh it could be a a site that people a destination site for education. Maybe piloting with South Row. Okay, so this is phase two. We really would love to clear the Norway maples on
the right. They're they're sapling. They're small trees, which would be easy. And also to eradicate all the invasives, which um Robin will talk about the good the good the good natives and the bad invasives.
And also um if we if we had an incident there, Jeff and I mean Robin and I were there. Jeff, you were you there with the incident and they had to get the gator in there because there was a problem in the forest. Did you hear about that? Somebody >> I did hear about it. And supposedly, if
you go to the next slide, supposedly they had difficulty getting in and they wanted to cut down one of our trees, the fire department. And Robin had Robin had had discussion with him, but um if we
could like remove the post and relocate those boulders because boulders are beautiful and install the wooden guardrail like at the library, it would just enhance it so much more. um and then accommodate, you know, any fire department issues they had with it.
Okay, so that's my any questions. That's my part of it. This is Robin's the expert, another master gardener who's expert in finding all of these invasives and good natives.
>> Could Could I could I add one thing? >> Sure. Um Carl, you you actually set this up, but the partnership um just wanted to give a shout out to the DPW. >> Oh my gosh. Plant some trees and um you know, I'm sure it was on your list. >> Tree committee DPW.
>> Yeah, >> maybe maybe you said it and I missed it, but >> no, I did I think Christine was she was wonderful and Joe Joe Ericson. And what's interesting, you showed the photograph, I guess it's your house on a bank, but that bank had a bunch of invasive Norway maples that I think, >> right?
>> I don't know if you guys took it down at DPW. And then there are Norway maples on the other side, >> you know, that need attention, but you did you have been removing invasives and planting natives in that bank, which >> that's her Robin's property that she's Yeah, she's devoting. So that's great.
Good devoting. Good stuff. Oh, it's beautiful scape. It's a beautiful scape. >> All right. name. >> Oh, yes. Street >> Robin Holman. I live at 38 Janet Road. Um, right next to the garden. So, and my
office overlooks it. So, I see all that goes on down there. Um, and it's it's it definitely is a special place and it's totally as if you've seen it, you know how totally transformed it is. Um, first I'm I'm not an expert in invasives. I'm
an enthusiast at getting rid of them. Um um so far I have been in the section that is towards the water. Um I kind of took that on as just it was overgrown with bittersweet wisteria. I have
removed multifllora rose yonymous which is the burning bush um and invasive honeysuckle. So those as far as I know they're not there anymore and I've dig them out. Um there are others by the east side which is sort of in that area.
Wisteria buckthornne bittersweet and garlic mustard. >> Um and and on the south side there is Norway maples and I found one burning bush. I actually it's in that one of
those pictures there. It says Norway buckthorn and burning bush. That one in the front is a burning bush and I can probably yank it out. Um the way um the ones in the back you can see there's a birch. The ones in the back there is
an oak, there is a sugar maple, a red maple, um there's a spruce in there. So there are some really good ones back in there and some of them are quite tall. The Norway maples have uh they're in the
front. It's like this border that they once they got a tow hold there, they started growing and they've gotten so they're so dense as you know that all of the understory there is almost gone. >> Mhm. >> Um so when they're removed and there's
not that many of them but they are just getting to the point where they're really big once they're removed it has more light in there. um the buckthornne which I you know they're they're kind of it's not like yuanomous that you notice for the color or or a vine or whatever.
They're just like little saplings and they've got shiny green. You all know that. >> Well, they're everywhere >> and they are going like crazy. They're still small enough so you can pull them out by hand. I have a weed wrench and I can get them that way. It is it is it's
scary as you walk up that path on both sides buckthorn everywhere. Um but I still think it's manageable and it would be great to have those gone. >> Okay. >> Um so that's the that's the bad news. The good news is in the understory there
this past spring Karen and I saw some mountain laurel colonizing. >> Can you move the picture? No. >> And it was it was just a surprise. You had no idea. It was always so dark in there. And there it was. There's several plants. You can see that it's starting to spread. And the one in the middle is
the uh maple leaf viburnum, which is a stunning, stunning woodland plant. And it's nice, healthy stand in there, but it's in the back. You can't really see it. And it's dark in there. And the third one is the jeweleed, which
>> it's a great it's a great it's an annual. So, um, we'll have to grow it from seed, but the seeds are pretty cool to get. Um, and there is a slide that shows buckthornne that is overwhelming the jeweleed
>> and that's what happens is they just sort of duke it out and the jeweleed is such kind of a delicate plant and it's no match for that. But jeweleed is one of them is the one one of them on the list for the um two bumblebees. Uh, and it's a great plant, especially
when it's in a mass. So, those are I'm trying to think of some of the other ones I mentioned. Native mountain laurel. Um, so our our hope is that the town can remove the Norway maples and if there is a way to move remove some of the um buckthornne that would be great,
too. But we can do a lot of the rest. We can um clear out things and um plant more seeds for jeweleed and and you know, other natives. Um, so that that's what I'm kind of hoping that we can have
done there because it's definitely it's just a total uh transformation there and I think we can do even more. >> Wonderful. Wonderful. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Yeah, we'll we'll get on the uh I can talk with you about the noways and
the buckthornne. Yeah. >> Well, and you know, three or four volunteers could probably rip out a lot of the buckthornne. Yeah. As Robin said, it's small enough. >> Yeah, >> that's what we were thinking. Jeff showed me a video of a person in PEL,
you know, has a committee that goes into and removes all those invasives. You know, she has a big and it takes a day or two just rip them out and we'll maintain it. >> Jeff Bin 36 Janet and I'm going to just
give these to you. I have mine. >> I'm going to give you a clean >> a clean. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> It's easy to do. >> Thanks, Joe.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> So, I'm just going to ask you guys to consider making a couple of changes on the website and the web page. And the first sheet here is the way it is on
the town on the conservation. Well, it's actually the town. The only way you can get this is if you go to open space trails and they list open spaces which include conservation
commission properties um but they're not located on the conservation commission website and and I think they should and when you look at the current Thanksgiving forest
um web page page. You can see the current one there. And if you go to the second page, it really should look something like this. >> Next page. >> There you go. >> So, you know, between the two, this
looks much more interesting. Yeah, I think the first one is a remnant. David, if I'm remember this is like an old one. >> Yes. Yeah, we haven't updated that. Yeah, >> but but that that's all that's that's all that's there. >> Y I like this.
>> Jeff, can can I add um Jeff and I had a chance to look at this website, Carl? And what happens is there's two ways to get to a Thanksgiving forest. And the what Jess's referring to is the when you go to the town website, which has been redesigned, there's a bunch of buttons
and if you go scroll down that page, there's one that says open space, which makes sense. That's an important town thing. Um, and that brings you to a different page than if you enter by going to the conservation commission. >> Yep. >> Page. So, it's just a glitch we could
probably work out with. >> So, so you can't get the first page on this from going to the conservation commission. you know what happened now that you're saying I was looking for that first page and I couldn't find it. >> So now >> so and you know and it's good to keep
there on that but it should also be >> and include more yeah >> on on the commission part of the website. >> Totally agree that's easy to fix >> if you go to page three. So when you look at any of these
spaces um it all when you click on it it just bring it just shows you a map. So I really think you when you click on that it should show the map but it should show >> absolutely >> the individual conservation area web
page as well. >> Totally agree. Yep. Um, so really it's just those few changes and um, so what do you think? >> We'll get it done. We'll get it done.
>> Absolutely. Can Can you email me these photos? >> Yeah. >> Uh, I think it's in the package. That's >> Well, it's in the PowerPoint. >> It's in the PowerPoint, but I but I would really need the JPEG files. >> Good quality.
>> Yeah. Well, what whatever you need would would I could provide. >> Yeah, if you if you could do that, if you if you could email me these photos. >> Okay. >> And are you suggesting that you're going to set the it up as we see it? >> Yes, that'd be great. >> Certainly do that.
>> Okay. Awesome. And you know, and I like to consider that other stewards in other places could do the same thing is kind of beef up the you know, because they're all just paragraphs of >> of text.
>> 100% agree. I'm I It took me a minute. I did just find the open space trails town highlights thing. Yeah. That's kind of buried. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, and I I had a hard time really. Um um and just did was there any other questions?
There's another slide. >> Well, that was just showing them the >> where to find it, but if if you had any other questions. >> So, I definitely think we should make this a priority. >> Yeah. >> Since um you know, there's all this interest in this particular
>> and then use it as a model for some of our other reservations because they all have an interesting story. Well, you know, I think they all have a, you know, I think Thanksgiving has has a little more history than a lot of them. >> They all do. >> Well, no, I didn't say I said a little
more. Not >> I call my kids, >> but so there's a lot to say. So, in a paragraph, you know, there's just no interest in looking at that. >> And when you add >> what you see on these pages here, I I think it makes it more interesting for
people to grab onto. >> Any any other questions? I I I think um you know ultimately I mean not that far down the road but I I think what we want to do is probably under Thanksgiving forest have then a separate link to like the pollinator garden, >> right?
>> Um >> yeah. >> So >> that would be great. >> Yeah. >> And and you know I think on the web pages you you know you that's other things could be added to it >> as time goes on and >> like maybe trail cam videos or something on YouTube like >> well that's that's you didn't study that
close enough. It's on. >> I know. I I know. >> And but but that's that helps people. >> You know, you can say it in three words, but if you see the picture and then read it, you're more apt to >> um go look at it. >> And just one other comment. I actually
the the incident at the forest. >> I know Peter and you got my >> Yeah. Thanks for letting us know. I hadn't heard about it till you sent it. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But you know, I talked to the chief. Well, I emailed him and he communicate communicated back to me. Um,
and he made kind of little of the of the access issue. Um, but I think it really should be kind of addressed in the whole new when you do something new in the front there. You know, some accommodation >> could be made for that to be an easier
um entry point. Have you I mean right now there's it's hard to get on there with an ATV, but has there there is there any history there of uh ATV vehicles on the site uh for people that have been there a while? >> You do you mean like just regular
residents that were >> Yeah, just like local neighborhood kids. >> Um you know, in my 30 years there off and on, you know, little mini bikes and you know, occasionally it would happen. I I wouldn't consider it a um a problematic issue. >> Okay. Okay. But, you know, if there's
some temporary way of that the fire people have access to, I know they they do like the bike trails and there are things you can do >> um to make that a safer. Uh >> and Carl, we can talk offline, but uh my
understanding is that the wooden wood rail that you would like >> is is a significant effort. um I am told. Um but it seems like making the boulders making access path which should be easy to do >> and then we'll have to figure out
funding for a nicer railing >> because we did talk about like what they have in front of the library. Yeah. >> You know, rustic. It really looks like the other rustic things that we've done. >> It's like what we put at Warren Pole on the entrance uh along the driveway. Yeah. There's We just did it at another
site two years ago, three years ago. Two two Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Awesome. >> Thank you, Jeeoff. >> I'll be excited to see the >> on the real website. >> I'm excited to get working on it. >> All right. Thanks. Really appreciate your time. >> Sure. Thank you.
>> Thank you, everybody. Thank you, Robin. Great work. >> Really important work. Yes. >> Good stuff. Really good stuff. >> So, who who updates? David is you the guy that updates all >> David and I have the access to it. I have access. Okay. I think it's important to they're putting a lot of
effort into that site >> that we stay we do our part. >> Agree completely. >> Keep it rolling. >> Agree completely. Yeah. >> Yeah. Because we don't want someone to lose interest, >> right? >> That's done a lot of work. >> Yeah. >> Looks beautiful. >> Very very good. Nice. That was a great
report. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Thank you. Next up, thank you very much. Uh next up we have our planning board liaison, Mr. Lavali. Good evening. >> Good evening. My report's going to be quite boring compared to that one.
>> Um, >> seriously, >> no, no bumblebees, >> no no pictures, no slides. Um this week we're going to be uh finalizing the managed growth strategy task force um and then setting up the uh the charter
and then uh inviting the task force to have a joint meeting on September 24th. Um as the kickoff for that task force, we're going to be talking about the housing plan production uh and then likely voting to endorse that.
We've got a SEAD um applicability um decision to have the or to make for 10 Independence Drive for the hotel area. The 133 Princeton Street is coming before us with a major modification. I
think they want to do an event space up top of that uh liquor store. Um, Chumsford Mall and Steman are going to be both continued uh to the next meeting. And then we've got a couple hearings 242 Bill Rick Road that is uh
continuing um through discussion. Uh we're probably going to be getting close uh in the next couple meetings probably to the vote on that one. And then 191 185 Bill uh Riverneck Road is uh is also coming before us again next week or this
week. So, it's going to be a long meeting. Lot of >> You have two meetings this month and do you have two in October? >> Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And in October will be a staggered schedule, I think, uh, between ours and
your meetings. It'll be staggered weeks. >> Okay. Okay. Not not following us like this this morning. Okay. >> We've got an October 1st is the Wednesday. Yeah, we're >> So, I think we go before you guys.
>> Okay. So, okay. You'll have two meetings before >> one meeting. >> Oh, we have another meeting this month. Yeah. Getting ahead of myself. >> Well, we may have the September meeting and then the October meeting and then your meeting. So >> So you said um
you said what was the one that you said was continued? Um >> Chumsford Mall and Steman. >> Yeah. Okay. >> We're not doing uh >> Okay. Sounds familiar. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> Questions for Chris? Anything? >> Right. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you. Thanks very much. Appreciate it. Okay. First up on our regulatory hearings. Um and again, the only hearing we'll have tonight um that we'll be discussing is the request for
determination of applicability uh for Peter Morren, 272 Old Westford Road. And do we have a notice? Mr. Mr. Garahan. >> Mr. Chairman, pursuant to the provisions of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Mass General Laws Chapter 131, Section 40, and the Chsford Wetlands
bylaw, chapter 187, the Chsford Conservation Commission will conduct a public hearing in room 204 at the Chamsa Town offices on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 at 7 p.m. to consider the request for determination of applicability filed by Mr. Peter C. Morren on behalf of
property owner 272 Old West Road comma LLC for proposed work within 100 foot buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands and intermittent stream at 272 Old Westward Road further identified as
assesses parcel map 58/block 276 lot 2. The project entails construction of an ADA compliant brick paver walkway. Mr. chairman. >> Thank you, Chris. Appreciate it. Presume he's not in the room. He must be online.
David, >> uh, no, I don't think so. Um, let me double check on that. He is not there. He sent me he sent me an email
um earlier uh or later in the afternoon asking me if he needed to be here tonight. and I replied by saying yes, that would be good. So, um not sure
uh why he's not here. Um so, I think commission needs someone to present the project. >> Yeah, I think we're going to have to continue it then. >> Yeah, I don't >> I don't see anything else. >> You want to just table it for, you know, 15 minutes or so, just in case he
happens to come? >> That's fine. We have a couple of things. We don't have a whole lot else to talk about. We have a few things to talk and maybe he'll he'll show up. But um >> um >> let's just table it for the moment and then um either continue it when we're done our other topics. Is that
reasonable, David? >> Um yeah, I guess I could send him an email. Um, >> well, I I at this point if I don't think we have that much on our agenda that if he got the email he Yeah, I'm I'm just wondering if maybe he thought it was
7:30 instead of 7 o'clock or something and he walks in in five minutes. So rather than continuing voting to continue and having him then walk in, then let's just do that later. So all right. So then let's go through the exercise here. We have uh four Russell
Road which is an NOI continued from um August 12th. Uh we can we can voted to continue it at our last meeting if I remember right. Um so the applicant has requested a continuence to September 23rd. >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we continue
the notice of intent for Four Russell Road until our next scheduled meeting of September 23rd. >> Motion from Chris. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second from Ally. Thank you very much. All in favor? >> I >> I Okay, so uh TW for Russell Road will
be at our next meeting. So, next one on the list is 152 Steman Street. So, this one the applicant has also requested it continues to September 23rd. This one was opened without discussion on August
12th, continued on uh the last meeting August 20 whatever 26th or whatever that date was. Um, and now they're asking again. So, that's three times that we're not hearing the presentation. Um, I don't know how many times we do this. I
would I wonder if we should be thinking about um asking them to pull back the application, refile when they're ready. Um, I'm not sure um we want to push that this minute, but maybe let them know
that, you know, one more time. And I I don't think we should keep doing this. >> Um I I think that's a reasonable um position. Um I I know um a couple of things I think the a couple of issues that I'm aware of that are delaying it
at least conservation commission as far as I can tell they haven't u notified of Butters. So certainly have to do that. And they still haven't agreed to fund a peer reviewer. Um, so I I I believe that they did
submit a name of someone who was acceptable and and I guess cheap enough for their budget, but not sure it was really qualified. So still trying to resolve that issue. >> Okay.
I Any comments from the rest of the commission what your thoughts are? Uh yeah, if you're following this at all, renewable energy development projects are in a little bit of chaos to put it mildly. And I can think of about 10 reasons from
what little I know about the industry why there might be legitimate delays. And then I would just like to follow up. My my personal view is we want to encourage this kind of renewable energy development of I'll call it safe places
like the top of an old landfill is not I don't think very controversial. So >> I I administratively we probably want to go ahead as you describe but I would think >> it's a good project. Yeah, it's just to me it's a little frustrating to have them opened
continued continued continued at some point. >> Request to have come to the meeting and explain his situation. >> Well, the applicant is based in Texas, so I don't think he's going to maybe maybe he could appear by Zoom. we we
could ask um and and I don't think his representative is going to uh appear here obviously without his client agreeing to it but but the important thing is they may be having some other issues connecting to the grid other
permit things they may not be sure I mean I've worked on these in my old career they may not be sure they have a viable project yet because there's a million things you have to do you know uh so there could be a legitimate reason why they I don't want to spend more money at this point, but back to your
point, we should >> Yeah. Yeah. >> be more clean. >> If they weren't ready, maybe then the NOI filing was a little premature. But >> but but I'm not saying it is. I just don't I'm saying there could be a lot of things >> in the way. It's a little different than a than a building. >> If it's continued for the third time, clearly was premature. I mean, I don't
know how else to say it, but you know, but at this point, so how about this, David? if you notify them that we'd like to at least um have them explain what's going on at our next meeting or at or pull back. >> Yeah. >> Or pull back.
>> Um but I don't know that u if we continue one more time, >> but I don't know that I want to continue it one more at the next meeting >> or or at least if if it is continued, you know, make sure that they have something definite they're going to be here to present >> some more explanation. I mean, even even
even if it's like, you know, two months, you know, from now, if if they can commit to having something, you know, that they'll definitely show us. >> We don't know anything other than we do have a link with their with their NOI file. So, there's a big document. >> They've spent money on this. They, you
know, they've invested a lot in this clearly. >> Um, but that's it. You know, we haven't seen anything. >> But to David's David's point, I think it's a good one. I mean perhaps it's like out two months or something that's reasonable when they're ready to proceed forward rather than having this next
meeting next meeting type thing. >> Yeah, I'll see if I can next meeting then get an up tell them you need an update or they have to pull back and refile. >> Yeah. Or and ask him, you know, when do you think you can have something to present to the commission? >> If they said yeah, if they came back and
said, can we continue it until November? I'd say, "Okay, then you know that's I don't want to keep doing this every week. That's what I don't want to do." >> Yes. It's a bit of a hassle. I agree. Okay. I'll see what I can get out of them. >> Okay. >> But they definitely have to notify a Butters
and that's how that's 101. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's blocking and tackling. >> Okay. All right. So, I will take a motion then. >> Mr. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that the notice of intent um that was scheduled for 152 Steman
Street that the hearing be continued to our next meeting on September 23rd. Motion from Chris. >> Second. >> Second from Ally. All in favor? >> I Okay, we are moving on to the next one. So,
now we are at the Chumsford Mall. This is the notice of intent uh for 265 and 279 Chumsford Street. Um and that one um the applicant has requested continuous to October 14th. So that's a month from
now. That's the uh two meetings from now. So that's um a reasonable uh request I think. >> Yes. And and I've heard that they are making progress. >> Okay. >> They are making progress. >> Okay. >> Mr. Here I'm going to make a motion then that we continue the notice of intent
hearing for 265 and 279 Chelms Street and 20 Manahan Street as well as Street Canina Road uh project until the conservation schedule meeting of October 14. >> Motion from Chris. Second.
>> Second. >> Second from Ally. All in favor? >> I >> I Okay, >> we are now through the regulatory portion of our meeting. What a team. What a team. All right, David, update on the Freeman Lake parcel boundary uh situation.
>> So, uh I told the um I told the surveyor that the the commission uh would like to have the rebar um instead of the granite bounds at those those two lot corners uh closest to the water. Um I
>> for his recommendations also. >> Yes. Yes. So, uh, I also asked him, you know, was was there anything that could be, um, attached to the rebar, um, to which would extend above the surface of the water in in case they were flooded.
And he he he said yes um and and sent me um a link to the product. It just wasn't clear to me, and I haven't a chance to get back to him yet. wasn't clear to me whether that was something that the commission would do or that that he would do. So, um I need to get a little
bit more information on that. >> Okay. Okay. Um so, if we can get an update on that. Um but we're we're almost there. >> Yeah. You know, three of the bounds are in. >> Okay. >> Um >> uh yeah, I saw them. Do you go up there? You go up there. Yeah.
>> So, so a couple are what extend about four inches above the surface. Well, there's a couple of them are pretty close to the ground. You have to look for those. Those are down by sixth. The one closest to uh first the first street
>> uh second street, that one's sticking up about this high on a mound. You can see that one easy. >> Okay. Are are there drill holes? >> Yeah. >> No. Okay, >> good. So, uh then Yeah, I think so. The ne the next step, you know, after the the the rebar is put in is then to put
in that fence we talked about >> between the two real fence at the end. Yep. Okay. And we need to address the dock, >> but I want to keep digging into that a little more. >> Okay. >> Yep. But now that we have a marker, I
think we we can start to make progress there. So, okay. Um, I will add one more thing in continual business that the open space and wreck plan updates that were made, they it it was submitted to the state.
They came back with some requests and comments. We made those fixes between us and the NEMCOG organization. They just resubmitted it to the state. So, um hopefully we'll hear in the next few weeks that uh we have an approved a fully approved without condition uh open
space and wreck plan. But, uh, that'll probably take a few more weeks, >> but um, pretty pleased about that getting that finally done. So, >> progress, >> good, good progress there. It's a good plan. It's a good um, it's a good plan. There's a lot of good stuff in there.
>> Site updates. Um, Mr. Garan, anything at Crooked Spring? >> Um, it's looking good. Looking good out of Crooked Spring. Good job on the um you know volunteers keeping the parking lot looking good as well as I was out on the the main trail looking looking good.
>> Good. Good. Mark uh on Redwing. I I think you brought it up last time. There's some interest by a party that wants to do some work there. Uh rebuilding the fence, replacing the fence actually with the uh equal material which would be nice to keep the
same look down there. And uh I think they're working on that. We should know pretty soon on uh >> what their thoughts are and how far they want to go along if they want to do the whole thing. >> Yep. Okay. And I know at the lime quarry there's a
bridge that needs some work that we're have. Did you get over there? >> I didn't go that middle trail. >> Yeah. I didn't get over there yet either, but I I had seen it in the past and it one of the residents submitted a request about it and so we'll >> we'll get some eyes on it. Mhm.
>> Did he give you a photograph of it? >> I've seen a photograph. I remember seeing it and it's it's been like that for a while, but it it definitely needs some work. >> I think the question becomes, is it just a fix or is it a replace >> because it's an Eagle Scout bridge from like 2003 or
>> Oh, okay. It's probably in that 20 year old range, which bridges 20 years on a bridge is decent, but probably probably hurting a little bit. So >> well took for the rock bridge that's 40 years.
>> All right, Peter, anything? Well, we talked about Thanksgiving. We had a good nice job on your presentation on Thanksgiving, Peter. Anything else on that? Um well just a couple ideas is as I thought about that project
um it seems to me the really important things for the next decade or two is the forest and the water quality and we can talk more about that but I had a good chat with uh our land steward about that and uh long range stuff but stick in the back of our minds.
>> Good. Okay. John Russell Mill. >> Yep. the town uh installed some uh trash containers. >> Y >> that's a great thing. >> Yeah, >> a big shout out. That's a thank you. >> Yeah, it's a big It's It's actually one of the residents made a request and um
there's a lot of lot of use there. There's soccer. >> There's mountain biking. There's people walking dogs. >> Uh a lot of lot of visitors. Very busy busy site. Um, we don't do trash recepticles at our other sites because I don't think they get enough use except
for Thanksgiving where they take care of it. The local neighbors take care of it. >> But, um, at Russell Mill, it really warrants it. So, I'm excited to be >> with the soccer field there. It's >> Yeah. Yeah. DPW service and DPW is going to service it. Yep. Yep.
>> Has the Has the Youth Soccer Association put in the new nets yet? >> It's in process. >> Oh, it's in process. >> Yeah. I saw it a week or two ago. I wasn't sure and then I real remembered it was >> it's to keep the balls from going into the parking lot. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. Y
>> that's in process. Yeah. >> Uh Bill O'KI Deep Brook. Uh well, we're working on I think David's talked to the attorney uh in touch with the attorney town attorneys to uh put together some kind of paperwork to present to the land
owners who some of our trails cross to indemnify each other uh mutually if somebody gets hurt. So that's in the works. Um there's been an ATV activity up at Oakill. Uh there's a I put a sign up said that uh motorized vehicles are
prohibited per the conservation commission. So uh we'll see what happens with that. Uh I think that's about it. >> That's not that was not a fire department ATV vehicle. >> I saw the trail myself. Yeah. It's a local right
>> you know kid having fun but but not allowed. So >> Right. So that's about it up there. And uh at Coolis, we're still waiting on the Boy Scout uh the Eagle project. Eagle Scout project. >> He has been pinged uh at least uh in the
last week or so, >> right? And I know there's uh I've been up at the quarry a couple times pushing them about the sign. Um, and some of the, uh, metal's been pulled out of the vernal pool area. >> Mhm.
>> And I know, uh, a couple people were up there and, uh, ran a, uh, magnet across the parking lot a few times and picked up nails. A lot of nails and >> find that everywhere. >> Things in there. Some glass up there, too, that was pulled out. >> Appreciate that. >> Yep. So,
and then behind the scenes is things going on with the Sbury. Uh, >> yeah. The um, the vernal pool. I know we're we we're looking at a scout troop uh looking to go in there and clean that up. Um >> they've mentioned they're interested in that. That would be a perfect project for them, right?
>> Hopefully we'll get that happening. Um okay, good. Um >> just maybe I'll maybe we circle back to 272 Western Road this point. >> Can I uh finish mine? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And can I just add something on Kulis? >> Yep.
>> So So when is when when is the town meeting scheduled for? Oh, at the end of October. >> Okay. So, so I think maybe we should talk about that warrant article. >> We will put that that we'll we'll talk about that at our next meeting. >> Okay. >> Uh it'll be a agenda item.
>> Okay. >> Yep. >> Um I just want to say Warren Pole is in good shape. Bright reservations in good shape. Trails are in very good shape. And then um the the Middle Sex Canal property that we have on Riverneck Road
adjoining with the Burbank Gardens with the land trust. Um there was a work party there on Saturday to install a 100 native plants that came from Sunny Meadow. Um there was the land conservation trust which owns that parcel of the land next to our parcel.
Uh the community garden had a lot of people. There were a number of volunteers. some of the folks from this room that were here earlier tonight. Karen Walton was there. Uh Jean Carla Kalpus was she was the planner for how this is all done. If you get over there and look at it, it's really something.
It was really something to see. 100 plants got installed in about two hours uh installed got planted in in about two hours. Was probably 15 20 people uh involved. So it was was quite a good work party. >> Has it been publicized or is there a way
to publicize? stuff on Facebook about it. The land trust posted some stuff. >> I think it'll be good to have a presentation of that just like we had. >> Yeah, I'd like to see a presentation of that because that's like the type of thing I mean it just looks favorably in the whole town. >> Yep. And and and if I could add, we made arrangements
uh with town manager's office to highlight, you know, the what you just heard the Thanksgiving forest thing in the next newsletter, which is great, but should give equal time. >> Yeah. you know, I don't know, be maybe the following month we could do an article.
>> Yeah. >> And and because we're, you know, we're here to promote this stuff, right? >> So, I I I just want to acknowledge there were two pollinator gardens planted in the last couple months, >> which is great. >> Yeah.
>> Good idea. Okay. >> Uh so that that property um our our parcel I forget how many acres it is. It's many acres compared to the Burbank one which is maybe a quarter of an acre or something. It's the land trust is very small. Um but they want to put a
sign up that says Burbank Gardens slash our conservation land because it's kind of all one big parcel and we don't have an official name but because this is right on Canal Street it's you know Canal Street or Canal Road whatever that
is that runs to the water district there. This is the Middle Sex Canal. So to me, it's very obvious this should be the Middle Sex Canal conservation area. Are we good on that? Makes sense. I mean, I like that. >> I think that works. And I think it's very simple, straightforward.
>> Yeah. >> Um and then they can make a sign. They'll, you know, they were kind of asking, "What do you guys want to call it?" And I'm like, "I don't know. I don't know." >> But when I looked at it, I Yeah, that's that's the Middle Sex Canal Iran right there. Well, as you and as you look through the underbrush, the invasives
and whatnot, you can see the banks of the canal. >> Yeah. >> So, the road must be the toe path. >> Yeah, >> I'm guessing. >> Probably was. Yeah, it probably was. Yeah, >> but you know, that's not obvious unless you really look. So, >> I I think >> that's great. >> I think it would be a good thing to do. And I think, you know, this this is a
site that I think, you know, I've walked through the woods there and it's it's kind of cool back there, but it's very rough. It's you you need a machete and It's a little It's a little rugged. You >> bet you could have some kind of kiosk with a sign that explains the whole
Middle Sex Canal part of it. >> In fact, across the street is um is a Middle Sex Canal marker uh right there, right? >> But we could support that on our side. >> Yeah. Because people are going to park in our in that parking area. >> Yeah. >> And they're going to see the flowers in that area.
>> That's a perfect spot for that. >> Yeah. Yeah. We could do something there. >> There are there are significant invasive plants there. this Japanese nutweed is prevalent um and a lot of other stuff too. But um >> I just want to add one thing on Warren Pole.
So um I um sent an email to the contact of the state asking for a status update on the review of the conservation restriction. Haven't heard a thing. So >> did you send it to us?
>> We did get an acknowledgement they got it though. Yes. Yeah. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Only back at the end of January. >> As those that have done this a lot say yours gets pushed to the bottom because there's no money involved >> when there's grant money and and
deadlines, they get floated up and ours gets floated up. >> Yes. But I think we're at the time of year where maybe the deadlines aren't so pressing, but >> we'll see. >> Yeah, we'll see. >> Chris, you wanted to go back. >> Oh, yes. Uh Charlie, I just um circling
back to 272 Old Westford Road. I didn't see anybody come in. So, let's uh I propose uh that we uh continue that request for determination applicability hearing uh to our next meeting um on September 23rd.
>> Motion from Chris. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second from Ally. All in favor? >> I >> I Okay. Thanks, Chris, for keeping us on on track there. Appreciate it. I might have forgotten it. >> I, you know, I forgot about it for a little bit and I'm like, uh oh, we you know, >> yeah, we left it open. Okay, good. Um
then, uh any agents report? Anything else, David? >> Uh no. Oh, um just just one thing on that. Um some they wanted some somebody wants something a cranberry bog. Uh can
you email me that again? I couldn't find it. >> Okay, I'll I will. So, >> I will I will send it to you. >> Great. Thank you. >> We have a we've been made aware of an event at the Cranberry Bog that has not been approved or anything. So, it's it's
a wide it's a ways out, but that's needs to be reviewed and approved at least by David. Yes. >> But, uh yeah, I'll send that to you. >> Uh Carl, just just a little out of order here, but um maybe some of you who saw uh I think it was Dave Sperry put out a
Facebook informal poll asking people what they thought of an ADA trail at Cranberry Bog. >> Yes. And um through my wife's Facebook, I put a little posting up, but I I think I told this story how a year or two ago,
I met a young woman and her father, and she w really worked hard to walk on that trail with her her crutches. And I she normally has a wheelchair, but it was so important to her for her peace of mind to and apparently she does this
frequently. You know, she really kind of struggled to get there. And while we're sitting there at the pond chatting, um, we heard a, you know, pilated woodpecker calling in the distance. And I just said to myself, that's exactly why we're here. The stress reduction or the beauty
or however you want to characterize it. >> So, I just wanted to mention that. I thought it was >> You told me that and that stuck with me, too. I >> Yeah, it was really I wish you were there. It was really >> poignant. Uh, >> lovely chat, but you really >> this young woman worked hard. >> She was to get there, >> determined to get there. And fortunately, that's a relatively
straight. It's not as flat. There's a lot of mud and there's >> muddy. It was in the spring. Yeah, it was a mess. >> Yeah. >> But anyway, I I love the idea that Dave could do forward. Yeah. >> Yeah. Thanks, Dave. Dave is Dave is doing a lot of good work for us for for the whole town. He >> is.
>> Okay. Um we don't have any meeting minutes to approve. Um and we are, of course, I should have said at the beginning, we're missing Vivian tonight. She's going to do this meeting from um recording. Hello, Vivian. Uh but um she uh fortunately doesn't have three three
hearings to to wade through so it should be shouldn't be too bad. I will take a motion to adjurnn. >> Move to adjurnn. >> Motion from Chris. >> Second. >> Second from Ally. All in favor? >> I. All right. meeting is