Note: During their meeting, the Conservation Commission also discussed deer management, which is covered in a separate article: Acton researches deer management programs.
Spring Hill Road Development update
Developers for the proposed project at 12 Spring Hill Road presented revised plans to the Conservation Commission seeking approval to construct two homes and a sports court. The proposal requires a waiver due to portions of the development being located within wetland and floodplain buffer zones.
In a follow up email, Conservation Agent Olivia Barksdale provided some background on the project: the current proposal is the latest in a series of attempts to develop the 7.3-acre property dating back more than 25 years. The land has remained under the same ownership since 1999, and the applicant sought to subdivide the property in both 1999 and 2007, but was denied due to the project not meeting performance standards. While the Massachusetts DEP superseded the Acton denial on appeal, the project still did not proceed. In 2021, 2023, and 2024, applications were submitted to the Commission for two homes and a driveway and were either denied or withdrawn. The 2024 application was again appealed to the Massachusetts DEP, but the state board asked the developer to go back to the town for review under the local wetlands’ bylaw.
As part of the most recent plan, the developer removed one structure, a barn with a driveway, and proposed mitigating Japanese knotweed—an invasive species—along the water’s edge to improve wetland conditions. The applicant argued that these changes would help justify granting the requested waiver.
Following a lengthy discussion, commissioners concluded that the revisions did not adequately address their concerns. Commissioner Amy Green noted that, even if a waiver were granted, the plans still failed to sufficiently address stormwater runoff. The docushare contained an interdepartmental communication from the Engineering Department to the Conservation Commission stating that the requested waivers from six sections of the Chapter X Stormwater Bylaw “cannot be justified.”
Commissioner James Colman asked whether the applicant would consider submitting a redesigned proposal that complied with the required buffer zones, setbacks stated in the Town of Acton Chapter F Bylaw, and therefore would not require a waiver if the current request were denied. The developer declined to answer.
The developer’s attorney then requested a continuance to refine the proposal and consult further with the applicant. Commissioners briefly considered closing the public hearing instead of granting the continuance, but after a motion to close failed to receive a second, the commission voted to continue the matter.
The application is scheduled to return to the Conservation Commission for further discussion at its September 9 meeting.
Acton Arboretum paved paths
Open Space & Trails Manager Ian Bergemann presented plans to add three paved paths at the Acton Arboretum to improve accessibility for wheeled visitors and others who require more stable walking surfaces. The proposed project would create approximately 930 feet of paved pathways. Bergemann noted that the contractor’s quote is based on completing all three paths in a single project, and that delaying portions of the work could result in higher costs. Any remaining funds would be used to widen an existing cart path that may not currently meet the needs of wheeled visitors.
Proposed Land Stewards Mission Change
As the town’s conservation lands have expanded, so too has the role of the volunteers who help care for them. Ian Bergemann and Tom Wolf of the Land Stewardship Committee presented a proposed update to the Land Stewards’ mission statement, explaining that the revisions clarify the group’s purpose while broadening its scope. The updated language reflects the stewards’ work not only on conservation properties, but also on private and municipal land management projects. One duty has been added to the charge: [The Committee] “works to control invasive species on the Stewardship Lands.” Bergemann clarified that the Stewards have been doing invasive species control already, and often have presentations on specific problematic species at their monthly meetings.
Following minor edits suggested by commissioners, the Commission agreed on the revised mission statement.
Hazard tree removal policy for wetlands
Acton resident and student Harrison Pratt, as part of his summer internship with the Conservation Division, presented research on proposed updates to the town’s hazard tree management policy for wetlands and other protected resource areas.
Pratt defined a hazard tree as one that is dead, dying, diseased, infested, or structurally unsound, explaining that the proposed policy is intended to streamline the review process for property owners who believe a hazardous tree poses a risk to people, structures, or property. The proposal was developed after reviewing hazard tree policies in neighboring municipalities.
Under the proposed policy, requests for removal would require certification from a qualified arborist. Pratt noted that Acton’s current policy limits approvals to two hazard trees per property within a 12-month period, while many neighboring communities allow up to five. Based on a review of 15 municipal policies, he recommended increasing Acton’s limit to five trees annually, noting that the town’s existing policy is the most restrictive among those surveyed. Requests involving more than five trees would have to come to the Conservation Commission.
The proposal also includes mitigation requirements, with removed trees to be replaced by an equivalent number of similar-sized native trees or shrubs. Replacement plantings would need to survive for two growing seasons before an application could be considered complete. Commissioners also discussed whether the policy should discourage creating new access paths through wetlands solely to remove hazard trees.
Commissioners praised Pratt’s research as thorough and well supported, with discussion focusing primarily on the proposed criteria and environmental protections rather than the overall value of the policy. The commission voted to continue the discussion at a future meeting. Pratt was also invited to present his findings to other Town boards and committees, an invitation he accepted, saying he looks forward to continuing the work throughout his internship and beyond as both a student and an Acton resident.
Stow Street, Complete Streets project
Under Acton’s ongoing Complete Streets project—an initiative designed to provide safe and accessible transportation options for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and motorists of all ages and abilities—Stow Street has undergone extensive study, including community outreach, traffic monitoring, and other data collection efforts to identify the most appropriate design.
Although the Conservation Commission was unable to receive an update from the project’s engineering consultant at this meeting, commissioners discussed two concepts that were recently presented to the Select Board. One proposal would convert portions of Stow Street to one-way traffic, with corresponding one-way connections via Robbins Street and Liberty Street in the opposite direction. The second proposal would widen Stow Street to accommodate multiple modes of transportation while maintaining two-way traffic.
The discussion will continue at a future meeting, when a representative from the engineering firm is expected to present the alternatives in greater detail and answer the commission’s questions, particularly regarding potential conservation impacts.
Other news
- The Conservation Commission unanimously approved a request to construct a backyard shed at 70 Newtown Road. The shed will be installed on a permeable stone base with no deep excavation, and commissioners agreed the proposed location was the only practical option given the property’s extensive wetland buffer and wooded areas. The Zoning Board of Appeals had approved the project the previous day.
- The Conservation Commission approved a proposal to repair the Main Street culvert at Nashoba Brook. The two-week project will temporarily divert stream flow while a liner is placed within the existing deteriorated culverts. Any significant precipitation during the diversion will be monitored by the conservation agent, Olivia Barksdale, and a representative from the engineering firm, Woodard and Curran, along with the Town Engineers. The repaired culvert is designed to allow sediment to accumulate naturally, matching existing stream conditions. Any vegetation disturbed during construction will be replaced with comparable native species.
Susan Greene is an environmental science consultant, sustainability blogger, and grant writer based in Acton, MA. She is the founder of GreeneUP, a platform that explores sustainable living, climate issues, and community resilience.
