Norton Conservation Commission Approves American Chestnut Planting

The recent Norton Conservation Commission meeting marked a step towards local environmental development with the approval for planting American chestnut trees in various conservation areas. The Commission’s decision came after a discussion that addressed the potential impact of the trees in the landscape, the maintenance concerns, and the possibility of resistance development over time. This initiative, spearheaded by a volunteer from the American Chestnut Foundation, Dominic Cruset, is aimed at reintroducing a species that has faced historical decimation due to blight.

The meeting also delved into a resident’s flooding concerns, which have escalated due to the nearby river’s overflow. Nolan, the affected resident, presented images and sought the Commission’s guidance for a potential solution that could involve work within the designated floodplain. Members of the Commission expressed a readiness to work with Nolan, discussing the need for an engineered approach consistent with the Wetland Protection Act and the importance of compensatory measures if the project involved filling any part of the floodplain.

Further, the Commission analyzed a proposal for the construction of an indoor self-storage facility on South Washington Street. The representative for the applicant, a registered professional engineer, outlined the project’s proximity to the city of Taunton line and Interstate 495, detailing the wetlands on the property and referencing a previous order of resource area delineation issued by the Commission.

Additionally, the Commission scrutinized three separate filings concerning the development of Z Crane Street Lots B, C, and D. The representative from W Engineering, Evan Watson, revisited previous deliberations with the ANRAD to delineate the wetlands and presented notice of intent permits for the proposed development. The commission focused on the impact on the wetlands, stormwater management, and the need for a septic system due to the absence of sewer access. The hearings for these lots were continued to allow for further review.

During the discussion of the projects involving lots C and D at Zero Mansfield Avenue, updates were provided, addressing previous concerns about water flow and the impact on wetlands. A motion to close the hearing was approved, moving the project to the next phase. In another case, the construction of a 35,000 square foot warehouse on South Street was presented, with the representative discussing the stormwater system’s design and its relationship to the wetlands.

The Commission also debated a 14-lot subdivision on Reservoir Street, where the representative, accompanied by a project engineer, detailed the proposed stormwater design’s adherence to regulations and response to the peer review process. The conversation highlighted the Commission’s need for review and planning board approval before advancing.

The meeting touched on the approval of a subdivision project and the request for a waiver concerning stormwater retention based on the project’s approval in October. The Commission discussed the need to meet the one-inch threshold for stormwater retention and the potential hazards of standing water after significant storm events. The necessity for peer review to provide engineering support was emphasized, as was the need to obtain all required permits before construction efforts.

Lastly, the Commission reviewed the order of conditions for a property on Charlotte Avenue, focusing on compensatory flood storage and local conditions within the floodplain. Staff reported significant rainstorms leading to flooding and high discharge rates in streams, emphasizing the need for updated stormwater regulations to address climate resiliency. Discussions on the town’s vulnerability to heavy rainfall events and potential financial support from the state led to proposals for revisiting buffers and implementing local fees for permits to contribute to the general fund for conservation purposes.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
Michael Yunits
Environmental Commission Officials:
Julian Kadish, Lisa Carrozza, Daniel Pearson, Tamah Vest, Marc Fernandes, Paxton Halsall, John Thomas (Conservation Director, Stormwater Agent), Megan Harrop (Conservation Assistant)

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