One item on the agenda was the continued public hearing for the Notice of Intent D file number 100-0490 concerning a project at Sandis Point Road. Leon Weaver, representing the project, provided essential updates, emphasizing the urgency due to tight treatment timelines for Blandings turtles. Natural Heritage had stipulated specific periods in May, July, and September through November for treatment to accommodate turtle nesting seasons, with all work needing to commence before September 1. The commission, recognizing the project’s environmental significance and the constraints on time, unanimously approved the Notice of Intent.

Following the approval, the commission addressed another public hearing for Notice of Intent D file number 100-4890, related to a proposed commercial building on Scully Road for Commercial Fire Systems. Represented by owner Paul Joy, the project encompasses a warehouse attached to a residential unit designed for 24/7 business operations. Joy detailed the site’s existing conditions, noting nearby residential properties, a brook, and a landfill. The proposed structure, approximately 130 feet in length and 30 feet in depth, includes a new driveway with stormwater management features such as infiltration chambers and a basin.

Joy assured the commission that the project complies with local regulations and addressed comments from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). He highlighted the efforts to stay outside the 50-foot no-disturb zone and the 100-year floodplain, and proposed a collaborative approach to assess tree removal and replacement during the preconstruction meeting. The commission’s review included a examination of the stormwater management plan and wetland delineation, with Joy confirming that the infiltration basin design met regulatory requirements.

The commission then moved to discussions about the properties at 11 and Gasan Road. Ron Strel from Oxo Associates presented changes to the drainage plan, necessitating a connection to a larger retention basin on a different lot. This adjustment required encroaching on the buffer zone, with the closest point to the wetland being 54 feet for lot six and 76 feet for lot seven. The commission agreed to a site visit on September 14 to further inspect the project areas before the next formal meeting.

Simultaneously, a site visit from the previous Saturday was reported, focusing on conservation restrictions (CR) and property maintenance issues. Concerns about lawn clippings being dumped in the conservation area and a shed encroaching on the CR were discussed. It was decided to inform property owners about proper disposal practices and to send a letter regarding the shed’s steps, which needed removal.

The commission also discussed maintenance along the CR boundary and roadway, agreeing that better signage and communication with residents were necessary. A joint meeting with the planning board was proposed to align on future CRs and ensure collaborative conservation efforts.

Invasive species management, specifically along the Nashua River and in local pocket forests, also featured prominently in the discussions. Members highlighted the importance of addressing invasive plants and coordinating with the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Updates on pocket forest projects at Sandy Pond Schoolhouse and the high school were shared, with plans for site preparation in the fall and planting in the spring.

Additional topics included the Newton Street Festival, scheduled for October 5th, where the commission plans to distribute seeds, candy, and informational materials about local trails and native plants. Concerns about the watering of newly planted trees in pocket forests were raised, with a member noting coordination with the fire department to refill water barrels.