During the meeting, the Commission approved a residential pool permit for a property located on Wilbraham Road, which is characterized by significant riverfront area and a river passing through the backyard. The homeowners were seeking exemptions based on the house being constructed prior to 1996. The Commission’s approval came with specific conditions, including the establishment of a limit of work line, the placement of silt barriers, and provisions for the proper emptying of the pool to prevent wastewater from entering the river.

The Commission then turned its attention to a proposed solar array on Glendale Road, reviewing the plan and its potential effects on the Riverfront area. The Commission ultimately recommended standard conditions for solar installations and gave its approval, contingent on these conditions being met.

Another environmental consideration addressed by the Commission was a forest cutting plan by Craig and Patricia Schwitzer on Howlett Hill Road. This plan was necessitated by the removal of dead ash and oak trees, which have been affected by the invasive spongy moth. In approving this plan, the Commission stressed the importance of maintaining the road in its original condition post-cutting and the prevention of sediment from entering the stream, noting the inclusion of filter strips along the stream as a positive effort.

One of the more issues discussed involved Massachusetts Electric Company’s pole installation and replacement project along Glendale Road. The project, which encompasses the installation of new poles and replacement of existing ones within a 100-foot buffer zone, sparked concerns among the Commission members. Particular attention was given to the removal of trees necessary for the pole installations and the subsequent impact on the buffer zone. The Commission scrutinized the notification letter and the number of poles included in the project, necessitating a review of the project’s scope.

The installation of two additional poles on Glendale Road, which would serve a solar project on Glendale Road, was also a subject of deliberation. The Commission examined the proposed placement of these poles within the buffer zone and the tree species that would need to be removed. A representative from BSC Group provided detailed information regarding the tree removal and ground disturbance expected for these installations.

The Commission’s meeting further included a debate on the Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) concerning utility pole installations by Massachusetts Electric Company. The timing of the pole installations relative to the approval process and discrepancies between the company-provided mapping and the Commission’s mapping were key points of contention. After a discussion, a motion was passed to accept the RDA with specific conditions related to pole installation and tree cutting. Additionally, pole replacement requests from other companies such as Conico and National Grid were reviewed, with debates focusing on the locations of the poles in relation to buffer zones and other protected areas.