Sudbury Conservation Commission Discusses Home Projects

Various home projects ranging from an addition and septic system relocation to a retaining wall to be added to a property with erosion issues were discussed at Monday's Conservation Committee meeting, with Committee members expressing overall support for the plans.

The meeting, held at the , began with a lengthy conversation about a notice of intent for a home addition at 15 Thoreau Way, where homeowner Elaine Payne intends to add a garage with a one-bedroom suite, as well as "reconfigurations to the existing driveway to fit with the project," said project engineer Bert Corey of Schofield Brothers of New England, who represented Payne.

The project will require relocating the septic system from its current location to one "actually better from a conservation perspective, in terms of it being (moved) further from the riverfront area” abutting the property, Corey said.

Corey's presentation encompassed the various mandates required by town bylaws, most notably those required by the Wetlands Protection Act as well as plans for stormwater management of the property after the project's completion.

At a previous Commission meeting, Conservation Coordinator Debbie Dineen said the Commission's authority for reviewing stormwater submittals and issuing permits is a relatively new designation by the Planning Board, which, as part of the bylaw, is not required to further review the submittals.

After extensive review of the plans, Commission members agreed the project would be "well under" the limits of allowable riverfront disturbance and that as a whole, it may actually create some conservation improvements.

In addition to moving the septic system further from the riverfront area, such improvements include reducing the impervious surface and converting portions of the lawn to natural ground cover, said Corey.

Attendees had an indepth discussion of a potential increase in water runoff from the property post-renovation, with Dineen advising Commission members to "really consider every practicable solution" for reducing runoff.

As that part of the conversation concluded, Committee member Dick Bell called the overall effect of the runoff "minimal" and said the extra runoff resulting from a two-year storm — which refers to the probability of a certain level storm event occurring — would equal "about 120 cubic feet total, which is pretty close to nothing.”

The discussion wrapped with members' overall support and acceptance of conditions as discussed under various bylaws.

The next items discussed were home projects of various scopes, including:

• A kitchen renovation and screened-in porch to be added at 15 Wake Robin Road. Dineen called the plans "pretty straightforward" and said it would cause "no disturbance of any soil" to the riverfront on the property's northern section.
• A retaining wall at 157 Maynard Farm Road, the backyard of which homeowner Simone Simpson said has been steadily eroding during the past several years. Dineen called the project, which will include backfilling and landscaping, "a restoration and preservation effort, in a sense," and members, after discussing safety measures around the wall, voiced support and agreed to issue a project permit.
• A walkway to be built from Pantry Road to Davis Field, with Dineen representing DPW Director Bill Place, who initiated the project on behalf of the Town of Sudbury. While there is some uncertainty about the impact on wetlands due to heavy poison ivy growth in one area of the build, members again indicated support.

The Conservation Commission's next meeting is scheduled for July 18.