(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
A quiet storm sat at the top of the agenda: could we rely on a 2007 stormwater master plan when DEP’s regional files no longer hold the case record? We walked through what remained—an older notice of intent that documented how the Random Woods Commerce Center controlled peak discharge for 2-, 10-, and 100-year storms—and weighed it against today’s unchanged Standard 2 requirements. With the policy logic intact and local documentation in hand, we closed and issued for Zero Paramount Drive, acknowledging the reality that sometimes governance depends on process integrity when the perfect paper trail is gone.
The night took a more granular turn at Wilbur Street, where a single-family project meets a complex wetland edge. The proposal included a long driveway between an isolated wetland and a larger system, a culvert for connectivity, and a plan to fill wetlands for future agricultural use. We drew a firm line: agricultural exemptions don’t apply before an actual operation exists, and limited project provisions can’t be stretched to allow fill that changes grades. The fix is straightforward and fair—revise the filing to remove the farm-related fill, treat any future farm work as a separate application, and replace the small pipe with an open-bottom crossing to preserve flow, function, and resilience. To ground the redesign, we’ll have the applicant stake the driveway and crossing so our next site walk tests the plan against where the water truly moves. An abutter’s photos of seasonal flooding helped sharpen that picture.
We also cleaned up our own process. A recent approval at 840 Broadway missed responding to DEP’s stormwater comments before the vote; we’re formally requesting additional information and will reopen the file within the statutory window to keep the record right. And we paused an ORAD extension for Pine Street to verify exact dates under the Permit Extension Act before taking action. It’s the unglamorous core of public service: get the facts, correct the misses, and keep the path clear for both applicants and the environment.
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https://www.buzzsprout.com/2395663/episodes/17982374
