Hayes given OK pending work

AYER -- Scott Hayes, of Foresite Engineering, met with the Conservation Commission for an Notice of Intent (NOI) hearing for the Orion Park commercial development on Orion Park Drive.

An Order of Conditions (OOC) had originally been issued in 1997, said Hayes, but work didn't commence and the OOC expired in 2003.

The owner refiled in 2006, he said. Finding wildlife habitat issues on the site caused the project to be tabled until the issue was resolved with the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, he said.

The resolution of the issue was to put 7.2 acres on the site in a conservation restriction to protect the habitat, said Hayes.

The commission was most concerned with a fence in the plan to be placed around the area under the conservation restriction. While a fence will keep people out of the endangered habitat, members said they're concerned about allowing for wildlife migration.

The fence is on the plan at the request of Natural Heritage, said Hayes.

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The purpose of the fence may be to prevent endangered turtles from entering the construction site and dying, said Commissioner Takashi Tada. It's worth communicating with Natural Heritage to find out, he said.

The commission voted to accept the NOI and issue an OOC for the site until it hears back from Natural Heritage on the fence issue on May 8. -- Richard Breyer

Rudenauer seeking OK for site work

AYER -- The Autumn Ridge housing development on Groton Road has an expired Order of Conditions (OOC), and the new owner is refiling for the site.

Engineer Eric Rudenauer met with the Conservation Commission for an NOI hearing for the site. The plan hasn't changed, he said, outlining the remaining work that needs to be completed. That work includes two houses in the wetland buffer zone, a wildlife habitat area, stormwater maintenance and some road paving.

The commission had previously heard concerns of water flow on the site, said Chairman William Daniels.

The water flow is outside the buffer zone, said Rudenauer. The plan is to deal with the flow outside the buffer with a swale, he said.

There are also concerns about a soil pile on the site uphill from the wetlands. The commission had previously issued an enforcement order on it.

The pile is stabilized and has vegetation growing on it, said Rudenauer.

The commission scheduled a site walk to view the soil pile and the rest of the site on April 26. It voted to continue the hearing to May 8. -- Richard Breyer

Certificates issued for three lots

on Sandy Pond Road

AYER -- The Conservation Commission has voted to issue certificates of compliance for lots one, two and three on 126 Sandy Pond Road.

It's also issued an Order of Conditions (OOC) for lot three. The OOC regulates the maintenance of a pool on the property to prevent chlorine from entering a nearby wetland.

It also voted to issue an extension of an OOC to Canney Brothers Construction LLC for work on the road and detention basin on Pheasant Run. -- Richard Breyer

Styles may proceed with work

at Pheasant Circle

AYER -- The Conservation Commission has given a negative determination on an Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) to Ken Styles.

Styles' request for work at Pheasant Circle included installing new hay bales and a silt fence and removing poison ivy outside of the wetland buffer zone in the backyard of the property.

A negative determination means that the work is outside the commission's jurisdiction and can proceed without an Order of Conditions (OOC). -- Richard Breyer