Littleton Board of Health Approves Septic Variance, Plans Air Quality Sensor Network

LITTLETON — December 11, 2024 — Littleton's Board of Health approved a septic variance for a Tadmuck Road property and began mapping where to deploy 10 state-supplied air quality sensors. The board voted unanimously to allow fill and grading to within 3.6 feet of a property line at 161 Tadmuck Road, where owner Alexandra Essman is converting a three-bedroom house to four bedrooms using a Presby system; engineer Jack Maloney of Dillis and Roy said the abutting lot is owned by Essman's parents, who raised no objection. Member Dan Kane outlined a placement framework for the 10 PM2.5 particulate sensors received from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, prioritizing population centers and environmental risk zones — including schools, the Route 2 and 495 corridor, and the transfer station area — with a finalized plan targeted for the January 8 meeting. A draft public health report presented by the board's agent showed seven confirmed tuberculosis cases over a five-month period, a figure members described as "alarming" and well above the two-to-three annual cases typical for a community of Littleton's size.