Littleton Commission Confronts Unauthorized Wetlands Deck, Weighs Demolition Option

LITTLETON -- October 17, 2023, Littleton Conservation Commission confronts an unauthorized deck built inside the wetlands no-disturb zone this summer. At its October 17 session, the seven-member board unanimously approved an order of conditions for the 04 Pond project and issued a unanimous negative three determination for a failed septic replacement at 18 Middlesex Drive, but spent the bulk of the evening on more contested matters. Chair Chase Garvey told the representative for a 18 Porter Street property owner that the commission "does not want to create a perverse incentive for people to build without complying and ask forgiveness rather than permission" after a 10-foot replacement deck with ground posts was constructed this summer in the 50-foot no-disturb buffer without triggering wetlands review, with the nearest wetland boundary estimated at 38 feet from the structure. The board continued that hearing to November 14, ordering a formal wetland delineation and a substantially expanded mitigation plan ahead of a November 2 site walk. The commission also continued a Notice of Intent for Foster Street road reconstruction, a MassDOT project proposing permanent impacts of 15,736 square feet of 100-foot buffer zone and 7,500 square feet of 50-foot no-disturb, to November 14 following a scheduled site walk, and opened hearings on a six-lot subdivision at Hartwell Avenue where two-thirds of the 10-acre site will be placed under a deed restriction.