Littleton Conservation Commission Closes Dock Hearing, Issues Five Unanimous Votes

LITTLETON -- October 3, 2023, Littleton Conservation Commission took five unanimous votes at its October 3 meeting, closing a public hearing on a proposed dock at 4 Pond Road and authorizing staff to finalize order of conditions for applicant David Harrington's kayak dock, boat shed, and woodchip path project. Chair Chase Kirby and commissioners Carl Melberg, Kyle Maxfield, Michael Livingston, and Andrew approved conditions requiring that vegetation outside the permitted work limits be left undisturbed, that petroleum storage be prohibited within the buffer zone, and that the property owner maintain and restore the bank. The commission also issued a negative determination of applicability for a garage addition and site restoration at 9 Spruce Street, with conditions including a pre-construction inspection by staff and a recorded determination, after debating whether a full Notice of Intent was warranted for the volume of work between the 50- and 100-foot buffer lines. A Notice of Intent for an already-built deck expansion at 18 Porter Road was continued to October 17 after commissioners signaled that permitting a net increase in impervious area within the 50-foot no-disturb zone would be "an uphill climb," consistent with prior denials of similar projects. The commission also voted to authorize submission of a MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant ahead of an October 31 deadline, and empowered Conservation Agent Amy to approve a native-species restoration planting plan, including seven trees and 29 shrubs, for an enforcement order site at Ipswich Drive and Foss Place.