The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday night voted 6-0 to continue a hearing regarding a proposed bakery at 71 West Main Street so that the applicant could update the plans.

Formerly the home of Main Street Cleaners, the long-vacant building is the easternmost of two small, freestanding structures on the south side of West Main Street.

The main point of contention during the hearing was the placement of two trash receptacles in the 50-foot buffer zone. Applicant Jay Gallant, a principal of Paxton-based Gallant Architecture + Construction, said two roll-away bins would be more appropriate than a dumpster because “the business doesn’t generate a lot of waste.”

The receptacles were planned to be located to the south of the garage behind the driveway, about 10 feet away from the building, to give them “breathing room” from the bakery. The receptacles, Gallant said, would be enclosed in a plastic covering to keep out animals. He later added that he would be willing to move the receptacles closer to the driveway and out of the 50-foot buffer zone if the commission desired it.

Gallant also explained that a shed currently located in the 50-foot buffer zone that had fallen into disrepair would be removed. Native plantings recommended by the commission are proposed to replace it. A walkway also was proposed within the 50-100-foot buffer zone.

Member Ted Barker-Hook said that while he was pleased that the shed was being removed from the buffer zone, the placement of the trash receptacles there would take up more space in the buffer zone than the shed currently does.

Said Barker-Hook: “I feel a little guilty being a stickler, but not guilty enough to keep my mouth closed.”

In his review, wetlands consultant Joe Orzell pointed out that an intermittent stream flows northward toward the site. The plans presented made no reference to an intermittent stream east of the site. This second stream was mentioned in an order of resource area delineation (ORAD) plan the commission approved in 2016 as the primary stream channel.

The proposed bakery would use this building at 71 West Main Street. PHOTO/OLIVIA SPAR

Because of this discrepancy, Orzell advised that the applicant get a definitive determination and watershed analysis to determine “which stream is carrying the flow” to the south of the site.

Given the proposed use of the building, chair Melisa Recos said she didn’t believe this analysis was necessary in order to document the intermittent stream east of the site. Other members of the commission agreed that it was intermittent as opposed to perennial.

Gallant had sought a request for determination of applicability (RDA) at this hearing. Because the stream is considered intermittent, an RDA would not apply because it is not considered a riverfront area. Member Matt Moyen pointed out that it would need to be considered for a notice of intent (NOI) if the trash receptacles are not removed from the buffer zone.

Added Recos: “The closer [the trash receptacle area] is to the wetlands, the easier things are to migrate out into the wetlands.

Recos said the plans should be updated to indicate where the receptacles would be located and presented at the next meeting on Dec. 17.

Tree removal approved at Woodville Fire Station

The Hopkinton Fire Department via Department of Public Works Director Kerry Reed requested that four hazardous trees be removed from the Woodville Fire Station property at 238 Wood Street.

“Three of the trees along the property were very clearly dead,” explained Anna Rogers, the town’s environmental and inspectional services coordinator. She explained that she and conservation administrator Judy Day were able to approve their removal administratively.

The fourth tree, located at the center of the property, has been dropping branches on the building’s roof, which is about to be replaced, according to Rogers. While not dead, parts of the tree are rotting and missing bark. This tree is under the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction, as it is near Whitehall Brook.

Typically, trees are replaced at a 2-to-1 ratio, Rogers said. She added that Chief Gary Daugherty was amenable to providing replacement plantings as part of its plan for an addition to the building “over the next few years,” which will be presented to the commission then.

The decision to allow for the trees’ removal and a delay in the replacement planting did not require a vote. Recos said she would draft a letter of approval. DPW would remove the four trees.

Commission discusses goal of public education

Commission members briefly discussed its goals for the upcoming year under the new conservation administrator. The town requested that the goals be documented formally, according to Recos.

The biggest target Recos had was to educate the public about the commission’s work. Helping people understand the concepts of  permanent immovable barriers, wetlands and other terms that are commonly used during commission hearings would ultimately help the public as well as the commission. Member Jim Ciriello agreed, adding that education also is needed about certificates of compliance and deed restrictions. Recos proposed that the commission have a booth at community events to share information.

Recos also is in the process of writing an annual report on the commission’s work.