Weston Conservation Commission Advances Draft Wetland Bylaw Toward Town Meeting Vote

WESTON — September 27, 2022 — Weston Conservation Commission advances draft wetland bylaw aimed at May Town Meeting. The commission spent the bulk of its September 27 session reviewing draft language developed with municipal attorneys KP Law, focusing on provisions that would extend local jurisdiction to isolated wetlands and uncertified vernal pools — neither of which is protected under the state Wetlands Protection Act. Chair Joe Berman and members including Josh Feinblum and Alison Fronk Barlow agreed to drop the phrase "ponds of any size" from the jurisdiction section after members flagged a conflict with the act's 10,000-square-foot threshold, resolving instead to define pond size through future regulations subject to Select Board approval. The commission set three parallel tasks before the next meeting: finalizing bylaw language with attorney Jonathan Murray, drafting a regulation outline, and compiling anticipated public questions on fees and vernal pool counts. A special town meeting this fall was ruled out; May is now the target.