Weston Conservation Commission Authorizes Experts for Contentious 40B Wetlands Review

WESTON — November 21, 2023 — Weston Conservation Commission opens 40B housing hearing, votes to hire independent wetland and stormwater experts. At its November 21 meeting, the commission unanimously authorized retaining Patrick Garner as peer review wetland scientist and voted to issue a request for quotes for a civil stormwater engineer — both to be paid by the developer under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53G — for review of the proposed 180-unit affordable housing project at 518 and 540 South Avenue. Chair Rees Tulloss rejected an abutter attorney's claim that the hearing was premature, saying parallel proceedings before the Zoning Board of Appeals and the state Housing Appeals Committee did not bar commission action. Attorney Dennis Murphy, representing abutters including neighbor Rebecca Mercury of 502 South Avenue, urged the commission to read the ZBA's 19-page decision and to rely on its own peer reviewers on disputed technical questions including whether groundwater mounding would cause breakout into the bordering vegetated wetland. The commission continued the hearing to December 19 at 8:15 p.m. and also unanimously issued a certificate of compliance for 95 Rockport Road and approved a trail relocation at College Pond.