Conservation Commission
Protects Chelmsford's wetlands, rivers, and open spaces. Reviews any construction projects near sensitive natural areas.
88 items across 6 meetings.
June 9, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Public comment period at meeting open.
📍 50 Billerica Road, Room 204
📋 Proposed
Jackson Leach of Scouts of America presents a revised plan for the Koulas Eagle Scout conservation project.
📋 Proposed
Dave Sperry presents the 'Trails for All 2026' update on Chelmsford's trail network.
📋 Proposed
Planning Board liaison reports to the Conservation Commission.
📋 Proposed
New Notice of Intent (wetlands-impact permit under state law) for work at 170 Old Westford Rd, represented by Hancock Survey Associates.
📍 170 Old Westford Road
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing on whether CSX Transportation's railroad right-of-way work triggers wetlands jurisdiction; continued from May 26.
📍 Railroad Right-of-Way
🔄 Postponed
Continued wetlands-permit hearing for proposed work at 9 Lady Slipper Lane; originally heard April 14.
📍 9 Lady Slipper Lane
🔄 Postponed
Continued wetlands-permit hearing for CHOICE's proposed work at 1 Smith Street; continued from May 26.
📍 1 Smith Street
🔄 Postponed
Continued wetlands-permit hearing for New England Power Co. work at 100 Equador Rd; ongoing since January 27, 2026.
📍 100 Equador Road
🔄 Postponed
Continued wetlands-permit hearing for New England Power Co.'s K137E/L138/337 transmission-line corridor work; ongoing since April 14, 2026.
📍 K137E/L138/337 Transmission Line rights-of-way
📋 Proposed
Commissioners report on condition and activity at town conservation sites.
📋 Proposed
Status update on Koulas Farm conservation land.
📋 Proposed
Conservation Agent reports on the Warren-Pohl conservation area.
📋 Proposed
Approval of Certificate of Compliance 129-0602 for 1 Smith Street and Partial CoC 129-0969 for 9 Jessie Road.
📍 1 Smith Street; 9 Jessie Road
📋 Proposed
Minutes from April 14, April 28, May 12, and May 26, 2026 up for approval.
📋 Proposed
Meeting adjourns; next meetings June 23 and July 14, 2026.
May 26, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
General public comment period; no confirmed action items beyond a possible Boy Scouts discussion about camping on Conservation Commission land.
📋 Proposed
Rich Friesner may seek guidance on the approval process for camping on town conservation land (attendance not confirmed).
• Status unclear
Liaison update from the Planning Board — routine informational report.
📋 Proposed
CSX seeks a wetlands applicability ruling (RDA) for work within the railroad right-of-way.
📍 Railroad Right-of-Way
📋 Proposed
Lighthouse School seeks a wetlands applicability determination for work at 25 Wellman Avenue.
📍 25 Wellman Avenue
📋 Proposed
CHOICE (Chelmsford Housing Authority) files a Notice of Intent for proposed work near wetlands at 1 Smith Street.
📍 1 Smith Street
🔄 Postponed
Continued from 04/14/26; applicant has requested a further continuance to June 9, 2026 — no action expected tonight.
📍 9 Lady Slipper Lane
🔄 Postponed
Continued wetlands hearing from 04/28/26 for work at 21 & 23 Seventh Avenue and the Willis Drive right-of-way.
📍 21 & 23 Seventh Avenue, Willis Drive right-of-way
🔄 Postponed
Continued from 01/27/26 — wetlands hearing for power company work at 100 Equador Road.
📍 100 Equador Road
🔄 Postponed
Continued from 04/14/26 for transmission line corridor work; applicant requested continuance to June 9, 2026 — no action tonight.
📍 K137E/L138/337 Transmission Line rights-of-way
💬 Discussed
Commissioners provide routine updates on town conservation land conditions.
💬 Discussed
Staff update on Koulas Farm conservation land — routine land management report.
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of three prior meeting minutes.
• Status unclear
Meeting adjourned.
May 12, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Karen Walton presenting application to Massachusetts Master Gardener Association to designate the Thanksgiving Pollinator Garden as a regional project garden.
💬 Discussed
Routine report from the Planning Board's liaison to the Conservation Commission.
📋 Proposed
RDA (wetlands jurisdiction review) for proposed work at 7 Buckman Drive.
📍 7 Buckman Drive
🔄 Postponed
Continued NOI (wetlands permit) hearing, originally opened April 14, for work at 9 Lady Slipper Lane.
📍 9 Lady Slipper Lane
🔄 Postponed
Long-running NOI hearing (open since January 27) for New England Power utility work at 100 Equador Road.
📍 100 Equador Road
🔄 Postponed
Continued NOI hearing for New England Power work along transmission line rights-of-way spanning K137E, L138, and 337 corridors.
📍 K137E/L138/337 Transmission Line rights-of-way
🔄 Postponed
Applicants have requested this NOI hearing be continued to May 26; involves 21 & 23 Seventh Avenue and the Willis Drive right-of-way.
📍 21 & 23 Seventh Avenue, Willis Drive right-of-way
💬 Discussed
Discussion following the tri-board meeting on GAP Analysis (review of gaps in conservation land protection or management).
✅ Approved
Contractor has been chosen to survey trees and invasive species at Crooked Spring this summer.
📍 Crooked Spring
📋 Proposed
Possible vote to approve $1,600 for an interpretive sign frame; agent also to seek certification of a potential vernal pool on the property.
💰 $1,600
📍 Koulas Farm
💬 Discussed
Status updates on a landscape plan for Putnam Brook shading, continuation of Oxbow Associates invasives management, and interpretive signage at Warren-Pohl.
📍 Warren-Pohl / Putnam Brook
💬 Discussed
Agent to update on two active enforcement orders and seek approval for two after-the-fact tree removals.
💬 Discussed
Update on complaints about the volume of dog waste being left at Conservation Reservations.
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of three sets of prior meeting minutes.
April 28, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Rich Friesner will raise the approval process for Boy Scouts camping on Conservation Commission-managed properties.
📋 Proposed
Routine report from the Planning Board's liaison to the Conservation Commission.
📋 Proposed
New wetland-permit hearing for work at 21 & 23 Seventh Avenue and the Willis Drive right-of-way.
📍 21 & 23 Seventh Avenue / Willis Drive right-of-way
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing (from April 14) for proposed work near wetlands at 96 Park Road.
📍 96 Park Road
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing (from April 14) for proposed work near wetlands at 9 Lady Slipper Lane.
📍 9 Lady Slipper Lane
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing (from January 27) for New England Power's proposed work near wetlands at 100 Equador Road.
📍 100 Equador Road
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing (from April 14) for New England Power's work along a major transmission line corridor crossing multiple rights-of-way.
📍 K137E/L138/337 Transmission Line rights-of-way
📋 Proposed
Commissioners provide routine updates on Conservation Commission-managed land conditions.
📋 Proposed
Commission may vote to certify a potential vernal pool (a protected seasonal wetland) on the Koulas property.
📍 9 Lady Slipper Lane
📋 Proposed
Agent to address ongoing complaints about excessive dog waste being left on Conservation Reservation properties.
📋 Proposed
Agent will update the Commission on two open wetlands enforcement orders.
📋 Proposed
Agent will update the Commission on the status of an oil spill affecting the Route 495 corridor.
📍 Route 495
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of four sets of prior meeting minutes.
📋 Proposed
Meeting adjourns; next meetings May 12 and May 26, 2026.
April 14, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Commissioner Dave McLachlan returns to the board.
📋 Proposed
Open public comment period before regulatory hearings begin.
📋 Proposed
Unconfirmed presentation on proposed plantings at Thanksgiving Forest conservation land.
📋 Proposed
Planning Board liaison updates the Conservation Commission on relevant planning activity.
📋 Proposed
Regulatory hearing (Notice of Intent — formal wetlands permit application) for work at 9 Lady Slipper Lane.
📋 Proposed
Wetlands permit hearing for proposed work at 96 Park Road.
📋 Proposed
Wetlands permit hearing for work along multiple transmission-line corridors running through town.
🔄 Postponed
Continued wetlands permit hearing for New England Power Company work at 100 Equador Road, originally opened January 27, 2026.
📍 100 Equador Road
📋 Proposed
Commissioners report on current conditions at town conservation sites.
📋 Proposed
Commissioner Bill provides a status update on the Koulas matter.
📋 Proposed
Agent reports on complaints about excessive dog waste left at Conservation Reservations.
💬 Discussed
Agent updates the commission on two active enforcement orders.
📋 Proposed
Approving minutes from February 10, February 24, March 10, and March 24, 2026.
📋 Proposed
Meeting adjourns; next meetings April 28 and May 12, 2026.
March 24, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Birchwood Construction requests approval to place 10 sq ft of patio within the 30-ft no-impervious-surface wetland buffer at 28 Sixth Lane.
📍 28 Sixth Lane
📋 Proposed
Barry Moore of NEMBA presenting a proposed new trail at Russell Mill conservation land.
📍 Russell Mill
💬 Discussed
Regional climate collaborative meeting March 25, 7–8:30 pm at Harvey Wheeler Community Center, Concord — informational announcement.
📍 Harvey Wheeler Community Center, Concord
💬 Discussed
Update on the town's front-yard tree planting program, including sites near wetlands.
💬 Discussed
Commissioners to share feedback from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions spring workshop.
💬 Discussed
Planning Board liaison provides update to the Conservation Commission.
📋 Proposed
DPW filing to determine whether proposed work at multiple locations triggers Wetlands Protection Act jurisdiction (RDA = applicability ruling).
📍 Multiple Locations
📋 Proposed
Town of Chelmsford DPW filing a Notice of Intent (formal wetlands permit application) for work at Heart Pond, 5 Pond Street.
📍 5 Pond Street (Heart Pond)
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing from Jan. 27 on New England Power Company's wetlands permit application for work at 100 Equador Road.
📍 100 Equador Road
💬 Discussed
Commissioners provide routine updates on conservation land conditions.
💬 Discussed
Status update on the Koulas conservation property.
💬 Discussed
Agent provides update on the Warren-Pohl conservation property.
💬 Discussed
Commission to address complaints about excessive dog waste being left at town conservation reservations.
💬 Discussed
Agent to update commission on the beaver dam situation at Oak Hill.
📍 Oak Hill
💬 Discussed
Agent reports on progress of conservation GAP Analysis (identifying unprotected land gaps).
📋 Proposed
Approval of four sets of prior meeting minutes.