What: A notice of intent to build two new cranberry bogs, a pond, flumes and gravel access roads on Cranberry Road, within the buffer zone to existing bogs and a pond.
Where it stands: On October 21 the Conservation Commission closed the hearing, granted a variance for work within the 65-foot no-touch buffer, and approved the notice of intent.
Next: A separate earth removal permit would be needed if excess sand is sold; the location of a relocated house must stay at least 100 feet from the new bog.
Sources
YouTube auto-generated captions of the Area 58 meeting video (no agenda or minutes read).
The project expands an existing cranberry growing operation with three flumes and a lift well connecting to the existing bogs, plus gravel access roads. Because the land is not currently in agricultural use, the work is not exempt, so a variance from the 65-foot no-touch buffer was requested.
Members asked about the roughly 28-foot elevation change, soil volume, groundwater and hydrology; the applicant's team said the excavation is into an upland slope, groundwater is expected only at the pond, and excess sand could be sold, which would require a separate earth removal permit.
Members favored the project (one noted cranberries are part of the town's identity); no conditions beyond standard erosion controls and signs along the 65-foot line were added, and members asked that any relocated house be kept 100 feet from the new bog.
Voted to close the hearing, grant the variance and approve the notice of intent; each vote had no opposition.