Conservation Commission continues hearings on Sawyer May project, issues New England Power order.
Conservation Commission advanced two continued public hearings and issued an Order of Conditions. The commission unanimously approved the Order of Conditions for New England Power Company's transmission line maintenance on Westford Road (4-0, with Member Mark Phillips abstaining) after Mass
Conservation Commission · Meeting of April 23, 2026
AYER — Conservation Commission advanced two continued public hearings and issued an Order of Conditions. The commission unanimously approved the Order of Conditions for New England Power Company's transmission line maintenance on Westford Road (4-0, with Member Mark Phillips abstaining) after Mass Wildlife determined no adverse impact. For Sawyer May, LLC's Orion Park Drive project, the commission continued the public hearing to May 14 pending engineer submission of a cohesive work plan.
During public comment, Senior Center Building Committee member Ken Diskin disclosed that Natural Heritage found endangered Blanding's Turtles on the proposed construction site, requiring 2:1 land set-aside per state requirements. Chair Gugino and Conservation Agent Heather Hampson pledged to coordinate with the Planning Board before Fall Town Meeting on clarifying conservation land definitions and open-space standards across town committees.
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Source: the Conservation Commission meeting of April 23, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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