Bellingham Conservation Commission extends MBTA rail vegetation hearing, funds Blackstone Street peer review

BELLINGHAM -- November 12, 2025, Bellingham's Conservation Commission continued its two most contested open hearings and authorized $5,900 in additional peer review at its November 12 meeting. The commission voted unanimously to extend both the MBTA KEOLIS five-year vegetative management plan RDA, now approved by 95 of 102 affected municipalities, and the Blackstone Street road improvement Notice of Intent to its December 10 hearing date, accepting a supplemental proposal from peer reviewer Beals and Thomas to scrutinize responses filed November 4 by applicant Wall Street Development. Engineer Mike Dryden of Allen Engineering described design revisions to a proposed 2-by-10-foot box culvert adjacent to a certified vernal pool, including shifting the road alignment south and relocating the stormwater low point away from the resource area, but the commission flagged unresolved questions about drainage contributions from Matty Way and a variance request for the vernal pool's 50-foot no-disturbance zone that had not yet been formally submitted. Applicant Lou Petrosi was also directed to restore a previously unauthorized culvert excavation to pre-existing conditions within one week. Separately, the commission issued negative determinations for tree removals at 43 Fox Road and 180 Pine Street (New England Country Club), closed hearings and issued orders of conditions for 10 Lakes Drive and 307 Farm Street, and discussed a new notice of violation at a Lake Street property where extensive clearing occurred within 100 feet of Jensen Reservoir.