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Natural Resources Commission — May 13, 2026

While the board was unified in its voting, the meeting included direct pushback from residents regarding project timelines and significant safety concerns.

Date Wednesday, May 13, 2026 Duration 1.5h Speakers 19 Public comments 1 Decisions 10 Mildly contentious
▶ Video

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Walden/Hayward/Everett Intersection Safety

High risk due to what was described as a 'nightmare' intersection for pedestrians. Affected: Local residents, pedestrians, and drivers navigating the intersection.
safety change

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Election of Jim Smith as NRC Chair
Jim Smith was nominated to take over as Chair following Sarah Daynes' departure.
Approved
Appointment of Ed Nardi as CPC Liaison
Ed Nardi volunteered and was appointed as the NRC liaison to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC).
Approved
Approval of Minutes
Minutes for February 18, 2026, and March 11, 2026, were approved as amended.
Approved
Continuance of Notices of Intent
Four NOIs (874 Barrett's Mill Road, 87 Barrett's Mill Road [noted as 874 in transcript, likely typo for 87], 166 Commonwealth Ave, and 1330 Monument St) were continued to the June 3rd meeting.
Approved
Issue a negative determination for the project at 55A Walden Street (RDA file 26-6).
Decision regarding RDA file number 26-6.
Unanimous (Aye)
Issue a negative determination for 3B Haywood Street (RDA file 26-5).
Decision regarding RDA file number 26-5.
Unanimous (Aye)
Grant a one-year extension to March 22, 2028, for Mass Dept of Conservation and Recreation at 90B Walden Street (VEP file -1370).
The extension is intended to allow for the conclusion of the project.
Unanimous (Aye)
Close issue for invasive species removal and management at 95 Coolidge Road (DEP file 1371734).
Permit for Sudbury River Neighbor Group with specified findings and conditions.
Unanimous (Aye)
Close amended order of conditions for 90B Walden Street (DEP file -1370).
Permit including standard and special conditions.
Unanimous (Aye)
Issue a certificate of compliance for 41 Sunnyside Lane (DEP file -1485).
The site is stable and items are installed/monitored.
Unanimous (Aye)

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 01:52 Public Comment: Boat Launch on Commonwealth Ave

A resident inquired about the timeline for a new boat launch and parking improvements at Commonwealth Ave, specifically regarding the RFP process.

Speakers: Diane Pearlman, Ben Nemeth, Sarah Daynes, Speaker SPEAKER_14
▶ 06:00 Election of Officers and Liaison Appointments

The Commission held elections for a new Chair and appointed a liaison to the CPC.

Speakers: Sarah Daynes, Ben Nemeth, Jim Smith, Ed Nardi
▶ 08:44 Cyanobacteria Removal Technology (APODs) Update

Staff provided an update on the deployment of passive technology for removing cyanobacteria from White Ponds.

Speakers: Speaker SPEAKER_14, Ben Nemeth, Speaker SPEAKER_15
▶ 13:00 Hapgood-Wright Town Forest Trail Relocation Project

Staff announced an upcoming trail relocation project involving the rerouting of an 800-foot muddy section of trail in the Town Forest to a more stable upslope, including erosion control measures and a scheduled garlic mustard pull.

Speakers: Speaker SPEAKER_14, Speaker SPEAKER_16, Speaker SPEAKER_11, Speaker SPEAKER_15, Speaker SPEAKER_12
▶ 15:00 Continuance of Notices of Intent

The Commission voted to continue several pending Notices of Intent to the June 3rd meeting.

Speakers: Ben Nemeth, Speaker SPEAKER_06
▶ 16:42 CLCT Boardwalk Application

Presentation by Beals Associates regarding a proposed boardwalk on Concord Land and Conservation Trust property, including floodway impact analysis.

Speakers: Matthew Kosset, Speaker SPEAKER_09, Sarah Daynes, Ben Nemeth
▶ 40:00 Walden Street Sidewalk (NOI)

Discussion of a proposal to extend a sidewalk from Magnolia Drive to the high school and Alcott school.

Speakers: Speaker SPEAKER_02, Andrea Kendall, Scott Murphy, Speaker SPEAKER_17, Speaker SPEAKER_14
▶ 60:00 Public Comment: Deer Overpopulation

A resident expressed concerns regarding the high population of deer and requested solutions for managing them; discussion included deer culling methods and the impact of local hunting on herd sizes.

Speakers: Arthur Anthony, Sarah Daynes, Ben Nemeth, Speaker SPEAKER_06, Speaker SPEAKER_13, Speaker SPEAKER_11
▶ 74:28 Hayward Meadow Retaining Wall Replacement

Discussion of plans to replace a failing, historically inappropriate concrete/stone retaining wall with a new dry-laid fieldstone wall.

Speakers: Speaker SPEAKER_14, Speaker SPEAKER_05, Speaker SPEAKER_06, Speaker SPEAKER_16, Speaker SPEAKER_07
▶ 76:30 Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Management

Concerns were raised regarding the dangerous intersection of Walden, Hayward, and Everett Streets and the need for improved pedestrian crossings.

Speakers: Speaker SPEAKER_07, Speaker SPEAKER_14
▶ 80:24 Extension Request for 90B Walden Street

A request to extend the existing order of conditions for a project at 90B Walden Street by one year.

Speakers: Speaker SPEAKER_00, Speaker SPEAKER_07, Speaker SPEAKER_14, Speaker SPEAKER_16
▶ 85:52 Tree Removal and Hazard Management

Discussion of planned tree removals near a new boardwalk at Newberry Court and a compromised silver maple at Fenn School.

Speakers: Speaker SPEAKER_14, Speaker SPEAKER_12, Speaker SPEAKER_16, Speaker SPEAKER_05

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Deer Overpopulation Management

A resident raised concerns about the declining health and size of the deer population due to overpopulation, sparking a discussion on management methods including culling and hunting.
Board position: The board discussed various management methods, including the impact of local hunting and potential culling.
medium concern
02

Boat Launch and Parking Improvements on Commonwealth Ave

A resident expressed frustration over the timeline for a project that has already been allocated funds by the CPC, seeking immediate action for the summer season.
Board position: The board signaled that the project is not a priority for the current summer due to existing management plans and committee workloads.
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Bring the boat launch/parking issue to the Warner's Pond Management Committee agenda.
Assigned: Ben Nemeth
Review the 'no-rise' determination model to address the 0.02 feet rise issue to meet the zero-rise standard.
Assigned: Matthew Kosset (Beals Associates) · Due: 2026-06-03
Coordinate with the community garden to manage access during sidewalk construction.
Assigned: Staff/Contractor
Oversee the town forest trail relocation project and manage volunteers.
Assigned: Will Holden (Land Manager) · Due: Not specified
Obtain a certificate of appropriateness from the HBC and put the Hayward Meadow wall project out to bid.
Assigned: Will Holden (Land Manager) · Due: Later this summer
Execute the Hayward Meadow wall replacement work.
Assigned: Will Holden (Land Manager) · Due: This fall

Notable ⁠statements

It's not something that we'll be able to do this summer. There are other things that are in the pipeline. — Speaker SPEAKER_14 · Responding to a resident's question about the urgency of the boat launch project. ▶ 03:30
Our analysis... gave us really the same answer that we had originally [regarding flood storage loss]. — Matthew Kosset · Explaining the use of LIDAR topography to analyze flood impacts of the proposed boardwalk. ▶ 31:30
It's a lot of physical work... you're basically using pickaxes and grub hoes and shovels. — Speaker SPEAKER_14 · Describing the intensity of the volunteer work required for the trail relocation project. ▶ 71:02
I've been hunting for 70 years... The deer that we have here are smaller now, and every year they're getting smaller. — Arthur Anthony · Commenting on the declining quality of the deer population due to overpopulation. ▶ 62:00
You couldn't create a worse intersection... it's a complete nightmare for anybody. — Speaker SPEAKER_07 · Commenting on the safety and navigation issues at the Walden/Hayward/Everett intersection. ▶ 76:30

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
1
Total speakers
1
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Diane Pearlman
▶ 01:51
Addressed
Diane inquired about the status of the boat launch and parking improvements on Commonwealth Ave, noting that the CPC has allocated funds for this project. She asked when the Request for Proposals (RFP) would be issued and requested that it be made a priority for the current summer season. Key concern
The timeline for the boat launch/parking RFP and whether the project can be prioritized this summer.
Board response
The board explained that the Warner's Pond Management Committee has not yet addressed the project because they are prioritizing an RFP for a pond consultant/adaptive management plan. They clarified that while funds are available, the project will not happen this summer due to existing priorities and the need for committee recommendations.
The board provided a clear explanation of why the project has not moved forward, clarified the roles of the different committees, and gave a definitive answer regarding the timeline (not this summer).
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Report composed by gemma-4-26b, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-24.