Douglas Conservation Commission Continues Two Reservoir Wetland Hearings, Resolves Lakeshore Enforcement

DOUGLAS -- January 5, 2026, Douglas Conservation Commission continues two Whitins Reservoir wetland hearings and approves a Lakeshore Drive drainage fix. The commission voted unanimously Monday to redirect a support letter from a failed T-Mobile Hometown Grant to the MassTrails program for the Keevan Conservation property, where a February 2 application deadline would fund a parking area and 450-foot access trail. Two new notices of intent, an after-the-fact stone masonry permit for George and Sandra Kuypers at 23 Smith Hill Road and a proposed 2,400-square-foot home for Linda and Douglas Ward at 48 Shady Lane, were both continued to February 2 after Conservation Agent Sam cited unresolved DEP comments, questions about bordering land subject to flooding, and the Ward project's apparent screen porch encroachment into the bylaw's 50-foot no-build zone. Abutter Dan Heaney told the commission he believes nearly 16,000 of the Ward lot's 18,731 square feet would be cleared and questioned a proposed well at 18.9 feet from the water's edge when state rules require 25. The commission also approved a catch basin, two Cultec recharge chambers, and a pop-up emitter installation on Lakeshore Drive to resolve a long-running enforcement order, conditioned on the emitter location being staked for review, while reaffirming that removed boulders at 56 Lakeshore Drive must be returned to Manchog Pond under a separate active enforcement order.