Douglas Planning Board continues Pine Sand earth removal hearing pending MassDOT letter

DOUGLAS -- March 11, 2026, Douglas Planning Board unanimously advances a new 95,000-cubic-yard earth removal permit for Pine, Sand, and Stone Incorporated along Route 146 while pressing an agricultural development for overdue soil data. The board voted to authorize staff to draft a conditional decision on special permit application ER-260218 and continued the public hearing to March 25, pending receipt of a MassDOT letter of non-objection and a revised plan with the active Tennessee Gas pipeline easement more prominently marked. Engineer John Federico of Guerrier and Helmon told the board the 4.2-acre operation will maintain a minimum 10-foot separation from groundwater and that no additional truck traffic on public roads is anticipated as older adjacent phases wind down. Separately, the board told Richard Kepner, representing the Oak Street agricultural project, that it wants soil-test results, an updated punch list, and "a note from the farmer" on site conditions before the March 25 meeting. Planning staff also reported a $10,000 District Local Technical Assistance grant, administered through the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, was approved to bridge a funding gap in the town's ongoing master plan project.