Freetown Conservation Commission Approves Six Permits, Shifts to Monday Schedule

FREETOWN -- August 14, 2023, Freetown Conservation Commission cleared six land-use applications and overhauled its administrative framework at its August 14 meeting. The board approved orders of conditions for four properties, 14 Washburn Road, One Hilltop Park, Eight Rivers Edge Way, and One Ross Circle, while continuing the One Tasha Lane notice of intent to September 11 pending a DEP file number. A three-year extension was granted to Erica Buster for the Five Wills Way solar project, stalled because Eversource is awaiting a DPU ruling on substation upgrades; Buster told the board by phone, "we would love to start construction tomorrow, but unfortunately we cannot control the utility." The commission voted to forward a warrant article to the Select Board to transfer a 15 Richmond Road parcel back to the MBTA for a special town meeting tentatively set for October 23, and approved an interim one-year MBTA licensing agreement revised by town counsel. Administratively, the board adopted Sample No. 1 trailhead signage, accepted the state municipal records retention schedule, and changed its regular meetings to first and third Mondays, with the 30 Island Road Extension hearing continued to the first session under that new schedule, October 2 at the Council on Aging.