The Raynham Channel

Conservation Commission 02/04/2026

• Raynham

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0:00 | 25:17

(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

A forgotten permit from 1992 nearly derailed a land sale—until we unraveled the paperwork and issued a long-overdue certificate of compliance. From there, we dug into the mechanics of jurisdiction at Zero Commerce Way, where the simple choice of a curb cut location determines whether a project falls under the Wetlands Protection Act. Clear siting, solid records, and a precise reading of the map spared the applicant a lengthy filing and kept the path to construction smooth.

We then walked through a homeowner’s plan at 70 Warren Street West: remove a slice of the existing house and driveway, add a 26 by 30 addition plus a 10 by 10 deck, all within the 100-foot buffer around bordering vegetated wetlands. The site is flat, landscaped, and outside flood zones and habitat layers, so the focus turned to doing it right: silt socks at the limit of work and a permanent, visible boundary at the 25-foot no-disturb line. Whether you prefer posts with plaques or a split-rail fence, the goal is the same—make the protection line unmistakable and durable so future yard work doesn’t creep into sensitive areas. We continued the hearing pending a DEP file number and updated plans showing those markers, keeping the process tight and predictable.

Along the way, we kept 90 Spruce Street moving with a courtesy continuance under the 21-day clock and flagged a MassDOT Environmental Notification Form for the South Street bridge in Taunton, a reminder that statewide reviews often surface before local permits. If you’re planning work near wetlands, this conversation is a practical guide: verify your parcel’s permit history, design to avoid unnecessary jurisdiction, and commit to visible buffer boundaries that last. Subscribe for more on how to build well within the rules, share this with a neighbor planning a project, and leave a review with your best tip for staying compliant without slowing down.

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SPEAKER_05:

Evening everyone. I'd like to call the February 4th meeting of the Conservation Commission to order. Please be advised these meetings are recorded.

SPEAKER_02:

All public hearings and meetings heard by the Rainham Conservation Commission on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at 5 30 p.m. in the Rainham Peters Memorial Town Hall. Darnell L. McKinnon Meeting Room, 558 South Main Street, Rainham Mass are relative to filings and joint hearings and our meetings under General Massachusetts General Law 131, Chapter 40 as amended, and the Town of Rainham Wetland Protection bylaw.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay, first on the agenda is request for certificate of compliance for Paramount Drive, map 15 lot 176-2. Oh, that's get you, folks? Okay, come on up.

unknown:

Oh wait here. Am I missing something? Who would ask if there would be anything that would be asked? Oh, I thought your engineer would be public speaking. I thought your engineer was going to be uh this is just for the component.

SPEAKER_05:

Um we both sold the original parcel one of the I would need it to be the original parcel, correct?

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_05:

All right. Why are we here? Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

So we own the the lot we call lot 35. Um and after so we're in the process of trying to sell the parcel, and on the title, there was this certificate of compliance that needed to be completed, and it was from like 1992. Um it was certainly well before we purchased the land. Um so in order for us to continue forward with the sale, um the purchasers want the this particular two piece clean up on the on the title.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. Um I don't know if you both remember the applicant that purchasing the land came before us and it's being subdivided from the original partial, which Walmart was built on. So in order to clean up the deed, because Walmart had a partial certificate of compliance, I believe. Correct?

SPEAKER_06:

Right.

SPEAKER_05:

So now we're going for the complete certificate of compliance for we'll call it the Walmart property for location.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, so you got that.

SPEAKER_05:

So um everything looked good? Yeah, Raz. I know everything looked good.

SPEAKER_02:

So okay, motion to uh issue a certificate of compliance for Paramount Drive Map 15 lot 176-2. I'll accept that motion.

SPEAKER_05:

Motion be made. Second it all in favor? Aye, opposed, unanimous.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05:

Thank you. Just make a question member meeting you talked. Did that payment change the house member? I just saw the yeah, I just saw a page red.

SPEAKER_00:

And then is there something that I'll get that shows so I can send it to our lawyer? Okay. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_05:

Next topic is request for continued request for determination applicability, zero commerce wave, not fifteen, lot one seventy-six dash twenty-one.

SPEAKER_08:

That's your sir. Yes, sir. Uh Greg Heplin, um, the applicant. Um I believe uh our engineer from Bowler presented uh our existing conditions plan last time we talked about it. Um there was obviously no vote and it got continued, but um I think we thank you very much for uh your your vote on the last uh application. Um that helps us. Um I'm not sure what other questions I can answer about our project are these two are tied together.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, so these two were tied together when they originally came before us. It was parcels had to get cut up and refiled and blah blah blah. Um we did open the mayor meeting and talk about the location, and all the wetlands were across the street.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

Um so the only thing they had to be cautious of was where they put the entrance. Um they put it at the bottom, they're within jurisdiction. They put at the top, they're out of jurisdiction. Um we have plans for that. They didn't show the curb cut, but um because no building closed yet. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, yeah. So we're just looking at uh yeah. All right, one of them.

SPEAKER_08:

Would you like to close the hearing, sir? I would very much like to.

SPEAKER_02:

Motion to close request for determination, zero commerce way, map 15, what 176-2. Was that 21?

SPEAKER_05:

Motion made second.

SPEAKER_02:

2I.

SPEAKER_06:

2I.

SPEAKER_02:

2I.

SPEAKER_05:

Excuse me. Oh, okay. I called it 21, too. It looks like 21 on all the paperwork.

SPEAKER_01:

I will I will second that motion.

SPEAKER_05:

Motion made second it. All in favor? Aye, opposed, unanimous. Thank you, sir. Great, thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you very much. Good night. Bill passed. Yeah. Thanks. Uh motion to issue a negative three determination for applicability. Zero comments way, map 15, lot 176-2i. That was second app.

SPEAKER_05:

Motion made seconded. All in favor. Aye. Aye. Opposed, unanimous. Um request for determination of capability, 90 Spruce Street, 11 West Pine Estates.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. No heaven.

SPEAKER_01:

Um have this a lot we can create.

SPEAKER_05:

I forget how we left it last meeting. Um I would probably go to continue with that.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay.

unknown:

No. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

I thought he had that was the few. All right, let's let's push him to the end. Okay. And then if he's not here, we just continue with this. Yep. Okay.

SPEAKER_05:

Um, next up is the notice of intent 70 Warren Street West, DEP. We don't have a DEP number yet. Uh proposed edition twenty-six by thirty with a ten by ten deck.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, it must have closed because it was open. Yeah. Oh, and downstairs locked up. Maybe that's why you have innocent here. Oh. Well, we went to hit probably for the Was there anyone else down there?

SPEAKER_01:

It was wide here.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, something must have shut it. So it wouldn't open all the way because the bricks were heaved. Just give me one second, okay? Yeah, of course, take time.

SPEAKER_01:

Good turn, Riley. Uh, I'm rejecting this side. Alrighty. Dave, you go over there. You want to know what's that?

SPEAKER_05:

Nope, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. Notice the public hearing, conservation commission. Raining, Massachusetts. In coordinates with Massachusetts, General Laws, Chapter 131, Section 40, in the town of Rainium local bylaw. The Rhanium Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026. Excuse me, at 5 30 p.m. in the Donald Elmakin meeting room in the Rainium Veterans Tomorrow Town Hall, located at 558 South Main Street, Rhanium Mass on the notes of attendance by Philip J.

unknown:

Carrie A.

SPEAKER_01:

The applicant proposes to remove a portion of the existing structure and paved driveway and construct a 26 by 30 additional one of a 10 by 10 deck within the 100 buffer of the ordering vegetated wetland up location of 70 Warren Street West. Radium Mass Assessors Map 1411. Copies of the application plans may be viewed at the RCC office during home business hours of town hall. You may also contact the RCC by calling 508-824-2706. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing. This was dated on January 27th.

SPEAKER_04:

So this project might look a little familiar. This has been before you uh previously. Uh the barn, the existing barn that you see in the rear there was issued in order of conditions uh back a few years ago and and then subsequently issued a certificate of compliance. Um so this this has been before you. The uh generally the existing conditions other than that barn have stayed exactly the same. Uh we're here before you uh for the construction of the 26 by 30 addition off the rear of the home, along with a um 10 by 10 deck. Um this is all a portion of the existing home is being removed in order to accommodate this addition, um, and a portion of the driveway is being removed uh in order to accommodate for the addition. Uh we are proposing a silt sock along the uh limit of work. Um all this work is being done within an existing landscaped area, um, so there's no vegetation that's being taken down. Um it's all within like a wafflely used yard on the end or paved or obviously roof area. Um we're not within any um flood zones, we're not within any natural heritage, uh any critical environmental concern areas or OIWs. Um so you know, we believe as though that the intent of this is um is uh you know if it meets within the act, and we'd be happy to answer any questions that uh commission has.

SPEAKER_05:

Um where the proposed check is. Where's the existing one there at this point?

SPEAKER_04:

The existing one?

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

Um so it it uh essentially goes right, I mean pretty much right up to the black line.

SPEAKER_03:

No. So was the ban part of the uh an order of conditions?

SPEAKER_04:

Yes, it was. It was, and and then it was subsequently issued a certificate of compliance by the commission as well. So what you see before use an as built of it, uh, you know, of where it is now.

SPEAKER_03:

So I mean they're they are very tight on the 25 feet. Yeah. So I will say definitely the visual control at that location, and then you want that certified of uh before, and and then you get the certified location by the surveyor, and then you go uh that is being installed at that location. And obviously, this is the one that is definitely gonna need a uh a permanent conservation marker along that line to tighten them the uh no work uh plaques at that line. Other than that, it's it's in the cell socket's fine because it doesn't appear that the grades at that C, which you normally use show, although NIS didn't show much of any contours here.

SPEAKER_04:

There's there is contours there, but there's very it's it's very almost very flat. It's very, very flat.

SPEAKER_05:

I I I know the house. Yeah, yeah, it's flat.

SPEAKER_03:

So then the source will work. We only want the uh double stick uh bill and the sill fence when the st when the slope is too steep.

SPEAKER_04:

Do you have a file number yet? Uh no, so that's the that's the con we reached out to the D club, unfortunately. They just have not gotten back to us. They did say they received the check, they did, you know, all that, but they have not commented.

SPEAKER_03:

You need the file number. But it's it's a no-brainer.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah. So I guess what we would would like to propose is if possible, um, you know, obviously we know you can't close on it, but if you don't have any time you need to come back to the next meeting if you're okay with that. If you have no, if you you know suggest that it's okay.

SPEAKER_05:

You know, the only comments is from our zoos, and I agree with it, is uh some type of permanent marker barrier. Um at the 25. At the 25.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, you you write that in the order anyway. Yeah. Once you close when you close the hearing. So we'll have a breath of that.

SPEAKER_05:

I would like to see it.

SPEAKER_04:

Are you gonna be uh sorry, I just want to that's just my clients, I just wanted them to be aware of it. Um so are they gonna be like a four by four PT post type of thing with a placard, or how do you usually mount them?

SPEAKER_03:

On the on the post, that's just no more.

SPEAKER_04:

Yes, I guess I understood, but just on like a uh four by four post that you would give me around. So how many would you like?

SPEAKER_05:

Well, you took a button. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, you took off what I was um I would like to see it on your drawing where your dashed line comes from the existing band over to the wet line marker. Yes, sir. From there to um to where it extends beyond the existence of somewhere just beyond where your other dashed line is here. So basically from this point to this point, if I did three of them.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, one in the middle, one at the end.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, three or four will be sufficient.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

Yep. Do you mind if I I was right, I didn't mean to take off one. You might mind if I just show them real quick to make sure it's okay with it. I just just asking, um, are there any other alternative to that?

SPEAKER_05:

Um you can do a split rail fence with plaques on it, whatever you'd like. Okay. Um in our website, there's isn't there a couple options. I can't remember.

SPEAKER_03:

No, but you can write it, you can write it in the order. Oh, I understand.

SPEAKER_05:

No, no, it's a physical barrier so that a reminder to the homeowner that you can't go past there with lawn any disturbance. That's what it's intent is.

SPEAKER_04:

We we understand I understand that absolutely. I just I wanted my client to understand. Okay. Yep. Um, he's the one that has to live with itself.

SPEAKER_05:

Um, if you think a split rail fence is nicer to look at than post, by all means do a split rail fence. Of course, of course. You know, of course. Um, but it's gonna be some type of barrier with signage. Understood.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, any more questions from the no, I think uh we talked about technically and no issues.

SPEAKER_05:

All right. Nobody's here in the audience? No. Would you like to say anything, sir?

unknown:

No, thank you.

SPEAKER_05:

Thank you. Uh motion to close. I mean no, sorry, motion to continue.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh we get motion to continue notice of attend 70 Warren Street West, DDP 269 until it's issued. I will oppose to the 26 by 30 uh edition of the 10 by 10 deck. Uh continue to the next meeting, 218. I will second that uh motion.

SPEAKER_05:

Motion made second it all in favor, aye, opposed, any opposite.

SPEAKER_04:

And I will provide the the commission with the updated plans uh with the signage on it prior to that meeting. Thank you. Awesome. Have a great night.

SPEAKER_01:

Good night. Thanks, Al.

SPEAKER_05:

Alright, so I don't see Mr. Watson. Watson. So with that said, I would say continue.

SPEAKER_02:

We just continue it to the 18th. Yeah, motion to continue request for determination. Uh 90 Spruce Street, Line 11, with my states to February 18th.

SPEAKER_03:

And with the proviso that that is being done a as a courtesy to the applicant, make that as a courtesy to the applicant. Who's not here? Uh only because it's a request for determination. If they don't ask for a continuation, but request determination says you gotta issue a determination actually within 21 days of it being issued, uh being requested.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay.

SPEAKER_03:

Okay, so you could have denied it and issued positive determination, but you have given them the credit to continue with it.

SPEAKER_02:

Make them come back again. Yep. Okay.

SPEAKER_05:

All right. I will second that motion. Motion made second. All in favor. Aye, opposed, yes. January 21st? Uh motion to approve the minutes. Second. Motion made second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. We did receive a correspondence from NASDOT, Taunton, about the South Street, the British Bridge. This is just kind of a formality.

SPEAKER_03:

No, no, no. So the work is actually in Taunton. The work is actually in Taunton. But because they are required to prove uh post uh because it requires a state permit, and when you require any application that requires a state permit of that nature has to be noted in the environmental monitor. And all the communities, all communities that border of uh Taunton must be notified. So that's where you get and the planning board will also be notified about that.

SPEAKER_05:

But won't it have to come before us because the other bank is in reign? Well, that's your notice right there.

SPEAKER_03:

So you can go to the you can go to the meeting. You can go to the meeting, and uh be when they'll have because they have to have an onside meeting for the environment on the on the notice of what you have here is uh uh what is called the uh environmental notification form that they filled out. Then the state or uh the uh executive office of environment and energy will review it and then issue a finding whether an environmental impact report will be required. This is not a notice of intent. No, they will have to still file that. So what this is doing is to determine from the um uh executive secretary of uh energy and fine and uh energy and environment whether there would be a need for an environmental report beyond filing the notice of intent.

SPEAKER_02:

Very good. So they they still would need to find forward with the notice of intent. Correct the work.

SPEAKER_03:

Correct. Or request for determination.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, because but when we did the emergency repairs to it, they had to come before us to get special permission.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay.

SPEAKER_03:

So you you you should decide whenever you want to go so that have uh date. Yeah, you can go there.

SPEAKER_05:

I didn't even I don't think I don't think we need I didn't even see the data.

SPEAKER_03:

Alright, we'll figure it out. Alright. There should have been an attachment to that.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

That would uh that would include all that I don't know.

SPEAKER_05:

Alright then. Um anybody got anything else? I don't think we have any sites, is it? No, I was. Did you get bills? Nope, no bills for today.

SPEAKER_01:

Awesome. Alright. I will make a motion to adjourn. Second? Seconded. All in favor? Aye. Aye, opposed, unanimous.