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<u>METROWEST DAILY NEWS</u> (Framingham, Massachusetts) 05 August 06 Salamander could change project (Claudia Torrens)
Natick : The state said yesterday that the discovery of four-toed salamanders on land slated for a 281-unit housing project in South Natick could force changes in the project.
"It is possible that (the salamander) will have some impact on the site design," said John Regosin, senior analyst at the state Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program.
Regosin said Pulte Homes of New England has been looking at different development plans for protecting the amphibian, but would not say if the project could be smaller or just different.
Four-toed salamanders are considered by the state a species of special concern.
The project -- called South Natick Hills -- is proposed for the corner of Rockland and South Main streets. The 52-acre project is the largest proposed in town under the state's 40B guidelines.
Natural Heritage will soon determine whether the proposed complex "is taking" the habitat of the salamander, said Regosin. If that's the case, Pulte will have to either change the project's plans or file a conservation and management permit, which could allow some taking of the habitat.
The four-toed salamander -- the state's smallest species of salamander -- was found recently on the property by an environmental consultant hired by the town and then by the consultants hired by the developer.
Ted Gowdy, land entitlement manager for Pulte Homes, is on vacation and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In such projects, the state wants to make sure the breeding habitat of the salamander will be OK, said Regosin. It is also important to see if there is enough forest habitat in the area for the animal, he said.
At this point, the presence of the 2- to 3-inch salamander has been confirmed by Natural Heritage.
"That is an issue that is not being disputed now," said Regosin.
Bob Bois, the town's environmental compliance officer, said yesterday that he is waiting for the state's decision on the salamander.
It could mean a significant amount of work on Pulte's part, said Bois.
"It will require more study on the burdens of the habitat," he said.
The state, for example, could set a 400- to 450-foot buffer zone from the edge of the salamander's habitat, he said.
The controversial project was slightly reduced in size recently, going from approximately 300 units to 281 units. The new site plan was a result of negotiations between the developer, town officials and neighbors. Twenty-five percent of the units would be set aside for people who meet state income guidelines for affordable housing.
But neighbors are still concerned with other aspects of the complex.
"Traffic is a big problem," said Patrick Haswell, a resident of the nearby Farwell Street. "The streets have no sidewalks and the volume of traffic will increase in cut-through roads like Rockland and Cottage."
Haswell also said he and others are concerned about the 15 to 17 acres in Sherborn that are also part of the project but are not developed right now.
"That piece of land is empty, but they could one day expand the project there," he said.
Another issue the developer and the town are dealing with is the potential vernal pools on the property. The town wants to access the site to study them but the owner of the parcel is denying the town access to his property, the developer says.
Owner Michael Mabardy said the town has entered his property many times and has never found any vernal pools.
"I don't know why they are saying there are vernal pools," he said.
No town official has sent him a letter or called him to ask him to access the property to study them again, Mabardy said.
The next ZBA meeting to discuss the project will be Sept. 18. The next meeting with the Conservation Commission to discuss the salamanders will be Aug. 17
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=137209
Natick : The state said yesterday that the discovery of four-toed salamanders on land slated for a 281-unit housing project in South Natick could force changes in the project.
"It is possible that (the salamander) will have some impact on the site design," said John Regosin, senior analyst at the state Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program.
Regosin said Pulte Homes of New England has been looking at different development plans for protecting the amphibian, but would not say if the project could be smaller or just different.
Four-toed salamanders are considered by the state a species of special concern.
The project -- called South Natick Hills -- is proposed for the corner of Rockland and South Main streets. The 52-acre project is the largest proposed in town under the state's 40B guidelines.
Natural Heritage will soon determine whether the proposed complex "is taking" the habitat of the salamander, said Regosin. If that's the case, Pulte will have to either change the project's plans or file a conservation and management permit, which could allow some taking of the habitat.
The four-toed salamander -- the state's smallest species of salamander -- was found recently on the property by an environmental consultant hired by the town and then by the consultants hired by the developer.
Ted Gowdy, land entitlement manager for Pulte Homes, is on vacation and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In such projects, the state wants to make sure the breeding habitat of the salamander will be OK, said Regosin. It is also important to see if there is enough forest habitat in the area for the animal, he said.
At this point, the presence of the 2- to 3-inch salamander has been confirmed by Natural Heritage.
"That is an issue that is not being disputed now," said Regosin.
Bob Bois, the town's environmental compliance officer, said yesterday that he is waiting for the state's decision on the salamander.
It could mean a significant amount of work on Pulte's part, said Bois.
"It will require more study on the burdens of the habitat," he said.
The state, for example, could set a 400- to 450-foot buffer zone from the edge of the salamander's habitat, he said.
The controversial project was slightly reduced in size recently, going from approximately 300 units to 281 units. The new site plan was a result of negotiations between the developer, town officials and neighbors. Twenty-five percent of the units would be set aside for people who meet state income guidelines for affordable housing.
But neighbors are still concerned with other aspects of the complex.
"Traffic is a big problem," said Patrick Haswell, a resident of the nearby Farwell Street. "The streets have no sidewalks and the volume of traffic will increase in cut-through roads like Rockland and Cottage."
Haswell also said he and others are concerned about the 15 to 17 acres in Sherborn that are also part of the project but are not developed right now.
"That piece of land is empty, but they could one day expand the project there," he said.
Another issue the developer and the town are dealing with is the potential vernal pools on the property. The town wants to access the site to study them but the owner of the parcel is denying the town access to his property, the developer says.
Owner Michael Mabardy said the town has entered his property many times and has never found any vernal pools.
"I don't know why they are saying there are vernal pools," he said.
No town official has sent him a letter or called him to ask him to access the property to study them again, Mabardy said.
The next ZBA meeting to discuss the project will be Sept. 18. The next meeting with the Conservation Commission to discuss the salamanders will be Aug. 17
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=137209