Medford Conservation Commission Lacks Quorum, Postpones Car Park Hearing to March 15

MEDFORD -- March 1, 2023, Medford's Conservation Commission postponed a formal wetland hearing on the city's Car Park renovation project after failing to reach quorum at its March 1 session. Environmental Agent Dennis MacDougall and city staff proceeded with an informal presentation, with the formal hearing continued to March 15. Phase one of the project, funded by a $1 million federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, a $1.26 million ARPA match, and $400,000 in Community Preservation Act money, would rebuild baseball fields, widen the popular loop path, add permanent pickleball courts, and upgrade stormwater and lighting infrastructure. Wetland consultant Jen Reardon of GM2 Associates told attendees that two isolated vegetated wetlands in the park's northern woods carry only 25-foot buffer zones after spring 2022 site visits found no vernal pool indicator species. The only proposed work within a buffer zone is removal of roughly 500 square feet of construction debris, to be replaced with loam and native seed mixes.