ConCom approves Analog change ahead of new tenant

The Conservation Commission (ConCom) met with representatives of the owner at 1 Technology Way – University Avenue and Route 1 intersection – asking for a change in a previously approved order of conditions.

The site – formerly the home of Analog Devices and currently serving as temporary office space for FM Global while that company is building a new headquarters – had come under the ConCom’s purview in the past when it was found that unauthorized work within wetlands was found by the Conservation Agent at the time.

Currently, Attorney David Hern said the owner was instructed to make “wetland replication” and improvements to the site, specifically the northeast corner of the property that was originally disturbed.

The order of condition stipulated that the remediation work had to be completed in 12 months, but he said that didn’t happen.

“For various reasons – and these are not excuses, but more explanation – that work has not been completed,” he said. “Some background work has been done, but part of what’s been going on at this site is my client has been looking to find a tenant because the present tenants are leaving.”

Hern said that his client is in talks with a “major retailer” as a tenant. He said that, in view of that search for a new tenant, the remediation work had been neglected.

“We freely admit it hasn’t been attended to as it should have been,” he said. “There are some things we’ve got to get done. My client has instructed us to tell you that that work can be completed by the end of July, but I’ve cautioned my client that they have to read the Order of Conditions very carefully, don’t just show up tomorrow with an excavator.”

After extensive discussion, the ConCom voted to allow the owner, Alexander Argiros according to Norwood GIS, to finish the work by July, so long as monthly reports sharing progress are included.

The ConCom agreed that if the work’s not done by the end of July, a new enforcement order, with a strict schedule and penalties, would be implemented.

In other news, Rocklen said the Guild Pond Feasibility Study received three proposals from interested parties to do the study.

If you’re not aware, the Guild Pond Feasibility Study is a $200,000 venture, funded from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) fund, to see if it’s feasible to properly dam Guild Pond. The Norwood Sportsmen’s Association uses the pond for fishing and boating instruction for younger/new members, and is helping to push the venture.

The dam there has a long history, but the short version is a concrete dam had failed there some years ago and members of the Club have been sandbagging the dam as needed ever since. The study is aimed at figuring out the best way forward, and though it was approved at last year’s Town Meeting, it is now moving ahead.

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Conservation Agent Carly Rocklen said a subcommittee met last Friday to discuss and agree on a preferred vendor. The committee was made up of members of the ConCom, the Department of Public Works, and Sportsmen’s Secretary Mike Reagan.

Rocklen said Norwood Food Forest organizer Mark Negron was also at the meeting to ask for an electrical connection to the shed there to help charge electric landscaping equipment.

“He’s also going to put together a wishlist from the Department of Public Works to help care for the land, in particular mowing,” she said. “They could use the help. Mark is also producing signage to put in kiosks to help generate interest in the Food Forest.”

The Committee also discussed the Norwood Greenhouse, a project developed and built by high schoolers. Rocklen said because of the distance between the high school and Endean Park, where the greenhouse is located, high school students and teachers are having difficulty finding the time to get down there.

In that vein, Rocklen said she has been in contact with several Coakley Middle School teachers who will be organizing to get a more regular presence down at the greenhouse.