Conservation Commission in brief: Revisiting Fernald golf course plans

The city has abandoned plans to construct a driving range on the grounds of the former Fernald State School, but still intends to create a small pitch and putt golf course at the site.

This is according to landscape architect David LaPointe of Beals and Thomas, a firm the city has hired to develop the course. The new golf facilities will involve shorter and more controlled putting opportunities and, LaPointe said, will be less likely to have stray golf balls fly off into conservation land.

LaPointe went before the Conservation Commission at its meeting last Thursday to get guidance on the permits his company required to proceed with the planning and construction process. 

The commission had previously certified the city’s driving range plans, which required commission review because they involved land located in conservation zones. The plans previously submitted to commissioners, however, also included other developments at the Fernald site, including the 200 Trapelo Road playground, which makes the project’s next steps at the commission more complicated. 

Some aspects of the golf plans remain unchanged from the city’s original proposal, but some are changing significantly. LaPointe said he was unsure whether the commission’s prior approval would still apply for the pitch and putt course or whether he would need to withdraw the whole application and start again.

Commissioners told him he should be able to withdraw the previous application after filing some paperwork, asking him to resubmit a simplified plan containing only the golf course and return to the commission to present on it in more detail.

Additionally, the commission:

• Approved the expansion of an invasive plant management zone, where a state Department of Conservation and Recreation-trained volunteer group will work to limit the habitat and spread of invasive plants.
• As the Board of Trustees of the city’s Conservation Trust Fund, heard an update on its contents. The fund was established years ago with $100,000 reserved for buying land for conservation purposes. Because of high land costs, the fund has been sitting unused since its inception, and has grown to $111,853. Board member Gerard Dufromont said he has been working with the city’s law department to find ways to use the money for other purposes, like restoration work at the Stonehurst estate’s gardens.
• Heard an update that the board will soon receive notice to deliberate on a project at 32 Riverview Ave.