Boxborough Conservation Commission Advances Campanelli Land Restrictions, Seeks Language Fixes

BOXBOROUGH -- May 6, 2026, Boxborough Conservation Commission advances Campanelli land-restriction documents and votes to recommend a new associate member. The six-member commission, chaired by Liz Markiewicz, unanimously recommended to the Select Board the appointment of Dave Barnett, described as a PhD horticulturalist and Weed Warriors organizer, as an associate member. The bulk of the May 6 meeting was devoted to reviewing Campanelli's redlined responses to Sudbury Valley Trustees comments on draft Declarations of Restrictions covering development-adjacent open-space parcels in Boxborough. Commissioners flagged a significant contradiction: language on page 11 of the draft limits property access to the grantee only for monitoring purposes, directly undermining earlier provisions meant to allow public recreational and educational use. Other unresolved items included missing rare-species habitat language, inconsistent references to the Grassland Management Plan versus the NHESP permit, and the need to reserve parking access on a lot 17A gravel road for wildlife viewing pending Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program approval. Associate Town Planner Ian Gilson said revised clean drafts of both declarations are expected for the commission's June 3 meeting.