Dudley Conservation Commission Approves Driveway RDA, Issues Carroll Drive Compliance Certificate

DUDLEY -- June 24, 2026, Dudley Conservation Commission unanimously cleared two compliance matters and heard an unagended alarm over a proposed conservation-land dam removal at its June 24 meeting. The commission voted to issue a Certificate of Compliance for Diamond Communications at 2 Carroll Drive under DEP file 146-0801, and granted a negative determination number three to Gian Ranucci of 52 Center Road for an after-the-fact 340-linear-foot crushed-stone driveway installed approximately 85 feet from a delineated wetland, with member Samantha Costello recused as an abutter. Environmental consultant Glenn Kovosky put Ranucci on record that any future ground disturbance within 100 feet of the wetland not shown on the approved plan requires prior written commission approval, noting a recent court case on Webster Lake as a cautionary example. Resident Jerry Franks of Causeway Road told the commission a $250,000 state grant is already funding engineering for a plan to breach the earthen dam on the lower pond at Gore Pond conservation land, arguing deed restrictions prohibit the work and that a beaver deceiver device costing $2,000 to $4,000 could solve the underlying culvert-blockage problem at a fraction of the cost. Town environmental reviewer Matt Morrow told Franks the town must file a Notice of Intent and survive a public hearing before any such work can proceed.