Dudley Planning Board Certifies Sophie's Way Subdivision Complete, Retains $1,500 for Rain Gardens

DUDLEY -- March 11, 2026, Dudley Planning Board certifies Sophie's Way subdivision complete on a 4-1 vote, ending a multi-year dispute. The board, meeting March 11, issued the Form J certificate of completion for the five-lot Sawmill Road LLC subdivision after Graves Engineering's October 29, 2025, site report found all work finished, but separately voted 4-1 to hold back $1,500 of the remaining surety through July 2027 to ensure the rain garden plantings survive, a compromise proposed by new Planning Director Bruce Webb, who estimated full replacement of six red osier dogwood shrubs at roughly $1,300 with contingency. The board also unanimously reduced the performance bond for Lions Estates from approximately $253,000 to $70,100 per a January 20 Graves Engineering report, tabled an accessory dwelling unit bylaw pending Webb's outreach to town sewer and water departments over a partial sewer moratorium, and approved a $73.50 Stone Bridge Press invoice for the ADU hearing notice.