Thursday, May 10, 2012
Capital improvement, Community Preservation Act among articles discussed.
Weston’s annual Town Meeting concluded on Wednesday, May 9, at Weston High School with the quick approval of a number of articles related to capital improvements and community preservation efforts, and a lengthy and impassioned discussion about Article 25, to appropriate funds for reconstructing a dam at Hobbs Pond. Ultimately, that article passed by a standing count of 133-85, but not before supporters on both sides of the issue—whether to build a 50-foot spillway to replace the dam that breached in March 2010, or to remove the dam and allow brook restoration—had the chance to present their views. Presenting the article was Weston Conservation Commission member Brian Donahue, who told the audience that while both options were deemed “…
Annual Town Meeting 2012 wraps with the completion of remaining articles.
Following a lengthy and impassioned discussion by supporters on both sides of the issue, Weston residents voted last night at Town Meeting to restore Hobbs Pond by building a 50-foot spillway, to replace the original dam that breached in March 2010. The standing count vote of 133-85 to approve Article 25, to appropriate funds for Hobbs Pond Dam reconstruction and pond preservation, followed suit with a majority vote by the Weston Conservation Commission in favor of pond restoration at its public hearing on the issue last month. The other option debated at previous Conservation Commission meetings, and at last night’s Town Meeting as Article 26, was to remove the dam and allow the area to revert to its original stream channel. Later in the …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Commission decides on a 50-foot spillway recommendation to Town Meeting after months of discussion.
After months of discussion about whether to preserve Hobbs Pond by building a new dam, or remove the dam and allow the area to revert to its original stream channel, Weston’s Conservation Commission reached on Tuesday night a recommendation for voters: rebuild the dam, and save the pond. In the final step before Town Meeting next month, the commission held a public hearing April 3 at Weston High School to allow members of the public, some 40 of whom attended, to weigh in on the controversial proposals, and followed it immediately with a vote on its recommended scenario. The meeting, which stretched until nearly 11 p.m., followed suit with one held last month, at which residents and abutters were presented with the economical, aesthetic, …
Monday, April 2, 2012
Rebuild or remove the Hobbs Pond dam?
While the fate of the Hobbs Pond dam will not be decided until Town Meeting in May, residents have a chance to weigh-in on the topic at a Tuesday, April 3, Weston Conservation Commission public hearing. The commission is deciding whether to support rebuilding the Hobbs Pond dam, which would preserve the pond, or to support removing the dam, which would preserve the brook and meadow habitat, according to the town website. Following Tuesday's public hearing, the Conservation Commission will vote on which option it will support, leading up to Town Meeting where both options will be presented, ultimately for voters to decide. The April 3 public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Weston High School auditorium. Comments can also be sent to…
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Town Meeting will decide whether to rebuild or remove the Hobbs Pond dam.
The following information is from the Weston Forest and Trail Association: [Updated, 6:07 p.m.: The Weston Forest and Trail Association originally had listed the walk date as Sunday, April 15. The walk date will be changing, and another date will be announced.] A heavy storm and flood a couple of years ago caused a breach and severe damage to the dam at Hobbs Pond in the Cat Rock area, resulting in significant drop in water level. The damage to the dam is such that it will either have to be rebuilt or totally removed, allowing the area to revert to a small brook and wetlands. The Weston Conservation Commission has been studying the matter, and proposals to decide what to do will be on the agenda at the upcoming Town meeting on May 7. The …
Monday, March 19, 2012
A letter to the editor from Tom Selldorff.
- OPINION
-
Monday, March 19, 2012
To the Editor: Along with many other people in Town, I really cherished Hobbs Pond as it was in the past, as a lovely viewscape, a great habitat for wildlife and — though I don’t have a dog — a fine place to give dogs a place to swim and cool off on a hot summer day. And I don’t buy the argument that “we must let nature take its course” and inevitably allow the pond to disappear. (Otherwise, why have “historical restoration” as an important objective) I read the material the Conservation Commission posted on the Town website, and I do understand the concern about potential storm events, and that it may not be prudent to rebuild the dam to the same height as it was before. However, in the choice between a 30’ and a 50’ spillway, I would …
Friday, March 9, 2012
Rebuild or remove? Let us know how you weigh in.
Earlier this week, the future of Hobbs Pond in Weston was discussed at a public hearing held by the Conservation Commission, where residents and abutters were presented with the economical, aesthetic and ecological impacts of several options for the dam at the pond, which breached in March 2010 following heavy rains. At the meeting, commission members and consultants presented as possibilities rebuilding the dam or restoring a stream channel or brook by removing the dam, ultimately voting to present residents with an option to approve a 30-foot spillway at Town Meeting. (At a future meeting, the commission will also decide what option to give voters in terms of brook restoration—either allowing the brook to set its own course, called …
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Voters to decide on pond restoration or dam removal at Town Meeting.
Two years after severe rainstorms caused the dam at Hobbs Pond to breach, Weston voters decide at Town Meeting in May whether to preserve the pond by building a new dam, or remove the dam and allow the area to revert to its original stream channel. At a public meeting held by the Conservation Commission at the Weston Community Center on March 6, residents and abutters were presented with the economical, aesthetic and ecological impacts of several options for rebuilding the dam, which broke in March 2010 following a rainy period that culminated in a one-day 10-inch downpour, as well as what commission members called brook restoration—removing the dam and allowing the stream to follow a natural course, or one built for it. While the options …
Isabella Jancourtz
8:50 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
I visited this lovely spot with my husband for the first time recently and wished we'd known about it when we had our succession of 3 German shepherds, to take them on a walk around the pond or for a swim on a hot day. We love Cat Rock, and Grover, Ben and Silver were there many times but we drove up Bradford to get there, and still do. The view is gorgeous, as is the top of Prospect Hill in … more ›