Planning board extends Sherman Terrace completion deadline to Oct. 31 at applicant's request

The Woburn Planning Board voted May 14 to extend the time to complete the Sherman Terrace subdivision through Oct. 31, 2024, after the applicant’s representative said the contractor handling remediation will have back surgery and requested additional time to coordinate easement changes and finishing work.

Attorney for the applicant outlined revised plans that remove an area of turf to be stabilized with H20-rated permaturf, curb adjustments and potential easement relocation that requires homeowner agreement. The representative said contractor Bill Shuree is scheduled for surgery and that, in the worst-case scenario, the board’s requested extension would allow the contractor to recover and complete the work by October. The applicant also said they are exploring alternatives in case the contractor cannot perform the work himself.

Board members expressed differing views: some urged a shorter deadline because the remaining work appears limited and has dragged for years, while others said an extension was reasonable given medical circumstances and the need to negotiate private easement agreements. Claudia moved to extend the completion date to Oct. 31, 2024; the motion carried and the applicant will update engineering on the staking/stone bound details as required by DPW.

The board asked staff to accept correspondence from the applicant and engineering while the file remains open and noted that the board will revisit the matter if progress is not shown.