Woburn conservation hearing on Middlesex Canal multimodal path draws questions on wildlife, parking and stormwater

City consultants and engineers told the Woburn Conservation Commission on May 23 that a proposed 1.9‑mile multimodal path beside the Middlesex Canal would be a non‑motorized, 10‑foot‑wide paved path with 2‑foot grass shoulders, wood railings in some locations and native plantings where the corridor is disturbed. Josh Conradi, a consultant for BHB hired by the city, said the project is split into sections and will include limited grading, ADA‑compliant crossings and erosion controls; he said the design aims to maximize infiltration and to treat stormwater to the “maximum extent practicable.”

The presentation prompted detailed questioning from commissioners about stormwater and buffers and spurred lengthy public comment from abutters worried about privacy and past vandalism. Resident Linda Budnick, who said the path runs behind her property, asked for clearer visuals at the next hearing and for assurances on fencing and enforcement. Deborah Finn and other neighbors described prior vandalism and expressed concerns that paving and publicity could increase foot traffic and reduce privacy. Several speakers also pressed the project team on impacts to trees, nesting birds and other wildlife.

City engineer Jay Corey and BHB’s Brigitte (Bridget) Hilgendorf said the corridor contains vegetated wetlands, riverfront areas and perennial streams with 25‑, 100‑ and 150‑foot local/state buffers; they said most proposed work is in already‑disturbed areas and that erosion controls, compost filter tubes and tree‑protection measures will be used. Corey described removable bollards and entrance gateways, and said signage would mark the path as non‑motorized; he added that some enforcement and periodic DPW maintenance would be needed to keep the corridor clear of trash.

Commissioners pressed whether alternatives to asphalt were considered; consultants said pervious materials would not meet ADA requirements for full accessibility, and that 10 feet is an accepted minimum width though 12–14 feet is preferred. The team noted the project is working under a MassTrails grant with an accelerated schedule for final design and stressed that some materials and landscaping details will be updated at the next public hearing.

Given the number of technical comments and outstanding materials requested (colored jurisdictional plans, specific tree‑protection and invasive‑species plans, and clearer stormwater pretreatment details), the commission continued the hearing to its June 13 meeting. The project team posted a project website and said they would provide updated plans, the invasive‑species plan, maintenance and monitoring details and translations where needed.