Conservation Commission Approves Old Westminster Road Driveway, Issues Cease-Work Letter

HUBBARDSTON -- January 6, 2026, Hubbardston Conservation Commission approved a driveway permit, ordered a cease-work letter, and continued two open hearings at its January 6 meeting. Chair Brian Larel led the commission through seven unanimous votes, beginning with approval of a standard Order of Conditions for David Balderelli's proposed 12-foot driveway at 135 Old Westminster Road, a widening of an existing cart road to serve a new single-family home outside the 100-foot wetland buffer. A septic replacement hearing for applicant Stanley Saki at 43 Birches Road was continued to February 17 pending a DEP file number, while a separate, years-long new-home filing at the same road address was continued to the commission's May meeting. The evening's sharpest discussion focused on Cruz Road, where commission members Germinara and Pirner described walking the property with landowner Jared Hardiker and observing unpermitted cutting and excavation near mapped wetlands; the commission voted to send Hardiker a letter ordering him to stop all further disturbance and to file a Notice of Intent, a process that will require hiring a wetland scientist, before any spring site visit can be conducted.