Listen to the full meeting
The Fall River Conservation Commission held its meeting on August 3, 2026, with all members present. The commission addressed a lengthy agenda primarily consisting of continuing matters. Several items were tabled pending further information or agreements between parties, including discussions on adopting new fees, outstanding enforcement orders, and three Notices of Intent for projects by Weaver Cove Industrial Park, Liberty Utilities, and National Grid.
The commission took decisive action on several long-standing requests. They voted to deny two separate requests for Certificates of Compliance for properties at 3820 North Main Street and 40 Frederick Street, requiring the applicants to refile once they have responded to the commission’s initial comments. For a major waterfront project proposed by McAllister Towing and Transportation on Charles Street, the commission reviewed two peer review proposals. They voted to select the proposal from Beta Engineering, the less expensive option at approximately $12,000-$13,000, to review the project’s plans for bulkhead repair and dredging.
Several items received approval. An Order of Conditions was issued for Prestige Media Group to construct an electric shed at an existing radio tower site on Augusta Street, contingent on the applicant paying a delineation fee and updating the plan to show the 100-foot buffer zone and acknowledge it is in a FEMA flood zone. The commission also issued a Certificate of Compliance for a project at 372 Stevens Street and a partial certificate for one lot of a development at 1 Bronson Street. The meeting concluded after the approval of minutes from two previous meetings.
Topics discussed
- 0:30 · Roll Call
A roll call was conducted to establish a quorum of the Conservation Commission members. - 0:51 · Bell Rock Road Update
The commission received an update that trees on the property will be replanted in late summer or early fall. - 1:07 · A motion related to the Bell Rock Road update was passed. — passed
A motion related to the Bell Rock Road update was passed. - 1:14 · Adoption of Fees and Structures
Discussion on adopting new fees was tabled as the conservation agent is still preparing a comprehensive package with backup from other communities. - 1:38 · Motion to table the discussion on adopting fees and structures. — tabled
Motion to table the discussion on adopting fees and structures. - 1:44 · Outstanding Enforcement Orders
The commission tabled the review of outstanding enforcement orders as there were no new updates. - 1:50 · Motion to table the discussion of outstanding enforcement orders. — tabled
Motion to table the discussion of outstanding enforcement orders. - 1:55 · Notice of Intent: Weaver Cove Industrial Park (SE-24-855)
The applicant requested to table the hearing for an after-the-fact restoration area on New Street to allow time to prepare a restoration plan. - 2:51 · Motion to table the Notice of Intent for Weaver Cove Industrial Park, LLC (SE-24-855). — tabled
Motion to table the Notice of Intent for Weaver Cove Industrial Park, LLC (SE-24-855). - 3:01 · Notice of Intent: Liberty Utilities (SE-24-857)
The hearing for a gas main installation at 994 Jefferson Street was tabled as no new information had been received from the applicant. - 3:47 · Motion to table the Notice of Intent for Liberty Utilities (SE-24-857). — tabled
Motion to table the Notice of Intent for Liberty Utilities (SE-24-857). - 3:52 · Notice of Intent: National Grid / Weaver’s Cove (SE-24-861)
The hearing regarding the separation of transmission lines was tabled at the applicant’s request to continue working out issues with National Grid. - 5:03 · Motion to table the Notice of Intent for Cahill NEPC / National Grid (SE-24-861). — tabled
Motion to table the Notice of Intent for Cahill NEPC / National Grid (SE-24-861). - 5:09 · Certificate of Compliance Request: 3820 North Main Street (SE-24-762)
The commission denied the request for a certificate of compliance due to a lack of response from the applicant, requiring them to refile. - 6:06 · Motion to deny the request for a certificate of compliance for 3820 North Main Street (SE-24-762). — denied
Motion to deny the request for a certificate of compliance for 3820 North Main Street (SE-24-762). - 6:14 · Certificate of Compliance Request: 40 Frederick Street (SE-24-756)
The commission denied the request for a certificate of compliance, requiring the applicant to refile after making required site modifications and submitting a revised plan. - 7:08 · Motion to deny the request for a certificate of compliance for 40 Frederick Street (SE-24-756). — denied
Motion to deny the request for a certificate of compliance for 40 Frederick Street (SE-24-756). - 7:10 · Motion to table the Notice of Intent for McAllister Towing (SE-24-875) pending the peer review. — tabled
Motion to table the Notice of Intent for McAllister Towing (SE-24-875) pending the peer review. - 7:14 · Notice of Intent: McAllister Towing (SE-24-875)
The commission reviewed two proposals for a peer review of a waterfront project on Charles Street, selecting Beta Engineering over Foth Infrastructure. The applicant will pay for the review. - 11:41 · Motion to accept the peer review proposal from Beta Group for the McAllister Towing project (SE-24-875). — approved
Motion to accept the peer review proposal from Beta Group for the McAllister Towing project (SE-24-875). - 12:15 · Certificate of Compliance Request: 372 Stevens Street
The commission approved and issued a certificate of compliance after the applicant’s representative, Sean Ainsworth, provided sufficient documentation for the 1995 project. - 13:15 · Motion to issue a certificate of compliance for 3G Realty Limited Partnership at 372 Stevens Street. — approved
Motion to issue a certificate of compliance for 3G Realty Limited Partnership at 372 Stevens Street. - 13:27 · Certificate of Compliance Request: 4041 North Main Street (SE-24-207)
The request was tabled because neither the applicant nor the commission has the original plan of record needed for comparison. - 14:30 · Motion to table the request for a certificate of compliance for 4041 North Main Street (SE-24-207). — tabled
Motion to table the request for a certificate of compliance for 4041 North Main Street (SE-24-207). - 14:37 · Discussion: 52 Ferry Street
The commission voted to remove the discussion about potential violations at this property from the agenda until a full review of permitting history is complete. - 15:25 · Motion to remove the discussion of 52 Ferry Street from the agenda. — approved
Motion to remove the discussion of 52 Ferry Street from the agenda. - 15:28 · Motion to issue an Order of Conditions with three additional conditions for Prestige Media Group at Augusta Street (SE-24-876). — approved
Motion to issue an Order of Conditions with three additional conditions for Prestige Media Group at Augusta Street (SE-24-876). - 15:31 · Notice of Intent: Prestige Media Group (SE-24-876)
The commission approved an Order of Conditions for an electric shed on an existing radio tower site on Augusta Street, with conditions to pay a fee and update the plan. - 20:38 · Certificate of Compliance Request: 1 Bronson Street (SC-24-829)
The commission issued a partial certificate of compliance for a single lot within a larger development, noting the lot is far from the buffer zone. - 21:45 · Motion to issue a partial certificate of compliance for 1 Bronson Street (SC-24-829). — approved
Motion to issue a partial certificate of compliance for 1 Bronson Street (SC-24-829). - 21:54 · Approval of Minutes
The minutes for the June 1, 2026 and July 6, 2026 meetings were approved. - 22:02 · Motion to approve the minutes from the June 1, 2026 and July 6, 2026 meetings. — approved
Motion to approve the minutes from the June 1, 2026 and July 6, 2026 meetings. - 22:12 · Motion to adjourn the meeting. — passed
Motion to adjourn the meeting.