Needham Conservation Commission Continues Chabad Center Hearing, Issues Alderbrook Wall Order

NEEDHAM -- June 11, 2026, Needham Conservation Commission continues Chabad Center wetlands hearing for a second time while issuing an order of conditions for an Alder Brook channel-wall repair. At the June 11 meeting, consultants Devin Tabor of Lucas Environmental and engineer Carlos Sculte of Civil Environmental Consultants presented a revised site plan for 195 Central Avenue, the proposed Chabad Center, that reduces the building footprint from roughly 8,040 square feet to 7,633 square feet and replaces open stormwater basins with subsurface Coltech chamber systems to move infiltration more than 50 feet from adjacent wetlands. Brian Nelson of Metro West Engineering, representing northerly abutters the Bradleys, identified remaining deficiencies including inadequate mounding calculations for the irregularly shaped front chamber system and weir-height conflicts inside two outlet control structures, saying "there are still a few things that need to be done to bring this project fully into conformance." The commission continued the Chabad Center case unanimously to June 25, pending written comments from Nelson, a response from DEP, and fire department input on drive-aisle width. On the Alder Brook wall replacement project along Dedham Avenue and Sutton Road, DEP file 234-971, assigned the morning of the meeting, the commission voted unanimously to issue an order of conditions after adding a condition barring replacement trees from within the town's 20-foot drainage easement, citing prior guidance from Water and Sewer Superintendent Mike Retsky and a Wetlands Protection Act requirement that riverfront-area plantings remain in perpetuity.