STERLING’S BIGGEST, MOST NOTORIOUS SNAKE, JAMES SIMPSON, DEVELOPER, TO RE-APPEAR BEFORE THE STERLING PLANNING BOARD ON 12 SEPEMBER 2024. WILL SIMPSON BE PERMITTED TO DEGRADE THE COLDWATER FISHERIES HEADWATERS TRIBUTARY STREAM NEAR JAMES PATTEN DRIVE?

I repeat the old Sterling joke about the notorious Developer Simpsons, father and son: “The Simpsons never bought a wetland that didn’t perc.”

James Simpson, the son following in the footsteps of his notorious father, proposes to build two homes on land off James Patten Drive. BUT a Coldwater Fisheries Headwaters Tributary Stream flows right through that property as shown by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Wetlands Map/Aerial Survey. Here it is:

That branch of the stream actually forks off the stream that flows under Ashton Lane. The stream that flows under Ashton Lane begins in a wetland located on Kendall Hill near the ‘Malvern Hill’ development.

That tributary stream on Simpson’s parcel flows downhill to join two other tributary streams forming Wekepeke Brook, South Branch, a Massachusetts Coldwater Fisheries Resource. Here is the Massachusetts Coldwater Fisheries Regulation—

321 CMR 5.00: Coldwater Fish Resources | Mass.gov

Here is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Coldwater Fisheries webpage—

Coldwater Fish Resources | Mass.gov

Town Conservation Commissions, Planning Boards, and Open Space Committees are supposed to protect Coldwater Fisheries Resources.

If you are looking for the Town of Sterling Conservation Commission and its Agent, Matthew Marro, you’ll find them up Simpson’s A$$.

By the way, Mr. Marro has a rather sordid work history–

Ex-inspector surrenders his license (telegram.com)

Leominster letter cites water concerns (telegram.com)  —

SO OF COURSE THE TOWN OF STERLING HIRED HIM TO BE ITS CONSERVATION COMMISSION AGENT!!! You just can’t make up this shit!

Back to that notorious snake, Simpson. He wants to push a driveway over that stream running through his property off James Patten Drive, to be shared by the two homes he wants to build. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL. The only decent soil for septic systems on that parcel is near that stream. Uphill from that stream is the bedrock of Kendall Hill’s north spur.

So where do you think the required soil testing for Simpson’s two planned septic systems was done? Do you trust in the veracity and accuracy of the soil testing reports that Simpson had done? Me neither.

Simpson will be re-appearing before the Sterling Planning Board on 12 September 2024 concerning his proposed “access” to that parcel—

Planning Board public hearing | Sterling MA (sterling-ma.gov)

This will be his second appearance before the Planning Board concerning his proposed “access” to that parcel—

Planning Board public hearing | Sterling MA (sterling-ma.gov)

GEE, could the Sterling Planning Board, for once, actually be concerned about protecting a sensitive Sterling natural resource and step into the vacuum left by the Sterling Conservation Commission?

Conservation Commission | Sterling MA (sterling-ma.gov)

ANSWER: Don’t bet on it.

J.G.