The Planning Board opened a public hearing on a proposed habitation of the historic Stony Brook Bridge, while also advancing broader discussions on housing strategy and board procedures during its April 23 meeting.
The hearing concerned a scenic road permit application from MassDOT for the Stony Brook Bridge project to rehabilitate the approximately 150-year-old stone arch bridge on Stony Brook Road. Assistant Town Engineer Jeremy Downs (ATE’s name has been corrected), joined by project engineers from The Engineering Corporation (TEC) presented the proposal, emphasizing safety and long-term structural integrity as primary goals.
The stone arch bridge carries traffic over Stony Brook, just south of Polley (the street name has been corrected) Road near the railroad track, and has experienced deterioration over time, including displaced stones that have required past repairs.
MassDOT is funding both design and construction and initiated the project to address safety and structural deficiencies. The bridge is town-owned, but Westford’s primary role is to focus on preservation, following community feedback and an alternatives analysis conducted in 2017-2018.
The preservation alternative keeps the existing stone arches in place. A reinforced “relieving slab” will be installed above the arches to distribute traffic loads, provide long-term structural integrity, and allow anchoring of safety barriers.
TEC project engineer Bob Nikolai noted that the current granite blocks along the bridge do not meet modern safety standards for height and integrity. “To improve safety, we need a system that prevents vehicles from breaching the bridge edges,” he said. “Right now, there is no way to anchor a barrier effectively.”
The project also calls for raising the roadway by approximately 18 inches, realigning a nearby driveway at 58 Stony Brook Road, and relocating a portion of an existing stone wall. Some tree removal is proposed, primarily on private property, including several trees deemed dead or in poor condition.
During the hearing, a resident of Stony Brook Road spoke in opposition, requesting that the board deny the permit. He argued that the bridge is already safe, citing a lack of recent accidents, and warned that the proposed changes – such as guardrails, increased road grade, and removal of trees and stone walls – would “fundamentally alter the historic and scenic character” of one of Westford’s designated scenic roads. “Scenic roads are meant to be different,” the resident said. “If we apply highway standards to scenic roads, we don’t have scenic roads anymore.”
Board members and town staff acknowledged the concerns. They emphasized ongoing deterioration, past stone repairs, recent and upcoming weight postings, and the risk of future restrictions or closure without action.
The board commended the resident and project team for shifting the proposal toward
greater preservation compared to earlier concepts.
Board members voted to continue the public hearing to its May 4 meeting, where a draft decision will be reviewed.
Open Space plan and general business
Town Planner Joseph Ginewicz announced that the draft Open Space and Recreation Plan is available for public comment through Monday, April 27. Residents can review it via QR codes on the town website or in town buildings and submit feedback online or by contacting the planning department.
The board also postponed a planned discussion on hybrid meeting formats due to the absence of a member who had expressed interest in the topic.
Housing Strategy Discussion
In general business, the board reviewed regional housing strategies from the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), focusing on priorities for Westford. Key areas identified for further exploration included:
- “Missing middle” housing options for young families and moderate-income households
- Continued support for regional housing services
- Expansion of homebuyer assistance and down payment programs
- Regional infrastructure planning to address constraints such as septic systems and utilities
Board members noted alignment between NMCOG’s recommendations and Westford’s existing Housing Production Plan but identified opportunities for refinement, particularly in zoning and affordability strategies.
Rules and Regulations review
The board began reviewing proposed updates to its Rules and Regulations. Changes are needed to incorporate the tiered site plan review procedures from the recently approved bylaw amendment.
Members also discussed adding provisions for hybrid or virtual meetings and noted several outdated sections, such as requirements for chair/vice chair terms and mailing physical agendas.
The Planning Board will reconvene on May 4 at 7 p.m., when it is expected to revisit the Stony Brook Bridge proposal and continue discussions on housing and regulatory updates.
**This article has been corrected**
