Deerfield Conservation Commission Clears Academy Boathouse, Continues MassDOT Roundabout Hearing

DEERFIELD -- March 26, 2026, Deerfield Conservation Commission cleared an Academy boathouse project and pressed MassDOT on wetland conditions at a proposed roundabout during its March 26 meeting. The four-member commission voted 4-0 to issue a Form 2, Negative 2 determination under the Wetlands Protection Act for a Deerfield Academy crew boat storage shed and wash pad at 518 River Road, with engineer Andrew White of Sion Bond confirming all work falls outside jurisdictional resource areas. On MassDOT Project 613708, a single-lane roundabout at Routes 5 and 10 and Mill Village Road, the commission opened the hearing and voted 4-0 to continue it to April 30 after Chair Peter Law identified an unapproved historic excavation through a former railroad bed on MassDOT-owned land, calling its restoration "a primary criterion" for any Order of Conditions. Law also requested expanded wetland replication shrub counts, a specified native seed mix, and no-mow signage on both sides of the roadway. The commission also received word that the Deerfield Community Preservation Committee voted 8-0 the previous evening to recommend a $100,000 Conservation Fund allocation, setting up two town meeting warrant articles for the May 11 Town Meeting.