Is a Lightning Station OK Near Brookside?

Sound off in the comments below.

Tonight, the Wetlands Protection Committee will hold a public hearing to determine whether the Wellesley Country Club can build a new lightning station and toilets offset from Brookside Road. The hearing is continued from two years ago, when residents had issues with certain building near Brookside Road. Some of the area is wetland protected. This is the final piece to the country club's maintenance efforts, but how do you feel about it? Tell us in the comments.

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 9

Surreal art and a holiday luncheon are among things to know about today.

"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 1. Today's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high temperature of 51 degrees. The overnight low will be around 33. 2. House and Garden Club's Annual Holiday Auction & Luncheon will emanate from the Wellesley Country Club at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $30. 3. 2011 Holiday Guide: Looking to stay on top of things this Holiday Season? Check back with our Holiday Guide for all-things related to the holidays in Wellesley. 4. Surreal artwork comes to town today with an all-day exhibit at the Davis Gallery at Wellesley College. "Double Solitaire" brings the work of husband and wife painters Yves Tanguy and Kay Sage …

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Wellesley's Week in Review

A roundup of last week's news and events in Wellesley.

The Board of Selectmen decided a dead tree would be removed and Wellesley reacted to the arrest of a long time local fugitive. Two people in Wellesley had strongly contrasting reactions to the arrest of James “Whitey” Bulger Thursday afternoon. The arrest took place in Santa Monica, Calif. Wednesday night, and the Boston area has been a-buzz for days. On Monday night, the Board of Selectmen heard the appeal of Michael R. Cave, a property owner who was fighting to save a dead tree near his house. The town arborist said the tree was beyond repair, and the board voted unanimously in favor of the tree’s removal. Hanyes Management, a Wellesley-based company that came under fire last week for allegedly terminating an employee who told management…

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Needham Officials Satisfied With Wellesley Country Club's Proposed Wetlands Cleanup

Wellesley Country Club officials say they will restore wetlands along Brookside Road contaminated by runoff from stockpiles of soil and mulch.

Needham conservation officials are satisfied with plans by the Wellesley Country Club to restore wetlands where bark mulch and sediment seeped into the protected area near a site off Brookside Road. The area, located on WCC property within Wellesley and Needham, is used by the club to stockpile woodchips, mulch and soil, and to dump leaves, grass clippings and other similar materials used to maintain the golf course. This spring it was discovered that some of this stockpiled material was stored within the 100-foot buffer designated by law to protect the wetlands and that small amounts of sediment seeped into the wetlands, according to WCC consultant Michael J. Toohill, a senior environmental scientist with Coneco Engineers and Scientists …

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Country Club Makes Changes, Wetlands Protection Requests Alternatives

Neighbors expressed feelings of frustration at the lengthy process.

The Wetlands Protection Committee's latest meeting regarding the proposed facilities on Wellesley Country Club land was described by some neighbors as anywhere from "frustrating" to "inadequate." At least from the perspective of people living near Brookside Road. "We were presented material that helps us make a decision," said Committee chair Eric Seaborn. "We're moving forward with a timetable." The purpose of the meeting was largely to discuss findings made by Beals and Thomas (B+T), third party consultants hired by the town to peer review the plans filed by the Club's consultant Coneco Engineering and Scientists. Before B+T representatives were asked to speak, Mike Toohill of Coneco presented updated plans for the maintenance facility …

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Country Club Issued Cease and Desist by Wetlands Protection Committee

WPC takes "middle path" in dealing with violations.

Before the Wetlands Protection Committee's (WPC) regular Dec. 10 meeting, they set aside time to discuss a site visit assessing some alleged violations at the Wellesley Country Club. WPC Chair Eric Seaborn noted, "We determined not to make decisions at the site, we would do so at a public meeting."  Their initial findings did not see anything glaring. If they had noticed a significant violation while they were on site, the Committee is permitted to take some actions. No immediate action was taken. However, for other discussions the group needs to discuss their site visit in a public meeting. "We all agreed it was a bit unkempt, but the club is going to do something about that," noted WPC member Stanley Waugh.  The Club agreed to repair …

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Image Gallery: Friends of Brookside Walk Draws Big Crowd of Supporters

An estimated 110 people walked the area during an event held by Friends of Brookside.

The Friends of Brookside community association held a walk, inviting neighbors and any interested parties to see the disputed area between Rosemary Brook and the Wellesley Country Club. The association hired consultants Patrick C. Garner to build their case, in addition to a private consultant hired by the Wetlands Protection Committee. The walk drew 110 people by one participant's count, who walked for a mile and soaked in the natural beauty of the small area. 

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Wetlands Protection Committee Continues Country Club Debate

Wetlands Protection Committee meets to continue discussion of Wellesley Country Club projects.

A large number of neighbors turned out for the Wetlands Protection Committee (WPC) meeting, despite many being at the high school's Back to School night. This was the second meeting on proposed projects at Wellesley Country Club which border Brookside road.  The facilities, mentioned at the previous meeting, are a comfort station and bulk materials storage area, an equipment storage facility, and an environmental management center. Only the first two sites are within the jurisdiction of the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA). Returning to answer questions, Mike Toohill of Coneco Engineers and Scientists.  The bulk material facility will store things like sand, loam, divot mix and stones used in maintaining the course. According to Toohill, it …

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Wellesley Country Club Plans Three Buildings Near Wetlands

Wetlands Protection Committee reviews one building, pushes two others to a later date.

Several neighbors and abutters to the Wellesley Country Club came to express concerns about the club's proposed projects near Brookside Road during the regular Wetlands Protection Committee (WPC) meeting. Mike Toohill of Coneco presented the three projects proposed on behalf of the Country Club. Because the site of the meeting, the Wellesley Library, closes at 9 p.m. Thursdays, the presentation covered just one of the three projects: A 90 ft. by 90 ft. bulk goods storage area, and a "comfort station" containing restrooms and a lightning shelter. Bulk goods include mulch, sand, and similar materials - not fertilizer or pesticide. The latter is beyond the 100-foot riverfront buffer zone, while a small portion of the former is within 25 feet …