Stoneham Conservation Commission Approves Redstone Buffer Work, Seeks $50,000 for Whip Hill

STONEHAM — January 12, 2026 — Stoneham Conservation Commission approves retroactive buffer-zone work at Redstone Shopping Center and votes to seek $50,000 in capital funds for Whip Hill repairs. At the January 12 meeting, the commission unanimously cleared a 150-foot electrical trench behind Redstone — roughly 60 feet of which falls within the 100-foot wetland buffer — after WS Development owner's representative Melanie Carr apologized for the contractor's failure to seek prior approval, explaining it was "more of a miscommunication on our part." The commission approved the work with a note in the file and a requirement for hay bales or silt socks within the buffer section, forgoing a formal Notice of Intent given an existing order of conditions covering the rear of the property. On Whip Hill, the commission voted unanimously to submit a $50,000 capital request for fiscal year 2026-27 based on an architectural priority list that includes a $29,777 fire alarm system and $19,355 in electrical work — upgrades the town's fire chief has identified as prerequisites for any building occupancy. The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to enter executive session under MGL Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(6) to discuss a potential lease of at least a portion of Whip Hill.