WHATELY – The Conservation Commission voted to continue a discussion about proposed improvements to the trails at Whatley Woods property maintained by the Kestrel Land Trust.

The property consists of 120 wooded acres located near the town center. Heavily forested, the property has a trail that goes through it, which includes wetlands.  

The project would replace two small footbridges and a set of stairs in the elevated trails on the property. Conservation Works LLC of North Hatfield is undertaking the project for Kestrel Land Trust.

The plans would be to use 440 feet of bridging over the swamp on the property, according to Peter Westover of Conservation Works LLC.

He added the company hopes to start the project in the fall.  

At issue from several of the commissioners is whether or not the Department of Environmental Protection needs to approve the project and if there are American with Disabilities Act concerns with the new construction.

The commission voted to delay a vote until its Sept. 15 meeting.

In other action the commission approved the changes to the electrical infrastructure at the Yankee Candle facility at 102 Christian Lane. The commission asked questions about how new poles and electrical conduit would affect the wetlands on the property.

Edward Lewis, speaking for Yankee Candle, noted the new electrical service would avoid both the wetlands and the leach field for the complex.