If approval of the wetlands application comes from the Department of Environmental Services, construction on the Bedford Village Common could begin as early as next year.

“The application was submitted around Nov. 1 and it takes about six to 10 weeks and maybe longer to hear back from DES,” said Bedford Village Common Committee Chairman Beverly Thomas.

The final site plan for the 9.3- acre Bedford Village Common proposes a triangular-shaped skating pond, a 220-square-foot warming hut, a war memorial, 27 parking spaces and stone dust walking paths around the skating pond to the parking lot.

On Oct. 24, the town council voted in favor on spending $5,845 to pay for additional fees needed for the wetlands application.

According to Thomas, the wetlands application is a dredge-and- fill application. With approval from DES, dredging for the proposed pond and construction for the wetlands crossings would be allowed.

The committee also gained approval at the Oct. 24 meeting to install a 1,000-foot, three-rail wooden fence along the park that will border Route 101.

“We are finalizing details and we may be able to get the fence in before the end of the year,” said Thomas.

She hopes the fence will highlight the common and let the people of Bedford see that progress is being made.

The committee is still unsure whether any soil testing will be necessary as they are waiting to hear the results of the wetlands application from DES first, said Thomas.

“I think the soil is going to be fine,” she said.

According to Thomas, the Bedford Village Common Committee has many fundraisers in the works to help pay for the project and is looking forward to starting them this winter.