Acushnet Conservation Commission Issues Cease and Desist Over Tree Clearing

The Acushnet Conservation Commission’s recent meeting addressed multiple issues concerning land use, environmental protection, and local governance. The most pressing topic was the debate over agricultural land use and unauthorized tree clearing, which led to a cease and desist order. Other discussions included the approval of wetland delineations on local properties, the review of construction activities, a settlement agreement with Sola LLC Woodbridge Ring LLC, and the search for a new conservation agent.

At the forefront of the discussions was a issue regarding land purported to be agricultural and the clearing of trees without proper authorization. A lawyer’s letter claiming exemption from certain regulations due to the agricultural status of the property was met with skepticism by the commission. Concerns were raised about whether the land indeed qualified as agricultural and whether the tree clearing activities were permissible. The commission issued a cease and desist order to halt the actions on the property. Further discussions centered on the involvement of the Bristol County Mosquito Control in the land clearing process and the need for clarification and proper permitting.

The commission also addressed the settlement agreement with Sola LLC Woodbridge Ring LLC. The agreement sought to absolve the commission from any liability. After deliberation, the vote was cast in favor of allowing the signing of the agreement, emphasizing that it was a procedural step to remove any potential liability from the commission.

Another salient topic was the review of a letter from the building department concerning a property on E Street. The commission considered the enforcement order and recognized the requirement for approvals from several departments, including their own. The debate focused on the implications of the recent information received about the property and the necessary actions to ensure compliance with local regulations.

In other business, the commission reviewed changes to the Wetland line at a local property, which included the adjustment of the buffer zone into an adjoining field. After a public hearing and input from the community, the commission recommended approving the updated delineation as presented in the plan. The commission also held a continued public hearing for a Main Street property, where revisions to Wetland flagging were discussed. Assurances were provided that the current deliberations were preliminary and that further steps would be carefully considered, particularly in light of public concerns about the presence of box turtles in the area.

Additionally, the commission contemplated changes to the drainage system on Main Street, expressing several concerns, notably the need for consistent drainage calculations and a comprehensive construction schedule. They sought weekly updates from the project team and allowed the project to proceed with site stabilization measures while drainage issues were being addressed.

The commission also examined a request to revise the plans for a dwelling and septic system on M Pois Road, requiring a letter for the record about deviations from the original plan and measures to restore the wetlands. The request was accepted with one recusal. Issues surrounding construction activities at CLS Way and Main Street were also brought to the table. A stop-work order was discussed, alongside the necessity for documentation related to the stream clearing activities. No decision was made during the meeting regarding this particular matter.

Lastly, the search for a new conservation agent was touched upon, with the commission reviewing resumes and discussing the selection process. The commission acknowledged the importance of this role and contemplated coordinating with the town administrator to evaluate the candidates.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
James Kelley
Environmental Commission Officials:
Ryan Rezendes, Everett Philla, Eric Debarros, Heidi Pelletier, Douglas Thomas, Christian De Sousa, James Souza, Joann Demello (Senior Clerk)

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