The enforcement order related to a property on Nicole Terce was a primary focus of the meeting. A representative for the landowner provided an account of the situation, explaining that the decision to cut approximately 25 trees was prompted by safety concerns after a tree fell on the landowner’s car. The representative assured the commission that the action was not for profit or firewood, and efforts were made to minimize encroachment into the wetland area by piling brush near its edge. The representative also described plans to mark the wetland boundaries and develop a planting plan once the logs and brush were removed. This plan aims to restore the affected area, potentially including oak seedlings in the upland zone.

The commission members discussed the need to replace the cut trees with saplings to ensure the wetland’s health is maintained. Concerns were raised about the size of the trees removed, and the commission emphasized the importance of having adequate cover to prevent the wetland from drying out. The representative aimed to submit a detailed proposal including a planting diagram by early May, following the clearing of snow and her return from out of state.

In another significant agenda item, the commission considered a gravel pit stabilization project on Alpha Ke Road, proposed by the North County Land Trust. Representatives from the land trust discussed their responses to comments from the Department of Environmental Protection and provided assurances that existing utility infrastructures would remain unaffected. A civil engineer explained that the project’s grading would not increase stormwater runoff, with water either infiltrating or being directed to an on-site detention basin.

Furthermore, the project aimed to create suitable habitats for grassland-dependent species such as the Upland Sandpiper and Grasshopper Sparrow. The commission discussed the potential need for managing invasive species, with suggestions to use black tarps during earth-moving activities. Although some debate arose about the necessity of a formal management plan, the consensus leaned towards ongoing monitoring and manual control methods.

The grassland restoration project, encompassing 157 acres, with 20 acres specifically designated for grassland restoration, was another topic of discussion. Discussions revolved around the current state of the grassland, attributed to untouched bare soil for 15 years, and plans to transform it into a thriving ecosystem. The initiative included an iNaturalist project to involve students in documenting the restoration process, along with the use of the Cornell Bird app for data collection.

The conversation also touched on the site’s existing asphalt paving, which would remain without maintenance, serving recreational purposes. Concerns about an infiltration basin, initially designed for a residential project that did not proceed, were noted. The basin’s current inability to hold water affected local invertebrate habitats, and the approach is to allow naturalization over time.

The commission expressed optimism in collaborating with nature for the restoration, focusing on drought-tolerant plants suitable for the sandy soil. The project is targeted for completion by the end of May, with an experienced contractor identified for the work. Positive community relations were highlighted, with local residents encouraged to report any suspicious activities.