[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6313826,"mediaKeyId","2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31","parentId",2386641,"title","Owner of 282 Brookside Drive told to document property lines, repair wetland buffer after unauthorized tree cutting; hearing continued to March 24","audioSeconds",560,"startMs",226000,"endMs",786000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31&start=226&end=786","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31/thumbnail_226000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6313826/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Owner-of-282-Brookside-Drive-told-to-document-property-lines-repair-wetland-buffer-after-unauthorized-tree-cutting-hearing-continued-to-March-24","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313826-42b6c60c58ca653be91a55a59ba1d64d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775040086&Signature=dRluE3fEHMZAFOG2KL5BiC0PgrqGHjTlJ6sqRL1qMpZhXAdXcx3hNu~zdp9eleAcmP9G0XUu8gpz4n6hG19LAMgIB0n4jjS9w65l1~DXK8Kf4M7RW~USwEBoUQx2g~5TzwoEEdE-2Sah0BTq3PoulUokL8NdlkqAPDQ2njJbP0s3CoVa1XlLYYG0RjZjAXJk3j91RJ4nzd2rPRBx4Rn7Ptqk~d~cpSUi52tOqvFn-~lH4X7GAUnUEtb5A8B4aYTIht51yDtqrWGCkF9Cu5puSSb7ymW-wmfAVRlh52wajFnseVL97SC1dCRXNnv4RedXPwn6eLwBwuNA01PL5lq9yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gardner City, MA","date","2025-02-25T14:28:26Z","article","The Gardner Conservation Commission continued an enforcement hearing for 282 Brookside Drive after the property owner, Aymana Troy, acknowledged cutting roughly 12–15 trees and said she was uncertain of the exact property boundaries.

The commission said the cutting appears to have removed shading that protects a vegetated wetland and riverfront area behind the lot, and it set a site visit and a follow-up hearing for March 24 to review boundary documentation and remediation plans.

Commission members told Troy she should locate a deed and have the lot surveyed so she understands property lines before further work. “You need to know what your property lines are,” a commission member told Troy during the hearing. Troy replied, “I just cut some trees, and I did I'm so sorry about that. I wasn't in all the zones, and I wasn't in all, like, this is a big problem.”

Emily Marino, director of land programs for North County Land Trust, told the commission her organization owns the land abutting 282 Brookside Drive and that the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation holds a conservation restriction on that abutting parcel. “So there are some other regulations that prevent tree cutting over the property line,” Marino said, urging that any remediation take the conservation restriction into account.

Commission staff said they will arrange a site visit with the property owner and the abutting land trust, coordinate with the city engineer (Justin), and expect Troy to provide a plan to replant trees or otherwise mitigate impacts to the wetland buffer. The commission also advised Troy to post or otherwise make visible the required contact and DEP/permit information for the site and recommended hiring a surveyor to place markers.

The commission voted to continue the enforcement order to March 24 to allow the owner time to obtain deed/survey information, to permit a joint site visit with North County Land Trust, and to provide a remediation plan. The record of the motion shows the commission approved the continuation by voice vote (“All in favor? Aye”), with individual vote names not recorded in the minutes.

Clarifying details recorded at the hearing include the owner's estimate that she removed about 12–15 trees, that some trees were removed because of broken limbs and perceived safety concerns near the house, and that wildlife (deer, bear, foxes) was observed in the area. The commission emphasized that the disturbed area abuts a vegetated wetland and riverfront buffer that provides groundwater filtration and habitat.

The commission asked staff to contact Troy with the name of recommended surveyors and to coordinate with North County Land Trust and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation when developing a replanting and remediation plan. The commission noted that any replanting or repair plan will need to satisfy both the wetlands regulations and the conservation restriction held on the adjacent land.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner Conservation Commission Meeting Feb 24 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Gardner Conservation Commission continued an enforcement hearing for 282 Brookside Drive after the owner admitted cutting about a dozen trees that may extend into a vegetated wetland buffer.","taxTitle","Gardner City, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",60679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6313812,"Conservation commission continues several hearings and keeps sludge-landfill enforcement open",822,84000,906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31&start=84&end=906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31/thumbnail_84000.jpg","/articles/6313812/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Conservation-commission-continues-several-hearings-and-keeps-sludge-landfill-enforcement-open","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313812-e13a33479503d3754164025c7ecd726c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775040086&Signature=kG--vGbgKHLRnd2MLkVqs8iEDMxxt3WNXBHPabsTUUXwCVKLzuLlJyR0oBXAQlOl9uqh2meYJVfLNJy4U5tgrOIEtYdTorFgDOUREOjveMPAUZqH52pVJ3GtpeIlm845T4lCgF3XLtJ6JYGKMOalan9UTE-AX0j2unA2Nl3sX2sAd~Vr-rPxdK7CfNYjhThgK1qHCnwPfI5BdK~6V35WSDwfGTfFM~ueJ7onw4v3z8ZPVDpqfWsch4q9yJEUbKFylD3Kzz5cDjDejCdQ3Lw2u7jPxLW~-ZOa3136Hh7y5~ilKHtF8WTZ~wtk9qkrJ2mWApru49~QuCgRWMkZXK71mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gardner Conservation Commission left several items open for follow-up at its recent meeting and scheduled continuations for multiple hearings.

The commission reported three enforcement orders remain open; a resident, Paul DeFeo, raised satellite photos showing a pond and an earthen dam at the top of a sludge landfill and said the dam failed in the fall, discharging water into adjoining wetlands. The commission said it would keep that enforcement order open and monitor any further developments.

The commission also continued the enforcement order for 36 Nicole Terrace to March 24 because the property owner was not present; commissioners said they expect an update at the next meeting. A separate hearing for 125 Snake Pond Road (Map 812-5-14) was continued to March 10 after commissioners reported no sign of recent cutting when staff inspected the site.

Commission members reminded attendees about professional development opportunities (MACC conference) and other administrative items. Final motions to continue the listed items were approved by voice votes recorded as “Aye.”","At its March meeting the Gardner Conservation Commission kept an enforcement order related to a sludge landfill open for further review after a resident cited satellite imagery of a failed earthen dam, and it continued hearings for 125 Snake Pond Road and 36 Nicole Terrace to upcoming meetings.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6313817,"Applicant for DEP 1600651 seeks to re-establish lost permit record; commission plans site visit and posts continued to March 10",440,2153000,2593000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31&start=2153&end=2593","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31/thumbnail_2153000.jpg","/articles/6313817/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Applicant-for-DEP-1600651-seeks-to-re-establish-lost-permit-record-commission-plans-site-visit-and-posts-continued-to-March-10","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313817-c97c8cb901f16a999f30149d5fff74d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775040086&Signature=ZkgBMjVz4TD318L2R76loNZDbm77tturEG3fCU3DVL3PxTsRgeBj68SslMyEEMcxlBOVNq6-5c8X3ySwt2VTrKth6CqAoPNcvJxObQ2RdAwZM1o8nYAb6Po3TDTNz3~y8sc0b5drgiVlOVRXcUBcnITvEIjMJGMmG1pnOvNOw4BfTkMfGhViEsAe4G5dq1Ik3Al4xal4N5TetZzTZWzf7iVySOM4VLfoby49KYzjl1i~80WxFtC0AwpfLGghvvwhBC6HgxDYDZrHGCWv1epCgTH7zLKMM35jqD2c1DXtqcOKY4NVPfHfiggysrnJhWxvbK9DoR9OybqmhzK-9JnL7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Applicant Ron Gilbert appeared before the Gardner Conservation Commission regarding DEP file 1600651 and said he could not find the issued order or the recorded special conditions; the city and his engineer also do not have a copy of the signed file. Gilbert asked the commission to allow a path to reestablish the record so he can proceed with construction this spring.

Gilbert said he previously cleared the lot and demolished a double-wide trailer legally, then paused construction plans during the pandemic. He told the commission he recently confirmed with DEP that a number exists but that the number was not posted at the site; he said he would post the required DEP sign on the property and replace old erosion controls. “I want to build a house this coming spring. So I knew the timeline was coming to an end soon… I never had that happen before,” Gilbert said, explaining that he misplaced paperwork during a move.

Commissioners asked the applicant and his engineer to arrange a group site visit so staff and members can verify current compliance and the condition of erosion controls. The commission instructed Gilbert to post the DEP number in a visible location on the property (not on a telephone pole) and to restore silt fencing and other controls before work resumes.

The commission voted to continue consideration of DEP 1600651 to March 10, directed staff to perform a site visit, and asked the applicant to bring any remaining documentation and a plan for posting the DEP/permit notice. The continuation was approved by voice vote (“All in favor? Aye”).","Ron Gilbert told the Gardner Conservation Commission that permit paperwork for DEP 1600651 was lost during a prior move and not filed with the city. The commission agreed to a group site visit, requested the applicant post DEP/permit information visibly and to replace aging erosion controls, and continued the matter to March 10.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6313822,"Consultants describe rain-garden stormwater plan for 0 Betty Spring Road; commission delays vote pending DEP review",1164,949000,2113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31&start=949&end=2113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386641-7ffed1b8862df7aeed58af92775aab31/thumbnail_949000.jpg","/articles/6313822/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Consultants-describe-rain-garden-stormwater-plan-for-0-Betty-Spring-Road-commission-delays-vote-pending-DEP-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313822-1394d2b43176c30b4542616dad097b7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775040086&Signature=Adr9yRiqS8CYQehPVelH5pZSCkxHYLV7N3qfa0TXfhUA3qslSlm-i0PKJa0qbybyLd16JyRCJxJMReIablisKP5qEwH~T15xn-1AKS3FcInEhTIqUrxqW9MigukjdMlDZSzyhzjcjGp0gRJIr9THlcmOKDCO~L4sWvWD1qdllqy09c7FgiLrdNTIRwrkcJCNr5lA2YDj4JImPEVDrF7CyQq~VDHuD9CLRDY-z1CN~-GhwyX-J08Cv7FVjRx1FX88DHcXMZGNFoCWiPcba94GNP70P0CiyW04ta9AEQgvJyLZgCz80je4fY~dbzKWHeqB-cTI8drebjb4LyOVRlrEFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Goddard Consulting presented an informational review of a proposed single-family home and associated stormwater measures for 0 Betty Spring Road in Gardner, and the commission continued the hearing to March 10 because there is not yet a DEP file number and the city engineer had comments pending.

Andrew Tivo, a wetland scientist with Goddard Consulting, described the lot as about 2.25 acres and said approximately 4,250 square feet of on-site work is proposed, with about 2,685 square feet of that work occurring inside designated buffer zones. The plan places the house and garage outside the 60-foot no-build area; however, portions of the proposed stormwater system and a temporary underdrain for a rain garden would occur inside the 30-foot no-disturb buffer to achieve positive drainage and prevent runoff from discharging onto Betty Spring Road.

Tivo said the design minimizes permanent impacts to the 30-foot zone and that any disturbance there would be temporary, hand-excavated where feasible, and revegetated with a wetland seed mix after installation. Engineer Justin (Justin LeClaire) said the city engineer recommended modified grading to convey any overflow back to an existing catch basin and the inclusion of an underdrain at the rain garden based on site elevations.

Commissioners pressed on alternatives and maintenance. One commissioner asked whether an infiltration basin could replace the rain garden; consultants said local stormwater regulations require performance standards (90% TSS removal and 60% phosphorus reduction) that are more reliably achieved with a rain garden plus pretreatment than with a basic infiltration basin in this design. Commissioners expressed concern that long-term maintenance of an O&M plan is sometimes inconsistent in practice; staff said the city requires recording of O&M obligations with deeds where appropriate.

Because there is no DEP number yet and the city engineer’s comments are still expected, the commission voted to continue the hearing to March 10. The vote was recorded by voice as “All in favor? Aye.”","Goddard Consulting presented a proposal for a single-family house and stormwater measures at 0 Betty Spring Road, including a rain garden and a small underdrain that would temporarily touch the 30-foot no‑disturb buffer. Commissioners raised maintenance and design questions and continued the hearing to March 10 to await DEP/engineer comments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Owner of 282 Brookside Drive told to document property lines, repair wetland buffer after unauthorized tree cutting; hearing continued to March 24

Conservation commission continues several hearings and keeps sludge-landfill enforcement open

Applicant for DEP 1600651 seeks to re-establish lost permit record; commission plans site visit and posts continued to March 10

Consultants describe rain-garden stormwater plan for 0 Betty Spring Road; commission delays vote pending DEP review