Derek Maxey, the new owner of 52 Claire Pond Road, told the Lakeville Conservation Commission that he inherited an enforcement order on the property and is preparing a restoration plan to remove wood‑chip fill from a forested wetland and restore the site.

Maxey said certified wetland scientist Stephen Schmiel had delineated the wetland and that test pits showed organic material under two to three feet of chips in places. The owner proposes removing the wood‑chip material, restoring underlying soils, and planting native wetland vegetation and seeding per a restoration plan that will be prepared and supervised by a wetland scientist. Maxey also said the house on the property requires a septic system and that he plans to file a single Notice of Intent that includes the restoration work and the septic design so the commission can review them together.

Commission staff and members emphasized that the property owner must show the exact area and square footage of disturbance and provide a planting plan that specifies species, sizes, planting densities and a timeline. Commission member Mark Knighton said the restoration plan should identify how many square feet were impacted; Maxey estimated about 8,700 square feet of disturbed area. Commissioners offered a list of qualified wetland scientists and said they expect a restoration planting list of native shrubs/trees and a seeding mix appropriate for a forested wetland.

Several commissioners suggested that combining the restoration plan with the septic NOI would improve the commission’s ability to set conditions and track compliance. The commission continued the matter to its Oct. 21 meeting to give the owner time to prepare a consolidated NOI, a planting plan and the requested details.

Why this matters: the item concerns an enforcement order involving filled forested wetland and a restoration obligation; combining restoration and septic work in a single NOI helps the commission condition all work within the wetland buffer.

Next steps: the owner will prepare a restoration plan prepared/supervised by a certified wetland scientist, provide the exact impacted square footage and planting plan, and return with a consolidated NOI at the Oct. 21 meeting.