During its Aug. 20 meeting the Hamden Conservation Commission reviewed multiple enforcement matters and scheduled several site inspections and follow-up actions.

Staff told commissioners they had mailed certified packages to abutters around a clearing at Southbridge Estates—including historic orders and recent photos—and plan to hire a wetland specialist to reflag the resource areas on the property. The commission’s staff said the specialist (state consultant Heather Comey was referenced) had been notified but delayed by medical leave; staff planned to re-contact the consultant and arrange reflagging once she is available. The commission emphasized that reflagging is a priority before further action.

The commission also discussed a possible unauthorized roadway and clearing associated with a property accessed from the Bryn Mawr extension/Ainsley area (the Forbes property at the Hamden–East Longmeadow line). Conservation staff read a commission letter addressed to the property owner, Sarah Morton, asking her to cease activity on apparent resource areas and to file a Request for Determination with the commission. The letter states: "The commission asks you to cease all activity in the area and file a request for determination with us." Staff said the mailing included GIS maps, the original orders and conditions, and photos of recent clearing.

Commissioners described visible signs of clearing, structures and vehicle access at several locations and discussed jurisdictional limits. They agreed to conduct another field check at the Bryn Mawr extension and to visit the area on Friday afternoon to confirm whether machinery remains and whether any work continues within protected areas. Staff instructed that the daughter of the property owner should also be notified.

For the Southbridge Estates matter, staff reported they had received some certified returns and that many abutters had not yet returned green cards; they will notify an outside wetland specialist and invite commission members to accompany the consultant on reflagging visits when scheduled.

Commissioners also confirmed a separate, shorter site inspection to review permanent resource-area markers on Lot to Scantic Road (a parcel where a site inspection was planned for the following day at 3:00 p.m.). The commission reviewed the requirement that markers be in place and noted that the property owner had been notified of the inspection.

Other enforcement updates included a status check on tires at Hamden Auto Body and a brief discussion of a rebuilt garage on Wolverham Road; staff said tires remain but that the property owner expects a contractor with lifting equipment to remove them. No new enforcement orders were issued at the Aug. 20 meeting; instead the commission approved the schedule for on-site inspections, certified mailings, and hiring a consultant to reflag boundaries as the next steps.

Why this matters: the commission is exercising its jurisdiction to protect wetland resource areas and to ensure construction and clearing comply with existing orders and local bylaws. The record shows active follow-up—certified mailings, planned site visits, and engagement of technical specialists—rather than immediate fines or enforcement actions at the Aug. 20 meeting.

Next steps: staff will re-contact the referenced wetland specialist, send certified notices to owners and abutters (including Sarah Morton), conduct field reflagging with the specialist when available, and perform scheduled drive-by and on-site inspections this week.