Lakeville conservation commission approves order of conditions for 35 Shore Avenue septic upgrade

The Town of Lakeville Conservation Commission voted Feb. 11 to close the public hearing and issue an order of conditions for work at 35 Shore Avenue, where the applicant proposes a 2,500-gallon monolithic tight tank and decommissioning of an existing cesspool within the 100-foot buffer to Long Pond.

The project is the subject of a Notice of Intent filed under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 131, § 40). Will O'Connell, the project's consulting engineer, told the commission the lot is about 4,700 square feet and entirely within the 100-foot buffer to Long Pond. O'Connell described the existing failed septic and said the replacement tank will be shifted slightly east to move it farther from the house and to meet setback requirements. He also described sediment controls including a silt sock around the limit of work and a dewatering basin to be used if needed.

Commission members asked whether the new tank occupies the same footprint as the old cesspool and whether neighboring wells could be affected. The engineer said the new tank shifts slightly east of the old cesspool and that neighboring water service likely runs across the street close to the existing cesspool. Commissioners also raised whether prior Board of Health approvals remain valid; staff noted the project has MassDEP file number SE1920934 and that previous board of health approvals from 2019 may have expired absent any formal extension.

Before closing the hearing, the commission added standard conditions and required the applicant to provide any Board of Health approvals if they are required again, to comply with any conditions from the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, and to supply an emergency contact and company name for a dewatering (pump) truck in case groundwater is encountered during work. The commission moved, seconded and approved the order of conditions by voice vote; the meeting record shows unanimous assent but does not list a roll-call tally.

The commission noted the site sits within a sensitive shoreline buffer to Long Pond and reminded the applicant that erosion and sediment controls must remain in place until vegetation and soil stability are achieved. The order will include standard conservation commission conditions and any additional requirements received from Natural Heritage or the Board of Health.

The applicant and consulting engineer may return to the commission if any plan changes are proposed or if additional permits (for example from the Board of Health) are required.

Details recorded at the hearing include the project location (35 Shore Avenue, Map 41, Block 9, Lot 12), the proposed 2,500-gallon monolithic tight tank, and MassDEP file number SE1920934.