Commission issues Negative 3 determination after tree removal at 14 Sandy Point Road

The Lakeville Conservation Commission on April 22 closed a continued hearing for 14 Sandy Point Road and issued a Negative 3 determination after a site review found tree-removal work already completed and sediment controls present.

Mark Minton, conservation agent, reported he visited the property within hours of the meeting and observed that the trees had been cut and the stumps ground. "The trees are down. The trees have already been removed. Sedimentation was in place," Minton told the commission. The commission had continued the item because the notice had not been published in the newspaper for the earlier hearing date.

Commissioners voted to close the hearing and issue the Negative 3 determination, noting that required erosion control measures were in place and that the work already performed did not require further permitting under the conditions described. The applicant listed on the public notice was Jeffrey Bernier; the record shows no additional enforcement action was ordered on the tree-removal work.

During the discussion commissioners asked about the disposition of one beech tree and asked staff to follow up on whether cut material had been left near other trees or near the property edge. Staff said they would contact the contractor to confirm removal and clean-up of larger material.

The commission recorded the vote to close the hearing and grant the Negative 3 determination.