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Homeowner accepts responsibility for clearing on DCR land at 5 Oak Mill Drive; restoration plan expected
Summary
Commission staff reported clearing on DCR land adjacent to 5 Oak Mill Drive. The homeowner took responsibility; the Department of Conservation and Recreation and commission staff met with the homeowner and expect a planting/restoration plan within a week.
Commission staff updated the Southborough Conservation Commission on clearing observed near 5 Oak Mill Drive that encroached onto Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) property. Staff said the clearing was visible from Bagley and that the property owner of 5 Oak Mill Drive accepted responsibility and has been responsive to requests to remediate the area.
Staff (Melissa) said she and representatives from DCR and town forestry/environmental staff met with the homeowner. Vegetation is already beginning to regrow, and staff reported no active erosion. DCR and town staff discouraged converting the area to lawn; instead they discussed a restoration approach using native groundcover, a conservation wildflower or wetland plant mix, and possibly shrubs at the wetland edge and within the cleared area.
The homeowner agreed to draft a planting plan and submit it to commission staff and DCR for review and approval; staff expects the homeowner’s proposal within about a week. DCR indicated it may permit selective invasive removal in the future but would require prior notification and approval for each maintenance event and prefers hand removal rather than large-scale brush cutting.
Staff described the homeowner as cooperative and said the timeline is to return to the commission with the proposed restoration plan at the next meeting.
