Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Well Protection Bylaw topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lakeville conservation commission prepares 25‑foot well‑protection ‘no touch’ zone language for town meeting
Summary
Commission members discussed drafting a local amendment adding a 25‑foot no‑touch buffer to the town’s well‑protection provisions and adding fines; staff will work with planning and town counsel and bring draft language to the next meeting for comment ahead of the fall town meeting warrant.
LAKEVILLE, Mass. — Members of the Town of Lakeville Conservation Commission on Sept. 9 agreed to draft local language that would add a 25‑foot “no touch” buffer to the town’s existing well protection measures and to pursue adding fines for violations, with the goal of presenting warrant language before the fall town meeting.
Mark Minton, the commission’s conservation agent, said he had discussed the approach with town staff and the planning board and proposed a narrowly focused amendment rather than adopting an extended wetland bylaw model. “I talked to Nate... I think we’re at a place right now in Lakeville where even the Board of Selectmen can’t find 160 Bedford Street,” Minton said, arguing for simpler, targeted language. The commission indicated a preference for a 25‑foot buffer, noting Middleborough and Bridgewater use similar distances.
Commissioners said they will work with planning staff and town counsel (referred to in the meeting as Nate and Andrew) to draft specific language defining “new construction” and penalties, and to submit draft warrant language for commission review at a future meeting. The commission noted the fall town meeting date had been changed to Nov. 12 and that the warrant closes before that meeting; staff emphasized the need to finalize language in time for the warrant.
Members discussed scope: the proposed measure would apply principally to new construction, and commissioners asked staff to return with a clear definition of what would qualify as new construction versus repairs to existing structures.
Why it matters
A 25‑foot no‑touch buffer in a well‑protection bylaw would create an additional local restriction aimed at protecting drinking‑water sources from erosion, vegetation removal or other disturbances adjacent to wellhead protection areas. Adding fines would create enforcement mechanisms the commission said are currently difficult to apply under existing local practice.
What’s next
Staff will draft proposed warrant language, including a definition of new construction and proposed fines, and circulate it for commission review at the next meeting. Commissioners said they will consult the planning board and town counsel in preparing the proposal for the fall town meeting warrant.
