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Needham conservation staff to send violation notice over basketball court built in wetland buffer
Summary
Conservation staff found an unpermitted concrete basketball court of roughly 616 sq ft in the 25-foot no-disturb buffer at 46 Pleasant Street. Commissioners agreed to send a notice of violation and invite the owner to the Dec. 4 meeting; several members said removal is likely required.
The Needham Conservation Commission agreed Nov. 13 to initiate enforcement after staff found a roughly 616-square-foot concrete basketball court located within the 25-foot no-disturb buffer at 46 Pleasant Street.
Staff described historical aerial images and town GIS records showing the court appeared after prior site plans and that the property was purchased in 2014. ‘‘It was 616 square feet, and so that's approximately 24 by 28,’’ the chair said, summarizing staff’s measurement. Commissioners said the feature appears recent and outside any pre-Wetlands Protection Act exception, making it an apparent violation of the commission’s buffer rules.
Commissioners discussed next steps and agreed that staff should send a notice of violation requesting the property owner appear at the Dec. 4 commission meeting. Several commissioners said they expected the court would likely need to be removed to avoid setting a precedent for work inside the 25-foot buffer. Paulina Thomas said she was ‘‘leaning towards they will need to remove it.’’
Staff will draft the enforcement letter, include an invitation to the Dec. 4 meeting, and prepare a recommended plan for mitigation or removal to present to the commission. The matter will appear under enforcement updates at the next meeting.
