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Tilly Way resident disputes wetland‑clearing allegations; commission schedules further review
Summary
At a conservation commission meeting, staff reported unpermitted disturbance on Tilly Way wetland easement and the property owner disputed responsibility, saying the activity was limited to moving containers and farming; the commission will review submitted documents and revisit the matter Dec. 10, possibly hiring a botanist.
The Acushnet Conservation Commission flagged an apparent wetland disturbance on Tilly Way after staff and a member of the public reported piles of dirt, flattened vegetation and unpermitted machinery in an easement area.
Julia (Conservation Agent) told the commission she and another staffer visited the site and “noticed what appeared to be knocked down reeds, piles of dirt, trailers and machinery … and a little bridge built.” She said Eversource — whose easement crosses the parcel — reported they did not leave dirt piles during recent inspections, leaving the source of the material unclear.
The property owner, identified in the meeting as Erin, told the commission she is farming the land and said she removed temporary containers and put down wood chips and leaves to protect the access road. “My intentions were to farm,” Erin said, adding she did not bring an excavator into the wetlands and that much of the apparent disturbance reflects temporary matting and leaf cover.
Neighbors and staff disputed that account during a sustained exchange. One neighbor who reported the activity said photos show heavy equipment and truck traffic; staff said they could not yet confirm the origin or extent of wetland impacts without further investigation. The commission emphasized that a right‑to‑farm filing does not authorize clearing or altering wetlands.
Because the item appeared under agent updates rather than as a formal enforcement agenda item, the commission said it could not vote on enforcement at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to collect and distribute documents the owner submitted, scheduled the matter for the commission’s Dec. 10 meeting, and discussed engaging a consultant or botanist to inspect soils and vegetation if the evidence indicates a violation. Staff asked the owner to email all supporting materials before Wednesday so members can review them ahead of the next meeting.
Next steps: the commission will review the submitted materials, may schedule a site visit or a botanical delineation, and will return the matter to the agenda on Dec. 10 for possible formal action.
