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Developers asked for specific mitigation, invasive‑species plans for Bell Farm Estates
Summary
Representatives for Bell Farm Estates presented a notice of intent; commissioners asked for a planting/mitigation plan to address proposed work within the 25‑foot buffer and for a clearer approach to invasive species removal and the larger buffer clearing footprint before the commission will close the hearing.
Developers of the Bell Farm Estates subdivision told the Dayton Conservation Commission Feb. 19 they have resolved many technical comments but need to provide additional mitigation details for work inside the local 25‑foot no‑touch buffer and for broader buffer‑zone clearing.
“Is that my observation? That is correct,” the applicant’s representative said when the chair described outstanding items associated with comments from Weston & Sampson. Commissioners repeatedly focused on two items labelled in their materials as numbers 12 (work in the 25‑foot no‑touch buffer associated with a single wetland crossing) and 14 (cleanup and mitigation tied to broader clearing and invasive species management). The chair said the commission would like to see a separate mitigation plan for the buffer work and an explicit planting plan provided at this stage rather than only as a later condition.
The commission emphasized specifics: what species or seed mix will be used for replication, whether invasive removal will be manual or chemical, whether an environmental monitor will oversee invasive removal, and how mitigation for the broader ~8‑acre buffer clearing will be coordinated so it is not “piecemeal.” The applicant said planting plans for the wetland replication area exist and that they would provide the requested materials promptly.
Commissioners discussed permitting options. One commissioner said a planting plan should be on the plan rather than only a condition, and the commission asked the applicant to submit the mitigation and invasive‑species details ahead of the next hearing so the commission could consider closing and issuing an Order of Conditions at its March 19 meeting. The commission voted to continue the Bell Farm Estates hearing to March 19 to allow review of the requested information.
What’s next: The applicant agreed to provide a planting/mitigation plan that addresses both the 25‑foot crossing work and broader cleanup/invasive removal. The commission will review the materials prior to the March 19 meeting and expects to decide whether to close and issue conditions at that hearing.
