Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident asks to mow 46‑acre property; commission says submit a management plan and limits apply in wetlands
Summary
Resident Steve Pacheco asked whether he could mow 46 acres (most of which are wetlands) at 802 William Street to reduce ticks and restore farm use. Staff advised that mowing in wetlands is restricted, recommended a management plan and noted narrow paths (3–4 ft) may be exempt; USDA/state ag resources were suggested.
At the meeting resident Steve Pacheco, who said he owns 802 William Street, described a 46-acre parcel that he said is mostly wetlands and asked whether he could have a professional mow the property to reduce ticks and return it to productive use.
Staff explained that most of the land beyond the backyard drops into wetlands and that activity there is governed by wetlands protection regulations. She said narrow footpaths (roughly 3–4 feet) are a regulatory exemption for limited access, but broader mowing or plowing in hydrologically connected wetlands would trigger more extensive regulatory review and permitting. The commission advised Mr. Pacheco to develop a written management plan showing where he proposes to mow, to consult the USDA and state agricultural resources, and to return to the commission with marked aerials or a simple sketch indicating proposed path locations.
"Your order specifies no insects, no pesticides, no fertilizers," staff reminded Mr. Pacheco regarding existing restrictions on the site; commissioners suggested limited mowing (one or two times a year), working with an agricultural agent, and submitting a management plan so the commission can evaluate any proposed work without risking wetland damage.
The commission asked Mr. Pacheco to prepare a simple, sketched plan and return at the next meeting with aerials or clear markings of proposed mowing so staff and commissioners can provide specific direction.
