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Easton commission revokes subdivision permit and orders remediation after stumping and erosion concerns at Rock House Road
Summary
After site walks and conflicting reports about tree removal within wetlands buffers, the Easton Conservation Commission revoked Permit #24‑686 for a two‑lot division at 125 Rock House Road, required a new remediation plan by a qualified soil scientist and said a cash bond will be required to guarantee implementation.
The Easton Conservation Commission voted unanimously April 28 to revoke Permit #24‑686, which had authorized a lot line division and two building lots at 125 Rock House Road, after finding that recent stumping and associated woodchip deposits and machinery placement raised concerns about work within the 100‑foot regulated area.
Engineer Paul Bombero, representing the property owners Fransica Hodges and Stephon Wynter, said the silt fencing had been installed at the limit of disturbance according to their plans, but the commission’s second site walk showed otherwise. Soil scientist James McManus submitted a letter asserting that no trees had been cut in wetlands, while WEO Jeff Borofsky reported evidence that trees had been removed in regulated areas.
Following discussion about remediation — including reinstalling silt fencing at the 100‑foot line (a double line of protection), removing wood chips that surround remaining trees, relocating equipment, and obtaining a report from the logging company on numbers and sizes of trees removed — Commissioner Dave Logie moved to revoke the permit under the commission’s inland/wetlands regulations. Cathy Alfandre seconded; the motion passed by unanimous voice vote.
Commission directives: the commission told the property owners to hire a qualified soil scientist or landscape architect (examples cited in the file include Alexandra Moch and James McManus), submit a new planting and remediation plan, provide documentation from the logging company, and post a cash bond sufficient to ensure plan preparation and implementation. The Cease & Desist order remains in effect until the remediation plan is approved and carried out.
Why it matters: Revocation of a permit is an unusual enforcement step that signals the commission found the approved safeguards were not followed in the field. The action preserves the commission’s ability to require a remediation plan and financial assurance to protect wetlands buffers and neighboring properties.
Next steps: Staff will request the remediation plan and logging report; WEO confirmation of completed remediation will be required before lifting the violation.
