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Commissioners continue Nelson Street wetland hearing after residents raise flooding and tree-removal concerns
Summary
The Conservation Commission continued a Notice of Intent hearing for 0 Nelson Street after commissioners and neighbors pressed the applicant for detailed plans showing grade changes, a permanent work limit, fill composition, and a mitigation planting plan; a site visit was scheduled for April 8, 2026.
The East Longmeadow Conservation Commission on March 11 continued a public hearing for a Notice of Intent (NOI-2026-01) for 0 Nelson Street, where an applicant proposes a single-family house within about 25 feet of a resource area, citing concerns about a proposed 8.6-foot retaining wall, slope changes and dense Japanese knotweed on the parcel.
Mike Pietras, representing the applicant, described the proposal and technical details such as new topography lines, an approximately 7-foot drop from the proposed back of the house to the retaining wall, an approximately 94-foot wall that will be seated about 1 foot deep and be filled on the house side up to 7 feet so roughly 1 foot remains exposed, and soils characterized as sandy loam with areas of sugar sand. Pietras also said no drainage baffles were proposed because surface water was expected to be slow-moving.
Commission Chair Elizabeth Stoughton and members including Vice Chair Jason Gumpert, Clerk Thomas O’Brien and Commissioner Megan Logan questioned the plans’ lack of labeled grade changes and asked for more precise foundation and footing information. Clerk O’Brien specifically asked how deep the wall footings would be while Logan pressed for the wall’s length and for clarity on knotweed density. The Commission requested that plans show "existing to proposed" grade information rather than unlabeled contour lines.
Several neighbors told the Commission they feared the work could increase flooding and stressed that tree removals on the lot involved mature trees, not small volunteers. Resident Alina Sanchez and Jodi Piemonte said grade changes and tree removals raised flooding concerns; Mike Choquette, identified as living at 56 Nelson Street, also expressed concern about knotweed and impacts to his property. Mark StFiere opposed herbicidal eradication of knotweed for personal reasons, saying he forages the plant.
The Commission compiled a list of required submittals for the applicant before the hearing resumes: a legend on plans; an existing-to-proposed topography plan with narrative; detailed foundation and footing information; the source and composition of fill; a clear permanent limit of work (the wall may serve); identification of who removed trees and when; a mitigation planting plan using native species; documentation of the herbicide proposed for knotweed treatment and the specific target areas; and a survey showing currently present native species.
A site visit to the property was scheduled for April 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Clerk Thomas O’Brien moved to continue the hearing to that date; Commissioner Anthony Zampiceni seconded and the motion carried unanimously, 5-0.
The hearing remains open; the Commission directed the applicant to submit the requested materials before the continued hearing so commissioners can review the proposed grades, mitigation and treatment plan.
