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Consultant reports plantings, septic plan and invasive‑species concerns at 181 West Main Street
Summary
Goddard Consulting updated the Norton Conservation Commission on remediation work at 181 West Main Street, including recent plantings, a septic plan filed with the Board of Health, and photos indicating possible Japanese/Asian knotweed; the commission requested an invasive‑species management plan and riprap/drainage details on plans.
Mark Arnold of Goddard Consulting told the Norton Conservation Commission that plantings at 181 West Main Street were completed between June 24 and June 30 and that the applicant is watering the new plantings about twice a day. "These photographs are from this actual day of the site," Arnold said, and he showed images documenting stakes placed outside wattles, additional staking, and moist ground where the landscaper had just finished watering.
Arnold said the consultant submitted a septic plan to the Board of Health that retains the existing septic configuration but replaces the tank with a mounted system and pump chamber that will move discharge toward the front of the property. "This mounted system ... means we actually have to basically remove some of the parking," Arnold said, adding the plan would reduce impervious surface and is under review by the Board of Health.
Commission members asked for additional detail. One commissioner asked which species died during the recent heat and Arnold said he would confirm species‑level mortality next week after reviewing photographs. Joe (commission member) flagged vegetation in the photos that looked like Asian knotweed and asked when the applicant would provide an invasive‑species management plan; Arnold acknowledged the likely presence of Japanese knotweed and said he would discuss options with his client and consider including a management plan in the Notice of Intent (NOI) filing rather than only in enforcement paperwork.
The commission and staff also pressed for clearer documentation of drainage and riprap. Arnold said the original engineer focused on the septic design and the landscaper had not completed riprap in a front drainage area; he agreed the riprap location should be added to the plan.
Conservation staff and commissioners clarified that the enforcement matter is informational at this meeting and that the commission expects a forthcoming NOI or other filings to lock in the scope, degraded‑area calculations and any invasive‑species treatment. The commission did not take formal action on the enforcement matter at this meeting.
