Sherman commission continues enforcement for unpermitted work at Brookside Lane and Wagon Wheel Road

The Sherman Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission on July 21, 2026 continued enforcement actions for several properties where work occurred in regulated areas without required permits.

Kelli Lynn Cook, respondent in Violation #01-26 for excavation and construction of a parking area at 15 Wagon Wheel Road, attended the meeting and was directed to file a formal application with a survey and site plan. Clerk Trish Viola told commissioners she had received no new emails or documents from Ms. Cook prior to the meeting; commissioners agreed to continue the matter to the August meeting pending submission of the requested materials.

Commissioners also agreed that unpermitted work at 3 Brookside Lane warranted a violation. Applicant Jesse Yaeger acknowledged the commission's finding and said he has contacted soil scientist James McManus and is arranging for a surveyor to prepare a mitigation plan. The commission read the violation notice into the record and agreed the applicant must submit a mitigation plan; the matter was continued to next month's agenda for further review.

No one appeared for Robert Villodas regarding Violation #03-26 (clear cutting at 3 Island View Drive). Clerk Trish Viola reported the commission had not received a mitigation plan for areas above the 440 line. I/W Agent Tim Simpkins reported a post-rain inspection found the site stable and that work below the 440 line was complete; commissioners continued the violation to the next meeting.

The commission did not vote to impose additional penalties at the July meeting; instead it focused on requiring formal applications, surveys, or mitigation plans so staff and the commission can evaluate the environmental impacts and proposed remediation. All three matters—Violation #01-26 (Cook), Violation #03-26 (Villodas), and Violation #04-26 (Yaeger)—were placed on the agenda for the commission's next regular meeting for follow-up.