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Conservation Panel Seeks To Tighten Rules On Forest Practices

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The Conservation Commission is proposing changes to its forest practices

regulations to better regulate the cutting of trees, according to C. Stephen

Driver, town conservation official.

The proposed rule changes are intended to prevent unwise tree cutting and to

better manage the taking of timber, Mr Driver said Monday. The revisions

aren't intended to prevent tree cutting, but are designed to better control

it, he said. "Forestry is an important process in the town," he said.

The Conservation Commission defines "forested land" as land with a cover of

trees and shrubs.

The commission's forest practices regulations are designed to limit soil

erosion and prevent sedimentation problems in bodies of water.

Current regulations allow the "owner" of land to clear up to three-quarters of

an acre of trees to create a home site without obtaining a permit.

Under the proposed changes, a "homeowner" would be able to cut up to

three-quarters of an acre of trees in preparation for home building, provided

that the homeowner obtains a building permit for the planned house before the

tree cutting begins.

Current regulations allow tree clearing in preparation for constructing

subdivision roads and installing public utilities.

Under the proposed changes, the extent of tree cutting for new subdivision

roads would be limited to the road's right of way and areas where earthen cuts

and fills are depicted on the road design as approved by the Planning and

Zoning Commission (P&Z).

Such a rule change would more tightly control the number of trees removed in

preparation for subdivision construction, Mr Driver said.

In some cases, subdividers take down many more trees than are actually needed

for subdivision construction, Mr Driver said. Such massive tree clearing makes

it easier to build houses and also generates revenue for the subdivider

through timber sales.

The proposed new forest rules would specifically allow the maintenance of open

space and town trails through selective tree cutting in those areas. The

affected open space areas and trails would be those depicted on the town's

open space maps and trail maps, Mr Driver said.

Also, the proposed changes would extend the Conservation Commission's review

period on forest practices applications determined to have a significant

impact or major effect on forested land.

The proposed revisions also would increase application fees for simple

applications from $5 to $50 and fees for complex applications from $50 to

$250.

Rules Affect

Walnut Tree Village

The proposed forest practices rule changes, in effect, would require Walnut

Tree Developers to obtain a permit to expand the Walnut Tree Village

condominium complex on Walnut Tree Hill Road, Mr Driver said.

The developers are seeking town permission to expand the complex from 80 units

to 226 units. On August 26 the Conservation Commission turned down a wetlands

construction application for the project from the developers. The developers

are expected to return to the commission with a revised application which

addresses the commission's concerns.

The town is among 20 towns in the state which have municipal regulations on

forest practices.

The commission had hoped to have revised state regulations on forestry

available by now, but they haven't been submitted by the state, Mr Driver

said. It is important to get the town forestry regulations in place soon, he

said.

The revised regulations would keep in place a provision that allows the town

to fine violators up to $100 per tree cut, if a permit hasn't been obtained.

The Conservation Commission has scheduled a September 23 public hearing on the

proposed rule changes.