Pepperell Conservation Commission Continues Sheffield Street Hearing, Seeks Stronger Tree Plan

PEPPERELL — January 19, 2021 — Pepperell Conservation Commission continues Sheffield Street hearing, debates invasive species oversight. The commission voted to continue a public hearing on a notice of intent filed by Kenneth Tully to pave a driveway, clear trees, and construct a new dwelling at 20 Sheffield Street, a 2.78-acre lot encumbered by the Squannassit Area of Critical Environmental Concern, wood turtle priority habitat, outstanding resource water, and the 200-foot riverfront area. Consultant Maureen Harold of North Environmental committed to submit a revised plan by January 25 — tightening the tree clearing footprint east of the existing house, specifying on-site native species including oaks, hemlocks, and mountain laurel for replanting within the riverfront area, and adding a written bank stabilization plan — after commission members said six proposed shrubs were inadequate to mitigate the scale of grading. No work may begin before a wood turtle protection plan prepared by Dan Wells of Goddard Consulting receives Natural Heritage sign-off. Separately, the commission reached consensus that a new town-wide committee — not the Conservation Commission — should own a master plan recommendation to establish an invasive species detection and response plan and public education effort, with member Pat Rice arguing the commission's statutory roles in wetland regulation and conservation land management do not extend to invasive species on private or non-wetland property.