Conservation Commission Lifts Tree-Removal Order, Continues Water Main Wetlands Hearing

COHASSET — September 23, 2025 — Cohasset Conservation Commission continues contested water main wetlands hearing, lifts tree-removal enforcement order. The commission voted 5-0 at its September 23 meeting to lift an enforcement order for unauthorized tree removal at 337 South Main Street, conditioning the lift on a three-year monitoring period with agent inspections — consistent with the panel's standard practice for similar violations. Commissioners also voted twice, 5-0, to issue certificates of compliance for two long-expired utility permits at 132 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, retaining an ongoing prohibition on herbicide use within the 100-foot buffer zone. The centerpiece of the evening was Notice of Intent 25-13 for 94 Black Horse Lane, where engineer Brendan Sullivan of Marland Engineers reported that alternative easement routes to Westgate Lane were not viable, leaving a crossing of approximately 2,360 square feet of bordering vegetated and isolated wetland as the only path to completing a pressure loop from Cedar Lane — a project the Water Department says will improve water quality, reliability, and fire suppression. Conservation Agent Charlotte Pechtel urged the commission to require wetland-scientist oversight and warned that a seed-mix-only restoration plan risked invasive colonization; commissioners directed the applicant to plan for native shrub species such as highbush blueberry over the trench and scheduled a group site visit before the hearing continues October 23.