Lunenburg Conservation Commission Continues Two New Wetland Hearings, Approves Dead Tree Removal

LUNENBURG -- March 18, 2026, Lunenburg Conservation Commission continued four hearings and ratified one agent's determination at its March 18 meeting, with shoreline development on Lake Shirley dominating the agenda. The commission voted 4-0 to continue a new Notice of Intent from the Hickory Hills Landowners Association for an ADA-accessible parking space, ramp, and floating dock at 19 Island Road, pending stormwater calculations required by DEP; member Richard Bursch suggested the association swap the proposed recycled-asphalt regrind surface for new asphalt, and Hickory Hills Board Chair John Fortune agreed, saying "we just want to do it right." A second new hearing, for demolition and replacement of a dwelling at 922 Flat Hill Road by Mike Patasky, was continued to April 15 after Conservation Agent Harlan confirmed DEP had no record of the application and a site walk revealed an estimated seven or eight trees removed from the 200-foot riverfront without a permit. A Notice of Intent for a porch addition and patio replacement at 189 Hemlock Drive was continued to April 1 pending a site walk, after the commission declined to support a proposed retaining wall inside the 30-foot no-touch zone and requested the applicant remove an existing makeshift carport and propose compensatory plantings. The commission also ratified the agent's determination to allow removal of four dead trees along a lake access path at 100 Hemlock Road, with a condition that understory plantings be added where conditions permit.