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.