HomeMy WebLinkAboutSwenson Politics_23 Pleasant Hill NOIFrom: Swenson Poli cs <poli cs4swenson@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 5, 2026 1:21 PM
To: Cavanaugh, Kimberly
Cc: Schwaab Eric; Ells, Mark; leahcur s@comcast.net
Subject: 23 Pleasant Hill NOI
Ms Cavanaugh
Please forward this email to the entire Conservation Board and have it become part of
the permanent record relating to the 23 Pleasant Hill NOI.
(Town Council secretary - please also forward to all Town Council members)
Dear Members of the Barnstable Conservation Commission:
First and foremost the Conservation Commission is supposed to be preserving our
natural habitat, woodlands and wetlands.
Any private homeowner that comes before you must prove minimum disruption to
their property when executing a request to build on their property. Large scale
construction projects should be no different, and actually should be more strict as
these large scale projects include large areas of paved parking lots that would not be
allowed on a homeowner ’s project.
This project will include a massive paved non-impervious parking lot adjacent to a
wetland. Please explain where this would be allowed by a homeowner?
Working near a wetland we were told a paved driveway would not be allowed and had
to do a Geo Grid Plastic Honeycomb Permeable driveway with
minimal tree removal along the edge of driveway. Why is a
large scale construction project required to do any less?
Therefore, a request to save old, existing trees that are beneficial to the site should
not be disregarded.
I respectfully request that the Commission require the preservation and protection of
the existing mature trees on this property. These trees contribute directly to protected
resource area functions, including stormwater control, groundwater protection,
erosion prevention, and overall water quality.
Once removed, mature trees cannot be meaningfully replaced. I urge the Commission
to condition any approval to preserve these trees to the maximum extent feasible in
accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Barnstable
Wetlands Protection Bylaw.
Thank you for your careful consideration.
And I will voice my dissatisfaction in the Conservation Commission’s continued
practice of conducting their meetings remotely. Other Town departments long ago
resumed in-person hearings. There is absolutely no reason for shutting the public out
of in-person hearings. Get back into the conference room!
Sincerely,
Heather D Swenson
Centerville