Conservation Commission — October 26, 2026

The Fairhaven Conservation Commission met on October 26, 2026, to review project applications, continuances, extensions, and enforcement matters. The commission approved continuances to November 16, 2026, for properties at 184 Balsam Street, 162 Main Street, and 10 Oxford Street. Meeting minutes from August 31 and September 21 were approved, and a 12-month extension was granted for a 2-megawatt solar project at 46 Charity Stevens Lane following utility interconnection delays by Eversource. A Certificate of Compliance was also issued for 16 Reservation Road.

Under public hearings, the commission issued a negative Determination of Applicability for a vinyl fence replacement at 4 Ruth Street and approved an amended motion with an order of conditions for 48th and 54th Street to correct previous meeting verbiage. For 1 Calumet Road, representative Dave DeVignan detailed a shoreline erosion mitigation plan utilizing boulders and crushed shell, which was approved with conditions. Following a brief recess, Cameron Larson presented revised plans for a single-family home at 0 Huddleston Avenue that pulled the structure back outside the 100-foot buffer of a potential vernal pool and the 50-foot wetland buffer; the project was approved with conditions.

During the enforcement and general business portions, the commission discussed site cleanup and wellhead protection concerns at Mill Road and voted unanimously to impose a $300 fine for unpermitted vegetation clearing at 364 Huddleston Avenue. Conservation Agent Danielle introduced an initiative to pursue municipal charges liens under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 58, for collecting unpaid conservation violation fines via property tax bills. The commission voted unanimously to conduct further research on the lien proposal before advancing it toward a future Town Meeting warrant.

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