Contractor seeks waiver to remove dead trees on 60-acre parcel; board asks for maps

Rob Schrupple of SES Contracting presented a waiver request on behalf of a property owner seeking to remove dead trees and treat invasive understory across roughly 60 acres, a small portion of which intersects the town's ridgeline overlay. "Basically, I'm Rob Schrupple from SES contracting. We do forestry and invasive vegetation management," he told the board, describing a plan to remove dead trees, mulch invasives such as Russian and autumn olive, and reseed with native grasses.

Board members pressed for specificity about where work would occur on the ridgeline and asked the applicant to provide GPS-marked mapping and a simple paper plan indicating the small 'red' ridgeline area so the board can determine whether a commercial logging permit or different approvals are required. The applicant agreed to mark trees and provide a thumbnail sketch and offered to avoid the 1.5-acre ridgeline portion if necessary; the board will request that field-level marking and documentation before making a formal decision on any permit or waiver.