Commission flags unpermitted clearing, storage practices at Stephens Landscape site

During the July 10 site visit, the commission recorded that required DES permits had not been obtained for a road, site alteration and operational activities on the southern portion of the Stephens Landscape property. The minutes describe a sizeable cleared area—approximately 500 feet long and between 80 and 180 feet wide—proposed for open storage of mulch, loam and other landscape materials directly on a gravel surface.

Commissioners said they were concerned that rainwater percolating through material stored directly on gravel could cause chemical leachates to reach adjacent wetlands. The applicant argued that runoff from the storage area would be captured and treated in the on‑site SWMB #4 bioretention/ISR system and that covered, lined storage was impractical. Commissioners asked for more detailed analysis from the applicant’s engineer and recommended a town‑funded third‑party engineering review to verify that the proposed controls would adequately protect wetland water quality.