By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – The Board of Selectmen discussed an ongoing issue in the town at its Aug. 25 meeting – citizens’ concerns regarding clear-cutting of trees.
The issue was discussed earlier this year at the May 15 Annual Town Meeting. What to some is simply a clearing of trees for economic, aesthetic, or safety concerns, is, to others, a despoiling of the land and a decrease in property values. Massachusetts has no state laws regulating tree cutting on private property, although the state is the eighth-most forested in the United States. Clear-cutting on state land is similarly a patchwork of case-by-case decisions. In each town in Massachusetts, the local government has been left to create its own laws and regulations.
The proposal presented at Town Meeting would have limited clear-cutting on private land to 20,000 square feet without a permit per year. Violation of the rule would be subject to a fine, unspecified at that time. Several selectmen wondered if a 20,000 square foot limit was reasonable, but also why not 40,000 square feet?
The proposal was again updated at the selectmen’s Aug. 25 meeting. The revised bylaw proposal kicks-in when more than 20,000 square feet of woodlands (includes brush) will be cleared within any 12 month period.
Limited site clearing exceptions would be permitted for any project approved by the Planning Board or under a Special Permit plan. This includes site access and exploratory test pits or borings as accepted by engineering practices. Another exception would be implementation of an approved Forest Cutting Plan as approved by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. All other site clearing would be prohibited.
Enforcement by the town would include any remedy prescribed by the bylaw to ensure compliance or to remedy a violation, and/or when immediate danger is present as ruled by the building inspector. The building inspector may post a Stop Work order directing that all clearing not authorized cease immediately. This bylaw would also be enforceable pursuant to MGL c40a s. 7.
In other business, Town Manager Daniel Morgado notified the board that the state inspector general had ruled that a town’s manager be a certified purchasing agent, which Morgado already is. And Selectman Maurice DePalo volunteered to be the town’s member of the Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization.