Bellingham Conservation Commission Continues Five Hearings, Eyes Two Enforcement Actions

BELLINGHAM -- January 22, 2025, Bellingham Conservation Commission continued five open wetland hearings and moved toward enforcement against two properties at its January 22 meeting. Chair Michael Clancy and five colleagues, with member Don Coello and Pamela Francis joining remotely, unanimously continued the largest pending matter, a proposed 156-unit townhouse development off Lake Street and Prospect Street, to February 12, with Clancy flagging concerns about how the applicant has been presenting piecemeal ideas rather than a complete plan. The commission issued a unanimous negative determination allowing a 24 Hampton Court homeowner to remove dead and hazardous trees in the 100-foot buffer zone, with conditions requiring stump retention and lawn-side access only. Member Neil flagged two apparent wetland violations: an unauthorized bark-mulch grading encroachment by the Bellingham Bible Baptist Church into a bordering vegetated wetland, and apparent non-compliance at a mulch pile operation near 16169 Maple Street; Conservation Agent Hannah was directed to issue a notice of violation to the church and schedule both matters for February 12. The Silver Lake Dam maintenance project was continued after DEP issued nine comments the commission had not yet had time to review, with the commission declining to require additional peer review given the project's limited scope.