Commission issues certificate of compliance for 50 Lehigh Road after replacement plantings

The Needham Conservation Commission on July 24 voted to issue a certificate of compliance for work at 50 Lehigh Road after staff and the project consultant confirmed replacement plantings and monitoring reports.

Diane (Field Resources), representing the homeowner, said the household at 50 Lehigh (Michelle Nelson and family) had completed monitoring and replacement planting following the commission’s November 2024 direction. Diane reported that four snags that had been intended to remain were cut down during construction, that an infiltration system had some overflow directed toward the 50‑foot buffer and that several previously planted specimens had failed and were replaced. She told the commission the homeowner installed eight arborvitae and three birch trees as part of the corrective plantings and submitted monitoring reports with the certificate of compliance application.

Deb (conservation staff) said she visited the site, confirmed the plantings and wrote that the work included 13 native trees and more than 100 native shrubs overall. Deb said the removal of the snags was “unfortunate” but that the additional plantings satisfied the commission’s guidance and recommended issuing the certificate.

Commissioners discussed whether to require an extended monitoring period because the snags had been removed. Several commissioners accepted staff’s recommendation that the denser plantings adequately compensated for the removed snags; staff asked the homeowner to maintain watering during the dry season.

The commission voted by roll call to issue the certificate of compliance; recorded votes were all in favor (Sue — aye; Bill — aye; Reid — aye; Paulina — aye; Helena — aye; Chair Dave Harrer — aye). The DEP file number provided in the application was O864 (preceded by local file prefix 234 in the submission). No enforcement penalties were imposed.