Conservation Commission approves tree removal at Ash Street property.
Conservation Commission · Meeting of August 17, 2026
WEST NEWBURY — Conservation Commission approves tree removal and beaver control permits. Chair Molly Hawkins and Vice Chair David Parrott led the Conservation Commission to unanimous votes on four matters during the August 17 meeting, including issuance of a negative determination for removal of a dead evergreen at 58 Ash Street, conditioned on protection of roots and exclusion of heavy equipment from the wetland buffer zone; and two emergency certificates for beaver dam breaching and trapping at 89 Batchellor Street and Rogers Street Bridge, issued at the request of the Health Agent to address rising water levels threatening infrastructure. Conservation Agent Dan Callahan reported that the practice involves shooting trapped beavers rather than drowning them, a method the Commission acknowledged is not ideal.
Two pending public hearings, including a Notice of Intent for a driveway at 0 Middle Street, were continued to September 14.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 473 words
Source: the Conservation Commission meeting of August 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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