Conservation Commission closes Birches Road hearing, flags wetland clearing on Cruz Road

HUBBARDSTON -- September 25, 2025, Hubbardston Conservation Commission unanimously approved a long-pending single-family home permit on Birches Road and flagged possible illegal wetland clearing on Cruz Road. Commission Chair Brian LaRochelle led the September 25 meeting, where members voted twice, once to close a public hearing and once to issue a standard order of conditions, for a Notice of Intent at 43 Birches Road, Lot A, ending a months-long wait for supplemental land-survey work required by the state Department of Environmental Protection. A companion Notice of Intent for an adjacent lot was continued for two meetings, to approximately November 4, giving the owner time to decide whether to proceed or refile. Late in the session, a member raised concerns about recent clearing near wetlands at 20 Cruz Road, reportedly documented on social media and attributed to a contractor called Tree Masters; the commission agreed to send an inquiry letter to property owner Jared Hattica, noting that work within 100 feet of wetlands or within a riverfront area requires permitting and erosion controls.