Dover Conservation Commission Approves Amelia Farm Tree Removal, Issues Multiple Orders

DOVER — October 23, 2024 — Dover's Conservation Commission approved a minor modification at Amelia Farm and unanimously issued an order of conditions for 7 Buttercup Lane at its October 23 meeting. The commission voted unanimously to approve removal of seven hazardous white pines, one birch, and six ash trees at the 143 Denim Street riding facility, conditioned on leaving stumps in place for wildlife habitat. Separately, the board closed the hearing and approved an order of conditions for 7 Buttercup Lane with eight special conditions and two regulatory waivers under the town's grandfather policy, and issued a certificate of compliance for a project at 19 Old Colony Road. The evening's longest discussion centered on the 12 Miller Hill restoration, where contractor Crawford reported that all trees and shrubs would be in the ground by October 24 and that a newly zone-fracked well was producing an estimated 12 to 13 gallons per minute — above the minimum 10 required to sustain the irrigation system. An informational presentation from Weston and Samson engineer Jesse O'Donnell on a proposed 9,900-gallon above-ground fuel tank at the town DPW garage drew questions from commissioners about catastrophic spill scenarios and groundwater protection district permitting requirements.