Dover Conservation Commission Continues Wetland Compliance Hearing, Recommends New Commissioner

DOVER — May 27, 2026 — Dover Conservation Commission continues a contested wetland hearing and recommends a new commissioner. The commission voted unanimously at its May 27 remote meeting to continue the Notice of Intent hearing for a septic system project at zero Brookline Road — DEP No. 308-0730 — to June 24, after abutters at 201 Brookline Street submitted a seven-point compliance letter raising concerns about unpermitted pond construction, cabin work, clearing, and road-building that DEP technical comments indicate may have occurred between 2019 and 2021 within protected wetland resource areas. Engineer Frank, presenting aerial and LIDAR data spanning 2011 to 2025, said he would submit responses to all seven points by June 5 or 8 to allow DEP review time. The board also voted unanimously to recommend Brian Pinkerton for appointment as a conservation commissioner with a term ending June 30, 2028, and heard a detailed presentation from the Indigenous Landscape Initiative and the Townsend Historic Society on a 1,000-to-1,800-foot invasive-removal and native-planting project along the MBTA rail trail corridor near Harbor Pond — a project partly framed as mitigation for prior unpermitted tree cutting at 72 Main Street. Dover is currently under critical drought conditions.