Dover Conservation Commission Votes to Pursue 11.5-Acre Land Gift, Pending Inspection

DOVER -- January 24, 2024, Dover's Conservation Commission voted unanimously to pursue an 11.5-acre land gift and advanced a major forest restoration plan at its January 24 meeting. The commission approved a conditional vote to accept parcels totaling roughly 11.5 acres on Cedar Hill and Francis Street from donor Jonathan Frier, pending inspection of a small makeshift dam on the property and review of any environmental liabilities, with a separate Board of Selectmen vote required under the town's gift-and-grant policy. The bulk of the evening focused on an 87-page ecological restoration plan for 1214 Miller Hill, where 271 trees were illegally cleared across 2.5 acres; wetland scientist Steve proposed replanting 550 trees at a roughly two-to-one ratio, but Commission member Jim flagged that the plan falls approximately 2,000 DBH inches short of the commission's own 1.5-to-1 replacement standard, leaving a significant regulatory gap to be resolved. Independent reviewers Paul McManus and Chris both expressed general support for the plan while recommending that invasive-species control be conducted in summer and planting deferred to fall for better survivability. The commission also voted to submit a warrant article formally transferring several town-owned and tax-taken parcels to conservation status, an effort the chair noted has been attempted since 2003.