Halifax Conservation Commission issues positive ruling on 399 Elm Street tree removal request

HALIFAX — May 26, 2026 — Halifax Conservation Commission orders 399 Elm Street homeowner to file a Notice of Intent before removing 22 towering pines. The commission, chaired by John Gio and attended by members Kathy Evans and Paul DeSette alongside Conservation Agent Dan Levesque, closed a Request for Determination of Applicability hearing Tuesday with a unanimous positive determination, finding the project falls within its jurisdiction due to proximity to a Bordering Vegetated Wetland buffer zone. Homeowner Tom Galati, working with arborist Dennis De Bonham of Yankee Tree Service, proposes to fully remove 22 eastern white pines — all over 100 feet tall and within fall range of his house roughly 30 feet away — and top an additional group of smaller trees by approximately 10 feet. The commission directed Galati to mark removal trees with paint and trim candidates with tape before a site visit ahead of the June 9 meeting, when an NOI approval could follow. The board also continued both Amanda's Way hearings — a grading RDA for Building 3 and a construction NOI for Building 6 (DEP# SE-171-0603) — to June 9, and noted a recently adopted fee-schedule update, raising most permit fees by roughly $25, is now pending Select Board review.