Hatfield Planning Board Sets September Hearing for Wood Processing Permit Dispute

HATFIELD -- August 4, 2022, Hatfield Planning Board puts Lashko Tree Service on notice before September permit hearing. The board held an informal discussion Thursday with attorney Peter Lane of Fierst, Bloomberg, Ohman, representing Jeremy Cotton and Lashko Tree Service, over a proposed amendment to a 2016 special permit for wood processing at 12 Elm Street; a formal hearing is set for September 7. Chair Stephanie Slysz and Alternate Chair James C. Tarr told Lane the board had approved the original permit based on projections of 50 hours of machine use and 100 cords of wood per year, and that Cotton had already run an unpermitted sawmill on the property. "You didn't have a permit to run a sawmill there, you never had a permit to run a sawmill there," Slysz said. The board also heard that a longtime member will resign effective September 8 after roughly 12 years of service, with the Select Board responsible for filling the vacancy.