Town of Plymouth drops plan to expand parking in Town Forest
In mid-2023, amid rising concern about the threats to the South Ponds complex from misuse of the Town Forest, the Town of Plymouth dropped its plans to expand parking. A lawsuit filed by Save the Pine Barrens in 2022 challenged Plymouth Conservation Commission’s Order of Conditions under the Town’s Wetlands Bylaw to increase parking within 35-feet of Little South Pond. The Town dropped the plan and the lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed.
Read more about the South Pond Preserve coalition’s efforts to build a public-private partnership with the Town of Plymouth and others for stewardship of the Preserve area.
The Commission issued the permit despite lack of any documentation to show that the parking itself and the resulting public use of the pond and shoreline will not destroy the ten or more species listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) and the Northern Cooter protected under federal law.
https://communitylandandwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FINAL-CLWC-LOGO-no-background-297x300.png00CLwpBShttps://communitylandandwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FINAL-CLWC-LOGO-no-background-297x300.pngCLwpBS2022-08-15 17:56:182025-12-29 16:58:49Plymouth: South Ponds Preserve: Legal challenge dropped when Town withdraws parking plan
Our Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens, Coastal Plain Ponds and globally rare ecosystems and the plants and animals that depend on them?
Do you want to know more about the laws that protect our wetlands, waterways and biodiversity and what you can do?
Check out the recording and materials from the presentation by Nathaniel Stevens, Esq., Partner, McGregor Legere & Stevens PC, Boston, attorney specializing in wetlands and environmental law
https://communitylandandwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FINAL-CLWC-LOGO-no-background-297x300.png00CLwpBShttps://communitylandandwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FINAL-CLWC-LOGO-no-background-297x300.pngCLwpBS2022-07-27 20:44:222023-03-14 18:34:16Forum on Wetlands Laws in Plymouth, Aug. 2022
This page documents the failure of the Conservation Commission to do its job. It repeatedly violates the Open Meeting Law and issues waivers and exemptions with no legitimate grounds.
West Pond violations
Extensive violations reported and documented at 403 Federal Furnace Road in 2019. This includes destroying pond shore of a Priority Habitat pond with rare and endangered species. The Commission has refused to require the landowner to complete the “restoration” required by law. New violations occurred in March 2022 and were reported. When the Commission did nothing in 2019, a resident was forced to appeal to the state. Neither the state nor DEP have done anything to remedy the violations as of October 2023.
Herring Pond violations
Multiple violations reported by residents and Herring Pond Watershed Association. Violations reported in public meetings of the Conservation Commission. As of October 2023, the Commission has taken no action.
Boot Pond violations
Violations reported in 2022: clearing endangered species habitat, forests, vegetation on pond shore. Action to date: nothing reported
South Ponds Preserve – Town Forest violations
The Town is not doing its job to protect the Forest. The state is responsible too: find out more on this page. Violations are documented below
2022
August 17, 2022: violations continued the past two weeks. On 8/17/22 at about 7 p.m. fishing boat with gas engines go on the pond. The CR allows electric engines only. Harbormaster called. No signs say “no gas motors.”
August 4, 9:59 p.m. Illegal fire near aqueduct. Reported to Plymouth Fire Dept. and extinguished.
July 27, 2022-Wednesday. Erosion from Drew Road to Little South Pond in the Town Forest. This has been ongoing since 2020 when illegal parking on Drew Road eroded the road banking. Violation of Wetlands Protection Act, Conservation Restriction.
July 27, 2022 Drew Road Town Forest. Illegal trail resulting in runoff into Little South Pond.
July 23, 2022-Sunday
Report of ATV’s accessing Little South Pond/Drew Road beach via the Town DPW water supply well site on Rocky Pond Road. ATV tracks observed on Little South Pond beach.
Police called, “too busy” to address report of about 20 people swimming in Little South Pond and using blow up flotation devices; cars illegally parked along Drew Road.
More to come…
2020
August 2020: Plymouth Board of Selectmen agree that CR prohibits swimming, make this announcement. What happened?
