Burlington Conservation Commission orders patio applicant to refile under stricter permit process

BURLINGTON -- June 25, 2026, Burlington Conservation Commission sends 12 Sarah Street patio project back to square one, citing unpermitted construction and an unverified drainage pipe. The commission voted 6-0 on June 25 to issue a positive determination of applicability under Burlington Bylaw Article 14 for applicant Flavio Pinto's patio expansion and concrete seating area, effectively requiring him to refile under a full Notice of Intent with professional documentation showing an existing stormwater overflow pipe was not damaged during excavation. Commissioner Larry Cohen argued the lighter-weight Request for Determination process was inappropriate because Pinto had been notified in writing in April 2025 that a Notice of Intent was required and built anyway. "If they don't comply you don't have any recourse from an enforcement point of view," Cohen said. A pool installation at 5 Marion Road by John and Linda Dooley received a 6-0 negative determination and may proceed with standard erosion-control conditions. Assistant Conservation Administrator Lucy Hanson also presented research recommending bond amounts for new single-family home projects be raised from roughly $3,500 to $10,000, citing inflation and the $3,000 to $4,000 current cost of as-built surveys; the commission directed her to draft a formal policy document, with a possible vote at a future meeting.