Ecorazzi

Just over three years ago, environmental activist Laurie David had neighbors on Martha’s Vineyard seeing red after she was cited for endangering protected wetlands. The Vineyard’s Chilmark Conservation Commission reprimanded the Davids for building a “26-foot-long barbecue station, stone-and-concrete bonfire pit, and outdoor theater on an environmentally sensitive patch of their 14-acre North Road property without the proper permits.” The Davids laid blame for the violations on their former property manager — and were eventually forced to return the area to its natural state.

Now — according to neighbor Jacqueline Mendez-Diez — Laurie David’s property has once more been found in violation of the Wetlands Protection Act. From her email:

“I’ve just returned from a Chilmark Conservation Commission meeting here on Martha’s Vineyard. Laurie David has again broken the law and seriously violated the Wetlands Protection Act on her Chilmark property. This is the second time in two years, in exactly the same area, that Laurie David has had wetlands violations in this spot on her land. There wasn’t even a Notice of Intent filed here. The Commission has issued an enforcement order with an immediate cease and desist for further work on the property, a demand for a snow fence to be put around the damaged area, removal of all heavy construction equipment, and a daily fine until the property is put back in the condition it was before this latest damage.”

If this is true, it’s interesting that David would once more consider construction in an area that got her into trouble in the first place. Obviously, much like the previous infraction, we believe it’s probably a matter of permits not properly being filed. David is a strong conservationist and this latest rift likely has less to do with her and more with the people running her construction management.

Still, it doesn’t make it any less embarrassing. Again.