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ATTLEBORO - Regional furniture giant Cardi's could face substantial fines for clear-cutting more than a half-acre of wetlands behind its South Attleboro store, and acknowledges just fixing the mistake probably will cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The company admits that it erred, and is working with the city's conservation commission.

No fines have been issued yet, but the store at 999 Newport Avenue has been ordered to repair the damaged area, which totals about 28,000 square feet, Conservation Agent Lee Fuller said.

The conservation commission plans to inspect the site next week and could impose fines, he said.

"At this point, we want to assess what has gone on before we issue a fine," Fuller said. "And we're also holding off to see if DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) wants to get involved." City ordinances call for fines of up to $300 per 100 square feet of wetlands vegetation destroyed.

Cardi's principal Ron Cardi said Tuesday he had the trees and brush removed on the assumption the property was not wetlands because it appeared dry.

The type of vegetation growing in an area determines if it is wetlands.

Cardi acknowledged the error.

"It was a bone-headed mistake," he said.

Cardi said he was trying to improve the visibility of the store for customers coming off nearby Interstate 95.

Attorney Ed Casey represents Cardi's, and characterized the cutting as an "honest mistake."

The company wouldn't put its reputation at risk by purposely ignoring the law, he said.

"They don't need bad publicity," Casey said.

While no fines have been issued, Casey said the mistake will cost Cardi's a lot of money, no matter what happens. He estimated the company will spend "tens of thousands of dollars" to repair the damage. A remediation plan is expected to be submitted on June 6. The company's first remediation plan was rejected by the commission.

Casey said the company should not be assessed a fine because it's working to correct the mistake.

"I think a fine is appropriate in a situation where someone is ignoring the commission, but that's not the case here," he said.

Cardi's, which opened its 150,000-square-foot Newport Avenue showroom in 2004, is on a 10-acre parcel that borders Sweedens Swamp.

The company won neighborhood goodwill in 2001 when it agreed to pay $1.5 million for long-sought traffic improvements in the area, including a traffic signal at Newport Avenue and Park Circle, long considered one of the most dangerous intersections in the city.

The state had refused to install the signal for years, saying traffic wasn't heavy enough to justify it.

In 2001, Cardi's received a tax break from the city worth about $1.6 million over 20 years as part of a tax increment financing agreement. The company was expected to pay almost $11 million in taxes over the same period.

Cardi's also has stores in Swansea, Fall River, South Kingston, R.I., and West Warwick, R.I.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.