FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Pam Goff, Bruce Bartels, Andrew Fischer, Helen Parker, Rusty Walton and Chuck Hodgkinson. Reid Silva and Kristen Fauteux also attended. Richard Steves, Virginia Dyer and Dick Smith were absent.
Ms. Goff opened the meeting as acting Chair at 12:30 PM and appointed Alternate Commissioner Helen Parker as a voting member for the day’s agenda. The site visits for today’s agenda took place on January 20.
KRISTEN FAUTEUX FOR SHERIFF’S MEADOW FOUNDATION; NOI SE 12 – 572; AP 32-38.1: Ms. Goff opened the public hearing at 12:32 PM. Ms. Fauteux summarized the plan to restore and maintain an open meadow. The plan identified the specific areas that will be mowed and the invasive species that will be removed. A portion of the management plan takes place within the 100-foot buffer zone of a coastal pond -- Stonewall Pond -- and within the 100-foot buffer zone of a bordering vegetated wetland. A tractor will be used for the mowing. Ms. Fauteux further asked that if approved, the Order of Conditions and maintenance plan be approved indefinitely.
Ms. Parker mentioned she reviewed the plan with abutter Peggy Freydberg and said Ms. Freydberg has no objections. After brief discussion a motion was made to close the hearing at 12:40 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the plan as presented and in perpetuity with the condition the applicant review any future maintenance plans with the Conservation Officer or Commission before the work begins. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
REID SILVA FOR L. GEOFFREY COWAN; NOI SE 12 – 573; AP 27.1-80: Ms. Goff opened the public hearing at 12:42 PM. Mr. Silva summarized the plans to add a ground-level wooden frame deck to the north side of the house and repair the existing slate patio to the west. The activity is within the 100-foot buffer zone of the Menemsha Pond coastal bank. He added that the natural contour of the top of the bank slopes away from the pond and therefore a temporary siltation barrier is not needed. The Commission agreed.
The Commission reviewed Section 2.53 of the Town’s bylaws. It was agreed the ground-level deck is not considered a structure but is more like a walkway. After significant discussion on the size of the deck and no comment from the audience a motion was made to close the hearing at 1:10 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the plan with the following changes: 1. The ground-level deck will never have a roof or be enclosed in any way. 2. The size of the deck will be no more than 13’ X 22’. 3. The existing stone wall that is between the deck and the pond will not be removed. These changes to the plan are imposed to increase the area’s erosion control measures during costal storms. The
smaller deck area provides additional open land for water absorption. The stone wall will act as an additional erosion barrier between the deck and the pond. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
RUSTY WALTON UPDATES: Mr. Walton reviewed the condition and status of the Goldberg’s beach stairway and how the upper and lower levels were removed in the fall.
The Commission discussed the beach stairway construction that was taking place near the Belushi residence and whether or not it has a permit. A subsequent motion was made to issue a Cease and Desist Order if the current activity is not permitted and to obtain a permit before work is continued. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
NOI SE 12 – 565; AP 27.1-86; SONGWIND LLC; HOME PORT DOCK: Mr. Walton reviewed the landscape plan prepared by Kris Horiuchi for this small parcel of land – as required in the Order of Conditions. A motion was made to accept the landscape plan as presented. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
The Commission also discussed the Town’s beach stairway from the Squibnocket Beach parking lot and how it is always removed a few days after the Labor Day weekend. The Commission agreed there would be a public benefit of having the stairway installed earlier in the season (by April 15) and leaving the stairway in place until October 31. A letter will be sent from the Commission to the Beach Committee requesting this change in scheduling—sans threats from coastal storms.
The Commission also discussed the challenges of prohibiting the fossil excavation of the beach cliff at Lucy Vincent Beach during the off-season. It was agreed that any signage prohibiting this excavation would be difficult to install and the ban would be hard to enforce.
ADMINISTRATION: The 2008 draft annual report was reviewed. After brief discussion a motion was made to approve the report with minor changes. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved with four in favor.
The following documents was signed and notarized as needed:
Order of Conditions: SE 12 – 572; AP 32-38.1.
Order of Conditions: SE 12 – 573; AP 27.1-80.
Certificate of Compliance: SE 12 – 462; AP 24-35.
NEXT MEETING: The Commission will visit the Lucy Vincent Beach parking lot shed on their own. The next meeting is February 4th @ 12:30 PM.
With no further business to conduct the meeting adjourned at 1:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
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