FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Pam Goff, Andrew Fischer, Bruce Bartels, Virginia Dyer, Dick Smith, Rusty Walton and Chuck Hodgkinson. Chris Alley, Kristen Fauteux, Tom Dellarocco, Kent Healy and Glenn Johnson also attended. Richard Steves was absent.
Ms. Goff opened the meeting as acting Chair at 12:30 PM. The site visits for today’s meeting took place on March 31.
KENT HEALY FOR TOWN OF CHILMARK; RFD AP 21-1: Mr. Healy summarized the plan to add 531 sq. ft. of leeching bed to the existing 700 sq. ft. of leeching bed for the Menemsha Comfort Station. The expansion is within the buffer zone of a salt marsh and is approximately 100 feet from the high water mark of the salt marsh. The leeching bed is also in a site where former Menemsha Basin dredging spoils have been deposited. He added the Board of Health has approved the plan. After brief discussion a motion for a negative determination was made, seconded and unanimously approved.
KRISTEN FAUTEUX FOR SHERIFF’S MEADOW FOUNDATION NOI SE 12 – 578; AP 22-4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6, 9, 15, 16 153 & 154: Ms. Goff opened the hearing at 12:40 PM. Ms. Fauteux summarized the meadow restoration and request for an indefinite maintenance plan for their property known as Quansoo Farm at 141 Quansoo Rd. The goal is to restore and maintain a mixture of sandplain grassland and heathland habitats, some of which fall within the 100-foot buffer zone of a bordering vegetated wetland. A combination of brush cutting and prescribed burning will be used to restore and maintain the habitats. The brush cutting
will be done annually. Mowing will occur sometime between November 1 and April 30. The fields may be brush cut during the growing season if needed to control woody vegetation. The prescribed burning will take place in a 3 to 5 year rotation. The preparation for the burns will involve mowing and clearing of fire breaks around the perimeter of the areas. The Foundation also seeks permission to treat invasive species such as Phragmites on the shores of Black Point Pond with glyphosate or another appropriate and approved herbicide that may be developed in the future. Approximately six-acres of Phragmites will be sprayed. Spot treatments will be used as follow up treatment. Politan Ecological Services will work with the Foundation on the spray treatment on the Phragmites. This treatment may also be combined with a combination of mowing and burning.
After discussion a motion was made to close the hearing at 12:45 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the plan as presented including an indefinite maintenance plan with the following special conditions: 1. The Conservation Officer or Commission will be notified to review the specifics of the Phragmites removal plan before work begins. 2. The Conservation Officer or Commission will be informed of the specific maintenance plans before work begins. The motion was seconded and approved with four in favor and one abstention (Ms. Dyer).
TOM DELLAROCCO OF TEA LANE NURSERY FOR JERROLD & LOUISE GROCHOW; RFD AP 25-95: Mr. Dellarocco summarized the plan to install two 4’ X 50’ raised planting beds with a walkway path between. A deer fence will also be installed around the perimeter of the planting beds. The work will take place in an area with an established lawn that abuts a tennis court. It is also in the buffer zone of a bordering vegetated wetland. Mr. Walton pointed out the work is in the second 50-foot section of a wetland buffer zone. After brief discussion a motion for a negative determination was made with the following condition: 1. Silt fencing will be installed along the outer edge of the work area before work begins. The
motion was seconded and approved with four in favor and one abstention (Ms. Dyer).
CHRIS ALLEY FOR RANDOLPH FRANKEL AND MARIANNE MEYER NOI SE 12 – 579; AP 29 – 6, 7: Ms. Goff opened the hearing at 12:52 PM. Mr. Alley summarized the plan to construct a raised walkway to a beach stairway at the coastal bank. The walkway crosses approximately 1800 square feet of a bordering vegetated wetland. This application is in response to the Commission’s request to remove the current gravel walkway through the wetland and replace it with a raised walkway to protect the resource. He added that TimberSil will be used instead of pressure-treated wood. This product is made with compressed glass particles and has no leeching properties. He added that the crushed stone has been removed and replaced with compost. This area will have an elevated
walkway to protect the wetland. Three feet will be added to each end of the foot bridge to provide added protection of the resource. All work will be done by hand. Mr. Alley added that they would like to ask for an indefinite maintenance plan for the project. The Commission thanked the applicants for the quick and thorough response to their request to improve the walkway.
After brief discussion a motion was made to close the hearing at 1:03 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the plan as presented including the indefinite maintenance plan provided the Conservation Officer or Commission is informed of the desired maintenance plan before work begins. The motion was seconded and approved with four in favor and one abstention (Ms. Dyer).
COAST GUARD MENEMSHA STATION RFD AP 27.1-78: Chuck H. summarized the plan to re-pave the existing blacktop driveway and parking area at the Coast Guard station. The site view indicated that a portion of the work is within the 100-foot buffer zone of Green Pond. After brief discussion a motion was made for a negative determination with the following special conditions: 1. Hay bales will be installed between the work area and Green Pond before work begins. 2. Any construction debris will be removed from the site daily or stored in a covered dumpster. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
ADMINISTRATION: The meeting minutes for March 4, 2009 were reviewed. Ms. Goff declared the minutes acceptable as presented.
The following documents was signed and notarized as needed:
Order of Conditions: SE 12 – 578; AP 22- 4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6, 9, 15, 16, 153 and 154
Order of Conditions: SE 12 – 579; AP 29-6, 7
Determination of Applicability AP 27.1-78
Determination of Applicability AP 21-1
Determination of Applicability AP 25-95
With no further business to conduct the meeting adjourned at 1:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
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