FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Pam Goff, Vice Chairman, Dick Smith, Sandy Broyard, Caitlin Jones, Andrew Fischer, Rusty Walton and Chuck Hodgkinson. Also attending were Reid Silva, Steve McKenna (MA. Coastal Zone Management), Gigi Young and Callie Silva. Richard Steves, Virginia Dyer and Bruce Bartels were absent.
Ms. Goff opened the meeting at 12:30 PM as acting Chairman. Caitlin Jones was appointed a voting member for the day’s agenda. The site visits for today’s meeting took place on February 2. The Commission saw their shadows.
REID SILVA FOR JEAN YOUNG; SE 12 – 598; 29 YOUNG’S WAY; AP 29-22: Ms. Goff opened the public hearing at 12:30 PM. Mr. Silva summarized the proposal to install a three-foot wide, brush-cut walking path to Chilmark Pond. Approximately 48 feet of the activity is in the buffer zone of a coastal bank and approximately 42 feet of the work is in the coastal bank resource area. Stone steps will be installed at the end of the path to the beach. Mr. Silva added that he believed installing a raised walkway over the resource area would cause more disturbance than the proposed brush-cut path. He pointed out that the existing foot path that goes onto the abutting property has been used for many years, has no support structures and is
completely exposed to natural light. Mr. Silva referenced MGL 130-105 and the supporting map indicating the salt marsh area referenced in the restrictions. He explained that this legislation was passed (1972) prior to the Wetland Protection Act – which now regulates the salt marsh and other resource areas.
The Commission agreed the proposal would be better than a raised walkway provided the new path is the same as the existing path. They also agreed the proposed granite steps would be better than a stairway down the bank.
With no further comment 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 with granite steps and two conditions: 1. There will be a pre-construction conference on site among the Conservation Officer and contractor(s) before work begins to review the plan. 2. The brush that is cut will be removed from the site on a daily basis. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION WITH STEVE MCKENNA OF MA. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT: The Commission thanked Mr. McKenna for visiting the island to discuss the coastal beach erosion and nourishment issues the Town is facing. Mr. McKenna said he appreciates the support and added he was able to visit several Chilmark properties along the south coast to inspect different areas coastal bank composition and erosion. The Commission asked for Mr. McKenna’s opinion on best practices for coastal bank protection, nourishment and the impact of revetment solutions. Mr. McKenna said that an alternative to coastal bank nourishment or revetments is to relocate the structures that are at risk and thus, let nature manage the
bank. In cases where this is not a viable option the amount of erosion and replacement sediment can be calculated. If a revetment is called for he suggested shortening the revetment – do not bring it to the lot line of the affected property. The down-current erosion caused by the artificial revetment will then most likely be confined to the property owner’s beach front – and reduce the revetment-caused erosion on an abutting neighbor’s land. The goal is to confine the erosion to the revetment property.
He commented that perhaps the best revetment for the Conroy residence would be to match the cobble that is already there and to shorten it as outlined earlier—do not have the revetment span the full length of the property.
He also suggested having a pro-active approach by identifying the properties with coastal houses built before August 1978 and outline a macro-solution for the affected and abutting properties. Mr. McKenna offered to work with the Commission on using this data and mapping the natural sediment transport or flow patterns for the specific area(s) of coastline.
The Commission thanked Mr. McKenna again for taking the time to visit and invited him back anytime.
ADMINISTRATION:
The following documents were signed and notarized as required:
Order of Conditions: Young SE 12 – 598; AP 29-22.
With no further business to conduct the meeting adjourned at 1:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
| 
