FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Pam Goff, Sandy Broyard, Caitlin Jones, Wes Cottle, Donald Poole and Chuck Hodgkinson. Natalie Conroy, David Michniewicz and Emily Day also attended. Richard Steves and Dick Smith were absent.
The meeting came to order at 12:30 PM. Ms. Goff was appointed as acting Chair. Caitlin Jones and Wes Cottle were appointed as voting members for the day’s agenda. The site visits for today’s meeting were made on October 18.
NOI SE 12 – 638; GEORGE SOURATI FOR DAN AND TARA GOLEMAN; 15 Hammett Rd.; AP 8-50.1: Chuck H. informed the Commission that Mr. Sourati requests the application be withdrawn without prejudice. He will re-apply at a later date. A motion was made to accept the request. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved with five in favor. The application is to install a six-foot wide horse path through an isolated wetland and install a buried utility line under the proposed horse path through the wetland.
NOI SE 12 – 640; DAVID MICHNIEWICZ FOR NATALIE CONROY; 22 Greenhouse Lane; AP 33-33: Ms. Goff opened the public hearing at 12:35 PM. Mr. Michniewicz summarized the plan to relocate the existing single-family dwelling and guesthouse structures farther north and away from the top of the coastal bank. A new water well is also proposed. All of the work is within the 100-foot buffer zones of the coastal bank to the south and a bordering vegetated wetland to the north. The dirt driveway abuts the wetland. Its outer edge is approximately 10 feet from the wetland edge. The guesthouse and main residence will be approximately 25 and 20 feet from the wetland
edge respectively. The main dwelling is approximately 26 feet from the top of the coastal bank. This is required because of on-going and the most recent severe coastal bank erosion caused by Hurricane Irene.
Mr. Michniewicz added the proposed foundations for both structures will not be concrete sonotubes as currently used. They will be made of greenheart piles that will be driven approximately 25 feet into the coastal bank buffer zone. He estimated fifteen piles would support the house and an additional eight would be used for the guesthouse.
The Commission asked what this would do to the stability of the coastal bank as the top is only about 20 feet above the high water mark. Mr. Michniewicz said he is still working on the calculations for the precise depth needed for the piles. He added that the current water well will be abandoned and a new well will be drilled farther away from the edge of the bank as shown on the site plan. He continued by stating any disturbed vegetation would be restored. The Commission asked how the roof water runoff would be managed. Mr. Michniewicz said stone trenches will be installed around the perimeter of the buildings. Ms. Conroy does not want gutters with downspouts.
Ms. Goff read the importance of the coastal bank and wetland resources from the Town’s Bylaws. After much discussion the Commission said it needs more detail on the proposed foundation systems and their impact on the stability of the coastal bank. Ms. Conroy was concerned with any further delays as the two structures were just moved under an Emergency Certification.
After much discussion the Commission appreciated the sense of urgency expressed by Ms. Conroy. A motion was made to close the hearing at 1:45 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the plan but not release the Order until more detail could be provided about the piling foundations. The motion was seconded. In discussion the following special conditions were agreed. The foundation details will be reviewed and agreed before releasing the Order:
- The applicant’s engineer shall return to the Commission to review the greenheart pile foundation details for each building and required depth with an assessment of the foundation impact on the stability of the coastal bank.
- Any construction debris shall be stored in a covered dumpster or removed from the site on a daily basis.
- All cinder blocks, old foundation supports and any of the abandoned water well apparatus shall be removed from the site.
- The Conservation Agent shall approve all installed erosion control measures before work begins.
- Any damaged vegetation within 20 feet of the top of the coastal bank shall be restored.
- 310 CMR 10.30(3) of the Wetlands Regulations, promulgated under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 131, Section 40, and Section 2.05 (4C) of the Chilmark Conservation Commission Rules & Regulations, promulgated under the Chilmark Wetlands Protection Bylaws, requires that no coastal engineering structure, such as a bulkhead, revetment, or seawall shall be permitted on a bank, or on an eroding bank, at any time in the future to protect the project allowed by this Order of Conditions.
- The contact numbers for all contractors shall be given to the Conservation Agent before work begins.
- An on-site conference shall take place among the Conservation Agent and all contractors to review this Order before work begins.
- A copy of this Order shall be available on site at all times during construction.
The motion was voted with four in favor and one abstention (Mr. Poole).
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ELBOW; SE 12 – 613; 55 Hammett Lane; AP 8-42.2: Chuck H. shared photographs of the work. The Order designated an existing cleared area for brush cutting with a push mover. Native fescues and other meadow grass seed were planted to restore the meadow. The meadow will be maintained in late spring and early fall. Some woodland under-story growth was removed by hand and will be maintained from time to time to facilitate establishment of the meadow. The work was done in the buffer zone of a bordering vegetated wetland. After discussion a motion was made to grant the Certificate with the same condition as outlined in the Order – the area may be maintained until 2015. If further maintenance is required, a new
application will be filed. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved with five in favor.
ADMINISTRATION:
The September 21 Meeting Minutes were approved as presented by consensus.
The Wetland Protection Fund Balance was reviewed. The balance as of 9/30/11 is $14,576.98. The Commission discussed the purpose of the fund is to provide resources for possible legal actions. It does not want to use the fund to subsidize the Conservation Agent’s stipend in an amount that would deplete the principal balance.
Donald Poole agreed to serve as the Commission’s representative on the Squibnocket Pond District Advisory Committee.
Pam Goff agreed to serve as the Commission’s representative on the Community Preservation Committee.
Reid Silva’s letter dated 9/5/11 outlining the changes to the coastal bank stabilization project for the Vineyard Open Land Foundation’s Squibnocket Causeway was reviewed and approved. Additional sediment is needed due to excessive erosion caused by Hurricane Irene. John Keene will access the area from the beach – rather than from the top of the bank as originally proposed. This would preserve the vegetation on top of the bank and satisfy historic resource concerns raised by the Wampanoag Tribe.
The following documents were signed:
Cert. of Compliance Elbow SE 12 – 613; 55 Hammett Lane; AP 8-42.2.
Order of Conditions Conroy 12 – 640; 22 Greenhouse Lane; AP 33-33.
With no further business to conduct the meeting adjourned at 2:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
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