FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Sandy Broyard, Chairman, Candy Shweder, Vice Chairman, Pam Goff, Chris Murphy, Maureen Eisner and Chuck Hodgkinson. Reid Silva, Chris Alley, Geoff White, George Sourati, Matt Dix, Carlos Montoya, Joe Dick and Mark Hurwitz also attended. Joan Malkin arrived at 1:30 PM while Wesley Cottle and Bob Hungerford were absent.
The meeting came to order at 12:31 PM.
The Commission welcomed Maureen Eisner as a newly-appointed Alternate Commissioner and thanked her for volunteering her time. As usual, Ms. Broyard never lets grass grow beneath her feet and subsequently appointed Ms. Eisner as a voting member for the day’s agenda.
RFD GEORGE SOURATI FOR SWB LTD. PARTNERSHIP; 8 Greenhouse Lane; AP 33-30: Mr. Sourati explained a new sewer pipe needed to be installed after renovating the house because its outlet from the foundation was relocated. He reviewed a site plan showing the new pipe’s location from the house to the septic tank. The work is located within the 100-foot buffer zone of a Coastal Bank and the closest activity is approximately 60 feet from the top of the bank. He added the Board of Health has approved the new pipe. After brief discussion a motion was made for a negative determination with the following condition: 1. The pipe trench shall be filled as soon as possible after the work passes inspection. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with five in favor.
RFD MATT DIX FOR THE MV LAND BANK COMMISSION; 4 Middle Road; AP 6-3.1: Mr. Murphy recused himself from this discussion as he is a direct abutter. Ms. Goff disclosed she is a member of the Land Bank Commission and there is no conflict because she serves the public in both her functions as Land Bank and Conservation Commissioner. Mr. Dix reviewed the plan to install trail markers and mow and maintain a walking trail throughout the growing season to help delineate the trail from the grazing pasture. The closest point of the trail is approximately 25 feet from the edge of a fresh-water pond. With no discussion a motion was made for a negative determination with the following condition: The trail may be maintained in perpetuity as described in the application. The motion
was seconded and passed unanimously with four in favor.
NOI SE 12 – 700 CHRIS ALLEY AND GEOFF WHITE FOR WENDY WOLF; 38 Flanders lane; AP 26-27: Ms. Broyard opened the public hearing at 12:40 PM. Mr. Alley explained the plan to build ground level and second story additions to a single-family dwelling. The proposed work is in the 100-foot buffer zone of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland that may be associated with a larger system on abutting properties to the north. The closest activity is approximately 53 feet from the wetland edge. Mr. Alley pointed out the upper portion of the current elevated deck will be enclosed and the lower portion will become a screened porch. Four footings each of which are 8 inches wide, 5.5 feet long and dug four feet below grade will support
this section. He added hay bales and silt fencing will be installed and maintained until the re-plantings are established.
The Commission asked if there is a detailed landscape plan and what type of roof-water runoff system exists. Mr. White said there is no formal plan for re-landscaping and there is a gutter with downspout system that drains through underground pipes to daylight. There is no dry well to collect the runoff. Mr. White added the existing retaining wall may be relocated to help manage the grade around the house and expansion.
With no comment from the public a motion was made to close the hearing at 12:54 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the plan as presented and dated 4/18/14 with the following special conditions: 1. A landscape plan shall be reviewed with and approved by the Commission before a Building Permit is issued. 2. Hay bales and silt fencing shall be installed as shown on the site plan dated 4/18/14 and approved by the Conservation Agent before work begins. 3. All construction debris shall be stored in a covered dumpster or removed from the site daily. 4. There shall be no underground storage of fuel oil. The motion was seconded. The Commission discussed the merits of creating a standard
policy for expansion in a buffer zone and agreed this would not be practical because each Notice of Intent is unique and evaluated on the site-specific features of the land and resources. The motion came to a vote and passed with three in favor and two abstentions – Mr. Murphy and Ms. Eisner.
AMENDED NOI SE 12 – 694; CHRIS ALLEY FOR DOUG LIMAN; 34 Blacksmith Valley Rd.; AP 35-38: Ms. Broyard opened the public hearing at 1:07 PM. Mr. Alley reviewed the history of this project and explained the applicant is proposing an amendment to the Order of Conditions issued on 9/6/13 for project SE 12 – 694. The proposal changes the barn design from 16’ X 24’ with a four-foot overhang to 20’ X 24’ with no overhang. The barn will also be rotated on its original footprint. The proposed barn is approximately 172 feet from the edge of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland. The original location was 165 feet from the wetland edge. The approved fence location will not change. With no public comment a motion was made to close the hearing at
1:14 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the revised barn location and size as shown on the site plan dated 4/18/14 with the following special conditions – which are the same as with the original Order of Conditions: The fence as shown on the site plans dated 9/4/13 and 4/18/14 is approved. 1. The Commission or its representative has permission to inspect the activity within the 100-foot resource buffer zone to determine whether or not the activity is harming the interests protected by the Wetland Protection Act and Chilmark Wetland Protection Bylaws. 2. The inspection shall determine whether or not the activity within the 100-foot resource buffer zone has compromised the ability of the buffer zone to protect and maintain the wetland resource. The motion was seconded and with no further discussion passed unanimously with five in favor.
NOI SE 12 – 701; REID SILVA FOR FRANK SICA 20 Crick Hill Rd.; AP 27.1-219: Ms. Broyard opened the public hearing at 1:16 PM. Mr. Silva explained Mr. Sica recently purchased this house and property and would like to demolish the house and not replace it. Two gravel parking spaces will be constructed and the remainder of the area will be restored with a switch grass meadow and Rosa Rugosa. The proposed work is in the 100-foot buffer zone of a Coastal Bank. The closest activity is approximately one foot from the top of the bank. Mr. Silva added the slab and cinder block foundation will be removed and restored with fill before building the parking area and planting the rest of the area. He estimated the demolition could be completed in about one or two days. Mr. Montoya described his landscaping and irrigation plan in detail. With no comment from the public a motion was made to close the hearing at 1:26 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent
motion was made to approve the plan as presented and dated 4/15/14 with the following special conditions: 1. An orange construction fence shall be installed along the top of the coastal bank to the south and approved by the Conservation Agent before work begins. 2. Immediately after demolition hay bales and silt fencing shall be installed on the down-grade side of the construction area and approved by the Conservation Agent before work continues. 3. Jute netting shall be installed on the Rosa Rugosa and switch grass planting areas, along the edge of the bank and left in place until the plantings are established. The motion was seconded and with no further discussion passed unanimously with five in favor.
Joan Malkin arrived at 1:30 PM. After much discussion the Commission voted to rotate the Chair and Vice Chair positions in May 2015 with four in favor, one opposed (Mr. Murphy) and one abstention (Ms. Malkin).
ADMINISTRATION:
The May 7, 2014 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented by consensus. The following documents were signed:
Order of Conditions SE 12 – 700 Wolf; AP 26-27.
Amended Order of Conditions SE 12 – 694 Liman; AP 35-38.
Order of Conditions SE 12 – 701 Sica; AP 27.1-219.
Determination of Applicability SWB Limited Partnership; AP 33-30.
Determination of Applicability Land Bank; AP 6-3.1.
The next meeting will be Wednesday, June 4, 2014 @ 12:30 PM. The site visits will be on June 3 @ 12:30 PM and the Fool’s High Tide site visit will be on June 4 @ 11:30 AM. The Commission asked Chuck H. to see if Greg Berman of WHOI has a conflict and can attend the June 4 site visit and meeting on the Commission’s behalf.
With no further business to conduct the meeting adjourned at 2:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
| 
