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APPROVED
Chilmark Planning Board Subcommittee at Board of Health Meeting
Chilmark Town Hall, Conference Room #1
December 7, 2016
Planning Board Members Present: Joan Malkin, Peter Cook
Board of Health: Katie Carroll, Matt Poole, Marina Lent
Staff:
Meeting called to order at 5:30PM
- Menemsha Master Plan Discussion:
- The Board of Health (BOH) distributed a list of comments/topics of concern in Menemsha related to a Menemsha Master Plan.
- The Board elaborated on the list of comments.
- The first topic, Bath House (Comfort Station), was reviewed and majority of the discussion dealt with the conservation of water and the elimination of sand in the plumbed appliances. The BOH commented on the issue of the more efficient use of space inside the comfort station.
- Discussion occurred about the usefulness of the current building and the BOH has the opinion that it is preferable to try to renovate the existing building.
- The second topic, Trash, was discussed and the BOH explained their support of various initiatives such as “Straw Free MV”, Plastic Bag Bylaw. The BOH is not interested in banning straws, napkins, etc…but would like the public to be educated and for the disposable items to be made less accessible.
- The third topic, Beach, was addressed and the BOH members discussed when dogs should not be allowed on the beach. It was noted that there is a sign stating NO DOGs on the beach and the rule is not enforced. Suggestions were made about how to accommodate dogs while maintaining a clean, safe and healthy beach for beachgoers. It was noted that a seasonal ban could be put in place rather than a undefined, year-round ban on dogs. Mr. Poole noted issues arise with water quality when dogs are allowed on a beach. Ms. Malkin discussed obtaining opinion from townspeople regarding the allowance of dogs on the beach and wondered if it would be useful to include the “pitfalls” with allowing dogs on a beach. Ms. Carroll stated that she would prefer to keep the No Dogs sign as is and turn a blind eye during the off-season,
but be able to enforce the ban in the season. Mr. Poole inquired whose sets the beach rules. It was not clear to the BOH where the beach rulemaking resides.
- The fourth topic, Tour Vans, was discussed. Ms. Carroll stated there is an unwritten rule that full-size buses cannot come down into the Menemsha beach area turnaround. The BOH felt it was a good thing that the larger tour vehicles cannot make the turn in the beach parking lot and are therefore not in the area. The issue of trash from the vehicles was discussed and it was found that the trash from people in the tour vehicles is produced by those riders purchasing food from establishments in Menemsha. It was noted that the trash issue did not have to do specifically with the tour vans, but with the food establishments where the people shopped or the availability of trash receptacles. It was noted that the BOH’s printed concern with tour vehicles and trash mostly stemmed from one member’s desire to remove many of
the trash receptacles from the area.
- The fifth topic, Public Safety, was discussed and Ms. Malkin asked if the BOH were in favor of less parking areas. Ms. Carroll stated that she would be in favor of less parking spaces only if traffic flow were better. Ms. Carroll stated her interest in making the travel lanes a little wider to improve flow and safety. Mr. Poole inquired the progress on the walkway at the “s curve” by the DiMaura’s near The Bite. Ms. Malkin noted that this area was something that the subcommittee is including in the plan of recommendations for the area. The BOH noted that the area is of particular concern and Ms. Carroll noted her support of a grass or dirt , 4’ path so that people could get out of the way of cars. She also noted that the bushes should be cut back. Mr. Poole noted that there has always been, in the
past, a level, grassy footpath area on the left hand side of the road down from the Menemsha Crossroad, past D.H.’s Hill Road and into Menemsha (North Road). He noted this is not there anymore and it is a loss to the safety, fun and beauty of pedestrian travel into Menemsha. He further noted it used to be “begged to be walked on.”
- The sixth topic, Public Information/ Education was discussed. Mr. Poole noted that getting the people out of the road to make more room for cars may not increase safety due to possible increased speed. He noted this is a fine balance that the Planning Board will need to walk. Ms. Malkin noted the Planning Board is trying to minimize the “shopping for parking spaces” traffic. Mr. Poole reiterated that the area in Menemsha is great for pedestrian walking and to get the people out of the way so that the cars have more room to maneuver is conceding to the cars. Ms. Carroll noted the wood walkway near the beach is a success.
- The seventh topic, Basin Road Food Establishments on Town Lease Lots was discussed. The BOH stated that the fish market transition to take out food restaurants is an issue. Ms. Carroll stated that the Park & Rec. Committee needs to work with the BOH more closely in the widening of items for sale at the fish markets. The BOH felt it is a question for the Town on whether the Town wants “clam shacks” in Menemsha. Mr. Poole stated there are serious wastewater disposal issues for clam shack (hot food) establishments. Hot water used for preparation and cleaning for prepared food and volume of water is more in clam shack places. Larsen’s Fish Market and Menemsha Fish Market both have tight tanks. It was noted that the BOH has concerns with establishments with tight tanks because they are not allowed by right,
they are a last resort and it is not a wastewater solution. Businesses on tight tanks cannot expand what they do, but there is a lot of public demand for food products and merchant demand for sale of food products. Both Ms. Carroll and Mr. Poole stated this topic is a great concern for the BOH. The BOH noted there are a bunch of weak links in the pumping of tight tanks: smell from the pumping, visiting of a tank truck, unsanitary conditions and leakage. It was noted the Comfort Station has a septic system. The BOH noted the Menemsha Fish House is wholesale because they cannot get permitting for offering food onsite for sale. Mr. Poole stated the food establishments are under-equipped to provide safe conditions. Mr. Poole noted that each of the establishments has an approved list of items they are allowed to sell and the list is often a topic of discussion. Mr. Poole noted there has been insufficient facility development to support the ever-increasing menu expansion at the food
establishments.
- The eighth topic, Wastewater Disposal in Menemsha, was discussed. The BOH stated the installation of a sewer system would be inappropriate in Menemsha. Mr. Poole stated that the decisions about wastewater will directly affect the kind of space that Menemsha remains or becomes. He noted that if the Town decides that it wants Menemsha to become a place that welcomes take-out food establishments and a wastewater treatment facility is installed, the look of Menemsha will be altered significantly. Mr. Poole noted that the limiting of wastewater could function as a way to keep Menemsha more like how it is, with the character that it maintains. The Board’s printed comments state that they do not support any expansion in wastewater treatment capacity in Menemsha. Mr. Poole stated that the expansion and improvement of
wastewater processing in Menemsha will lead to a significant change in the character and flavor or Menemsha. Mr. Poole also noted that a wastewater plant will be expensive. Mr. Poole also noted that the scale of the availability of water from the Menemsha Water Company, a private operation, is unknown as well.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Jennifer L. Christy
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