EASTHAM CONSERVATION COMMISSION
25 March 2008
MINUTES
PRESENT: Leah Dower, Glenn Collins, David Hoerle, Dennis Murley, Terry Kelleher, Steve Smith.
STAFF PRESENT: Deputy Natural Resource Officer Amy Usowski, Natural Resource Director Henry Lind.
ALSO PRESENT: Bob Mumford, Katelyn Merrill of East Cape Engineering, Inc., Rian Ice of Ice Construction, Jack Vaccaro of Vaccaro Environmental Consulting, Mark Wood, Liz Argo of SolarWrights.
7:00 P.M. SolarWrights Presentation
Liz Argo of SolarWrights was invited to give a presentation on Renewable Energy to the Conservation Commission. She spoke about Photovoltaic systems which generate clean, renewable electricity and Solar Thermal systems for hot water, space heating and pool heating. These systems help reduce the amount of fossil fuels we use. The startup costs can be high depending on the type of system you want to install; however, the rising costs of fuel can make Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Systems a viable alternative to conventional energy sources.
7:35 P.M. Notice of Intent filed by Jian Gao & Eric R. Keto, 210 Great Pond Road, Map 14, Parcel 098.
Chairman Murley announced this hearing. The proposal is for the installation of a dormer over a portion of an existing single-family home within 100' of Great Pond.
Katelyn Merrill of East Cape Engineering, Inc. was present for the applicants. She said the remodeled portion of the house used to be a garage and the push for the project is to bring the ceiling height up. The house is extremely close to the pond and they would use great care on that side of the house. The applicants would like to replace the driveway with pervious material. They are proposing to put in some native plants to increase the strip of vegetation on the side of the lawn facing Deborah’s Pond.
Deputy Usowski said the house is very close to the pond and there should be no pruning or removing of trees in the future. She said there will be no increase to the footprint of the home. She said she feels a pervious driveway would be an improvement but pointed out that the grass goes directly to the edge of the pond in the rear of the house. Mr. Hoerle asked about runoff into the pond and Ms. Merrill said that the runoff will be collected.
Mr. Murley asked why the Limit of Work is so large on the South side and Ms. Merrill agreed that this could be tightened up quite a bit. She said that perhaps the Limit of Work could be 10' and the driveway could be used as the staging area.
Deputy Usowski suggested that as much of the work as possible be done from the inside, although the siding will have to be done from the outside. Ms. Merrill said that the driveway work can be done after it is used as a staging area.
Mr. Collins said that a couple of large shrubs have already been taken out and would like to make the owners aware that the entire property is within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. He suggested that perhaps a few more native plants can be put in to replace what has been taken out. Ms. Merrill agreed that planting a Cedar would be fine with the owners. Mr. Murley agreed that this would help keep the driveway a reasonable size. Mr. Murley asked that the landscape plan be clarified as to what plants are to be placed and where.
There were no further comments or questions and Chairman Murley closed this hearing.
Mr. Hoerle MOVED and Mr. Collins SECONDED the Motion to approve this proposal with Order of Conditions 1-19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 33, 35, 37 clarification of where the new plantings are be planted, 38 no cutting or pruning without the Conservation Commission’s approval, 39 there shall be daily cleanup of the site and debris is to be taken off site, 40 parking shall be restricted to driveway and across the street.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
8:00 P.M. Notice of Intent filed by Robert L. & Sarah P.K. Mumford, 55 Clark’s Point Road, Map 14, Parcel 085-M(Lot 4A, Plan Book 438, Page 64).
Chairman Murley announced this hearing. Katelyn Merrill of East Cape was the applicants’ representative and Mr. Mumford was present as well.
The proposal is for a 30' wooden walkway over a thickly vegetated area leading to a 6'x10' wooden platform to access the pond. The walkway will allow for a definite path from the house to the pond where there is none now. Mr. Mumford said the walkway is modeled after two on the adjoining lots to the South. The footpath can meander around the trees so no tree removal will be necessary.
Deputy Usowski reminded the Commissioners that this entire project is IN the resource. She asked if the water would flow over the walkway. Mr. Mumford said that his house is at elevation 11', the walkway is proposed at 10' and he has never experienced water coming over the path. Deputy Usowski said the walkway will increase foot traffic and wondered if this needed to be addressed. Ms. Merrill said that fences can be used to limit traffic. She said that some vegetation will have to be removed.
Deputy Usowski asked that the post be untreated and Ms. Merrill said that perhaps it would be better to put the posts in once and not have to replace them. Mr. Murley said that there has been a change to what was previously done and the Commission requires untreated posts. Mr. Hoerle said that Locust would work well and Mr. Mumford agreed.
There was no further discussion and Chairman Murley closed this hearing. Mr. Hoerle MOVED to approve this proposal with Order of Conditions 1-19, 20, 21, 22, 25 the posts must be untreated while the walkway treads may be treated 26, 27, 33, 37 “No Mow” zone along the sides of the walkway. Mr. Collins SECONDED the Motion.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
8:30 P.M. Notice of Intent filed by Rian Ice, Rosner property, 11 Bayberry Lane, Map 13, Parcel 148.
Chairman Murley announced this hearing. Rian Ice of Ice Construction was present for the Rosners. He said the owners are older and the stairs and deck are unsafe. He said he understands that he must use untreated wood for the bottom two posts of the stairway if the existing ones need to be replaced. He said they would like to work by hand from the driveway with no machines. He said all debris will be removed from the site each night. He said all work will be done by hand including the deck.
Mr. Murley said he appreciates that they are doing the work by hand but said if they have questions about the posts to please call the Natural Resource office to double check.
Mr. Collins said they seemed like good stewards of the property, but noticed that the tops of all the plants have been pruned without approval. He suggested that they be made aware of this.
There were no further questions and Chairman Murley closed this hearing. Mr. Smith MOVED approval with Order of Conditions 1-19, 20, 21, 22, 25 untreated wood shall be used for the bottom two posts should they need to be replaced, 27, 29, 30, 33, 34, 38 if post replacement is needed, call the Natural Resource office, 39 any additional plantings or pruning must be approved by the Conservation Commission, 40 a 3' work limit, flagged with tape, shall be installed. Mr. Collins SECONDED the Motion.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
8:45 P.M. Notice of Intent filed by Tom & Carol Rakowski, 15 Lee Court,
Map 11, Parcel 179.
Chairman Murley announced this hearing. Jack Vaccaro of Vaccaro Environmental Consulting and Mark Wood, Landscape Architect, were present for the applicants. Mr. Vaccaro said this site slopes toward the pond and the proposal involves work activities within the Buffer Zone.
Mr. Vacarro went on to say that the timber walls will be removed and replaced with stone walls and a stone walkway. He said non-native plants will be removed and replaced with native plants. He said there will be vista pruning on three trees with mitigation planting by the shoreline. He said the driveway will be freshened with new gravel, new stepping stones, and new foundation plantings. He said that no bluestone will be used.
Deputy Usowski asked about the driveway material and Mr. Vaccaro said they will be adding more of what is already there. Deputy Usowski pointed out that there is lawn all the way to the pond, but to the right of this area native plants will be planted.
Mr. Murley asked about Bobcat use. Mr. Vaccaro said there might be some, but the stones will be put in by hand. Mr. Murley asked how close to the pond the Bobcat will come. He said that the Commission is micro-managing the vista pruning and should wait until the leaves come out to figure out what should be pruned.
Ms. Dower asked if a “No Mow” Zone could be established farther across the lawn to provide more vegetation closer to the water. Mr. Vaccaro said that more shrubs can be planted. Mr. Murley said that may not be necessary, just put away the mower. It was
decided to do this project in phases. Phase One will allow the planting and stoneworks; Phase Two will address vista pruning with an enhanced “No Mow” zone discussion.
There was no more discussion and Mr. Kelleher MOVED approval with Order of Conditions 1-19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 33, 37, 38 the project will be done in two phases: retaining walls, patio and driveway are Phase One and vista pruning and an enhanced “No Mow” zone are Phase Two. Mr. Hoerle SECONDED.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
9:00 P.M. Request for Extension and Change in Plans, Carroll, DEP SE 19-1132, 35 Pilot Road, Map 11, Parcel 364.
The Commissioners reviewed a letter from Mr. Carroll requesting an Extension and a plan from Ryder & Wilcox, Inc. showing that the deck on the North side of the house is no longer part of the plan. The owners would like to build a screened porch and the addition is still part of the plan, but will now be smaller.
Mr. Collins MOVED to approve the change in plans and grant a 3-year Extension for Order of Conditions SE 19-1132. Mr. Smith SECONDED the Motion.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
9:10 P.M. Administrative Review, Dan Riley, 25 Great Pond Road, Map 14, Parcel 095.
Deputy Usowski explained this request to remove two dead Pitch Pines and replace them with compatible vegetation. Mr. Kelleher MOVED and Mr. Smith SECONDED the Motion to ratify this Administrative Review.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
9:15 P.M. Officer Lind spoke to the Commission about the foot bridge construction
at Wiley Park. A Stop Work Order has been posted due to the fact that a Bobcat was illegally brought in to carry fill through the Nickerson property. He said he discovered that none of the fill was necessary in the first place. The contractor will be required to fix what has been disturbed and there will also be remediation to restore the wetland.
10:00 P.M. Approval of Minutes
Mr. Kelleher MOVED to approve the Minutes of 11 March 2008 and Mr. Collins SECONDED the Motion.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
There was no further business to attend to. Ms. Dower MOVED to adjourn at approximately 10:01 P.M. Mr. Collins SECONDED the Motion.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Minutes taken by Leah Dower,
Transcribed and respectfully submitted,
Kay Stewart-Greeley,
Clerk
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