Conservation Commission
November 15, 2007
Minutes
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present:
Chair Neal Carpenter, NC; Joe Strauch, JS; David Lane, DL; Tim Flanagan, TF; Vince Ammendola, VA; Rose Fitzgerald Casey, RFC; Dick Ferren, DF
7:30 PM DJ Oil, 18 Crystal St., Map 4 Parcel 73, Update on work done in connection with the Amended Order of Conditions.
NC advised that the work has not been done; therefore the update has been rescheduled for December 6, 2007 at 7:30 PM.
7:45 PM David Case, Lenox Gateway, LLC, NOI for property located at 55 Pittsfield Rd, Map 17 Parcel 40.~ The proposed project is construction of 40 additional units to the development with associated site improvements, upgrade of existing detention basin, construction of screen room, demolition of a~ portion of building and remaining items under File #198-0217. Continued from November 1, 2007
A site visit was held on November 10, 2007. Commissioners attending were VA, NC, RFC, JS, and TF. Jim Scalise of SK Design also attended.
File number 198-0233 was received today.
Present at tonight’s hearing was Jim Scalise of SK Design and David Case.
Mr. Scalise presented the project drawings and the final survey plan for the conservation restriction.
Mr. Case told the Commission that he felt that the greater good is to provide moderate and affordable housing which would protect the town from a Chapter 40 B project. The Commission asked Mr. Case to keep the project out of the buffer zone. Mr. Case said that staying out of the buffer zone would prevent him from creating affordable housing.
NC acknowledged that the project was worthy, and offered a compromise of keeping a buffer of 75’ undisturbed, noting the wetland area is very large.
The Commission credited Mr. Case on the work that has been done at Aspinwell, but emphasized that their responsibility is to protect the wetland. They do not have problems with modification to the existing building, nor the proposed improvements to the detention basin. However the Commission does find that the additional proposed 40 unit complex in its current design would have a negative effect on the wetland area to the immediate south. Mr. Case declined offers by the Commission to compromise.
DF made a motion to deny the NOI and JS seconded the motion. The Commission agreed 7-0.
Other business:
· Minutes of November 1, 2007-RFC made a motion to approve the minutes as written and VA seconded. The Commission approved 7-0.
· JS, a member of the CPA committee, asked the members of the Commission at the November 1, 2007 meeting to think about and report back at this meeting on possible acquisition of properties that will enhance the Town’s open space. It was suggested that Joe Toole be contacted regarding the conservation restriction on the property behind the new hotel, The Hampton Inn, and on the possible acquisition of that property by the Town for use as open space.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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