MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES MARCH 2, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Leslie Duthie, Glenn Colburn and Davis Johnson.
7:14 Paradise Lake Road. The Commission met informally with Bill Pope and Mr. & Mrs. Mayo to discuss properties they are interested in on Paradise Lake Road. There are four lots for sale and Mr. Pope & Mr. & Mrs. Mayo questioned if there were any wetland issues and if so what type of filing would be required?
Leslie Duthie stated that it is a difficult question for the Commission to answer because of the depth of the snow covering.
Mr. Pope stated he has walked the lot he is interested in and there is a lot of ledge on the property but he felt that the pond shown on the plot plan is where ledge has been cut out.
Mr. Mayo stated he was interested in the lot on the corner of Paradise Lake Road and Ely Road and wanted to know if there were any issues or limitations as to where he could build a house.
Glenn Colburn stated that the Commission could not really answer that until it could see the ground.
Mr. Mayo stated he had also looked at the lot he was interested in and there are tall trees around the pool of water on the lot and that could be a problem. He questioned if there was a distance from the pond they would have to leave untouched?
Leslie Duthie stated she was not that familiar with the property but in general it was one hundred feet from the edge of the wetland, but then the question arises is the pool one boundary and the wetland another? That was difficult to answer because of the amount of snow still on the ground. She suggested that both Mr. Pope and Mr. Mayo get in touch with the Commission when the snow melts and schedule site visits.
Glenn Colburn moved to accept the minutes of February 9, 2011.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
7:35 The Commission signed the Amended Order of Conditions for Walter McLaughlin, Lower Hampden Road. Leslie Duthie stated she added a reference to the plan and under the special conditions added the requirement for an as built plan that included the location of the utility poles.
Leslie Duthie stated she received a call from Barbara Hobson, Department of Agriculture who is the representative for this area regarding the APR for Chuck Adams on Town Farm Road. Mr. Adams proposes an APR on approximately 46.6 acres of land that includes two pieces of property one on the easterly side of Town Farm Road and the other on the westerly side, more than half of the 46.6 acres comprises fields. There is some wooded land but only a certain amount is allowed on the APR. Ms. Hobson stated at one time the Department asked for 20% of the cost of the APR to be paid by the Town but that has been changed to 5%. The cost of the APR is approximately $276,000.00 leaving approximately $13,500.00 as the Town’s contribution. Ms. Duthie stated Mr. Adams took the request to the
Community Preservation Committee who voted to fund the request and that will come up for a vote at the Town Meeting in May.
Leslie Duthie stated she had an update for the Commissioners on the late Dr. Jean Porwoll’s property. Ms. Duthie stated she has been working with the attorney who is managing the estate to find the best way to comply with Dr. Porwoll’s wishes to protect and conserve her land. Sometime ago she had spoken with Sam Lovejoy at Fish & Wildlife who explained the procedure for disposition of land under Article 97 and had since attended a seminar on the subject. The attorney was not overly receptive at first but did contact Mr. Lovejoy and has now agreed to donate the land under Article 97 rather than going through the Conservation Restriction process. An article will be placed on the warrant for the Town Meeting in May donating the land to the Board of Selectmen.
8:30 MAIL:
- Request from Stephen Phillips to extend the Order of Conditions for his property on Wilbraham Road.
Glenn Colburn stated if DEP had not issued a directive extending Orders of Conditions for two years he would not vote to renew the order because nothing has been started.
Glenn Colburn moved to extend the Order of Conditions for two years.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
- Exxon Mobile filed to replace a stone culvert under the pipeline on Fenton Road. Mark Stinson, DEP called Leslie Duthie because the application does not have the signature of the property owner.
Leslie Duthie stated this is another filing that will have to wait until the weather breaks so the Commission can see soils. The hearing will be advertised and continued until the snow melts.
- Mass Wildlife news
- Various building permits.
Leslie Duthie stated she attended a Mass Land Trust Coalition program that discussed Town Conservation Land and how it was used. The speaker discussed the deeds and titles and the need of Conservation Commissions to ensure that all such restrictions are recorded at the registry of deeds.
Glenn Colburn stated the plan prepared for the Flynt Quarry land by Scott Gerrish clearly stated that the boundaries should be marked on the land. Little plaques could be used at the entrance to the property and further into the woods the Commission could use paint.
Leslie Duthie stated Scott Gerrish indicated that he would do that with the Commission.
Leslie Duthie stated approximately 250 to 300 acres of land at the Monson Developmental Center has been designated as Conservation land it went through the Senate and passed but when she asked who is overseeing it no-one seemed to know or care. She stated this would be a good time for the Commission to review the restrictions on land that the Town owns and check that everything has been recorded properly.
Davis Johnson stated he was concerned about the big beaver dam in the pond on Silver Street. The residents of Lakeshore Drive and Pulpit Rock Road are concerned because they believe the pond could have been the culprit in the big flood that washed out the bridges.
Leslie Duthie stated the dam was still in tact but maybe overflowed.
Leslie Duthie stated she is still working on the forest legacy project and her goal to protect approximately 1000 acres of forest land. She stated she was thinking of setting up a revolving account for appraisals for the two or three year project. The grants are due in September, an indication of interest is needed from the land owner and it is helpful to have an opinion of valuation. There is a 75% reimbursement.
8:45 Glenn Colburn moved to adjourn.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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