Conservation Commission Minutes
July 26, 2011
Present:
Charlie Berube, Bill Malay, Paddy McHale, Ron Gehl, Bob Craycraft.
Call to order by C. Berube. At 7 pm.
Ron Gehl appointed as replacement for Cathy Allyn. Berube appointed Gehl as acting chair for the meeting.
Standard Dredge and Fill application by Michael Doherty, 336 S. Shore Road to remove existing stone and mortar retaining wall that is collapsing and replace with rip-rap revetment. The commission reviewed the application and drawings. The use of the revetment received numerous very positive comments. Berube recommended that the Commission recommend that the state approve this application with compliments for the design and, cc: NHACC, NH Lakes Association and the engineering firm as the preferred approach for use around the lake. Motion by Malay, seconded by McHale. Vote 4-0 in favor.
Standard Dredge and Fill application by Ronald Priore, 374 S. Shore Road to remove existing mortar/rubble retaining wall with new wall in same print. The plan called for the use of a mortarless retaining wall, which claimed to sufficiently reduce wave action. Gehl commented that the detail in the drawing was minimal. Malay commented that this part of the lake saw little wave action in general, and Berube replied that the wake board towing boats have been creating more wave action than previously due to their design. Gehl stated that while the proposed design was acceptable, a rip-rap revetment was much preferred. The motion was made to forward the application recommending the revetment design to DES, motion by McHale second by Malay. Vote 5-0 in favor.
Review and comment on the application by True Value Land and Homes, LLC for a special exception for the Kodiak Woods subdivision, off Birch Hill Road to allow 4 crossings of wetlands by a road in orderto access buildable land at the back of the lot. The Commission was asked to review the details of the wetlands crossing specifically. It was noted that this had already received approval. A short review of the plan, including the map, was conducted. Gehl pointed out that this was the first use of the Conservation Sub-division plan and served as a “lesson learned”. Berube asked about the responsibility of monitoring the open space, and the funding for that monitoring. Craycraft noted that a $5,000 trust fund will be started to pay for monitoring. It was felt that the
Conservation Commission would be in charge of the responsibility of assigning monitoring duties. McHale mentioned that raising any objections to this plan at this late stage would not do any good and could possibly give future applicants second thoughts about using the Conservation Sub-division approach. McHale moved to recommend approval, Malay seconded. Vote was 5-0 in favor.
The Commission discussed a request from Strafford County Conservation District asking for funding assistance, due to recent major cuts in their budget. Gehl stated that the Conservation Commission was not funded well enough to be able to contribute. After discussion, McHale moved that the request be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen. Malay seconded. Vote was 5-0 in favor.
Craycraft informed the Commission that the final Natural Resources Inventory Report would be completed and the final presentation made in August.
The Commission was informed of time constraints being placed on town staff and advised that this would limit availability for Commission tasks.
New/Old Business
Gehl recommended that the Commission members read the NH Municpal Resource Guidebook. The Commission discussed working with owners of specific properties to encourage them to consider easements. The idea is to identify land that is adjacent to previously protected land in order to build a lengthy “greenway” of undeveloped land. Discussion points included who would be responsible for maintaining such land, whether there would be cost considerations for the town and who might be asked to communicate to landowners about the benefits of easements, etc.
Paddy McHale moved to adjourn and Charlie Berube seconded. Vote was unanimous in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
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