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Conservation Commission
August 16, 2010
Approved September 14, 2010
Members Present: Katheryn Holmes, Chair; Eric Unger, Vice-Chair; Chuck Crickman, Suzanne Levine, Deane Geddes, Members; Bill Annable, Frank Perotta, Alternates; Dick Wright, Ex-Officio.
Ms. Holmes called the meeting to order at 7:44 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Hazardous Waste Day
Ms. Holmes reminded the Commission’s obligation to the Town (per the Commission’s Bylaws) to assist on Hazardous Waste Day scheduled for August 28, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 12-noon at the new Highway Garage on South Road in Newbury. Commissioners who agreed to attend and help include Ms. Holmes, Mr. Unger, Mr. Geddes, Mr. Wright and Ms. Levine said she would do her best to attend.
Minutes
The Commission reviewed the minutes of July 13, 2010 and made no corrections. Mr. Geddes made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Mr. Unger seconded the motion. All in favor.
INTENTS TO CUT
Mr. Unger reported to the Commission that he made site visits on the following Intents to Cut:
- June 14, 2010 from Alice L. Gove, Alsubet Court, Route 103, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 050 / 563-237, for 15,000 feet of white pine on 1.5 acres, by Chuck Rose, logger/forester, 1081 Battle Street, Webster, NH 03303, telephone (603) 648-2777. This was a second site visit. Mr. Unger said he gave Ms. Gove a copy of the Shoreland Protection Act rules, discussed the proposed cut with her and concluded that Ms. Gove had legitimate concerns about the trees in question.
- July 14, 2010 from Deborah Allen, 140 South Road, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 44 / 567-439, for 20,000 feet of white pine on 6.8 acres, by Dominic T. Albaro, logger/forester, P.O. Box 33, Warner, NH 03278.
- July 21, 2010 from Inna Moore, 34 Echo Cove road, Newbury, MH, Tax Map/Lot # 016 / 596-016. One flagged tree to be removed within the buffer zone without reducing the tree population below the 50 point minimum.
Ms. Holmes said she and Mr. Unger made a site visit to the property of Joyce Singara, 14 Fowler Mill Road, Newbury, NH regarding her request to remove one tree on the edge of Lake Todd and noted that Mr. Wright plans a site visit the following day.
The following Intents to Cut were approved without review from the Commissioners:
- July 14, 2010 from Emily Welsh, Morse Lane, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 33 / 197-164, for 120,000 feet of white pine, 10,000 feet of hemlock, 2,500 feet of white birch, 15,000 feet of oak, 2,000 of beech & soft maple, and 2,000 feet of pallet or tie logs on 100 acres, by Adam E. Mock, logger/forester, 1354 Pleasant Street, Webster, NH 03303, telephone (603) 648-2444.
- July 25, 2010 from Scott Falvey, Morse Lane, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 34 / 185-069, for 5,000 feet of white pine, on 8 acres, by Adam E. Mock, logger/forester, 1354 Pleasant Street, Webster, NH 03303, telephone (603) 648-2444.
WETLANDS/SHORELANDS
Ms. Holmes reviewed the following communications from the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES):
- March 8, 2010 to Barbara Oldman, 936 Route 103A, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 15 / 164-265, a Request for More Information regarding File # 2009-02824 for a Standard Dredge and Fill application.
- July 22, 2010 from Jane L. Clutterbuck Revocable Trust, 111 Hitching Post Lane, Bedford, NH 03110, a Minimum Impact Expedited Application submitted by Richard L. Green, Central Lakes Dock Company, Inc. 848 County Road, New London, NH 03257, telephone (603) 526-9246, regarding enclosing project in a siltation curtain and to replace a 6 foot x 8 foot crib and dock structure.
[Please Note: there was no address for the property on the application. However, it is on Lake Sunapee.]
- July 26, 2010 to Vincent T. O’Neill, 36 Washington Street, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 16A / 329-459, a Shoreland Impact Permit 2010-01685 with Project Specific Conditions to impact 2,180 square feet to remove and existing parking area and construct a 990 square foot primary structure and a pervious parking area.
- July 28, 2010 to Peter A. Paige, 54 Lake Avenue, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 16A / 314-419, a Permit by Notification (PBN) Form, to repair/replace an existing retaining wall, with the damaged section of the wall to be rebuilt on the same footprint.
- July 29, 2010 to Peter & Chastity Santoro, 6 Lake Avenue, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 16A / 352-546, a letter of receipt of a Shoreland Application # 2010-01937 on July 23, 2010.
- August 11, 2010 from Lois M. Logan (Lois M. Logan Revocable Trust), 22 Great Island, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 16 / 782-047, a Minimum Impact Expedited Application to enclose project in a state-approved silt curtain, remove a 6 foot 6 inch x 27 foot dock to access the 6 foot x 6 foot crib, replace the 6 foot x 6 foot crib, having a total impact of 36 square feet.
COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Holmes shared with the Commission the following communications:
- August 13, 2010, an email from Mr. Perotta notifying the Commission of the new director of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition, Nathan Richer of Haynes Road in Newbury.
- August 16, 2010, a letter from Craig Sanborn, The Highlanders, detailing his recommendations regarding the Andrew Brook Trail. (See Attachment A)
OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Levine said she collected $15.00 from the library for the sale of Newbury Trail Maps noting that she left 30 Maps with the librarian for future sale.
There was discussion regarding the procedure involved in Trail Map distribution and fee collection. Ms. Holmes named Mr. Crickman and Ms. Levine to the Trail Map Committee to streamline the Trail Map distribution, fee collection procedure and update the current Map. The committee will report same at the Commission’s next meeting.
Ms. Holmes adjourned the business meeting portion of the Commission at 7:04 p.m.
ANDREW BROOK TRAIL PRESENTATION
Ms. Holmes introduced Brian Hotz, Director of Land Protection for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF). Mr. Hotz met with the Commission regarding the recent 75 acre land gift made to SPNHF by the Goubert Family. The gifted land is located off Mountain Road in Newbury. Mr. Hotz said the land gift allows SPNHF to consider establishing an alternate entry to the existing Andrew Brook Trail that would preserve the trail access forever.
Mr. Hotz summarized for the Commission the current status of the Andrew Brook Trailhead, noting that it currently crosses through three pieces of private property before reaching state park property. Mr. Hotz said that the current trailhead is not being challenged by the three property owners. However, SPNHF is interested in starting discussions with the Commission regarding strategies to relocate the trailhead to the Goubert Family gifted land.
Mr. Hotz discussed with the Commissioners the proposed new trailhead, noting that there is an established “dozer” road that stretches from Mountain Road through the property and could be used to construct 75 percent of the proposed new trailhead.
The necessity of constructing a parking lot for 20 to 25 cars was discussed along with concerns over who would be responsible for trail maintenance and parking lot upkeep (maintenance, snow plowing, etc.).
There was discussion about the possibility of SPNHF partnering with the Town regarding establishing the parking lot, upgrading the “dozer” road, and creating a new trail to complete the final 25 percent of trail needed to connect to the Andrew Brook Trail in the state park.
Mr. Hotz said SPNHF envisions the project as a two-step process: (1) develop a plan, funding mechanism, construction schedule and ongoing maintenance for the parking lot; and (2) develop a plan, funding mechanism, upgrading, new construction, and ongoing maintenance for the trailhead. Commissioners discussed possible alternatives for fundraising, partnering, and project schedule.
It was decided that SPNHF should initiate the process by generating a written proposal on the project that addresses the above two-step process, estimated budget for implementation and ongoing maintenance, potential partners, abutters’ concerns, and anticipated short- and long- term challenges to the project.
Mr. Wright noted that the above planning must be in place before the Town and Board of Selectmen (BOS) can consider entering into discussions with SPNHF.
Elizabeth Ashworth, an abutter, was present in the audience. Ms. Ashworth stated that she was not opposed to the project but requested that the proposed project contain thoughtful planning and be tastefully done (no lighting or pavement, etc.). She also expressed concern about how the proposed project would increase the number of cars. Mr. Hotz said SPNHF intends to fully include all abutters to the gifted land and address all concerns as the planning process evolves.
Mr. Hotz and the Commissioners agreed that there was no urgency to move forward quickly and that thorough planning and discussion is the preferred way to proceed.
There was further general discussion about the existing trail and the potential of the proposed new trailhead.
Mr. Geddes made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Levine seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Whittemore
Recording Secretary
Attachment A
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