Conservation Commission
March 8, 2011
Approved April 12, 2011
Members Present: Katheryn Holmes, Chair; Eric Unger, Vice-Chair; Chuck Crickman, Deane Geddes, Members; Bill Annable, Frank Perrotta, Alternates.
Ms. Holmes called the meeting to order at 4:38 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Minutes
The Commission reviewed the minutes of February 8, 2011 and made corrections. Mr. Crickman made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections. Mr. Perotta seconded the motion. All in favor.
INTENTS TO CUT
Mr. Unger reported that he reviewed one Intent to Cut:
- February 28, 2011, from Marion DeRoche, P.O. Box 15, Newbury, NH, for property located at South Road, South Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 035-251-252, for 25,000 feet of white pine, 30 feet of hardwood & aspen, 30 feet of pine and 90 feet of hemlock, by forester/logger Scott Hill, P.O. Box 13, South Newbury, NH 03272, telephone (603) 938-5994.
WETLANDS/SHORELANDS
The Commission reviewed a Minimum Impact Expedited Application for dredge and fill from the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) for Briott LLC, 1153 South Road, Hopkinton, NH 03229, for property located at Southgate Road, Newbury, NH, Tax Map/Lot # 051-694-483, submitted by Luke D. Hurley, Gove Environment Services, Inc., 118 Portsmouth Avenue, Suite B201, Stratham, NH 03885, telephone (603) 778-0644, for a driveway crossing to access a single-family lot with proposed impacts of 1,975 square feet of wetland and the importation of 2-15”, 33’ HDPE culverts to convey the water from the south to the north through the system.
There was general discussion about the application and the parcel involved.
Ms. Holmes noted the following portion of the application and read it into the record: “The DES Wetlands Bureau is required to act on minimum impact applications meeting all criteria for expedited review with 30 days of DES’ `Notice of Administrative Completeness.’ However, applicants are advised that work carried out before receiving a written permit issued by the DES Wetlands Bureau may not be covered under the federal Army Corps of Engineers State Programmatic General Permit (effective June 2, 2002) and therefore may be in violation federal law.”
There was further discussion about the size of the property, boundary lines, tax maps, silt fences, proposed house site, access road width and culvert locations.
There was general discussion regarding the deadline for signing off on the application. Mr. Geddes read the following statement on the application into the record: If Conservation Commission does not sign this statement for any reason, then the application shall not be eligible for expedited processing and shall be reviewed as a standard application.”
There was further discussion about the scope of the proposed project and the thoroughness of the application and the site plans. There was further discussion about the size of the culverts and the width of the driveway.
Ms. Holmes asked the Commissioners whether or not Mr. Hurley should make a full presentation to the Commission. The general consensus was that a full presentation was not needed.
Mr. Geddes said he intends to research the application reference to RSA 482-A:11, which does not appear in the New Hampshire Planning and Land Use Regulation (2010-2011 Edition) handbook issued by the NH Office of Energy and Planning (OEP).
The Commission signed off on the Minimum Impact Expedited Application and Ms. Holmes asked the Recording Secretary to contact Mr. Hurley by phone to let him know that the application was reviewed and signed off by the Commission. The Recording Secretary agreed to do so on March 9, 2011.
COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Holmes reviewed with the Commission the following communications:
- Saving Special Places Conference, April 9, 2011, sponsored by the UNH Cooperative Extension. Mr. Crickman said he would attend as a representative of the Commission.
- The Municipal Turf & Ground Conference on March 23, 2011.
- The Source publication regarding drinking water protection, http://www.desnh.gov.
- UNH publications including Pastures of Plenty: The Future of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Conservation in New England (2008), The Real Dirt: Toward Food Sufficiency and Farm Sustainability in New England (2010).
- Taking Action for Wildlife newsletter, Winter 2010, published by a partnership of NH Fish and Game and UNH Cooperative Extension.
Ms. Holmes circulated communications from the Planning Board that included a Notice of Decision regarding the Baker Hill Golf Course site plan review for the paving of their parking lot and a notice of continuance for the Brett & Cindi Croft final site plan review application for a cottage industry.
Ms. Holmes reviewed the Lake Sunapee Watershed Infrastructure Project Presentation that was given on March 1, 2011 at the scheduled Planning Board work session meeting. Sponsored by the Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA), Antioch University and University of New Hampshire (UNH), the project involved research and assessment of the local stormwater infrastructure, namely culverts, and presented the findings to local municipalities as a tool to use for future planning. The project was funded through a grant from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The cost analysis of the research and assessments will be released in May 2011.
The presentation included research on past, current and projected stormwater runoff, current and future development trends and a detailed description of the Lake Sunapee watershed. Detailed information on culverts was presented with emphasis on the different types of culverts, effectiveness of current culverts and recommendations for improvements.
OLD BUSINESS
Trail Maps
Mr. Perrotta said the amended Trail Maps have been distributed in the library, the new bait shop, Bubba’s restaurant and the Quick Stop. Each location received 20 copies containing the tri-fold insert.
Mr. Geddes asked how the money for the maps would be collected at each site. Mr. Perrotta said he prepared containers with the Trail Map price ($1.00) listed and a slot in the top for the money. He added that The Fells may have an interest in selling them as well and that Mr. Crickman was going to explore that possibility.
Mr. Crickman suggested that the Commission offer The Fells a 50/50 split on the sale price of the maps. There was discussion regarding that possibility.
CAP Newbury Elderly Housing Project
Ms. Holmes said CAP has requested that the Conservation Commission review the proposed project and submit its written comments by April 19, 2011. She asked the Commissioners to review the site plan and share their thoughts on the proposed project.
Ms. Holmes reviewed the proposed project to date, noting that the applicant is now at the preliminary site plan review stage with the Planning Board following a Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) hearing on two requests for variances (frontage and density). She said the ZBA granted A Time Limit on the Variance with a time limit on the variance(s) of 12 months from January 10, 2011. She said the Planning Board and the ZBA received many letters pertaining to the proposed project.
Ms. Holmes indicated that issues of concern to the Commission when reviewing this project include the impact on steep slopes, wetlands and Lake Sunapee.
There was general discussion regarding the proposed project.
Ms. Holmes suggested holding a special meeting at the end of April devoted to the full discussion and review of the proposed project.
Mr. Perrotta said the meeting should include special emphasis on water runoff, septic impacts, and potential degradation of the lake.
Mr. Annable expressed his concern about the quality of life for the residents, given the location of the proposed building.
Mr. Crickman asked if the Planning Board and the ZBA cover all of the aforementioned aspects of the project.
Mr. Geddes said yes, the land use boards cover the questions and issues raised by the Commissioners and added that the LSPA has hired its own engineer to oversee the project and the Planning Board has hired (at the applicant’s expense) an independent engineer to supervise the project moving forward.
NEW BUSINESS
Croft ZBA Hearing
There was general discussion concerning the Brett & Cindi Croft final site plan review before the Planning Board and the Croft request for two special exceptions (accessory apartment and cottage industry) that was scheduled for the ZBA meeting on March 7, 2011 at 7:15 p.m.
Ms. Holmes said the ZBA hearing was continued until March 28, 2011 at 7:15 p.m. pending advice from legal counsel. She added that the Crofts will not be able to proceed to a final site plan review until the ZBA rules on the two special exception applications.
Mr. Perrotta mentioned outreach efforts concerning the Barry Conservation Camp. Ms. Holmes requested that he discuss the topic at the next meeting. Mr. Perrotta agreed.
Mr. Geddes made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Unger seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Whittemore
Recording Secretary
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