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Conservation Commission
April 12, 2011
Approved June 14, 2011
Members Present: Katheryn Holmes, Chair; Eric Unger, Vice-Chair; Chuck Crickman, Suzanne Levine, Members; Bill Annable, Alternate; Dick Wright, Ex-Officio.
Ms. Holmes called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Minutes
The Commission reviewed the minutes of March 8, 2011 and made corrections. Mr. Unger made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections. Mr. Crickman seconded the motion. All in favor.
Election of Officers
Ms. Holmes turned the meeting over to the Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary called for a motion to elect the Conservation Commission Chair for the upcoming year.
Mr. Unger made a motion to elect Katheryn Holmes as the Conservation Commission Chair for the upcoming year. Ms. Levine seconded the motion. All in favor.
The Recording Secretary turned the meeting over to the Chair, Ms. Holmes.
Ms. Holmes called for a motion to elect the Conservation Commission Vice-Chair for the upcoming year.
Ms. Holmes made a motion to elect Mr. Unger as the Conservation Commission Vice-Chair for the upcoming year. Ms. Levine seconded the motion. All in favor.
INTENTS TO CUT
Mr. Unger reported one Intents to Cut: Richard Messer, 84 Forest Brook Road, Newbury. He noted that this is the largest buffer zone cut the he has seen as verified by a site visit and added that most of the trees shown to be cut on the survey are flagged for removal. Additionally, he said he talked with the logger.
Mr. Unger submitted the following comments to the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on March 27, 2011:
- Application form is obsolete.
- The attached Zoning Regulations are obsolete.
- No photos are included as required by both old and new applications.
- The survey indicates up to 70% of standing trees in the buffer zone are to be cut. If completed as shown, the remaining trees would total 50 points per grid. Fifty points is the minimum required to avoid a Shoreland Protection Act violation.
- Survey shows buffer zone trees to be cut on the abutting lot.
Mr. Unger recommended to the BOS that, although the proposed cut meets the minimum DES requirements, the number of trees removed be reduced noting that the loss of one tree could conceivably result in a buffer zone violation. He further recommended that applicants receive current application forms, the appropriateness of submitting photos with applications, and the benefit of a site visit before approving the application.
There was significant discussion concerning the current procedures surrounding Intents to Cut, the Commission’s role in overseeing this area, and the BOS’ role and procedures concerning Intents to Cut. Mr. Wright said he would follow up on this application and report back to the Commission at its next meeting.
There was further discussion about the need for low vegetation planting after the cut is completed to prevent erosion. Additionally, the Commission discussed the evolution of the current approach to cuts in the buffer zone. Ms. Holmes said she wanted to see the DES permit for this cut.
WETLANDS/SHORELANDS
Ms. Holmes reviewed the following communications from the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES):
- March 29, 2011, to Town of Newbury, P.O. Box 296, Newbury, NH 03255, a Wetlands and Non-Site Specific Permit 2010-02571, for property located at Cheney Road, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 4 / ROW, to dredge and fill +/- 200 square feet of Shaw Brook to replace two (2) crossings at Cheney Road, including replacement of an existing 48-inch x 25-foot CMP with an 83-inch x 35-foot arch CMP and an existing 53-inch x 30-foot CMP with and 83-inch x 40-foot arch CMP.
- April 6, 2011, to Landing Boat Club, c/o Joel Carpenter, P.O. Box 1131, New London, NH 03257, a Wetlands and Non-Site Specific Permit 2010-03364, for property located at 25 Lake Avenue, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 16A / 471, to remove 146 square feet of deck surface from the south end of the existing wharf restoring it to the pre-existing dimensions of 73.8 feet x 22.1 feet.
Ms. Holmes noted that the Commission will send its Response Letter to DES permits to the above.
Additionally, Ms. Holmes shared the following letter from the DES:
- March 7, 2011, to William Johnson, New England Handicapped Sports Association, P.O. Box 2135, Newbury, NH 03255, a five-year extension amending RSA 485-A:17 Alteration of Terrain, for New England Handicapped Sports Association Adaptive Sports & Therapeutic Recreation Facility, Tax Map/Lot # 412 / 32 & 13 in Goshen, NH and # 386-092-00 in Newbury, NH.
COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Holmes said the Commission’s Response Letter to DES permits has received positive feedback from the chairs of area Conservation Commissions at a recent meeting at Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. Likewise, DES has shared its support of the Commission’s follow up efforts in Newbury.
Ms. Holmes noted the following upcoming workshops and invited interested Commissioners to attend:
- May 10, 2011, DES Drinking Water Source Protection Workshop, sponsored by the American Ground Water Trust, Concord, NH. The workshop will be held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.
- April 27, 2011, Conservation Options Workshop, sponsored by The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, Upper Valley Land Trust, Grantham Conservation Commission, and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. The workshop will be held at Grantham Town Hall.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Crickman reported on the Saving Special Places Conference held on April 9, 2011 which he attended as Commission representative. He said the conference covered deeds for conservation easement and information on trails. He shared two books from the conference, Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)’s Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance and Southern NH Trail Guide 2010.
Ms. Holmes suggested that the Commission might consider mounting a workshop on Newbury’s trails.
There was discussion about establishing a walking trail along the old railroad bed, the challenges of doing so and several potential strategies for accomplishing the task. The Commission discussed the topic in relation to providing a footpath connecting the proposed Newbury Elderly Housing Project proposed by CAP.
The Commission discussed the feasibility of an easement for the railroad bed and what is involved to obtain the remaining parts of the bed up to the Newbury Cut.
Ms. Holmes raised the point of considering working towards placing the remaining 23 acres of the proposed CAP project property into a conservation easement. Mr. Wright said an easement may not be necessary since there is no development planned for that remaining acreage.
Mr. Crickman suggested a strategy that would allow the town legal access to all the land next to the Davis property and, as part of the CAP project approval process, have that land ceded over to the town.
Ms. Holmes asked Mr. Crickman to write down his suggestions and strategies and note all the property owners along the railroad bed. She said that information will serve as a starting point for the Commission’s consideration on how to proceed.
NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Holmes reviewed the Commissioners’ comments regarding the proposed Newbury Elderly Housing Project and reviewed the information packet that will be submitted to the Planning Board as the CC’s requested input regarding the project.
There was discussion about the history of the Davis property and the Cap project. Ms. Holmes noted that the long and short term impact to the town must be considered thoroughly as this application moves through the review process.
There was discussion about the Veteran’s Hall and septic systems used for community use.
Mr. Crickman noted that the New London Information Booth carries the Newbury Trail Maps. He said he collected $24 in Trail Map sales and was instructed to give it to Deb Prussman for processing.
Mr. Unger made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Wright seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Whittemore
Recording Secretary
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