 |
Newbury Conservation Commission (NCC)
May 13, 2014
Approved June 9, 2014
Members Present: Katheryn Holmes, Chair; Eric Unger, Vice-Chair, Chuck Crickman, Bob Stewart, Members; Bill Annable, Alternate; Dick Wright, Ex-Officio.
Ms. Holmes called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Minutes
There were no minutes available for review.
Wild Goose Update
Ms. Holmes reviewed the status of the proposed boat launch by NH Fish & Game at the Wild Goose site on Lake Sunapee. She distributed materials prepared by June Fichter, executive director, Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) pertaining to the latest appeal that LSPA and the Town of Newbury have made to the NH Supreme Court. She asked the Commissioners to review the materials and be prepared for discussion of same at the NCC’s next meeting. The materials covered the LCIP status to the Wild Goose property and the ramifications to other LCIP properties should the NH Supreme Court uphold Fish & Game’s request to move forward with the boat launch project.
The Commissioners decided that they could vote on supporting LSPA’s development of an amicus document regarding the LCIP history for submission to the NH Supreme Court by June 9, 2014.
Mr. Stewart made a motion stating that the Newbury Conservation Commission (NCC) fully supports the written document being developed by LSPA and the Town of Newbury for submission to the NH Supreme Court by June 9, 2014, and that the NCC will sign said document. Mr. Unger seconded the motion. All in favor.
Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition (SRKGC) Presentation
Gerry Gold of the SRKGC met with the Commissioners and discussed the upcoming trail work outreach programs planned by the SRKGC for this summer into fall. He said last year there were up to 20 volunteers who helped with the trail work, which involved lopping low branches from trees and general light trail maintenance. He noted that there is a “Newbury Trail Day” and asked for support in spreading the word for volunteers to help with the town trail maintenance.
Mr. Gold described the long term goals of the SRKGC, its funding structure, and the need for raising matching funds. Ms. Holmes suggested that he contact the town administrative assistant regarding placing an article in the upcoming town newsletter and posting announcements on the town website.
INTENTS TO CUT
Mr. Unger reported on the following Intents to Cut:
- May 8, 2014, to Henk & Mary Oolders, 3700 S. Westport Ave. # 1339, Sioux Falls, SD, for property located on South Road, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 35-118-248, 1,000 feet of white pine and 6,000 feet of oak, logger Scott Hill, Box 13, Newbury, NH, telephone (603) 496-8046.
There was discussion regarding the application process for this Intent to Cut. The first application was submitted in December 2013 with a significantly larger amount of board feet to be cut. Commissioners discussed at length the high water reference line on the property, the tree marking that took place, and the multiple site visits by the Board of Selectmen, the NCC and the Code Enforcement Officer (CEO).
BUFFER ZONE CUTS
Commissioners reviewed the following Buffer Zone Cuts:
- April 28, 2014 to James McDonough, 52 Gerald Drive, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 29A-135-448, a request to remove seven (7) dead trees on the property.
- February 6, 2014 to Henk Oolders, for property located on South Road, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 35-118-248.
There was discussion regarding the right of the property owner to cut dead/diseased trees in the buffer zone. Mr. Stewart referred the Commissioners to RSA 483-B which covers the topic. Ms. Holmes noted that she will forward that information to the CEO.
WETLANDS/SHORELANDS
Ms. Holmes reviewed the following communications from the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES):
- May 1, 2014, to Cottage Owners Association, Jeff Wachsmuth, 21 Pine Street, Newbury, NH, for project located at Bowles Road, Newbury, NH Tax Map/Lot # 16-247-321, a Wetlands and Non-Site Specific Permit 2014-00266, to upgrade an existing earthen boat ramp by installing a 12-foot by 28-foot concrete ramp surface with 2-foot by 28-foot riprap drainage aprons along each edge providing access to Lake Sunapee, in Newbury.
- May 5, 2014, to Town of Newbury, Municipal Town Clerk, a Notice of Acceptance of Permit Application Land Resources Management, for property located at 294 Cheney Road, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 41-331-243, regarding Subsurface Systems Bureau Subdivision Approval Application, DES File # 201401137.
- May 1, 2014, to William Weiler, P.O. Box 767, Bradford, NH, a Request for More Information, File # 2014-00420, for property located at 192 Gillingham Drive, Newbury, Tax Map/Lot # 50-200-166.
April 14, 2014, regarding Proposed Title V Operating Permit for PSNH, Schiller Station, 400 Gosling Road, Portsmouth, NH
COMMUNICATIONS
NH Association of Natural Resource Scientist (NHANRS)
Mr. Stewart indicated that he will attend the NHANRS Photointerpretation for Wetland Identification & Classification workshop on May 15th at Plymouth State College.
Newsletters
Ms Holmes reviewed the newsletters from a variety of environmental and natural resource organizations.
OLD BUSINESS
Andrew Brook Trail Parking Lot Project
Ms. Holmes attended a preliminary meeting with a SPNHF wetland scientist and civil engineer, the Newbury Highway Administrator, the Planning Board Chair, and Vice-Chair to review the status to the proposed project. The project is now back to a conceptual phase. She said when SPNHF develops the plan further they will meet with the NCC to present the plan.
Trails/Rails/ROW
Mr. Crickman reported that Mr. Wright has not been able to meet with the property owners regarding their cooperation for moving the project forward.
There was discussion regarding Tim Blagden’s progress with the trails project connecting all the towns from Concord to Newbury. Mr. Blagden has requested some funding from the NCC. Mr. Wright said it is difficult to allocated funds from the BOS slush fund for a project involving other towns and with no clear idea of the project’s outcome.
Mr. Crickman asked if any other Commissioners would be interested in looking at the project with him. Mr. Stewart offered to work with Mr. Crickman.
Ms. Holmes noted that it would be better to separate the NCC’s focus on the Newbury Cut trail from that of the regional Rails/Trails project for the time being.
Mr. Unger made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Crickman seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Whittemore
Recording Secretary
| |
