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HomeMy Public PortalAbout141 Port Road-2020-11-05141 Portanimicut Road Task Force Meeting, via Zoom, November 5, 2020 PRESENT: Chair Ginny Farber; Vice -Chair Jack Kadzik; Member Suzanne Phillips; Member Kayleen Rosato; Member Russell Holden; Conservation Administrator John Jannell 4:00 p.m. Call to Order New Business Discuss 141 Portanimicut Road on -site visit. The on -site was cancelled because it was not properly posted. Some task force members visited the site independently. Discuss existing single-family home at 141 Portanimicut Road Mr. Jannell said a decision on the building would be helpful soon because the Conservation Department does not have the budget to take it down, so if anything is proposed for the structure he will need to ask for assistance from other departments. Mr. Holden asked Ms. Phillips if she had time to get input from outside parties due to her concerns she expressed at the last meeting that the Task Force was limited to the opinion of only a few. Ms. Philips said she felt she is not going to change her position about the building because she does not think there is enough time for other people to have input, she realizes she will need to be the minority vote. Ms. Rosato believed the public has had ample time to speak up. Mr. Kadzik said he would like to consider keeping the lower level of the building and decking it over because it seemed to him that if there is an interest in putting an upweller on that property it would be good to have electricity and storage. He thought this might save money in that it wouldn't require any landscaping. Ms. Farber said she does not want to keep the foundation because it is a small site that she believes should add to coastal resiliency opportunities and therefore having a pervious surface there does not align with her vision of the property. She also had concerns about liability with a deck on the building site. An upweller for commercial shellfishing not an allowed use for the property, but it could be stretched to recreational shellfish. But in the even it supports a recreational activity that is allowed. Ms. Farber said that they cannot disallow fishing on the property but they can mitigate for the issues that have been discussed. Ms. Phillips wanted to clarify that the upweller would not be to benefit commercial fisherman as there is no commercial oyster harvesting in town. It would be for the benefit of everyone. Ms. Rosato said the cost to maintain any part of the building would be expensive. She questioned what percentage of taxpayers would benefit from an upweller vs the passive recreational activities favored by the task force. Ms. Farber recapped: Ms. Philips wants to keep the building; Mr. Kadzik wants to keep the basement; Ms. Rosato, Mr. Holden and Ms. Farber want the structure down in its entirety. Alan McClennen was present on behalf of the affordable housing committee. He wanted to address no one coming forward with a plan to keep the building. He asked if the task force had asked the affordable housing committee if they had any interest in the building. He was concerned about the housing crisis in Orleans. Mr. Jannell said allowing someone to reside on the property is a preexisting use and there is guidance in Chapter 8 of the Environmental Handbook that goes over Conservation properties that have buildings on them but there has to be a nexus to the care of the conservation property. Mr. Jannell said he would provide this to Mr. McClennen. Mr. Jannell had reached out to Habitat for Humanity and they did take a cursory look at the building and there were not interested at that time. Ms. Rosato agreed there is a huge housing problem, however, if all of the taxpayers have paid for this property how will they benefit from it if only one family is living in the home? She believed it would hinder who wants to go down there to use the property, arguing this is a much smaller property than Sea Call Farm. A different option may be to physically move the building to another location off site. Mr. McClennen will recap this discussion at the Affordable Housing Trust's next meeting on November 17tH Mr. Holden said that in the Task Force charge the property was purchased for open space and recreation purposes, he doesn't see how affordable housing fits in with this charge. Mr. Kadzik weighed in on the housing use: He doesn't think it would be appropriate, he understands the way it was done with Sea Call and that continues to make sense to him but since this site is so small he doesn't see how it could work. Ms. Farber pointed out that additional parking was a high priority for everyone and additional cars for a resident would impact this and potentially take away some open space that is available. She doesn't think it supports the chapter in that there is no maintenance beyond mowing. She had no objection to having the house moved if it's a viable structure. Ms. Phillips agreed that this is not the best site for affordable housing. She does not think it would fit in with some of the other objectives. If the building can't stay on site, she would prefer it moved rather than demolished. MOTION: A motion to send a recommendation to the Conservation Commission to remove the building and foundation, either by demolition or movement off site, at 141 Portanimicut was made by Jack Kadzik and seconded by Russell Holden. VOTE: 4 -1 -0 The recommendation will be on the Conservation Commission agenda on the December 1" hearing. MOTION: A motion to notify the Affordable Housing Trust of the recommendation to the Conservation Commission was made by Jack Kadzik and seconded by Kayleen Rosato. VOTE: 5 -0 -0, Unanimous Mr. Jannell will provide a memo to the Affordable Housing Trust. He reiterated that the final fate of the building will be up to the Conservation Commission. Other Business Ms. Farber asked if we could submit Mr. Holden's site plans to the parking and traffic committee? Mr. Holden is going to first explore a couple of other parking options. Ms. Farber asked Mr. Holden if he could show accommodations for dinghy storage that could then be run by the harbormaster. Mr. Kadzik suggested including a bike rack on the site plan, he also thought there was possibly room for 6 parking spaces. Ms. Farber asked about handicapped spaces and Mr. lannell said we would not have to pave a spot it just has to be a durable surface. Accessibility is covered in Chapter 8, Section 8.75 in the Environmental Handbook, there are no absolute requirements but may want to consider making a trail accessible. He can consult with the harbormaster to see what he does for wheelchair access. Ms. Farber reported on Recreation Advisory Committee proposal at the previous Conservation Commission hearing. They have negotiated a procedures document with the Natural Resources Dept. The document spelled out the responsibilities for both parties. The Committee plans to do a very slow rollout. Review minutes of meeting held on 10/22/20 MOTION: A motion to approve the minutes of 10/22/20 was made by Jack Kadzik and seconded by Suzanne Phillips. VOTE: 5 -0 -0 Mr. lannell asked everyone to reference the charge and review Chapter 8 before the next meeting. MOTION: A motion to adjourn the hearing was made by Kayleen Rosato and seconded by Russell Holden. VOTE: 5 -0 -0 The meeting adjourned the hearing at 4:49 p.m. Submitted by Kristyna Smith, Principal Clerk, Conservation