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Home My Public Portal AboutConsComm Min 2000-03-14Try.FFrIcRsLt_EI,A.1_41,1S,Minutes —Orleans Conservation Commission _ Town Hall , Work Meeting, Tuesday, March 14, 2000 CO 11023 .� 1 0 ' T' PRESENT: Bill Stowell, Chairman; George Christie, Bill Parish, Judy Scanlon, Jim Snedecor and Andree Yager, voting Commissioners; and Jenny Wood, Conservation Administrator. ABSENT: Arnold Henson, Adrienne Pfluger, Don Tomlin and Bob Ward. The meeting opened at 8:35 a.m. Gloria Mellin of the Orleans Citizens Forum was present. EXECUTIVE SESSION — Michael Ford MOTION: On a motion by George Christie and seconded by Bill Parish, the Commission voted to go into Executive Session at 8:38 a.m. to discuss pending litigation. VOTE: On a roll call vote, Bill Parish, George Christie, Bill Stowell, Andree Yager, Judy Scanlon and Jim Snedecor voted "in". MOTION: On a motion by George Christie and seconded by Bill Parish, the Commission voted to go out of Executive Session at 9:10 a.m. VOTE: On a roll call vote, Bill Parish, George Christie, Bill Stowell, Andree Yager, Judy Scanlon and Jim Snedecor voted "out". NOTICE OF INTENT (CONTINUATIONS) Connie and Van Geraniotis ,19 Sages Way .... by Ryder & Wilcox, Inc. Assessor's Map 5, Parcel 14. Amendment is due to site plan changes, including additional landscape design work involving some grading and planting within the buffer zone of a coastal bank and an inland vegetated wetland in accordance with plans on file. David Lyttle and Dr. Geraniotis were in attendance. David explained that, as a result of the last meeting, he had revised the planting plan to indicate the 3 proposed phases and drafted a construction protocol for the landscaping. He distributed the revised plan, the protocol and a letter from the landscaper, Allen Abrahamson, addressing JW's concerns about the proposed plant types. The 3 phases will involve: 1) landscaping and grading work on the northwest side of the property between the timber stairway and the house and cutting of the bamboo; 2) regrading of the area north of the approved limit of work line after pool construction and meeting with JW to discuss further grading; and 3) landscaping work to the north, almost entirely outside the 100' line, as approved in the original Order of Conditions. JW questioned the necessity of the 4' path included as part of Phase 1. David explained that there was no longer a bulkhead on the northeast corner of the property in the 50' buffer zone, so the proposed path will now be outside the 50' setback and they just want to clear out some brambles if JW okays. MOTION: A motion to close the hearing to the taking of testimony was made by Bill Parish and seconded by George Christie. Minutes Work Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2000 VOTE: Unanimous MOTION: A motion to approve Phase 1 of the above project with the Conservation Administrator's participation and also to approve cutting of the bamboo with all work completed before Phase 2 of the project is started, subject to the special condition that the field grass is to be mowed once a year in the fall not lower than 2'/� - 3" in height, was made by Bill Parish and seconded by Andree Yager. VOTE: 5-0-1. George Christie abstained. JW said the Commission could also approve Phases 2 and 3 of the project, with Phase 2 contingent on site inspection of the Phase 1 work. MOTION: A motion to approve Phase 3 of the above project was made by Andree Yager and seconded by Bill Parish. VOTE: 5-0-1. George Christie abstained. MOTION: A motion to approve Phase 2 of the above project, only after the Conservation Commission makes a site inspection and Phase `'work is completed, was made by Bill Parish and seconded by Judy Scanlon. VOTE: 5-0-1. George Christie abstained. CHAIRMAN'S BUSINESS Approval of Minutes of March 7, 2000 Hearing MOTION: A motion to approve the minutes of the March 7, 2000 hearing as amended was made by Bill Parish and seconded by Andree Yager. VOTE: Unanimous CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE HH Snow and Sons (1996), 18&22 Main Street -- Orders had been in compliance for construction of a 20' paved drive access to the house behind, drainage catch basins and water service before new project. MOTION: On a motion by Bill Parish and seconded by Judy Scanlon, the Commission granted the Certificate of Compliance. VOTE: Unanimous ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS Orleans Conservation Trust, 13 Champlain -20 Bluerock Road -- AmeriCorps project on 11 acre property, cut trails (4' wide) near wetlands, remove, chip or pile brush, thin trees (approximately 20) to promote understory and space for more desirable trees, remove bittersweet, privet and poison ivy near paths. Bill Stowell asked JW if she had made a site visit and she said that she had. MOTION: On a motion by George Christie and seconded by Bill Parish, the Commission approved the above project. VOTE: Unanimous Donald LeSieur, 17 Little Bay Road -- Install 16' by 32' vegetable garden near top of coastal bank approximately 21-30'. Plot would be divided into small raised beds (about 1' from ground level) with gravel paths in between and a picket fence around. Shrubs would be planted on perimeter of 3 sides of garden to take up excess nitrogen. Organic gardening only. 2 Minutes Work Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2000 MOTION: On a motion byAndree Yager and seconded by NI Parish, the Commission approved the above project. VOTE: Unanimous Anne McDonald, 22 Pershing Lane -- Septic system upgrade, all components of the system are greater than 100' away from the top of the coastal bank except for outlet pipes and rerouting of existing waterline. A dogwood may have to be removed. MOTION: On a motion by George Christie and seconded by Bill Parish, the Commission approved the above project. VOTE: Unanimous Howel T. Evans, 74 Freeman Lane -- by Cape Cod Engineering, Inc. Assessor's Map 1, Parcel 2. Construction of a swimming pool, hot tub, patio, accompanying fence and restorative planting within 100' of the top of a coastal bank, salt marsh and isolated wetland in accordance with plans on file. Bob Perry and Mr. Evans, the property owner, were in attendance. Bob explained that although he and Mr. Evans felt that the plan, variance letter and siting of the project as presented to the Commission at the last meeting satisfied all interests, he had revised that plan to show an alternative site for the pool located at the side of the house. The FEMA map does not show flooding up to the bank to the north of the pool site even though it is the same contour as the bank to the west. The alternative plan shows all work 50' from the resource area, but the fencing around the pool will block the current views of Rachel's Cove from Freeman Lane. Bob said that each alternative protects the interests of the coastal bank and the only difference is an aesthetics issue. Mr. Evans said that he had purchased the property because of its location and the view of the Cove from 2 sides and the proposed alternative site for the pool ruins this. Bill Stowell pointed out that the alternative site doesn't require a variance but the original site does. JW said that they could scale back the patio size in the original plan to be outside the 50' buffer (with only access to the construction site requiring a variance) and provide a 25' vegetated buffer on the top of the coastal bank. Bob Perry said that there is a lot of vegetation on the bank and they want to landscape to help stabilize the bank. He also said the patio could be cut in half on the north side, with just a 4' pathway to walk around the pool area, and the pool could be shortened slightly. Anne Donaldson, an abutter, provided a letter to the Commissioners and said that there was no coastal erosion on the bank and no impact on the wetlands except for aesthetics because of the contour of the land. JW said that the Commission could accept the plan subject to Bob Perry making the required changes and submitting a revised plan. Bill Stowell said that the new plan needed to show 1' taken off the pool, the pool sited 1' closer to the house, the patio cut down to a 4' pathway around the pool, elimination of the paved concrete walkway and creation of a vegetated buffer at the top of the coastal bank with mowing to not less than a 2' -3" in height. MOTION: A motion to close the hearing to the taking of testimony was made by Bill Parish and seconded by George Christie. VOTE: Unanimous 3 Minuites Work Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2000 Bill Stowell read the variance request into the record. MOTION: A motion to approve the original plan for the above project, amended according to the recorded changes agreed upon between the engineer and the Conservation Commission, to take effect upon receipt of the revised plan by the Conservation Administrator and also to approve the variance request, since there would be no adverse environmental impact and there were no significant improvements to the original plan, was made by George Christie and seconded by Andree Yager. VOTE: Unanimous The Commission recessed briefly at 10:26 a.m. and reconvened at 10:29 a.m. Letter to Board of Selectmen on Plans for New Town Hall — Bill Stowell asked the Commissioners for their comments on the proposed design for the new Town Hall building. Bill Parish said that the inside office space should be reconfigured so that the Planning and Conservation Departments were not together in one office and he thought the staircase was a waste of space. George Christie said the entry way would be used as an art gallery and agreed that the Planning and Conservation space could be reconfigured. Andree Yager suggested putting the Conservation office closer to the Health department. Bill Stowell said that the Commissioners had been invited by Bob Anslow to the Thursday morning meeting of the Town Hall Building Committee and he suggested designating a few members to attend. Andree Yager and Judy Scanlon agreed to attend. The meeting closed at 10:52 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Penny Noll, Conservation Commission Secretary Approved j/ we -a_ Date � 2 €SP7 2000 4