Approved Cons Comm Mtg Mins
Approved
Wellfleet Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
March 1, 2017
Town Hall Meeting Room
Attendees: Acting Chair Ed Simpson, Barbara Brennessel, Ginie Page, Lauren McKean, and Ali Sands, Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos and Christine Bates, Committee Secretary
Regrets: Trudy Vermehren and John Portnoy
4:00 pm
Denny O’Connell stated he would like to discuss the kayak regulations.
Charter Review – the possibility of having alternates for the commission.
Open Space Committee – meet with Tom Slack. Opinion on Pleasant Point issue
He stated he has no objection to the consideration of sale of Town property to owners of abutters. The Open Space Committee and NRA wants to be certain that if there are changes in ownership that there not be any obstruction to access to the property. They feel the property would include just the wall. Denny O’Connell stated there would have to be an agreement for access so work can be done on the bulkhead. The property for sale was on a warrant several years ago and was turned down. After reviewing the maps, there is access to the land. The only land to be sold is the banking behind the wall. The property owners would require an easement from the town for heavy equipment for the repair of the wall. Meeting minutes from June 2014, September 17, 2014 and August 5, 2015 were read into the record. Ms. Wright came to the meeting to discuss the bulkhead. Issues regarding maintenance, ownership, and access were discussed. Denny O’Connell feels the private property owners will have a greater interest in the repair of the bank and the bulkhead.
Article 37: Ed Simpson moved to approve the sale of the property with the authority of the Board of Selectmen; No response. Agent Greenberg Lemos read the warrant regarding the sale of the property. Ed Simpson moved to sell the property based on the language in the warrant; seconded by Ginie Page; 3 – 1.
Article 38: septic easement for 15 Kendrick Ave, town owns the parking lot but not the buildings. An easement is required for septic maintenance. Barbara Brennessel recommends the adoption of the town article; seconded by Ali Sands; passed 4-0.
Map 8, Parcel 270 transfer control from the Board of Selectmen to Conservation Commission control. Ed Simpson moved to recommend the adoption of this warrant; seconded by Ali Sands, passed 3-0-1. (Ginie Page recusing)
Map 41, Parcel 189 - (Mill Hill Island), Barbara Brennessel recommends; Ali Sands seconded; passed 3-0 (Ginie Page recused).
Agent Lemos distributed the revised draft of the regulations and revised section 2.6 (kayaks and small vessels). Denny O’Connell made recommendations to the wording of the regulations. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated the Ecological Restoration section, 2.02 regarding cutting, pruning, and vista pruning could be included in the regulations or request people to utilize the guidelines which are available to the public. Barbara Brennessel feels it should be included in the regulations. Agent Greenberg-Lemos requested the commission review the proposed changes and they will be discussed at a future meeting. The commission will vote on the regulations at the April 19th meeting.
The business meeting closed at 5:00 pm
Mail / Discussion
Jurisdictional Opinions
Meeting Minutes
Public Hearings 5:00 pm:
Haggerty, 615 Chequessett Neck Rd., Map 19, Parcel 118, Certificate of Compliance (Cont’d) Charles Wentz from Ponderosa Landscaping stated shrubs were installed and the debris on the upper half of the property were cleaned up. Temporary irrigation was used for establishing the plants. Barbara Brennessel moved to approve the Certificate of Compliance; seconded by Ginie Page; passed 5-0.
AJOR, 6325 Chequessett Neck Rd., Map 19, Parcel 117, NOI, remove pool, replace with new pool and patio with mid-level deck. At the request of the applicant, Ginie Page moved to continue to March 15, 2017; seconded by Barbara Brennessel; passed 5-0..
Kamentsky, 0 Anawan Rd., Map 35, Parcel 199, NOI, vista pruning Lauren McKean moved to continue to March 15, 2017 at the request of the applicant; seconded by Ali Sands; passed 5-0.
Olney / Donnelly, 479 Black Pond Rd., Map 4, Parcel 38, NOI, replace wood timber treads with stone steps, stabilize buffer with control measures and plantings. Lauren McKean recused herself. Tim Brady represented the applicant and gave a history of the work that has been done. DEP and NHESP had no comments regarding the project.
Mr. Brady stated it would be difficult to remove the stones which will cause additional erosion. Barbara Brennessel stated she has opposed the stones all along. Ginie Page feels wooden stairs work well. Ed Simpson stated the stones are there now and should not be removed. Theresa Sprauge, landscape architect, stated in reviewing the photographs of the wooden stairs, there were safety issues because people often didn’t use the stairs but walked on the ground following the stairway. She discussed various revegetation options around the current stone walk and the bank. She stated an elevated path and stairway would be an aesthetic concern because the stairs would be so visible. The park service wrote a letter expressing their concerns and the need for a Chapter 91 license for the docks / floats. Tim Brady offered different options for the stone stairway and stated the stone stairway meets the performance standards. Ms. Sprauge stated she would plant undergrowth materials for supporting the bank. Ed Simpson moved to approve the NOI; passed 3-1. Ms. Sprauge will provide an in-depth planting plan. Conditions will be addressed at the next meeting.
Estey, 194 Old Wharf, Map 36, Parcel 20, RDA, septic upgrade. Tim Brady represented the applicant and gave an overview of the project. The lot is small, near a marsh, within the ACEC, and will include an alternative system. Ginie Page identified the RDA as a Negative 2; seconded by Ed Simpson; passed 5-0.
Clark, 615 Chequessett Neck Rd., Map 19, Parcel 118, RDA, remove 2 pines, 3 black locust and revegetation. Charles Wentz represented the applicant and gave an overview of the project. Where the plants will be removed, native plantings will be put in. Barbara Brennessel moved to identify the project as a Negative 3; seconded by Ali Sands; passed 5-0.
Hiawatha Condo Assoc., 100 Hiawatha Rd., Map 28, Parcel 181, RDA, remove invasives, cut scrub oaks. Lee Clark represented the applicants and will perform the work on the property. All work will be done by hand with minor topping of some pine trees. Ed Simpson moved to identify the project as a Negative 3; seconded by Ali Sands; passed 5-0.
Cohn, 40 First Ave., Map 30, Parcel 124, NOI, additions and renovations to dwelling. David Lyttle from Ryder Wilcox, represented the applicant and stated there will be an 8 foot addition as well as a deck, and a screened porch on an existing deck. The work being performed is over existing foundations/structures. Abutter Ms. Dikeman expressed concern to Mr. Lyttle regarding water quality and sharing the well. The Cohn’s may explore finding a location for another well. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated this project is over 5,000 square feet and will have to be reduced. Conversation included various options to reduce the square footage. A letter from Ms. Dikeman was read into the record. Ed Simpson moved to continue to April 5, 2017; seconded by Ginie Page; passed 5-0.
Cohn, 145 Pine Point, Map 21, Parcel 55, NOI, grading, tree management, restoration planting. David Lyttle represented the applicants, along with 2 representatives (Katrine and Andrew) from Wilkinson Ecological Design. There is no dwelling on the property at this point, but a proposed dwelling will be constructed. There will be limited work within the buffer zone. The location of invasive plants was identified which will be removed due to the stress it is creating for the native plants. The pitch pine on the lower west side of the property will be removed due to the beetle infestation. A planting plan was presented and there will be a 3-year management plan. There will be a moderate view corridor. A letter from abutter David Meade Fox expressed concerns regarding Wellfleet Harbor, the walking path by Uncle Tim’s Bridge, and land they own and any impact with environmental concerns. David Lyttle stated he had a conversation with Mr. Fox. Barbara Brennessel stated she had a difficult time identifying the tree ribbons and requested a site visit to identify the trees. Barbara Brennessel moved to approve the NOI; seconded by Ali Sands; passed 5-0.
Donald, 0 Bay View Ave., Map 35, Parcel 39, AOC, change original bulkhead location
Don Monroe and Alfred Pickard represented the applicant. DEP requested the bulkhead be pushed back from the scarp area. Nothing else will be changed in the NOI. The conditions from the original Order of Conditions will stay intact. Conservation Trust sent a letter supporting the project. Ginie Page recused herself. Lauren McKean moved to approve the AOOC, seconded by Ali Sands; 3-0-1 abstaining and 1 recused.
At 7:05 pm, the business meeting was reopened.
There was discussion regarding people in town who have the theory of “just do it” and see if you get caught. The commissioners expressed concern about some projects and will have a discussion regarding fines and violations.
Ed Simpson moved to adjourn at 7:15 pm; seconded by Ginie Page; passed 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Bates, Committee Secretary