Approved Cons Comm Mtg Mins

Meeting date:

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Approved

Wellfleet Conservation Commission

Meeting Minutes

January 4, 2017

COA

Attendees: Trudy Vermehren, Barbara Brennessel, John Portnoy, Ginie Page, Ali Sands and Lauren McKean.

Regrets: Ed Simpson

4:00 - Business Meeting & Conservation Agent's Report

Mail / Discussion

Letter from Friends of Herring River – A letter to the Board of Selectmen to keep them informed of the status and advances made in the project. Trudy Vermehren shared a posting she found on Facebook regarding dying species in Canada.

Letter from Friends of Herring River to shellfish license holders and grant holders.

Letter from Friends of Herring River regarding an article in Cape Cod Times.

E-mail from Town Administrator’s office regarding proposed articles on the disposition of land to Conservation Commission, Map 8 Parcel 270 and Map 41, Parcel 189. Board of Selectmen notification regarding the movement of the above referenced lots.

Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos will review the Blasch and Gilson files regarding the stairways.

Kathleen Walker and Andy Scherding own New England Endurance Events and they stated they would like to discuss a proposed survival race within the National Seashore, and ending at Mayo Beach (a triathlon of biking, swimming and running). Walker stated there is a similar event in Nickerson State Park that they manage. Andy Scherding stated they have been discussing the proposed event with the National Seashore, the Police Department, and other departments in town. The first race would be in 2018. The biking would start at Mayo Beach, proceed to Truro and Provincetown; the running would start within the National Seashore, with swimming at Higgins into Gull Pond, then run to Great Pond, swim in Great Pond, run to Long Pond, and final swim at Long Pond with the final run from Long Pond out to High Toss, Duck Harbor, the Gut and Chequessett Neck, ending at Mayo Beach. Kathleen stated it would consist of approximately 150 people and she didn’t anticipate a cluster of people due to skill level. There are no issues with the terrain for the participants. Support personnel will include lifeguards, water stops, and police details. Family members will not be allowed within the trails. The proposed date is last weekend in June. The commissioner’s expressed concerns about running within the National Seashore because of safety and resource damage, the stretch from High Toss to Duck Harbor and around Griffin Island due to the resources and wildlife, areas for swimming and potential damage to the resources, nesting season with turtles, people on private roads opposing the race, prime shorebird season, and recommended they talk to the proper agencies and come back to the commission.

Jurisdictional Opinions – to discuss after Public Hearings

Meeting Minutes – to be reviewed after Public Hearings

Public Hearings 5:10 pm:

Hay, 205 Commercial St., Map 21, Parcel 113, RDA, replace canvas awning with . permanent porch, add decking to west side of building and relocate middle door to west side (Cont’d). Mac Hay distributed an updated site plan. He identified the helical anchor locations and the drainage which runs into a catch basin. He stated he could add gutters to the roof which will run into the catch basin. It was determined the asphalt could not be removed, but sand and shells will be used if there is any chipped asphalt. Trudy Vermehren moved to identify the NOI as a Negative 3; seconded by Ginie Page; passed 6-0. Supervisor: Doug Guey-Lee.

Easterbrooks,240 Blue Heron Rd , Map 41, Parcel 20, Certificate of Compliance. A site visit was made and the project is in compliance. Trudy Vermehren moved to approve the Certificate of Compliance,; seconded by Barbara Brennessel; passed 6-0.

Sachar, 65 Vanessa’s Way, Map 29, Parcel 248, Certificate of Compliance. The landscaping NOI was never started nor completed by the owner. The commission wanted to offer the owners the opportunity to complete the work within the next three years (2020). Barbara Brennessel moved to approve the Certificate of Compliance and allow work to be done if so desired; seconded by Ali Sands; passed 6-0.

Sachar, 65 Vanessa’s Way, Map 29, Parcel 248, Certificate of Compliance. The porch is in compliance. Trudy Vermehren moved to approve the Certificate of Compliance; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 6-0.

Mead-Fox, 35 Pine Point, Map 21, Parcel 48, RDA, prune for view corridor. Trudy Vermehren recused herself. John Portnoy, Acting Chair, opened the hearing. Trudy Vermehren represented the applicant and gave an overview of the pruning and removal of some dead trees. All debris will be removed by hand and no machinery will be used. A certified arborist reviewed the project and recommended a tree be taken out. Trudy stated there is a lot of vegetation on the property. John Portnoy did not want to see any mowing within the 100 foot buffer zone and would allow the occasional removal of potential woody growth by hand within the resource. The bittersweet could be removed by hand on the west side of the property. Lauren McKean moved to identify this as a Negative 3; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.

Trudy Vermehren moved to closed the public hearings at 6:55 pm and reopen the business meeting; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 6-0.

Jurisdictional Opinion: Galvin, 55 Howland Lane, 14/74 – one dead pine tree to be removed. Trudy Vermehren moved to approve the Jurisdictional Opinion; seconded by Ginie Page; passed 6-0.

Mail: 2 parcels to be managed by the Conservation Commission. Trudy Vermehren moved to take possession of Map 8, Parcel 270 and Map 41, Parcel 189 from Open Space; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 6-0.

A revised site plan of the dredging area in the Harbor was reviewed which also identified the cultching area. The second site plan identified an area where licensed growers would like to use Chinese Hats. This is not noted on the original cultching permit. Chinese hats are considered “fishing” according to Barbara Brennessel, and can be placed anywhere. Barbara would like to have further discussion on this in the future.

Rose Auto-Body yard on Main Street – information was passed to the Building Inspector regarding the automobiles/vehicles on the property without a proper permit by the new owners. Agent Greenberg-Lemos provided aerial photographs showing the things on the property over the years.

Trudy Vermehren moved to adjourn at 6:10 pm; seconded by Barbara Brennessel; passed 6-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine Bates, Committee Secretary