Approved Conservation Commission Mtg Mins

Meeting date:

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Due to a lack of quorum, the Commission was unable to approve the minutes

Wellfleet Conservation Commission

Meeting Minutes

January 15, 2020

Town Hall Meeting Room

Attendees: Deborah Freeman, Barbara Brennessel, Michael Fisher, Trudy Vermehren, Agent Hillary Greenberg Lemos, and Christine Bates, Committee Secretary

Regrets: John Portnoy and John Cumbler

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

Mail / Discussion

A copy of letter from Agent Hillary Greenberg to property owners of 1400 Chequessett Neck Rd. requesting the stairs be removed for the season due to the sensitive areas.

Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated she was in contact with Jan Plaue of the Wellfleet Local Comprehensive Plan: Agent Greenberg-Lemos reported she offered information for updating their matrix and informing them of future projects.

Notification of the Southeastern Massachusetts Land Trust Convocation to be held on February 1, 2020 at Upper Cape Technical High School in Bourne.

Jurisdictional Opinion: Ginnie Parker, Cottontail Road, requesting permission to construct a fence down the property line. There is a small wetland area on the abutting property. Barbara Brennessel moved to approve the Jurisdictional Opinion; seconded by Michael Fisher; passed 4-0.

Leon Shreves has put in his paperwork to the Select Board for becoming a member of the Commission and will hopefully be approved to join the Commission after the next Select Board meeting.

Michael Fisher stated he has filled out the Disclosure Form which will allow him to participate in hearings and vote on certain properties related to the Conservation Trust. This will go before the next Select Board’s meeting.

Agent Greenberg-Lemos advised the Commission of the topics to be presented to the Select Board on January 28. She stated that she had a conversation with Select Woman Helen Wilson who questioned the Commission’s care and custody of land, stating she is concerned the Commission would restrict access. The Commission makes a yearly site visit of all town conservation properties to ensure the property is managed. It was recommended that the Open Space Committee members come to one of our meetings.

Michael Fisher provided pictures of Long Pond Road and Gull Pond Road showing the run-off from the edge of the pavement where paving has been performed. Sand is running off into the wetland and T-base is being left and not removed. There are several areas on Gull Pond Road where cars are repeatedly parking and destroying vegetation. Barbara Brennessel recommended having DPW come to a meeting to have a discussion regarding paving which would include Gull Pond Road, Long Pond Road and Lt. Island Road. Additional sites were discussed which will be addressed with the DPW.

There was discussion regarding the various boards and committees who want to make regulations/changes within the Town regarding climate change. Barbara Brennessel stated it is important that boards and committees are collaborating on what the Town can do regarding regulations and what Boards/Committees/Commissions can regulate the changes.

DLTA: will be discussed at a future meeting.

The State will make a site visit regarding the shellfish cultch areas on January 31 (date not finalized). The Shellfish community may request permits for additional culching areas in the Harbor. Barbara Brennessel feels that there need to be some areas available to the public for swimming and kayaking.

Meeting Minutes: to be addressed when there is a quorum.

Trudy Vermehren asked if the Town has any plan for the Duck Creek erosion that is taking place. She stated the Mason’s parking area has debris within the wetlands and erosion is taking place at the lumber yard and Glucksman’s property. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated that she has not heard of any discussion within the Town.

It will take at least 3 years to dredge the Harbor.

Dan Hoort has issued his retirement plans and will be leaving the town in June 2020.

5:00 pm PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Town of Wellfleet, Maps 41 and 42, NOI, repave Lt. Island Road from Rte. 6 to Catboat Road, catch basins to be removed and replaced with deep sump pumps with heads (Cont’d). At the request of the DPW, Barbara Brennessel moved to continue to March 4, 2020; seconded by Michael Fisher; passed 4-0.

Pierce Family Trust Realty, 925 Chequessett Neck Rd., Map 19, Parcel 100, Certificate of Compliance. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated the project is in compliance. Barbara Brennessel moved to grant the Certificate of Compliance; seconded by Deborah Freeman; passed 4-0 (with on-going conditions).

Michaud, 210 Kendrick Ave., Map 20, Parcel 29, Certificate of Compliance. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated the project was in compliance. Trudy Vermehren moved to approve the Certificate of Compliance; seconded by Barbara Brennessel; passed 4-0.

LaBarge, 195 Briar Lane, Map 13, Parcel 119, RDA, remove trailer and shed #3, remove concrete pad behind shed, remove a fill root cellar, revegetate. Todd LaBarge came to the table and stated they want to modify the existing deck and build a screened porch. The trailer has been on the property for many years and they want it removed, as well as a small shed and concrete pad. The root cellar is approximately 6 feet deep. Drip lines will be installed on the upper deck. Trudy Vermehren identified the RDA as a Negative 2; seconded by Barbara Brennessel; passed 4-0.

SLA Nominee, 1005 Chequessett Neck Rd., Map 19, Parcel 94, NOI, Proposed replacement of an existing coastal engineering structure (Cont’d). At the request of the applicant, Michael Fisher moved to continue to February 5, 2020; seconded by Trudy Vermehren; passed 4-0.

Sandy Shoes, 135 Highmeadow Rd., Map 12, Parcel 131, NOI, create view corridor by topping 5 pine trees and trimming 3 oak trees (Cont’d). David Lajoie, Jeremy Young and Ted Macaphee, arborist, came to the table. Trudy Vermehren reviewed the previous meeting minutes to become familiar with the property and the projects.

Trudy Vermehren stated that she did not see a good replanting plan and only the steps have been removed. Jeremy Young stated that everything was approved in October and the removal of the boulders was completed in November. He stated that replanting will be performed in April and or May. Ted Macaphee identified a dead tree within 10 feet of Eversource power lines which Eversource will remove. The other trees need to be pruned. He planned to do selective pruning of the oak trees. Bartlett Tree Service recommended topping of 3 to 4 feet from the 4 pine trees. David Lajoie identified the planned revegetation from the original filing. Ted Macaphee recommended smaller plants / trees be planted where the pine trees will be removed. Trudy Vermehren recommended removing all the pines and planting cedars and junipers which will be lower in height. Oak trees to remain. The Commission stated they wanted a 3:1 planting plan. Winter is the best time to remove the trees. There was discussion regarding the timing of removal of trees and replanting. Jeremy Young stated that there are new dead trees on the property within the last 2 or 3 weeks. Trudy Vermehren stated she feels the pines should be removed now since the beetle infestation will be an on-going issue. The Commission requested that David Lajoie supply a new plan with the consent of the property owner. Barbara Brennessel moved to continue to February 4, 2020; seconded by Michael Fisher; passed 4-0.

Michael Fisher moved to adjourn at 6:15; seconded by Barbara Brennessel; passed 4-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine Bates, Committee Secretary

Materials provided:

Pierce Family Trust Realty: Request for Certificate of Compliance

Michaud: Request for Certificate of Compliance

LaBarge: RDA, site plan and design of porch

Sandy Shoes: revised planting plan