Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes

Approved

Conservation Commission

August 6, 2014

Town Hall Hearing Room

Attendees – Trudy Vermehren, John Portnoy, Cary Rea, Ginie Page and Ed Simpson

Regrets:  Lauren McKean

4:15 - Business Meeting & Conservation Agent's Report

Professor Nicholas Robinson – Climate Change – Sea Level Rise.  Nicholas Robinson is a Professor of Environmental Law at Pace University, and lectures  internationally on the social and legal implications of climate change.  He gave an overview of the effects of accelerating sea-level rise and coastal land loss on insurance needs, the town’s tax base, and accommodating wetland retreat and replacement on lands than are presently coastal uplands.  He stressed being proactive in establishing the future needs of keeping and stabilizing the resources.  He touched on the acidification of the oceans and the impact on shellfish.  Prof. Robinson gave examples of different countries answers for issues such as utilizing rain water to use if rising seas salinate coastal aquifers, and the design of homes to capture rain water in cisterns.  He suggested having a biological survey done in Wellfleet as an early step.  He stated the studies show the Cape will become more like a mid-Atlantic seaboard state in weather and animal habitat by 2100.  He again stressed proactive thinking of the immediate concerns of the town and long range assessment of potential flooding and drainage issues.  He stated mitigation of greenhouse gases should include things like capturing methane emissions from the Town dump).  He stressed the promotion of alternative and distributed energy systems, particularly the kinetic energy available from tides and waves..  Another source to consider is waste to energy systems which are cost effective and provide power.

Prof. Robinson gave an example of the Delta Commission in the Netherlands, where they have developed reservoirs for fresh water, promoted cluster dwelling development in higher elevations, and allowed nature to “do its own thing”.  Barrier reefs have been developed along the outer banks to buffer increasing erosion casued by higher sea level and more powerful storm waves.

He stated local towns will have to invent new regulations based on scientific facts and what the town wants to maintain.  He recommended tapping the National Park Service for information and assistance in proposals to maintain and anticipate climate change impacts.  He stated the worst case studies predict there could be a sea level rise of up to 17 feet as well as storm surges in  Wellfleet Harbor.

He recommended the Commission anticipate sea-level rise and natural disasters when issuing Orders of Condition to those properties in the buffer zones.     

Public Hearings 5:18 pm:

Wenner, 266 and 306 King Phillip Rd., Map 34, Parcels 8 and 5:  RDA:  trim 8 – 10 trees between two dwellings and 4 trees on Parcel 8.  The applicant withdrew his application.  Ginie Page moved to approve a withdrawal without prejudice; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.

Parkinson, 290 Paine Hollow Rd., Map 35, Parcel 203, AOOC, construct new deck and enclosed porch.  Mr. Parkinson stated the house is over 200 years old and therefore needed to be  raised due to the new septic system.  They require new decking in order to allow access/egress to the house with stairs.The project will otherwise remain similar to the originally  approved project.  Cary Rea moved to approve the AOOC; seconded by Ed Simpson; passed 5-0.  Supervisor:  Ginie Page   

Donald, 0 Bayview, Map 35, Parcel 39, NOI, extend existing timber bulkhead (Cont’d from 06/18/14).  Ginie Page recused herself.  David Lajoie represented the applicant and Denny O’Connell represented the Conservation Trust.  Lajoie stated there is a coastal dune with a timber bulkhead on the Donald property, with  coastal erosion on the Conservation Trust property to the east.  The project is to continue the timber bulkhead to the Conservation Trust property and apply additional beach renourishment.  Natural Heritage had several questions regarding the project and Lajoie responded to the questions but the Conservation Commission has not received a letter from them.  The work would be performed in the fall and MA Audubon would help with supervising the project.  56 cubic yards of renourishment would be applied based on the yearly erosion rate.  O’Connell stated he had a conversation with Natural Heritage and told them the parking area would benefit from this project with the protection.  John Portnoy stated there is presently no hard structure on the Conservation Trust property and questioned the protection of the dune with a timber bulkhead.  Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated when Alfred Pickard came before the Commission, he had explained the access issue of renourishment.  There was an approval in 2003 for the return.  Lajoie stated he would contact Natural Heritage regarding a letter to the Commission.  Lajoie requested a continuation to Sept. 3, 2014.  Trudy Vermehren moved to continue the hearing to September 3, 2014; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 4-0.       
 

Town of Wellfleet, Wright, Henrickson, Patterson estate, Wales and Comly, 0 Blackfish Creek, Map 35, Parcel 210, NOI, replacement and maintenance of marine bulkhead (Cont’d from 07/15/14).  Bob Perry represented the applicants and stated he had not received a letter from Natural Heritage.  Perry stated the revised plan identifies the fiber roll arrangement and location.  He provided photographs of a project in Brewster using sand bag placement as an alternative.  Photographs of the chute to distribute the sand were discussed as well as the amount of renourishment.  Perry identified the area where he would like to place the shoot and suggested that some trees would need to be trimmed to allow light in the area for revegetation; however, Ms. Vermehren recommended plants that would survive in the existing shade.   Perry  stated the fiber rolls would have to be replaced eventually.  He recommended sand bags on the bottom with the fiber rolls on top and in the back.  The Commission requires a new construction protocol and response from Natural Heritage.  Trudy Vermehren moved to continue to August 20, 2014; seconded by Ed Simpson; passed 5-0..

Business Meeting resumed at 6:24 pm.           
Jurisdictional Opinion:

Trudy Vermehren recused herself.  465 Chequessett. Neck Rd, remove 3 locust, 2 black oak, a couple of pines, pruning on a coastal bank and in the buffer zone.  John Portnoy requested a plan identifying the location of the trees.  Ginie Page moved to have the applicant file an RDA; seconded by John Portnoy, passed 4-0.

Ed Simpson recused himself.  25 Caledonia Path, Remove branches and perform light pruning to trees which are damaging shingles on the dwelling.  Trudy Vermehren moved to approve the Jurisdictional Opinion; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 4-0.

DiBianco, 52 Ione Road,, remove 2 dead pine trees.  John Portnoy moved to approve the Jurisdictional Opinion; seconded by Ed Simpson; passed 5-0.

Frank Corbin representing Bunis, 165 Baker Road, remove 3 pitch pines and 1 oak which are over hanging the dwelling.  Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated she made a site visit and verified the proposed work.  Ginie Page moved to approve the Jurisdictional Opinion; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.

Trudy Vermehren moved to adjourn at 6:45 pm; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine Bates, Committee Secretry