Conservation Commission Minutes 4/11/18

Conservation Commission Public Meeting Minutes
04/11/18

Present: Bob Keating, Pat Elwell, Dan M,, Bill McCarthy, Ana Egana, Bill Kenny, Allison Knab
Also: Tavis Austin, Town Planner, Paul Deschaine, Mike Houghton

Public Session

Called order 7:01

Meeting Minutes

Bill M moved to accept 03/28/18 minutes as presented, Bob seconded.  Motion passed.

Mailbox
The following RCCD monitoring reports were received and given to Paul for files:

• Squamscott Scullers --  no concerns
• Batchelder pond --  no concerns
• 52 Union Rd Wiggin –  They interested in moving some pines to open up light on farm, as previously discussed with CC reps.  RCCD also spoke with owners regarding cutting activity.  No issues.
• Goodrich- John and Sherry, Stratham Heights Road. Japanese knotweed noted. No other concerns.
• Barker Lane, O’Brien, new owners of Batchelder Farm.  They working on removing invasive species.

CC received a NHDES letter stating that it has received shoreland permit application for Oxbow Rd. Tavis showed plan for 8 Oxbow Rd;  a site that had been approved for a pork chop lot. The lot was purchased by out of state owners. They are proposing a 6000 sq. foot building that would encroach wetland buffer setbacks and shoreland high water. The applicant has applied to DES for permit for impacts to jurisdictional wetlands. They are measuring shoreline from CENTER of the river, which the CC believes to be an erroneous calculation.

Allison will write a letter to Mark Morong, Stratham Building Inspector, and DES, stating very clearly that the CC does not approve of the location of the building based on the wetland buffer setbacks. There is high concern that the ZBA could potentially allow variances. There are also New FEMA guidelines for waterline so that do not seem to be addressed. Bill moved to send letter to express serious concerns about shoreline protection act not being followed, delineation appears to be from center of river, shoreline protection act district encroachments, and other concerns discussed. Ana seconded. Motion passed.

New business

Jonathan Ring of Jones and Beach presented information regarding  the proposed development of five new homes at 8 Whitaker Drive.  Brian Sullivan, the property owner, was also in attendance. The property is between Hillcrest and Whitaker. They are proposing to get 5 house lots with a through road between Hillcrest and Whitaker. There is a minimum expedited impact temporary wetlands disturbance where a pipe would go, and they are submitting that application to NHDES. There would be a 2350 sq. ft total impact, they will install appropriate construction installation protection and then 1000 sq. ft of empact will be reclaimed and reseeded. The pipe will serve to drain roadway runoff into a detention pond on the back of the property.  There was some question about wetland delineation in previous discussion with the PB. Michael Cuomo , NH soil scientists with RCCD, reviewed the layout and found all but one area to be properly flagged. One wetland spot was slightly enlarged. The detention pond and pipe would be maintained by homeowners association. There is one finger of wetlands behind one house that is concerning because of the potential that it will be encroached upon by a new homeowner, but that is not being impacted by the development . Roy Burns, 2 Hillcrest Dr., questioned if runoff to detention pond meant would it always be filled with water and asked how quickly would it drain. Drainage pipe from pond will drain from the bottom into wetlands. Bill stated that with impacts being minimal and temporary he would not have a problem, but his concern is that plan might change. Bob Hillary, 5 Whitaker Dr., offered for information that land is former Barker farmland so there are mixed species on the property and he does not feel that anything " special" exists in the wetland. Bob noted that the permanent impacts will only be 1350 square feet because the remainder will be reclaimed/replanted. Roy Burns questioned if we are setting a precedent if we approve expedited approval before plan has been approved. The CC felt if the plan changed significantly, then the applicant would need to resubmit another application to DES, which we would then review again. Bill M. Moved to sign the expedited wetland app, Bob K seconded. Motion passed.

Paul will be sending email re new source of info buffersoptionsnh.org
He attended a meeting on buffers and found there is a whole map section that is outcome based depending on what you are trying to protect. The arm grants will be using these maps to prioritize the grants from that program. CC should be using the maps to prioritize what we want to focus on in future. Paul will be sending a letter.

Election of Officers
The noted the BOS approved reappointments of Ana and Bill M. Allison moved, Pat seconded, approval of Bill M as the 2018 chair. Allison moved, Bill M seconded,  Pat as Vice Chair. Bill M moved, Ana seconded, Allison as secretary, with Pat to fill in on occasions when Allison is not available.  All motions passed.

Old business
Smyk house -- Allison went to last meeting, not much has changed from the point of the committee. At the last CC meeting, Bob O’Sullivan was in favor of the CC sending a letter stating if we approve acceptance. 10 acres of land with house or pavilion in perpetuity or selling the property are the two options. There is an endowment that cannot be used for 10 years, then after that, funds will be used to pay for the property upkeep. Pat moved that Allison write a letter to the Committee for the upcoming public hearing stating that the CC would like to see the Smyk property accepted by the BOS. Dan seconded. Motion passed

Compost bin and rain barrel delivery is tomorrow. Bill K cannot hand out so Bob volunteered to pass out barrels and bins on April 28 at the highway garage. Pat will send Paul a paragraph to go in an e-blast about availability.

PCAC , Bill says other than smart routes to school, there is still very much a high level talk on how to develop connections between properties and develop trails.

Mike Houghton discussed upcoming Master Plan and wants to have a rep from all committees at the table.  Pat will be the liaison for the CC as discussed at a previous meeting.

Bill M moved, Bill K seconded, motion to adjourn. Motion passed

Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday April 25, 7:00pm at the Stratham Municipal Center.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat Elwell

PLEASE SEE JULY 11TH MINUTES