Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission met June 13, 2024 to review several Notices of Intent, Certificates of Compliance, and administrative matters. The Commission issued Certificates of Compliance for completed projects at 212 Lions Mouth Rd (barn and paddock), 20 Pond St (demolition and new dwelling), and two actions at 54 Pleasant Valley Rd (work completed to date under a prior OOC and separate riverbank restoration). The Commission also approved a waiver of the As-Built Plan for the riverbank restoration and subsequently issued the COC after confirming the bank had revegetated over two growing seasons. A three-year extension to OOC 002-1288 at 5 Fifth St was approved.

Several pending NOIs were discussed but continued for further review and site visits. The 28 Birchmeadow Rd proposal to replace an off-site jersey barrier with an on-property gravity block retaining wall and install pervious pavers prompted questions about buffer waivers and alternative native shoreline stabilization per DEP recommendations; a site visit was scheduled. The 51 Lake Attitash Rd seasonal dock NOI was continued to allow the applicant to obtain signatures from ROW abutters and address access/ownership questions raised by an abutter; the Commission noted those are largely zoning/ownership issues outside its jurisdiction. The Friend St drainage/culvert replacement NOI requested waivers for a stormwater report and wildlife habitat review; the Commission requested peer review proposals and scheduled a site visit to assess stream crossing standards and potential impacts to bordering vegetated wetlands. Public comment included questions about dock access and insurance, which the Commission identified as outside its jurisdiction, and staff and commissioners emphasized the need for abutter authorization, alternative stabilization approaches, and peer review where appropriate.