54 Pleasant Valley Rd - Certificate of Compliance

What is proposed

This filing is a request for a Certificate of Compliance under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act for work completed at 54 Pleasant Valley Road. The request relates to an Order of Conditions (DEP file 002-1126) issued in 2015 and the approved plan titled “PLAN OF LAND, 54 Pleasant Valley Road” (final revision August 17, 2015) prepared by Winter GEC, LLC.

The submission seeks confirmation that the work authorized by the 2015 Order of Conditions has been satisfactorily completed. The applicant’s consultant identifies three deviations from the approved plan: an expanded driveway footprint, compensatory flood storage that appears to be slightly less in volume than shown on the approved plan, and a mudroom floor elevation built at 11.3 feet instead of the 12.35 feet shown on the approved plan.

Where and how big

The property is located at 54 Pleasant Valley Road in Amesbury (Assessors map/plat 111, parcel/lot 4). The Order of Conditions for this property was recorded at the Essex County (Essex South) Registry of Deeds (Book 26383, Page 515).

The approved permit and plan show work in areas regulated by the Wetlands Protection Act, including Bordering Land Subject to Flooding and a required volume of compensatory flood storage. The submission letter notes the compensatory storage constructed on site appears to be slightly less in volume than the approved plan but does not provide a numeric cubic-foot difference in the materials provided.

Parking, access and transportation

The main change affecting site access is an expansion of the driveway beyond the footprint shown on the 2015 approved plan. The expanded driveway area was graded lower than shown on the plan and includes an area drain. The owner describes that drain as an infiltration basin. No changes to public road connections, new off-site access, or additional parking counts are reported in the submitted materials.

Special considerations — wetlands, flood storage, and plan deviations

An Order of Conditions is the wetlands permit issued under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 131, §40). A Certificate of Compliance is the document the issuing authority (here, the Conservation Commission) can provide to state that the work allowed by an Order of Conditions has been completed in accordance with the permit.

The submission identifies three deviations to consider during review: the expanded driveway footprint with lower finished grade and an area drain described as an infiltration basin; compensatory flood storage that appears slightly reduced compared with the approved plan; and the mudroom finished-floor elevation as built (11.3 ft) versus the plan (12.35 ft). Where the Order of Conditions approved stamped plans by a registered professional, the Commission typically expects a written statement from that professional certifying substantial compliance and describing deviations. The applicant’s letter (dated May 22, 2024, from Winter GEC, LLC) states that WPA Form 8A and a certified as-built plan will be provided in support of closure of the Order of Conditions.

Status and next steps

A May 22, 2024 cover letter from Winter GEC, LLC was submitted to the Amesbury Conservation Commission requesting a Certificate of Compliance for DEP file 002-1126 and acknowledging the deviations described above. The applicant indicates a certified as-built plan and WPA Form 8A will be submitted.

The Conservation Commission’s review typically includes examination of the as-built plan and any required professional certifications, assessment of whether deviations meet the protective requirements in the Order of Conditions (for example compensatory flood storage and stormwater management), and a possible site inspection. Following review, the Commission may issue a Certificate of Compliance if it determines the work was completed in accordance with the Order, or it may request corrective work or additional documentation before issuing the Certificate.