|
Warner Conservation Commission Minutes of Meeting July 11, 2007
Attending:
Nancy Martin, Brian Hotz, Ted Young, Sarah Allen, Chris Connors, John
Dabuliewicz, and Jim McLaughlin (recording)
Pre-Meeting
Site Walk - Warner Aggregates:
At 6:00 P.M., the above Commission members along with Gloria Andrews
(DES) met with David Herrick, owner, and Mike Ritter, manager of
Warner Aggregates at their sand pit in Davisville. The group toured
the entire property and discussed material extraction and related
activities. Issues of concern to the Commission were proximity of
activities to the Warner River and potential impact on flooding,
material brought in from off-site and stored on pit floor; possible
wetland impact from future road to Pit #2 area, and the snow mobile
trail/berm separating the pit from river buffer. The site walk
concluded at approximately 7:20 P.M.
Approval
of Minutes of June 6, 2007
The
minutes of the meeting of June 6, 2007 were amended to show that it
was Nancy and not Chris who had been contacted about a retaining wall
being constructed on the Warner River. With this correction, the
minutes were adopted.
Warner
Aggregates Summary:
Commission members’ observations following site walk were summarized
as follows:
Appreciation
to Mr. Herrick for his cooperative spirit and openness in explaining
operation.
Stock
piling of material from off-site on the floor of the pit- wood ash,
loam, large rocks, and broken asphalt. This concern relates to
possible leaching of possible contaminants in these materials, over
time, into the groundwater.
Change
of use of the site activities from purely extraction to processing of
materials, e.g., rock crushing. Recognized that this issue is more for
the Selectmen and/or ZBA.
Need
for the berm on which the snow mobile trail is located to be
stabilized and low spots resulting from storm wash out to be filled
in; stabilization should not result in more material being placed on
slope toward the River, but be placed on the pit side. Final grading
to include top soil and seeding to prevent erosion.
Jim
to prepare a letter expressing these points to be sent to Herrick,
Planning Board, Selectmen, and DES.
Land
Protection:
Bear
Pond property
(former Nichols tract). Timber harvest operation is completed. Letter
received from Mr. McGrath offering land for sale to the Town at
$595,000.
Brian
said he has spoken with neighbors to this parcel and they may be
interested in its purchase.
Martin
parcels.
Brian described his discussions with Ray and Nancy Martin about a
donation of conservation easements on two contiguous parcels in the
Minks with frontage on the Henniker Road. The parcels are 27 and 113
acres, respectively, connect the Badger parcel with Ashendon State
Forest and rank high on the Mink HIlls Conservation Plan. The Forest
Society would be the monitoring agent. Brian said a survey would
probably not be necessary since most of the boundaries are clearly
marked. He plans to have a firm proposal ready for the next meeting.
Nancy Martin refrained from this discussion.
Natural
Resources Inventory (NRI)
Agricultural
resources map is complete; Ted to check on minor changes to attribute
spreadsheet.
Scenic
resources map - Brian to check with SPNHF on getting a work map with
road names to use in mapping. Chris Connors will email methodology to
others for comments.
Recreation
resources - Jim will check with Peg on status.
Wetland
Issues
Chris
described her site visit with NRCS’s Mike Lynch to property of Roy
Champagne near Cunningham Pond, concerning his interest in
constructing a wildlife/fire pond in a stream/wetland area. Advice
given to landowner discouraged original pond proposal. He’s still
thinking of a fire pond and was advised to talk with Allan Brown on
potential impact on class 6 road and with Dick Brown as to need for
fire protection. Chris offered to check with Dick and Allan on this
contact.
Chris
advised of a project in Melvin Mills on the Warner River where a
property owner is constructing a retaining wall on the river bank. She
will report this to DES for action.
Planning
Board
Wagner
subdivision was not on Planning Board’s July agenda.
Newmarket
Road subdivision - Discussed this first major subdivision to come
before the Board under the newly enacted open space development
regulations. Applicant has prepared a traditional five lot subdivision
along the road, claiming that they couldn’t understand how to apply
the regulations to this property and asking for the Board’s
guidance. Further in the discussions with the Board, it was argued
that this portion of the 78 acre parcel can’t be developed due to
limitations specific to the land. They were advised that the
subdivision plan does not conform to the zoning ordinance for a major
subdivision and therefor can’t be considered by the Board. Applicant
may seek a variance from the ZBA.
Newpaper
John
will do an article on open space development regulations.
Meeting
adjourned at 9:10 P.M.
|