Rochester Conservation Commission
Minutes of the October 5, 2005 Meeting
Members Present: Absent:
Rose Marie Rogers, Chair Sandy Breton
Jeff Winders Jack Hayes
Paul Marshall
Jack Hackett
Mark Toussaint
John Larochelle, Council Representative
Excused: Meredeth Lineweber
Staff: Cecile Cormier, Staff Planner
Caroline Lewis, Recording Secretary
The Chair convened the Public meeting at 6:30 PM.
Minutes - September 7, 2005 minutes handed out to the members and were reviewed.
Chairperson moved to accept the minutes as written. Motion carried.
Anna Boudreau – Rochester side of Holley Farm
Anna Boudreau, Project Manager of the Jenness Farm Conservation Project (Edith Teague/Holley property) and her associate Wendy Scribner presented written material to the members of the Commission. Ms. Boudreau would like the City of Rochester to pay to have the entire property surveyed, at an estimated cost of $20,000 to $25,000. Questions were asked about the total land area and specifics of the Grant application. The Commission asked to see a copy of the Grant, Ms Boudreau stated she only had her copy with her, but would get a copy to the Commission tomorrow. The Commission asked numerous other questions, including the time frame for an answer, and when the survey had to be completed. Ms. Boudreau stated she would like a yes or no answer within a week, the sooner the better, and be able to start the steps to get the survey done
within 30 days. The Chairperson advised Ms. Boudreau that the Commission would discuss all the financial aspects at the end of the evening, and would make a decision as soon as possible. Ms. Boudreau was informed that the Commission would TRY to come to a decision this evening if possible. Ms. Boudreau left the meeting at 7:05.
(refer to the end of the minutes for the discussion of this issue)
Conservation Overlay District – Conditional Use Review
Continued Application: 25 Old Dover Road, Dumont – Office Building
Dan Balfour submitted information on the storm treatment systems. The building has been flipped, and the access point will be an entrance shared with Sherwin Williams.
The Commission discussed the following issues: whether the buffer was linear; water flowing off pavement being hot, changing the river water temperature; water quality; insufficient soil to adequately filter the run-off.
Jeff Winders stated it is not a linear buffer; it is very steep with a 1:1 slope going from 90’ to 67’. He was concerned about the water being heated by the pavement, then entering the river warmer than the temperature of the river.
Paul Marshall is concerned about contaminated water going into the river if there is no soil left to filter the water at the top of the bank.
Mr. Balfour showed the Commission members where all the catch basins are and there was more discussion about how the water would be treated before any goes into the river.
Jack Hackett stated that no matter what he does with the buildings, if they were moved out of the buffer, it won’t change the way the water runs and is treated before it goes into the river.
Paul Marshall made a motion to vote to recommend approval of this application to the Planning Board. Seconded by Mark Toussaint. The vote was 1 yes / 3 no / 1 abstained.
The Chair stated she was against the plan as it is now and would like the buildings to be completely out of the buffer. She does not want the Cocheco River more endangered.
Councilor Larochelle advised the Commission not to focus on the buildings or layout of the project, but to be specific to the “conservation” issues and state the concerns in that context, ie: the exhaust water would be warmer than the river – there would be insufficient soil to filter the water entering the river.
Mr. Balfour answered more questions and explained more about the systems for the treatment, filtering and running of the water on the property. The Commission discussed the issues again.
Paul Marshall motioned to suspend the previous vote and have a site walk before voting.
Mark Toussaint seconded the motion. The motion carried. A site walk was set up for Friday, October 7, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. Jeff Winders, Paul Marshall and any other Commission members available will be at the site at that time along with Mr. Belfour.
Mr. Balfour said he will be able to show the Commission members exactly what is there now, the location of new catch basins and answer any other questions they may have. After the site walk the members will give their vote to the Chair and Mr. Balfour will be notified. The Commission will note the decision in the minutes of the November meeting.
Dredge and Fill Applications - None presented
Violations - None presented
Reports
Duquette St. – Craig Hosser
Jeff Winders stated the telephone number he had is not in service. But he hasn’t given up and does intend to do some sort of follow up. Tom Willis and Jason DeWildt went to the site. The owner had spoken with Cecile Cormier, Staff Planner, and misunderstood their conversation. Ms. Cormier advised Mr. Hosser not to do anything “until the City Engineers had been there.” He has been waiting, not doing anything. Apparently he doesn’t have the information from Public Works. Cecile will check on this.
Nottingham Drive
Jeff Winders has not had a chance to get to this site.
Old Business
Test Land Criteria
Jeff Winders said he has used the criteria many times, and would be happy to go out with other Commission members to assist them in using it. Jeff needs other members to look at the Hope farm, and asked if anyone would be available to do that on Monday.
Mr. Toussaint had not sent the criteria to Ms. Cormier yet, but will do that soon.
Procedure for land acquisition
The date has passed to apply for a Grant at this time. But it will come up again. As of this time the State has not established a local mitigation bank, but once they do, the Conservation Commission wants to be ready.
New Business
Copper Lane Restoration
The Commission received a letter from DES saying that the restoration had not very well done. The Chair asked if someone would please check it out and see what it looks like.
Paul Marshall took the information and directions. He will go and check it out. Jeff may be able to go with him.
The Commission also received a letter regarding Ledgewood from Mark Jocobs. He said the area has been restored.
Ms. Rogers provided Mr. Winders with a copy of a report on this potential project for review and comment.
Other Business
Planning Board applications under review
Nantucket Beadboard Company will need to apply for Conditional Use. The application will be reviewed once it is submitted.
Paul Marshall spoke about the supposed “Town Forest” that are here in Rochester. There are supposed to be (3) locations, one area on the Salmon Falls River, one off Chesley Hill Road and the third on Milton Road. The Commission members were unsure of this.
Cecile Cormier had checked with several City Departments and could find any record of a designated forest area owned by the City. Paul is going to talk with George Bailey and see if he has any more information. If the City does in fact have forest areas, the Conservation Commission would like to apply for Grants to maintain these areas, and manage their growth, cutting, etc.
The 35th Annual Meeting of the NH Association Conservation Commissions is meeting on Saturday, November 5, 2005 in Concord, NH. Paul Marshall has signed up to go, and both Cecile Cormier and Jack Hackett would like to attend. Other members wishing to go will get the registration form to the Department of Planning as soon as possible.
Anna Boudreau – regarding the Rochester side of Holley Farm
The financial records of the Commission were discussed. The manner in which the City of Rochester is now involved in this particular Grant was discussed. If the Commission votes to pay for the survey, Cecile Cormier will find out the process that needs to be followed to hire a surveyor. The general feeling of the Commission is that this Grant is beneficial to Rochester, but the Commission feels no obligation to even consider any other monies going to this project in the future. Jeff Winders made a motion to pay for the survey for the Jenness/Holley Farm, up to $20,000. Paul Marshall seconded the motion. A vote was taken Yes 1 – No – 4
There was more discussion about ways to get the money from the City of Rochester and not out of the Conservation Commission account. The Commission decided that more information needs to be gathered. The Commission wants to see the Grant paperwork. The Chair will talk with City and get guidance on how to proceed in regards to obtaining the money for the survey and will also contact Anna Boudreau about the copy of the Grant.
Adjournment
Paul Marshall moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 PM. Jeff Winders seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Caroline Lewis
Recording Secretary
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