Conservation Commission Minutes
DRAFT
Newbury Conservation Commission (NCC)
June 14, 2022
Members Present: Katheryn Holmes, Chair; Alden Beauchemin, John Magee, Bob Stewart, Members, Joanne Lord, Ex-Officio.
Ms. Holmes called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Minutes
The Commission reviewed the minutes of May 26, 2022. Corrections were made. Mr. Stewart made a motion to accept the minutes as amended. Mr. Beauchemin seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Between the Mountains Easement – Ms. Holmes said the sign is going up. It was decided that they will let Ausbon Sargent know they would like to put the sign up on Tuesday, June 28.Mr. Stewart said the deed should be signed before the sign goes up. Ms. Holmes will look into this.
INTENT TO CUT – 0
TREE APPLICATIONS IN PROTECTED SHORELAND:
- Emerson & Chelsea Lennon - 275 Chalk Pond Road – Not discussed.
- Steven & Cynthia Gorey – 17 Lakewood Manor Place - A representative (Doug) came in to speak for a couple from New Jersey and presented to the Board and said the owners would like to put up a carport on the right-hand side of the house. They have a variance from the Zoning Board. They received the setback approval from the Zoning Board and can take out some pines and a hemlock. There is a very large tree that is close enough that the arborist (Tyler Webb) feels should come down because it is leaning toward the house. Mr. Stewart asked how many points were left and Doug replied said 35 points. Doug went over the entire plan.
Ms. Holmes said she told Doug that the owners should have put in a tree application to the Commission, but they instead went to the Zoning Board. Ms. Holmes said they should have permits in hand when they go to the Zoning Board. Mr. Stewart thinks a couple of areas fell short in this process. Ms. Lord said there was some confusion at the Zoning Board because they kept going back in forth on whether it was a garage, carriage shed or car port.
Mr. Beauchemin said there is a disconnect because we haven’t seen a shoreland application prior to the tree application.
Mr. Magee asked if there is a certain procedure they want to follow. Ms. Lord said all of the Boards should get together for workshops, so everyone is on the same page. She said transparency is really important. She thinks various Board members should go to other Board meetings. Ms. Homes said there is a procedure in place, but this just got missed. Discussion ensued. Mr. Beauchemin asked if the Town gets to look at applications before it goes to the State.
Ms. Holmes read a letter she wrote to DES regarding 60 Highland Ave. that has topped off their trees and did not put in a tree application. Ms. Holmes said DES is currently investigating this property. Mr. Stewart said the Code Enforcement Officer went out to the lot and there is nothing on the lot. Trees have been topped and the woodland has been cleared and stumped. The CEO shut them down completely. Mr. Stewart said they submitted s shoreland application to the state. The administrative assistant said the Town had not received a certified mail with the abutter notification list. There was discussion regarding the process with DES.
Ms. Holmes will follow up with DES on this issue. Mr. Stewart asked Ms. Holmes if she can get a copy of the application from DES.
DES:
- John Mead – 1067 Route 103 Shoreland Standard - 2022 –01073 – Impact 5,164 square feet of protected shoreland in order to raze the primary structure, construct a new primarystructure with a garage, reconfigure the driveway and install a drywell. Impervious Surface PercentageApproved: 25.1% Natural Woodland Area Required per RSA 483-B:9, V, (b):1,035 square feet. - Not Discussed.
- Tranquille, LLC – 60 Highland Ave. – Shoreland Standard 2022 – 01623 – Install septic system which involves the clearing of trees, and grading to obtain slope offsets, replace existing concrete walkways, complete construction of a gravel path from the driveway down to the grass area by the lake, replace gravel that was installed without a permit in the 50’ offset and area with loam and seed. - Not Discussed.
- Kathleen & Ralph Verni – 115 Grace Hill Road – Shoreland PBN 2022-01069 – Impact 1,413 square feet of protectedshoreland in order to enlarge the rain garden and a stormwater swale system functions and capacities, provide temporary access, convert a portion of the driveway to pervious materials, and reconfigure a portion of the driveway. - Not Discussed.
- John Mooradian – 16 Edgement Landing Shoreland – PBN 2022-00969 – Impact 15 square feet of protected shoreland in order to install a generator on a concrete pad with a trenched electrical line. - Not Discussed.
- Heidi & Jason Saghir – 115 Bay Point Road – Standard Dredge & Fill 2022-00831 – Replacement of a pre-existing grandfathered crib dock and boathouse. - declined twice by Dock Doctors.
Mr. Beauchemin said it means nothing to see these notificationswithout seeing e applications. He wants to see the applications beforehand. Mr. Magee asked if they should be looking at shoreland applications every month. Mr. Magee said they get every wetland and shoreland application electronically on the Piscataquog River Local Advisory Committee. Mr. Stewart said this is a good point.
COMMUNICATIONS –
- Beacon (LSPA) “Let’s be Clear” – Ms. Holmes thought Mr. Magee would be interested in taking part in this. Ms. Holmes said they are doing a great job with this campaign.
- NH Lakes Association – Jack Kutner (Newbury resident) was featured in NH Lakes Association newsletter (Save the Lake Sunapee Watershed). Ms. Holmes thinks they are on the right page. This group wants enforcement.
OLD BUSINESS –
- Table at Old Home Day – Ms. Holmes told the chair of Let’s be Clear that they could share the table with NCC. Mr. Stewart asked if they have trail maps left. Ms. Holmes will ask Sue Russell if they have any left. Mr. Magee will be bringing fishing pamphlets. Mr. Beauchemin said it would be nice to have something about endangered species. There will also be something about the easement.
- Newsletter – Ms. Holmes has been working on things for the newsletter. She would like to add something about the Russells and add a pic to the newsletter.
- Ms. Holmes suggested offering hikes for the general publicin the fall. Mr. Magee said they need a permit if they have more than 15 people.
- Mr. Beauchemin, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Magee spoke about their walk on the entire boundary of the Between the Mountains property. Mr. Magee said it looked like everything was well marked.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Valuation of Lake Sunapee - $4.3 billion dollars for all the properties around the lake.
- Do we need a NCC workshop in next eon -
- Watershed Committee (LSPA) Report -
OTHER:
Mr. Stewart made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Magee seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Long, Recording Secretary
FINAL Newbury Conservation Commission Page 3 of 3June 14, 2022