PROVINCETOWN CONSERVATION COMMISSION

April 3, 2007

6:30 P.M.

 

 

Members Present: Dieter Groll, Dennis Minsky , Elaine Anderson

Members Absent: Lynne Martin (excused) and Paul Tasha.

Others Present:  Brian Carlson (Health Inspector) and Ellen C. Battaglini (Recording Secretary).

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

 

Co-chair Dennis Minsky called the Public Hearing to order at 6:30 P.M.

 

PUBLIC STATEMENTS:

Mark Robinson, Executive Director of the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, presented a draft management plan for Nicky’s Park. He was hired by the Town to create a management plan with a self-help reimbursement grant from the State. These funds need to be expended before the end of June, 2007. Mr. Robinson seeks input, comments and recommendations from the Conservation Commission in regard to the plan.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Request for Determination of Applicability

Application by Jerome and Lorraine Harris for a Determination of Applicability under the Provincetown Wetlands By-Law, Chapter 12 of the Provincetown General By-Laws, and under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, § 40. The applicant seeks approval to create a footpath over an easement on the west side of the property located at 781 Commercial Street in Provincetown.

Presentation: Attorney Brian J. Wall and Carol Sherry, daughter of the applicants, appeared to present the application. The applicants seek to clear and re-establish an over-grown easement on the west side of the property. The legal easement on the west side was changed to the east side many years ago at the request of the neighbor whose land it traverses and with his permission. A boardwalk was laid down and the east side easement was used by the applicants and their family. Several years later, that permission was rescinded and the boardwalk on the east side was ripped up and the east side easement was barricaded by the servient landowner. Since then the issue has become the subject of much dispute and ill will between the applicant and the neighbor. The applicants wish to re-establish the legal, west side easement and end this contentious issue.

Public Comment: Attorney E. James Veara, representing the neighbor with whom the applicants are in dispute, spoke against the application, contending that the applicants should be filing a Notice of Intent in order to move the easement back to its original location. He states that the easement passes over a coastal dune, a designation previously established by the Commission, and that the application for a Determination of Applicability is not sufficient given that the area in question is part of a resource area. Attorney Veara would like to see an engineered site plan and details about what exactly is going to be done to re-establish the easement. There was 1 letter in the file in support of the application.

Commission Discussion: The Commission questioned Attorney Wall and Ms. Sherry.

Dennis Minsky moved to grant a Negative #3 Determination for the creation of a footpath at the property located at 781 Commercial Street in Provincetown, with standard conditions and the following special conditions:

§         All work done at the site should be done manually; no heavy machinery will be employed;

§        no pesticides or herbicides will be used in the clearing of the pathway;

§         the pathway will not exceed 3’ in width;

§         material removed will be properly disposed of; and

§         the pathway shall be marked with flags and pre-approved by the Conservation Agent before work begins.

Lynne Martin seconded and it was so voted, 4-0.

 

Notice of Intent

Application by Jay Anderson, represented by Emily E.H. Beebe, for a Notice of Intent under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, § 40 and the Provincetown Wetlands By-Law Chapter 12. The applicant seeks to conduct landscaping in the buffer zone of a coastal dune, replacement of a fence along a coastal dune and maintenance activities at the property located at 139 Commercial Street in Provincetown.

Presentation: Emily E. H. Beebe, Bob O’Malley and Attorney E. James Veara appeared to present the application. The applicant seeks to:

§         Plant 18 – 36 bayberry bushes in one gallon planters along the edge of the coastal dune, using low nitrogen, slow-release organic fertilizers and mulch;

§         establish a perennial bed around the deck of Building 2;

§         install drip irrigation lines along the west side of the building;

§         construct a wooden gangplank from the edge of the pavers to the elevated walkway;

§         put in a flagstone patio on the south side of Building 3;

§        fence the side lines on the east and west sides of the property with board fence; and

§         maintain the existing trees, shrubs and other plantings at the site.

No machinery will be used for the work; all work will be done by hand. The applicant also requests that the Commission vacate the 3 Enforcement Orders that are currently on the property. Under an agreement with the Superior Court, the applicant is filing a Notice of Intent, thus rendering the Enforcement Orders moot and all related court cases will be eliminated.

Public Comment: There was 1 letter in the file in from an abutter in favor of the application.
Commission Discussion: The Commission questioned Ms. Beebe, Mr. O’Malley and Attorney Veara.

Elaine Anderson moved to approve the Notice of Intent application for work, as described in said application, to be undertaken on the property located at 139 Commercial Street in Provincetown with the Standard Order of Conditions and contingent upon the Commission receiving a DEP file number andno negative response from DEP, Dennis Minsky seconded and it was so voted, 4-0.

 

 

Request for Determination of Applicability

Application by Dr. Donald Butterfield for a Determination of Applicability under the Provincetown Wetlands By-Law, Chapter 12 of the Provincetown General By-Laws, and under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, § 40. The applicant seeks approval to remove a roof and add a second floor loft with dormers, adding approximately 4’ to the height of the existing cottage at the property located at 43 Commercial Street in Provincetown.

Presentation: Robert Valois and John Reis appeared to present the application. The applicant wants to raise the roof by 4’ and submitted a written construction protocol to the Commission.

Public Comment: Steve Hirschboeck, an abutter, spoke against the application, citing concerns about the pilings under the structure and the debris caused by the project. There were 2 letters in the file objecting to the application.

Commission Discussion: The Commission questioned Mr. Valois and Mr. Reis.

Elaine Anderson moved to grant a Negative #3 Determination with standard conditions, the conditions stated in the construction protocol submitted by the applicant and with the condition that the applicant install dry wells on the property in order to mitigate storm water run-off, Lynne Martin seconded and it was so voted, 4-0.

 

Request for Determination of Applicability

Application by Cape Cod National Seashore represented by Dawna St. Louis for a Determination of Applicability under the Provincetown Wetlands By-Law, Chapter 12 of the Provincetown General By-Laws, and under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, § 40. The applicant seeks approval for the routine maintenance of trail surfaces, native species plantings, erosion prevention measures, to install a sand ladder and add signs at the Cape Cod National Seashore Lands in Provincetown.

Presentation: Mark Adams, Resource Management, and Dawna St. Louis appeared to present the application. The applicant seeks to maintain and improve the area and the trails at Beech Forest. The Seashore will also be removing rock jetties at Herring Cove Beach in order to provide for the free flow of sediment along the beach to feed the barrier beach, installing fences to block blow-outs on the barrier dune and doing plantings in that area next year.

Public Comment: None. There were no letters in the file.

Commission Discussion: The Commission questioned Mr. Adams and Ms. St. Louis.

Elaine Anderson moved to grant a Negative #3 Determination, Dennis Minsky seconded and it was so voted, 4-0.

 

MINUTES: March 20, 2007 – Elaine Anderson moved to approve the language as written, Dennis Minsky seconded and it was so voted, 3-0-1(Lynne Martin abstaining).

 

CONSERVATION BOARD STATEMENTS:

Dennis Minsky stated that he has seen some motorized bike activity at the Old Burn Dump. He will look into the issue and report back at the next hearing.

Dennis mentioned that he had attended a meeting of the Hatches Harbor study group.

Dennis also suggested that a future topic of discussion for the Commission should be changes in the dynamics of the Commission hearings.

 

ADJOURNMENT: Lynne Martin moved to adjourn at 9:45 P.M. and it was so voted unanimously.

 

These minutes were approved by a vote of the Conservation Commission at their meeting on ___________________, 2007.

Respectfully submitted,

Ellen C. Battaglini

Approved by ________________________________ on _____________, 2007

Dieter Groll and Dennis Minsky, Co-Chairs