Delineations Approved for Capital Improvements Plan

Two representatives of CDM Smith, the agency working with the Town of Marion to create its village area capital improvements plan, spoke to the Marion Conservation Commission at its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 23 about the extent of the work to be completed.  Con Com members, primarily Chairman Sherman Briggs, queried the representatives about the work, encouraging the agency to refine its plan in preparation for the upcoming Town Meeting.

While CDM Smith came before Con Com to verify the wetlands delineations and determine what permits are required for work to commence, Briggs led the discussion to other aspects of the plan.  “My opinion is I would like to see effort on the discharge pipe and the manhole above the discharge pipe,” Briggs said.

Briggs dismissed CDM Smith’s concerns about the wetlands delineations, explaining that there should be sufficient records of prior delineations from past roadwork in the proposed locations.

“Based on the projects that have been going on and on, it’s been delineated there three or four times.  I think if you pulled up some of the files … that would save us money.  As a taxpayer, I want to see that 27 million come down to 5,” Briggs said.

CDM Smith responded that the agency is trying to be fiscally responsible.  The work that the Town of Marion and the agency would undertake would be to tear up the village area roads, to replace pipes, and to improve some of the outfalls, which have had tidal influence.  Ryder Lane would account for the most amount of work because its paving is in rough condition and the road foundation is deteriorating.

“We’re not just looking to improve the roads and infrastructure, but to improve the water quality in Sippican Harbor,” CDM Smith said, explaining that the village area capital improvements plan called for rain gardens in addition to improvements in the outfalls.

“I presume that sometime in the future there will be a notice of intent,” Con Com Vice Chairman Norman Hills said, tabling the discussion.  CDM Smith was instructed to check the delineation records and verify their estimates for rainfall to ensure that the data is accurate and current.

In other business, Con Com issued a determination of applicability for 185 Wareham Street, accepting the charted wetlands delineations.

“Unless someone proves differently, I’m not sure it’s a show-stopper,” Hills said.  “All that does is get you the line.  You’re going to have to come back with a notice of intent.  It’s going to be another piece of paper you need to submit.”

Con Com members raised questions about what the lot line would be, but such discussion was beyond their jurisdiction.  “We are only approving the wetlands line,” Briggs said.  “The lot line is going to be the wetlands line, probably.”

In its last business, Con Com addressed the notices of intent from two neighbors who are seeking to make the same improvements on their properties: reset stones in existing groins, maintain concrete access planks, and add beach nourishment. On one property, maintenance of the concrete access planks is necessary, but it is not on the other.  Both properties have the stumbling block of requiring possible licensure for the jetties.  Con Com was loath to accept the notice of intent without clarifying if the two homeowners need Chapter 91 licenses.

“We’d be approving the maintenance of an illegal structure,” Con Com member Joel Hartley said.

“We can permit this under the condition that the homeowners sort out the license,” Briggs concluded.  He advised the homeowners to license everything they could.

The next regular meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission will be on Wednesday, June 13 at 7:00 pm.

By Anne Smith 

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