Solar Project Will Not Disturb Wetlands

A community solar farm project developed by Clean Energy Collaborative, slated for a parcel of land off Tucker Lane, will have no impact on wetlands, Wetlands Engineer Mark Arnold told the Marion Conservation Commission July 22.

The wetlands at the parcel consist of cranberry bogs, swampland, and bona fide vegetative wetlands (BVW). Some trees within the BVW will be lopped off at 10 feet to mitigate shading on the solar arrays. Trunks will remain with the root system left intact, avoiding the disturbance of the ground vegetation and shrubs. No heavy machinery or trucks will enter the BVW because the work will be done by hand.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection did issue a comment on the project plan, voicing concern over impact on the BVW and possible loss of wetlands at the site.

“It’s not really a loss,” said Arnold about the roughly 3,000 square-foot area of concern. “It’s really just an alteration…. We’re actually not disturbing any groundcover.”

Conservation Commission Chairman Norman Hills requested a copy of a long-term maintenance plan for the project site, but neither Arnold nor the developer’s community solar manager, Greg Carey, had one for submission that evening.

Arnold’s plan, which he submitted with the Request for Determination, reflected a 25-foot “no-build zone” within the 100-foot buffer zone, but as the commission pointed out, the no-build zone actually extends to 30 feet.

The commission continued the hearing until August 12 and requested that Arnold return with a plan reflecting the accurate 30-foot no-build zone as well as a maintenance plan. Hills – also a member of the Planning Board – said the Planning Board had about 20 or so items that still need to be resolved before that board approves the site review. Hills suggested the ConCom refrain from making a determination on the solar farm project until those Planning Board issues are resolved.

Also during the meeting, the commission issued a negative determination for the Tremont Advent Christian Camp Association, located at 45 Oakdale Avenue, to rebuild an existing structure damaged by snow over the winter. Located within a flood zone, the structure will be raised an additional 4 feet to meet flood zone construction regulations.

In another matter, the commission accepted a change to the previously approved plan for Sid Bowen of 16 Vine Street. Bowen’s wife, Angela Watson, present on Bowen’s behalf, said the proposed structure, due to zoning setback requirements, will be relocated to the opposite side of the driveway on the property. The footprint, she said, would be smaller, an existing garage that was slated for removal will now remain, and the distance to the drainage area would remain the same.

The commission granted a negative determination for Judith Cope of 16 West Avenue to re-grout a stone groin (a jetty-like structure usually placed to hold sand in place).

The RDA hearing for Chuong Pham was continued until August 12, the next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission, to be held at the Marion Town House at 7:00 pm.

By Jean Perry

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