On July 20, Jim and Holly Vogel were once again sitting before a governing body in the Town of Rochester. This time, it was to review the clean up and habitat rehabilitation plans precipitated when an enormous manure pile was deemed a hazard to jurisdictional areas of their farm.
The Rochester Conservation Commission issued an enforcement order in June mandating that the manure be removed from the property and that plans be put in place to allow the affected wetlands to be restored to original conditions.
“The Vogels mobilized a contractor to remove the pile and engaged an engineer to plan remediation,” Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon reported to the commission. She also performed on-site soil investigations and wetlands flagging to further the process of repairing the damage that had occurred and to ensure ongoing compliance of the wetland regulations.
Farinon explained that the goal is to allow the approximately 7,100 square feet of disturbed or altered areas to re-vegetate and/or be planted with a New England wetlands seed mixture as outlined in plans prepared by Joseph Webby who specializes in land surveying and soil analysis. Farinon said that Webby had consulted with Brad Holmes, a wetland scientist, in drawing up the plans.
In concluding her remarks, Farinon said, “I’m pleased with the proposal and responsiveness of the property owners. That’s what we ask for but doesn’t always happen that way.” She said the project should be monitored for the next two years to ensure total restoration and no further jurisdictional issues arise.
Chairman Rosemary Smith said, “We appreciate your efforts.” Jim Vogel thanked the commissioners for working with him and said that working with Farinon had been a good experience.
In other business, Danny Hughes, 549 Walnut Plain Road, presented his Notice of Intent application for the construction of a two-story accessory building near a perennial stream. He received an Order of Conditions.
James Fraser and Katherine Hanson, 361 Snows Pond Road, represented by Douglas Schneider of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates, presented a Notice of Intent application for the construction of a 20- by 28-square foot studio building near a no-disturb zone and wetlands buffer zone in the Snipatuit Pond area. The application was continued until August 3 to allow for confirmation of wetlands flagging and site visit by commissioners.
Two Request for Determination of Applicability applications – one from Willow Creek Builders for the drilling of wells on three separate lots off Forbes Road and the other from Martin Harris, 86 Hartley Road, for the construction of a free standing private solar array – received Negative determinations and Orders of Conditions.
The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for August 3 at 7:00 pm in the town hall meeting room.
By Marilou Newell