On Thursday, May 1, the Marion Board of Health met to discuss various correspondences and hold two public hearings for variances. The Chair, John Howard, was absent, but the meeting carried on as usual due to the board’s scheduled appointments.
Following the approval of the minutes from the board’s March 6 and April 17 meetings, Member Edward Hoffer began the Variance Request Public Hearing for 2 Edwards Bridge Road. The request was made in order to install a Title V septic system without a denitrification system. The argument made against a denitrification system was the property’s far distance from the bay. It was also stated there are no well or water resources within 200 feet of the site, though there is a cranberry bog uphill from the property.
Some concern was levied against the property’s proximity to Mary’s Pond by board members, though it was stated the pond lies half a mile away. The two present board members, Hoffer and Johnson, were concerned over making decisions without their fellow member and Chair and whether starting to omit denitrification systems may “start a slippery slope” according to Co-Chair Johnson. Following this, Chair John Howard arrived stating “Cape Cod traffic” delayed his arrival. “Summer is here!” he added. After the board discussed among themselves, the board asked for a continuance in order to meet with the Town Administrator to ascertain whether the Board of Health has a case-by-case authority to decide themselves whether a property needs a denitrification system. This hearing was continued to May 15.
The next hearing began, also for a Variance Request, for Register Road. The request would allow two Title V percolation tests at 34 minutes per inch and 40 minutes per inch respectively, rather than what is stated in Marion’s sanitation code, being 38 minutes per inch. The land in question is vacant and undeveloped. The current owners have owned the property for 50 years, since 1975. They seek the percolation tests in order to develop the property some time in the future. The board was concerned with development, as it is a “water sensitive area” as Hoffer said. The Variance Request was approved unanimously, with much discussion as to whether Marion would eventually change its current regulations or match that of the state in terms of percolation tests.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for May 15 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.
Marion Board of Health
By Sam Bishop