The Marion Conservation Commission met on Wednesday, May 13 for a long list of Public Hearings as well as a vote on the Washburn Park parcel swap approved at the Special Town Meeting in March.
Before getting into the meeting, Chair Matt Shultz announced this would be Administrative Assistant Emma Sylvia’s last meeting. The chair then opened the first Public Hearing, this one for a Request for Determination of Applicability made by Carl Hebert of 59 East Ave for the repair of stone steps leading down to a beach. Commissioners stated they had visited the site the prior weekend. With no questions or discussion, the commission seemed in agreement and unanimously voted to close the hearing. The project was approved with a unanimous Negative Determination vote at the end of the meeting.
Next, the chair opened the Public Hearing for a Notice of Intent made by Brett Bussiere of 34 Dexter Road for the construction of a 24×24-foot addition to the rear of the dwelling. The commission noted they had also made a site visit to this property, with some questions on drainage and flood-zone effects. However, there was no pushback, and this hearing was closed unanimously. The project was approved with a unanimous vote at the end of the meeting.
A Public Hearing was then opened for a RDA filed by Virginia Beams of 35 Holly Road for various landscape improvements. Beams joined the meeting remotely. The landscaping improvements, Shultz noted, were the planting of deer-resistant shrubs, woodchips additions, and the planting of eight trees and mulching of their bases. There was no major questioning to this project, and the hearing was closed unanimously. The work was approved with a unanimous vote at the end of the meeting.
Following the approval of minutes from their April 22 meeting, the commission moved to the next Public Hearing. This one was for a RDA made by David and Tonya Creighton of 21 Cottage Street for the construction of a bluestone patio off the home’s deck with the inclusion of steps down into the grass. No questions were levied here, and the hearing was closed unanimously. This was approved with a unanimous vote at the end of the meeting.
Shultz began the Public Hearing for a RDA made by Sippican Lands Trust for the filing in of an abandoned cesspit and stone foundation at the Lipsett Preserve on Creek Road. Stewardship Chair at SLT Gretchen Crowly spoke, detailing the project’s importance to protecting visitors and the liability of an open cesspit. Crowly stated a Bobcat utility vehicle could bring in gravel that could then be shoveled into the openings by volunteers. Crowly explained they believed the open foundation was from a black-stone shop and boathouse from the mid-1800s. The hearing was closed with a unanimous vote. At the end of the meeting, the commission determined that the project does not require a Notice of Intent and voted a Negative Determination, granting approval.
A fifth Public Hearing was then opened for a RDA made by Great Hill – Marion, LLC of North Great Hill Drive for the continued treatment and removal of invasive species. It was noted the next treatment would take place in the fall, around August or September. There were no questions and the hearing was closed. This was approved with a unanimous vote at the end of the meeting.
The Public Hearing for a Notice of Intent by the Kittansett Club of 11 Point Road for maintenance dredging of the Haven tidal pond inlet then began. The club presented a dredging maintenance project. It was previously dredged in 1997 and 2011. The project would see the removal of around 1,000 square yards of sediment. This work is also scheduled for the fall, depending on weather. It was noted the removed material would take up about 40 truckloads being taken out. The hearing was closed with a unanimous vote, and the project approved with a unanimous vote at the end of the meeting.
Next, there was a Public Hearing for a RDA by Derek Tiago and Sarah Gibbs for the construction of an in-ground swimming pool, patio, retaining wall, and other landscaping improvements at 5 Sarah Sherman Lane. There wasn’t much questioning in this hearing, aside from the representative clarifying material would be FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) compliant. The commission unanimously voted for a Negative Determination.
The ninth and final Public Hearing then began, being a Notice of Intent filed by Jeffrey J. Doubrava Revocable Trust and Elizabeth M. Doubrava Revocable Trust for improvements to the existing roof recharge system and surrounding site at 47 East Ave. As a serving commissioner, applicant Jeff Doubrava recused himself from judging the case as he stood to present the project. On the property, all but one roof storm drain funnels into a dry well. He stated the well is around 2 inches tall, adding if there is more than 2 inches of rain, flooding is likely. The project would see a trench dug and filled with gravel to allow the water a place to escape. The meeting was closed with a unanimous vote. The Doubrava’s project was approved with a unanimous vote at the end of the meeting.
After the public hearings, the commission moved to approve the transfer of 2,977 square feet at Washburn Park for the town’s Shared Use Path. Without discussion, it was approved unanimously, though still required a vote from the Massachusetts General Court.
Marion Conservation Commission
By Sam Bishop