The Marion Conservation Commission convened on Wednesday, October 21, for a series of public hearings for ongoing developments.
The meeting began with Chair Shaun Walsh opening a public hearing for an Amended Order of Conditions for the construction of an elevated staircase down to the beach at 162 Point Road, submitted by Jon Delli Priscoli. Project representative Dave Davignon spoke, explaining the project to build a staircase from the property’s lawn down to the beach, which was originally approved around 18 months ago by the ConCom, according to Davignon. He explained the newly proposed change is to swap the original plans for helical anchors with galvanized steel H-piles. These would be driven into the substrate using heavy machinery and would require fewer total supports for the staircase due to their increased strength; 14 down from 16.
Walsh commented that fewer supports would mean less impact and noted: “I don’t have any concerns.” The hearing was then closed. At the end of the meeting, the ConCom voted unanimously to approve the project.
The next public hearing concerned a Request for Determination of Applicability for the construction of a three-tier split-rail fence and shed at 143 Cross Neck Road by applicant Katherine Cunningham. Board members who recently visited the site and the public offered no comments during this hearing, which was subsequently closed. At the end of the meeting, the Commission voted unanimously to approve this project with a negative determination.
There was then the public hearing for the construction of a new single-family dwelling on Point Road by applicant Benjamin Baptiste. Project representative Steve Cavallo explained the home is to be built upon an 11-acre lot that had originally been a cranberry bog. Access to the new home would be off an entry point near 1001 Point Road, “hugging as far away from the wetland resource areas as possible,” Cavallo explained.
Walsh noted this project was “straightforward,” though Commissioner Jeff Doubrava raised some concerns regarding the project’s proximity to wetlands, and asked if it would be possible to establish some limits on work area, as to prohibit work spilling over into the wetlands under the care of a future owner. Conservation Commission members asked if a permanent boundary could be established, potentially in the form of a small cedar fence that would be marked with signs denoting “wetland boundary.” Cavallo noted the applicant had no issue with such a boundary. The hearing was closed. At the end of the meeting, the board voted to approve the project and implement a demarcation line of posts or boulders between the work area and the wetland.
Next, the board returned to 162 Point Road for another public hearing. This time, for a Notice of Intent for beach nourishment for the area above the high-water line and below the vegetation line. Sand, sourced off-site, would be brought in by dump truck by road and then a conveyor belt would bring the sand from the truck down to the beach. Up to 75 cubic yards of sand would be used for the project. The hearing was then closed. At the end of the meeting, the ConCom voted unanimously to approve the project but, to avoid the beach growing into a “mound of sand,” implemented a maximum depth of eight inches of sand from the original grade.
The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, at 7:00 pm in the Marion Police Department, 550 Mill Street.
Marion Conservation Commission
By Sam Bishop