The Rochester Conservation Commission began its meeting Tuesday by permitting a project to restore a bog on Wolf Island Road to natural wetlands.
The Commission granted a Negative Determination certifying that wetlands bylaw restrictions do not apply to the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s proposal to install up to four temporary wells and two shallow water level monitoring wells to gauge river and groundwater levels at 52 Wolf Island Road. Coalition Restoration Coordinator Evelyn Mortimer explained these actions are part of a plan to restore the Morris family bog there into wetlands while the family retains use of two acres. The work, she said, will include removing a dam and restoring a natural water channel for fish and other wildlife and a red maple swamp.
Before the unanimous vote, Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly asked where the new well would be placed. Mortimore said, north of the site. Commission Member Ben Bailey asked how soon work such as removing the dam would commence. Mortimore admitted the project has been years in the making and the dam won’t go anywhere for around two years. Bailey asked if the grass along the bog will be maintained so people can continue to view the annual boat race from that spot. Mortimore said the Coalition would work with the town and the Land Trust on these details.
Next, the Commission quickly approved a Notice of Intent for a plan to install a new private well, a rear deck and clear brush and deadwood within a wetlands buffer zone at 57 Gifford Lane. The vote came after the applicant’s representative, Darren Michaelis, noted a very deep well is being proposed for the site.
In other action, the commission approved an amended Order of Conditions for a plan to construct a new home and driveway at 7 Forbes Road. Project engineer Brian Wallace, attending on Zoom, explained the amendment is needed because of changes to the site plan. The changes are to shrink the footprint of the house, lose some area in the wetlands buffer zone and move the driveway location to the left side of the house. The Commission voted to approve the Order of Conditions with the amended site plan.
In response to a Notice of Intent application to construct a single-family home on a new lot on Gifford Lane, the Commission set a site visit for April 19 at 7:30 am and continued the hearing to its next meeting. The applicant’s representative, Christian Farland, explained the 8.5-acre site is currently wooded. It is basically a peninsula facing the pond. The concerns of Commission members focused on keeping the project at least 25 feet from the wetlands, as regulations require, and moving where the driveway is placed. “Kicking the driveway over,” Commission Member Mike Gifford said, “would make our lives a lot easier.”
The next Conservation Commission meeting will be Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00 pm, at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco