Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering, representing the members of Antassawamock Club, Inc., questioned construction methods when a Conservation Commission hearing for Sandy Toes Realty Trust, Scott and Elizabeth Snow trustees, was reopened on April 27.
The application was first opened in February, at which time the applicant’s representative was not available to explain the scope of the project, a new home planned on an existing foundation and elevated columns in a flood zone located at 27 Nashawena Road. At that meeting, Madden questioned the amount of fill planned for the site and concerns that the plans did not meet current FEMA standards.
During the April 27 meeting, Rich Rheaume of Prime Engineering was present and explained that the foundation and building site had been previously permitted but the home was never constructed. Now the applicant was prepared to erect the home but wished to do so using drawings that were executed at that time but with minor modification to the amount of fill that would be brought into the site.
Chairman Mike King said that he and the other members of the commission had reviewed the revised documents and concurred that the amount of fill planned would represent only 5-inches overall. They agreed that it was minimal.
Madden also agreed that the fill volume as now planned did not represent a problem, but he voiced concerns that adjacent resources areas were not addressed, nor were issues related to the cutting of the concrete foundation and welding of rebar to the elevated columns. “How does the structure comply to building in a velocity zone?” He said he had not seen documents that demonstrated the building itself was meeting standards.
King responded, “Duly noted, Mr. Madden.” But King went on to say that such concerns and questions were not within the scope of the Conservation Commission but instead were questions for the Building Department.
When asked about the wetland resource areas that might be impacted by the construction, conservation agent Liz Leidhold said she had not been to the site in “some time.” Rheaume noted that a previously permitted stonewall separated the building site from those jurisdictional areas.
King asserted that the fill and grading were in compliance with FEMA standards, while also eliciting confirmation from Madden. He said that conditioning orders could include siltation controls to prevent soils from migrating into the wetlands.
“In the interest of fairness to all parties,” King asked Rheaume to continue the hearing to give the commission as well as the public sufficient time to review the modified plans and respond to any further issues. “We’ll continue to address what Mr. Madden has raised and adequately respond… If no real issues arise, we should be able to write a concise order of conditions for the next meeting.” The hearing was continued until May 11.
In other business, three emergency certifications were approved, one for a wheelchair lift at 8 Angelica Avenue, and two septic repairs to properties located at 185 Acushnet Road and 14 Melissa Ann Lane.
Also issued were Certificates of Compliance to Michael Huguenin, 40 Ocean Drive, and Andy Butler, 13 Main Street.
A negative determination of applicability was issued to Michael Esposito, 18 Ned’s Point Road, for maintenance and repairs to a seawall and jetty.
An NOI filed by the Town of Mattapoisett for roadway and drainage improvements was continued pending notification from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
NOI filings by Whitman Homes, 38 Prince Snow Circle, and Stephen Coughlin, 40 Prince Snow Circle were both continued pending plans for protection of endangered species migrations.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for May 11 at 6:30 pm; remote access details will be posted at www.mattapoisett.net.
Mattapoisett Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell