Open Space Committee – December 17, 2024
6:00 pm Video Conference
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Meeting ID: 813 0755 8816
Wendell Conservation Commission meeting
December 17, 2024 at 6 p.m.
On Zoom only—see below for link
Agenda:
- Town Woodlot Request for Determination of Applicability: for tree clearing adjacent to WRATS. The legal ad ran in the Greenfield Recorder on September 30. The Public Hearing was continued to December at November’s meeting.
- Bowen’s Pond NOI update. GZA Engineering rep Adrienne Dunk told Mary they anticipate filing in time for the Commission’s January meeting.
A discussion of how the Commission can interface with the Highway Dept about the dam removal. In response to Mary’s query, Phil Delorey, Highway Chair, emailed:
The Town has a 38 foot right of Way on Wendell Depot Road, with a 20-22 foot road. That leaves the excess Right of way approximately 8 to 10 feet on each side of the pavement. I also am not an engineer, but it seems that we should have a plan that any future water flow or flooding will not be the sole problem of the Town. If the dam is removed, I will look into what would be needed to replace or re-establish the Right of way 8 to 9 feet on either side of the road, and that a culvert be installed to control the waterfall, one that extends beyond the right of way. Something like that will help clarify who will be responsible for clearing any debris that comes from the property side and blocks the water flow; the town would only be responsible for the right of way, not managing the water flow. I suggest asking who will be responsible if the water is plugged by a debris dam that breaks, similar to the Beaver Dam this past summer that caused $80,000 of paving replacement plus several more for gravel and stone replacement?
- Kevin and Penny Tenney (68 Wendell Depot Rd) Forest Cutting Plan: FCP was submitted without the Service Forester’s signature via certified mail from the address of harvester Ken Conkey. Mary called Mr. Conkey who said he’d been told that it was submitted “to start the 10-day comment period”, but that a signed copy would follow.
The one stream crossing may be one that Ward questioned on the battery application on the same property. The FCP says they’ll reinforce an existing culvert with corduroy.
- Items not anticipated prior to posting.
- Minutes and mail
- Next meeting date
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81307558816
Meeting ID: 813 0755 8816