NOTES OF NOVEMBER
20, 2014
RYE CONSERVATION
COMMISSION MEETING
Final Revision B – Provided by
the Rye Civic League
Present
from the Conservation Commission (clockwise around the table): Jim Raynes, Dyana Ledger (Transcriptionist,
not member), Jaci Grote, Sally King, Suzanne McFarland, and others.
Also
present: Don Cook, Peter Crawford, Pat
Losik, Steve Riker and other applicants and abutters.
Editor’s note: For ease in finding particular sections using
the archived video and audio on Vimeo, the elapsed time is indicated. Use the slider and the elapsed time indicated
at the bottom of the video window to fast forward to the desired section. The video is available at https://vimeo.com/112515006/
Summary
Minutes
(0:05 elapsed)
The minutes were discussed and
approved.
Independence
Farm, 1090 Washington Rd. (1:08 elapsed)
Proposal to install solar panels and
create cross county trails. Preliminary
discussion about installing 12x360 foot solar panels behind a barn in an open
area not visible from the road.
(10:00 elapsed)
Commission states that it needs more
definitive plans, although indicating that they do support solar energy. Discussion about cutting cross country trails
on conservation land.
Rye
Farm subdivision, 561 South Rd. (19:13 elapsed)
D.D. Cook presented his proposal for
a wetland/wetland buffer crossing for driveway to Lot 5 of Major
Subdivision. During the meeting, Mr.
Cook, on behalf of his development, Meadows at South & West, LLC, offered
the Commission approximately 20 acres of the back-most land of the proposed Lot
5 in exchange for the Commission’s agreement to support his request to cross
the wetlands and wetland buffer. The
Owner stated that if the Commission did not resolve to support the special
exception, he will pursue it with the State and then come back to the Town of
Rye Planning Board to request a Retirement Community Development (“RCD”).
Member Jaci Grote referred the
Owner’s intentions as to Lot 5 as the “nut in the cup.” Editor’s
note: This is a sleight of hand game
with three cups and a nut hidden under one cup. She stated that the destiny of Lot 5 is ever
changing between a single family residence lot or a ten (10) unit RCD. Editor’s
note: Mr. Cook’s presentation to the
Planning Board on July 8, 2014 and his initial correspondence to abutters on
July 18, 2014 was a plan inclusive of an RCD.
(59:45 elapsed)
An abutter spoke about concerns with
the wetland and the impact of Lot 5 on his septic system.
(63:50 elapsed)
A second abutter spoke about the
need for a definition of wetlands as they relate to the proximity to the
aquifer and town wells.
(67:00 elapsed)
Representative of the Rye Water
District spoke in response to previous concerns.
(75:20 elapsed)
Motion to table this item and
possibly schedule a special meeting prior to the ZBA meeting so that the
applicant could receive Conservation Commission approval beforehand.
125
Wentworth Rd. (76:59 elapsed)
Zach Taylor spoke, representing the
company that will do dredging and filling to permit expansion of the property
with a garden and a pool.
(96:00 elapsed)
Site walk scheduled for December 1,
3:30 p.m.
129
Wentworth Rd. (86:47 elapsed)
Site walk scheduled for December 1,
3:45 p.m.
63
Harbor Rd. (96:53 elapsed)
Site walk scheduled for December 3,
3:30 p.m.
2316
Ocean Blvd. (91:47 elapsed)
Discussion of several additions for
shower, generator and walkway.
(107:00 elapsed)
Site walk scheduled for December 3,
3:50 p.m.
Bills
(112:47 elapsed)
Bills were paid, including one for
plowing at the Goss Farm from Eddie Ireland.
Correspondence (114:26 elapsed)
Correspondence regarding 106 Locke
Rd. was discussed. Official notification
was received regarding award of $121,000 from the State Aquatic Resources
Mitigation Fund for the former Rand Lumber parcel. Editor’s
note: Purchase of the back portion of
this land was approved at the December 10, 2014 Board of Selectmen
meeting. A portion of that meeting was
the Conservation Commission hearing. See
the notes for details. Jim Raynes
reported that an additional $25,000 being sought from “Moose Plate” funds did
not come through.
Adjournment
(118:20 elapsed)
Whereupon the meeting adjourned.