Three cases came to completion, resulting in favorable decisions by the Marion Conservation Commission during its October 12 public meeting.
Rick Charon from Charon Associates represented J. Patel, K.K. Brothers Corporation, in their Request for Determination of Applicability for the upgrade of a failed septic system at 664 Mill Street, described by Charon as a package store at the corner of Congress Road and Mill Street (Route 6.)
As Charon explained, the so-called “micro-fast” septic unit experienced mechanical failure, as did the pump chamber. The applicant dug up the leaching field, finding no problem, but mechanical components need replacement.
The existing septic system had not been maintained for a long time so the proposed plan is to replace the existing secondary unit, the pump and electronic controls, with a new Singulair brand 96N STU unit featuring denitrification technology. Just the chamber and leaching field would remain.
Commission Chairman Jeff Doubrava said members visited the site and asked about the town sewer line. Charon said Mill Street in that area only has septic. Charon said he is waiting on George Heufelder, the Cape Cod-based engineer who reviews all Marion septic applications. Charon told the commission he sees no possibility that Heufelder would require replacement of the leaching field, which is “working fine.”
ConCom members Emil Assing and Shaun Walsh voiced their support for the proposal, but Walsh joined Doubrava in his utter surprise so close to the Wastewater Treatment Plant that there is no access there to town sewer.
Charon said that even if tying into sewer were possible, digging into state-controlled Route 6 would be very difficult. Converse Road, he said, would be another matter.
After the public hearing was closed, ConCom member Ethan Gerber motioned a Negative Box 3 Determination because the alterations to the area would be minimal, and the wetlands would not be affected by the activity. The commissioners voted unanimously to green-light the project as presented by Charon.
In a continued public hearing, Deb Ewing once again represented The Cove in Marion Trust in its Notice of Intent to conduct proposed maintenance of vegetation at Jenney Lane.
Doubrava summarized the continuance on the basis of a concern with having a member of the town signing the NOI as the owner. He said Town Counsel Jon Witten advised him that he could sign the NOI on behalf of the commission.
Ewing reported that the day before the meeting, the Cove members deposited 17 more turtle babies. “We put them in the wetlands area, so that’s not an area we want to mow,” she said.
Per the motion outlined by Walsh, the commissioners voted an Order of Conditions for the proposed maintenance of vegetation with the exception of the proposed mowing of 3,094 square feet of bordering vegetated wetlands.
“I just don’t see the necessity for it,” said Walsh, referencing his study of box-turtle habitat. Buffer-zone mowing was covered in Walsh’s proposed motion for approval.
Mariano and Leah Garcia-Blanco filed a Notice of Intent for demolition and various site improvements to an existing residential house lot at 18 Sippican Lane.
Represented the applicants, Brian Grady of G.A.F. Engineering told the commission that an ANRAD had been filed on the property several months ago that confirmed all the resource areas on the site.
The Blancos proposed a 920 square-foot addition to the existing house, a detached garage to the rear, along with reconstruction of an existing tennis court to make it slightly smaller and relocation of a bulkhead to the opposite side of the house. A fountain and benches will be removed and an existing septic tank and pump chamber will be replaced. The new septic system will feature denitrification technology.
The construction, said Grady, will fall below the 10% threshold for riverfront activities.
Based on his site visit, Assing said the applicants seemed to try to keep as much work as possible out of the riverfront area and recommended the commission vote to issue an Order of Conditions with prevention of pollution and protection of wildlife habitat. The vote was unanimous.
Asked for comments to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding an application filed by Martha Collins-Gray and Robert Gray regarding an ongoing Order of Conditions at 114 Front Street, the commissioners agreed that a Request for Determination of Applicability filing is in order.
The commissioners also voted to accept the Restoration Plan proposed at 122 Register Road.
The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Conservation Commission
By Mick Colageo