Marion’s Conservation Commission decided that two projects before it on November 20 were not subject to wetlands protection bylaws.
The commission issued negative determinations of wetlands regulation applicability for plans to repair a wood frame deck, stairs, and egress at 195B Converse Road and to remove eight trees close to the home at 12 Bell Guzzle Lane.
With both projects, Commission Chair Matt Shultz said the board had visited the sites over the weekend and had no questions or comments. Conservation Agent Doug Guez-Lee’s only comment regarded the Converse Road project because the petitioner Gretchem Hardina had started the work before filing the application. “The application was after the fact,” he said. “But other that, I have no comments.”
Regarding the 12 Bell Guzzle Lane project, Shultz agreed the trees needed to be removed because they were hazardously close to the house there. The board, however, added one significant condition to its negative determination order, that the stumps left behind be flushed out or ground down.
The board also approved Orders of Conditions for two proposed house construction projects, at 17 Kabeyun Road and a yet-to-be numbered address on Wilson Road.
The representative for Kabeyun Road, applicant Susan Billings, noted the plan here is to demolish a small cottage and garage and replace it with a two-story cottage with parking beneath and a gravel rather than a paved driveway. The new construction will encompass roughly the same footprint and be protected within the wetlands buffer zone by a concrete washout area and erosion controls that will take runoff off-site.
The project, however, will also require Zoning Board of Appeals approval to continue to be a “non-conforming lot”. The board’s lone significant item in the Order of Conditions it approved for this project was that there a concrete area at the driveway. The board’s lone significant condition in approving the Wilson Road project is to add a siltation fence and hay bales.
In other action, the commission approved an amended Order of Conditions for the construction of a concrete walkway at 17 Seaside Lane. The project’s consultant explained the commission approved the walkway approximately 18 months ago and work on it was completed about a year ago. Then came two December storms in a row, causing washout behind the new wall, leading to the need to restore the wall.
The commission continued until its next meeting the Town of Marion Department of Public Works’ plan on Pumping Station Road to replace an existing diesel-fueled generator with a new propane-fueled generator. The continuance was requested because the project also requires approval by the Natural Heritage Foundation.
The next Marion Conservation Commission meeting will be December 4 at 7:00 pm, in the Marion Police Department Conference Room, 550 Mill Street.
Marion Conservation Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco