The Rochester Conservation Commission continued its discussion from prior meetings relating to the Makepeace Enforcement Order. Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering, representing the response to the Enforcement Order, provided an update to commission members on March 2 on the progress being made before a formal Notice of Intent filing.
Madden explained that he has been working closely with his team to confirm that any of his plans for proposed work clearly communicate the work necessary to meet the Enforcement Order conditions. Further, Madden told commission members that he would provide detailed topographic data from the site for any disturbed areas.
Rochester Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon explained that she, alongside Town Counsel Blair Bailey, met with Madden to discuss their concerns with the initial plans. Farinon communicated her understanding of how eager Madden and Makepeace were to meet the requirements of the Enforcement Order but ultimately argued for the importance of taking the time to properly delineate the areas that were impacted on the new plans. For Farinon, properly substantiating the impacted areas is a necessary step in preparing an effective restoration plan. The commission will conduct a site visit to view the disturbed areas in the field as it awaits Madden’s updated plans.
Steve Meltzer of Edgewood Development Company, LLC came before commission members to request an extension for an order of conditions for work completed on Kings Highway Bituminous Concrete Production Facility that was initially ordered in 2011. The order of conditions has been consistently extended until the present day due to a series of legal challenges surrounding the project.
The most recent extension expires on March 22, causing Meltzer to seek another extension for the project. Lauren Gluck, a wetlands scientist working on the project, explained that in her visit to the site, she did not identify any factors that have changed the delineation of wetlands areas as they were made for the initial filing back in 2011.
Farinon spoke with Bailey and determined that it would be in the commission’s best interest to treat the application for the extension as if it were a new filing due to the legal challenges the project is facing. Commission members agreed to fully review the application for the extension and continue the request for the extension until their next meeting.
Brian Grady of G.A.F. Engineering, representing Steve Morrell, opened a public hearing for proposed work to expand an existing shooting range and instruction facility near County Road. Morrell explained that he is looking to improve the range to make a safer experience and foster a better training environment.
Morrell explained to commission members that he has been doing this kind of work for the past 20 years. The updates to his range will allow him to meet law enforcement and military demands and expand his business opportunities.
The proposed work involves filling 5,000 square feet of wetland area that is in the center of the property. Grady explained that this wetland area came about as a result of sand removal on the site and over-excavation in the area. Brian Holmes, also representing the applicant, explained that a replicated wetlands area would be created to compensate for the land being filled in. “We are looking to create an enhanced wetland value by updating the better portions of the existing wetland areas,” Holmes told commission members.
Farinon explained that it is common that, in an attempt to remove sand from an area, workers excavate too deeply and create these kinds of wetlands. “This is a site that I have been involved with for a long time,” said Farinon. “We really need to see the site in order to do a proper evaluation.”
Farinon ultimately hopes that the work will result in something better than what exists right now. She suggested that the applicant be advised to push work farther away from the 25-foot no disturb zone and work to protect the high-quality areas of the wetlands. With that, the commission voted to continue the public hearing until its next meeting.
The next Rochester Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled to be held on March 16 at 7:00 pm.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Matthew Donato