Following the Board of Selectmen’s OK for Shea Doonan’s aquaculture farm project to move forward into the state permitting process, the Marion Conservation Commission gave its own OK in the form of an Order of Conditions for Doonan’s Notice of Intent.
The August 8 hearing was a continuance from July 25 for the 100-foot by 230-foot aquaculture farm slated for just off Mitten’s Flats, which, back in July, was still waiting on a DEP file number. With that in hand, the commission issued Doonan’s NOI an Order of Conditions with no special conditions.
Doonan must still complete a rigorous state and federal permitting process before the Board of Selectmen is tasked with the final say in the fate of Doonan’s aquaculture farm.
Also during the meeting, the commission issued a Negative 2 and 3 determination (no Notice of Intent required) for Betty Sanisidro’s Request for Determination of Applicability, allowing her after-the-fact filing for phragmite treatment and removal to proceed in tandem with her neighbor’s eradication plan.
According to Sanisidro, her neighbors approached her and asked if she would like to also undergo aggressive phragmite eradication, given that the species is so invasive and it would take a partnership to overcome the spread of the non-native pest. However, Sanisidro stated that the neighbors told her that it would be allowed if she wanted to participate without needing to approach the commission; however, that information was inaccurate.
Facing a wetlands trifecta – next to a riverfront, nearby wetlands, and within a flood zone – “You’re really not supposed to do any cutting,” advised Conservation Commission Chairman Jeffrey Doubrava.
Being an after-the-fact filing, commission member Shaun Walsh asked Sanisidro if she would be following the same eradication protocol as her neighbor, to which she replied, yes.
“You should continue to treat them,” commented commission member Cynthia Callow. “They are very invasive and they’re not good, that’s why we encourage people to – they choke off all the nice stuff that they shouldn’t, so you really should treat and follow the plan and maintain it as well as you can.”
In other matters, the public hearing for Jonathan Tracy at 0 Ridgewood Lane was continued until August 22 so that the applicant can have a qualified wetlands specialist review the delineated wetlands line that dates back to 2006. The commission was not prepared to accept a wetlands line that old, and despite engineer Bob Rogers’ belief that the commission could walk the line itself and determine its accuracy, Walsh was not confident that the commission was qualified to make that determination.
The Dexter Beach Improvement Association was approved for up to 100 cubic yards of sand for beach nourishment. The Notice of Intent application requested 100 cubic yards, but an estimated 40 cubic yards is slated for this operation.
The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission received a Negative 3 determination for its Notice of Intent to install a “Welcome” sign and plant two flowerbeds at 0 Mill Street.
“I think it’s a wonderful project,” said Walsh. “Any projects like this that beautify the town – an already beautiful town … are to be supported. I endorse it wholeheartedly.”
The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for August 22 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall.
Marion Conservation Commission
By Jean Perry