There is end in sight for the Enforcement Order issued to the Marion Golf Club, 10 South Drive, for unpermitted tree and brush-cutting activity. Three members of the Marion Conservation Commission walked the site on August 20 and during their August 24 public meeting interacted with Brian Madden from LEC Environmental Consultants.
Representing Marion Golf Club, Madden shared his site plan, describing two areas where brush cutting took place, making the club subject to the Enforcement Order. He pointed out areas of different species of matured trees.
“Everything’s going to come back, we just need to make sure it comes back successfully,” said Madden, whose plan would also manage the growth of any invasive species. He said the golf course plans to “fill in the gaps” this fall with clusters of three to four shrubs totaling 24 shrubs in Area 1 and 12 shrubs in Area 2. He listed a variety of species of shrubs that tolerate full to partial shade.
Monitoring, Madden said, is meant to be adaptive over a two-season period with extra attention to be paid areas that do not, reestablishing “the way we’d like them to. … So this is basically to kickstart it right now, get it going.” He anticipates that the invasive species on site can be treated by hand.
Conservation Commission Chairman Jeff Doubrava said he would like to see a comprehensive plan indicating current field conditions, identifying the area where plantings will take place and also where permanent boundaries will be placed, “so in the future there’s no question that what we’ve done is what we’ve said we’re going to do.”
Madden clarified that Doubrava is basically requesting a surveyed “engineer’s plan.” He agreed with Doubrava that putting together one plan would not require any further wetlands delineation. “We have all that data,” said Madden. “We can certainly pull that together.”
Member Shaun Walsh agreed with Doubrava’s assessment but also took issue with the display indicating the area of March 2021 clear-cutting. “There was definitely cutting activity that occurred beyond that flag line,” he said. In order to give the planting two growing seasons, Walsh suggested the course project to 2024.
Conservation Agent Doug Guey-Lee, who walked the site with Madden on August 4, asked if irrigation is feasible. Madden said “it’s absolutely necessary” so there will be irrigation. “I think the bones of this (plan) are really good,” said Guey-Lee, calling the plan “close” and only needing to become more “granular.” Guey-Lee also asked if there was any estimation as to the size of the area and the size of the bare areas. “Where I’m going with that is to understand the planting plan,” he said.
Madden said he estimated the areas, saying that approximately 10 percent of the area would fit the bare description. He said the plan is also to allow for adequate room for regrowth, noting that prior plantings on the course were not consistent.
Doubrava asked Madden to send the commission a revised plan by September 7 so the commissioners would have a week to review before their September 14 public meeting. “Nobody wants this to drag out,” said Doubrava. “We want to get to the point where we’re good neighbors.”
Thomas Heiser filed a Notice of Intent for beach nourishment at 5 Island Court. The project consists of placing an average depth of 4 to 6 inches of sand over 4,100 square feet of beach between knee-high water and the stone-masonry seawall at the site.
Matt Leone of Schneider, Davignon & Leone, Inc. estimates that between 50 and 75 cubic yards of sand will be brought onto the site on the northeast side of Planting Island and spread by “rubber-tire machinery.” The beach at the address is bordered by a jetty and the vegetated remnants of an old jetty.
“The project is on land subject to coastal-storm flowage,” said Leone, noting that a stone-masonry wall separates the manicured lawn from the coastal beach.
The coastal beach is mapped by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program as a “priority habitat.” A Notice of Intent and fees have been submitted, according to Leone, who said that applicant is waiting on responses from that agency.
Guey-Lee clarified that the project narrative specifies annual nourishment over a maximum of a three-year period.
The public hearing was continued at the applicant’s request to September 14 at 7:00 pm.
On August 20, the commissioners visited 538 Point Road, where Arthur Solomon is seeking a Certificate of Compliance for an outdoor kitchen. Doubrava and Walsh said the sod was not well established during their visit.
Walsh suggested adequate water and seeding over the next couple of months may establish stable conditions and the issuance of a COC. The commission recommended the applicant withdraw the application until the area has been stabilized, at which point a new application would be filed.
The scheduled hearing for a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by 8 Pie Alley, LLC c/o Brian and Beth Keane to raze and dispose of the existing house and garage and to construct a new home with an attached garage, driveway, retaining walls, landscaping and utilities was continued per the applicant’s request to September 14 at 7:00 pm.
Doubrava told the commissioners that their decision to issue an Order of Conditions approving the Lees’ residential project has been appealed by several neighbors and interested parties and is now in the hands of the state Department of Environmental Protection. Doubrava said the matter could conceivably come back to the commission or the DEP could rule.
Four-year ConCom member Marc Belanger and his family are leaving the area so August 24 was his final meeting. “You’ll leave big shoes to be filled,” said Doubrava. “I will retain very, very fond memories of working with you guys,” said Belanger, who will need replacement as the commission’s representative to the Stewards of Community Open Space.
Belanger’s departure comes at a time when Millie Seeberg has expressed her interest in joining the commission. Seeberg told the commissioners that she lacks formal training but has and will continue to take opportunities to learn the role of and information and training necessary to contribute to the commission. She said she has no conflicts of interest and would be available to attend meetings and site visits.
Walsh said Seeberg’s knowledge of botany will come in handy for the commission, but there is a lot to learn. He suggested state-sponsored workshops as a great learning opportunity. Member Emil Assing told Seeberg how far his knowledge has come in a short time through availing himself to the learning opportunities and encouraged her to pursue. Belanger echoed Assing’s sentiments as an outsider to the process.
Doubrava said he would ask the Select Board to appoint associate member Matt Schultz as a full-voting member and Seeberg as the new associate.
The next meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, September 14, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Conservation Commission
By Mick Colageo