The Rochester Conservation Commission reviewed plans for new housing developments and their potential impact on wetlands areas in their meeting held on June 2.
Stephen Meltzer of Edgewood Development, representing plans put forth by Willow Creek Builders, presented an outline for the proposed construction of wells on Box Turtle Drive and Horse Neck Road. The wells, which would serve two homes currently under construction, need to be constructed in the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone.
“Because of the geometry and regulations to keep wells 150-feet away from septic systems, we were forced to put wells in the 100-foot buffer zone,” said Meltzer. In order to stay away from an existing septic system, the well will have to be positioned 44-feet into the buffer zone.
Meltzer expressed his confidence in protecting wetlands areas and his experience working with these types of lots in the past. “We had a number of these lots in the Connet Woods area. We haven’t had any issues. We are well into the eighties of the lots we have done. There are probably six to eight of these (with wells) that are within the buffer zone,” Meltzer explained to the commission.
In terms of wetland protection, Meltzer explained that the wells would include a silt fence and any additional protections that the commission saw fit to protect the surrounding areas. Further, the paths leading to the wells would be constructed in a way that would avoid the cutting of any large trees and form routes only through low shrubs.
Of the two plans presented, the lot located on Box Turtle Drive received the most approval and was allowed to go forward. This came after Meltzer presented plans that clearly demonstrated that the location of the well could not be moved in any way to avoid the buffer zone.
Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon displayed images showing the low shrubs that would need to be cleared in order to access the well. “There wouldn’t be too much damage to existing trees,” said Farinon. “Due to the geometry of the lot, it forces it into this location.”
The second plan, for the lot located on Horse Neck Road, was questioned by the commission. The commission agreed that the plans presented by Meltzer did not adequately demonstrate that the regulations and geometry of the lot demanded it be constructed in that particular location.
Vice Chairman Daniel Gagne asked Meltzer if his engineers could draft a letter explaining the conditions and reasons that demanded that this be the only possible location for the well’s construction. Meltzer agreed to provide the letter, and the request for Determination of Applicability was continued to the next scheduled meeting.
The commission moved on to address a Notice of Intent continued from their meeting held on April 21. The Notice of intent, filed by Steen Realty and Development Corp, deals with proposed work to be done in the 100-foot buffer zone of a vegetated wetlands area. The massive project deals with associated grading and drainage outfall installation associated with the development of 208 residential units and a commercial space within the Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District.
Phil Cordeiro, representing the development, came before the commission to address a number of changes made to the plan to alleviate concerns raised in their previous meeting. The majority of those concerns stemmed from the fact that so much work needed to be done in buffer zones and no disturb zones.
Cordeiro explained that the amended plans modify the proposed outlet pipe to keep all of that associated work out of the 25-foot no disturb zone. In addition, the proposed dumpster pad was moved out of the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone to protect the area from potential runoff. The final change included a retaining wall around parts of the site to prevent drainage into the wetlands.
Henry Nover, who has been working closely with Cordeiro on the amended plan, explained that he still needed time to address inconsistencies in the new plan. “There is a lot of information presented in chart form, and there are some conflicts within those charts. I would like to get that in writing to present it to the commission,” said Nover.
With so much work still needed to be done to finalize the plan and Cordeiro requiring final approval from the Rochester Planning Board, the commission agreed to order a continuance of the topic to July 7.
The commission’s final business involved a request put forth by property owner Sonia Amaral for a property located on 28 Snow’s Pond Road. Amaral came before the commission in order to explain her plan for the construction of a new porch on her property.
Amaral’s request for Determination of Applicability was based on her plan that would bring construction of the porch near the 25-foot no-disturb zone. Amaral presented a plan for a notched deck and for a rectangular deck. She admitted that she preferred the rectangular plan despite its challenges. The rectangular design would bring the porch right up to the 25-foot no-disturb line, but it would require less digging. Amaral explained that the limited digging would provide less disturbance to her existing lawn area.
Farinon supported the plan, as it did not cross into the no-disturb zone and seemed to have little environmental impact. “She is doing work right up to the 25-foot no-disturb zone. We are not talking about sensitive vegetation. It’s within an existing yard area. It could easily be done without any adverse effects,” Farinon told the commission.
Following Farinon’s recommendation, the commission issued a negative Determination of Applicability so that a Notice of Intent will not be required for the project to go forward.
The next Rochester Conservation Commission Meeting is scheduled to take place on June 16.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Matthew Donato