Conservation Commission

CITY OF LACONIA CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 23rd, 2017 6:00 PM, CITY HALL, ROOM 200A SECOND FLOOR OF CITY HALL 45 BEACON STREET EAST Call to Order (Roll Call) (6:00 PM) Commission Members: Dean Anson, Lisa Morin, Richard Christopher, Deb Williams, Marnie Schulz, Michael Foote (late arrival), and Staff Evan Rathburn Guests: Mr. Ralph Alexander from 75 Belmont Road, John Rokeh from Rokeh Consulting, Bill Philpot from Haughey, Philpot, and Laurent PA. 75 Belmont Road Discussion begins on the 75 Belmont Road project. R. Alexander gives a summary of his application. D. Anson asks Mr. Alexander where the brook is in location to the house. Mr. Alexander informs D. Anson that Durkee Brook is to the left of his house looking at the building from the street. L. Morin asks Technician Evan whether he has performed a site walk yet. Technician Evan states that he has not. L. Morin asks about erosion and what the banking of the river looks like at the current time. Mr. Alexander states that there has been erosion in the past. The Commission asks R. Alexander what kind of footings he will use and Mr. Alexander states that he will use precast concrete footings on posts. D. Anson advises that Mr. Alexander use Silt Soxx as erosion controls. M. Foote arrives at 6:16. Mr. Alexander tells the Commission that he will have the decks 12 ft. from the house. The Conservation Commission recommends that the applicant install plantings alongside the brook to help stabilize the shore. The Commission also recommends that Staff aid the applicant with selecting plantings to help stabilize the side of the brook. D. Christopher makes a motion to accept the application as presented with recommendations provided. D. Williams seconds. All “Aye” Minutes D. William makes a motion to accept the minutes with corrections. L. Morin seconds. All “Aye” 1212-1214 Union Avenue Discussion commences in relation to the second round of comments on 1212-1214 Union Avenue. L. Morin has concerns about the lack of plantings on the shorefront part of the property. L. Morin also has some concerns about the Commission’s recommendations in relation to the vegetative buffer. M. Schulz has concerns about the sidewalk that is being installed for the project. Technician Evan explains that sidewalks are a Planning and Department of Public Works requirement for development. Discussion commences about the list of plantings that applicant wishes to use for the property. “The Conservation Commission for the City of Laconia NH, in concern for the City of Laconia’s water quality and the integrity of Black Brook recommends the following as final conditions for the Wetlands CUP being applied for 1212-1214 Union Avenue:” • Use pervious pavers instead of stamped concrete for the back-patio area. • Install a vegetative swale in between the beach wall and perched beach/loam and seeded area. • Do not disturb 10 ft. out from Black Brook during invasive species cleanup and following construction process. M. Foote makes a motion to submit the recommendations that have been put forth as stated. D. Williams seconds. All “Aye” Langley Cove J. Rokeh gives a summary of where the project currently at and what meetings between the staff and developer have transpired recently. J. Rokeh also gives a summary of where the developer last left off with the Conservation Commission and what the developer and Planning Department have agreed to disagree on in regards to the language in the Open Space documentation. The Commission expresses confusion pertaining to why the Planning Department is being so hard on the developer. J. Rokeh tells the Conservation Commission that the applicant is open to allowing Prescott Farms Conservancy to use the Open Space area, with notice, for educational/functional purposes. J. Rokeh also informs the Commission that the Open Space area is for density calculations to allow more units but they have decided against building additional homes to help preserve the land. He also informs that the Commission that the Open Space land will not be used for development. Once everything is all set, the land will be turned over to the Homeowner’s Association and that the Association would have to become developers to be able to do anything with that land. M. Schulz asks whether the land could be put into Conservation Easement. B. Philpot says that he cannot give an authoritative answer to that question. J. Rokeh says that if they do create a conservation easement on the property, they can use the conservation easement on Rollercoaster Road as a template. J. Rokeh says that he does not make the decision on whether they can put a conservation easement on the land but he will bring it back to those who do have the power to make that decision. D. Christopher voices that he believes that the Conservation Commission should support the developers proposed development project. Other Business The Conservation Commission would like for Technician Evan to setup a time to meet with the Planning Director and Assistant Planning Director to go over various concerns that the Conservation Commission has currently. No lake host updates. No WWN updates. L. Morin makes a motion to adjourn. D. Christopher seconds. All “Aye” Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.