Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - 6:00 PM City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Accepted 8/5/2020 7/8/2020 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER At 6:04 PM Chair D. Anson called the meeting to order. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chair Dean Anson, Lisa Morin, Marnie Schulz, Deb Williams, Mike Foote, and Wes Bates (6:43 PM). Members Absent: Stacy Soucy, Planning Board Liaison. Staff: Planning Director Dean Trefethen and Ashley Ruprecht, Conservation Technician Guests: Jon Rokeh and Phil Brouillard for Mountain Lake Village CUP. The Commission saluted the flag. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS, POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION AND VOTE Note: The Purpose Of This Agenda Section Is For The Board To Have A Presentation From The Applicant And Open A Public Hearing For The Public To Provide Input. The Board May Also Deliberate The Application, Decide And Conduct A Final Vote At This Time. 3.I. 409 & 411 Pickerel Pond Property Purchase Chair D. Anson opened the public hearing for the property purchase of 409 and 411 Pickerel Pond Road, lots 12-183-10.1 and 12-183-11 at 6:06 PM. There was no one from the public who wished to speak. Chair D. Anson closed the public hearing at 6:06 PM. D. Williams motioned to have the Laconia Conservation Commission expend funds from the conservation fund to purchase property on Pickerel Pond Road for public access and conservation purposes, specifically lots 12-183-10.1 and 12-183-11, not to exceed $250,000, and further we encourage the City Council and City Manager to execute this process. M. Foote seconds. All voted in favor. The motion passes. 12-183-10.1 and 12-183-11 4. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 4.I. Acceptance Of Minutes From March 4, 2020 M. Foote motioned to accept the minutes as presented. L. Morin seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passes. 5. NEW BUSINESS 5.I. PL2019-0135-Wetland CUP For Woodvale Dr. Lot 5. 5.II. Mountain Lake Village CUP Phil Brouillard and Jon Rokeh presented the application for Mountain Lake Village, which proposes a 51 lot subdivision, of which 18 lots are in Belmont and have been approved. Phil B. recapped the history of the project that has previously come before the board, explaining there are less lots and more green  5.II. Mountain Lake Village CUP Phil Brouillard and Jon Rokeh presented the application for Mountain Lake Village, which proposes a 51 lot subdivision, of which 18 lots are in Belmont and have been approved. Phil B. recapped the history of the project that has previously come before the board, explaining there are less lots and more green space, of which 50 acres is designated Conservation Land in Belmont. All lots abut conservation land, whether it is owned by Belmont or is designated Conservation Open Space by the HOA. Jon R. explained that the plans were originally designed by Steven Smith and although changes have been made, the road locations with culverts are the same. Jon R. states that an AOT permit is needed and will be applied for once the soils mapping and drainage report are complete. The wetland setback is shown on the mapping at 30' since that was the previous setback when plans were originally made, but this will be updated to the current 50' setback. The Commission discussed pricing of homes, retention ponds, utilities, sidewalks, the HOA, stormwater design, and construction phasing with the applicant. Plans will be updated and the application will be going before TRC prior to Planning Board. M. Foote motions to support the application. D. Williams seconded. All voted in favor. 6. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS A. Ruprecht put together a list of NHDES applications that Chair D. Anson's has reviewed and signed on behalf of the Commission during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is some discussion about applications 6.IV. and 6.VII. regarding retaining wall replacement and the potential for the Commission to provide recommendations on plantings, such as providing a guide to shoreline plantings, or give other feedback. A. Ruprecht said that comments can be made during the time of review of the applications to be submitted to NHDES. Chair D. Anson said he would take this into consideration during review. 6.I. 146 Birch Haven NHDES EXP Wetlands Permit 6.II. 740 Weirs Blvd NHDES Wetlands PBN 6.III. 148 Lucerne Ave NHDES EXP Wetlands Permit 6.IV. 250 Paugus Park Rd. NHDES Wetlands PBN 6.V. 12 Zebley Shore Road East NHDES EXP 6.VI. 118 Paugus Park Rd NHDES Wetland PBN 6.VII. 110 Franklin St NHDES Wetlands EXP 7. OLD BUSINESS 7.I. Pickerel Pond Property Update A. Ruprecht explained that the wetland on the property was delineated in April, a NHDES Shoreland permit was applied for to remove the 3 buildings and was approved in June. There are discussions about the pricing and ethics of removing only the lead based materials from the site separately, or having it removed all together as non-hazardous. A. Ruprecht will provide pricing that she has obtained from contractors. D. Trefethen comments that ultimately it is the Planning Department's decision since it will be coming from the Planning budget, not Conservation Commission. M. Schulz voted to allow for the Planning Department to make a decision on removal of the buildings and disposal of lead. M. Foote seconded. All voted in favor. A. Ruprecht will keep the Commission informed on what scope of work the Department of Public Works may be able to contribute to assist in offsetting costs. 7.II. Arbor Day Planning-4/24 An eastern red bud tree was planted at Robbie Mills Park in memory of Dick Christopher. Chair D. Anson is watering the tree and it is doing well. A. Ruprecht purchased a plaque with Dick's name, years of service on Conservation Commission, and an inspirational quote on it. The plaque will be placed on the tree once it has grown large enough.  7.II. Arbor Day Planning-4/24 An eastern red bud tree was planted at Robbie Mills Park in memory of Dick Christopher. Chair D. Anson is watering the tree and it is doing well. A. Ruprecht purchased a plaque with Dick's name, years of service on Conservation Commission, and an inspirational quote on it. The plaque will be placed on the tree once it has grown large enough. 7.III. State School Property Update There is brief discussion about the State School property and potential for becoming and Authority like Pease, and the Governor's disapproval. 7.IV. Milfoil Management Chair D. Anson states there will be no ProcellaCOR treatment in Paugus Bay this year, only DASH treatment, since Moulton Cove abutters would have needed to be notified during the permitting process for ProcellaCOR. A. Ruprecht adds that the NHDES survey results were positive and that it won't be detrimental for ProcellaCOR treatment to wait until next year. There is discussion about milfoil treatment in Lake Winnisquam and Opechee Lake. 7.V. NH Lakes Lake Host Grant D. Williams stated a $1,200 Lake Host grant was received this year from NH LAKES which is about 10 hours a week for 12 weeks. D. Williams could use volunteers if anyone knows of someone who is interested. So far they are not finding weeds on boats coming out of the water, but are finding boat trailers coming into the launch that have not been rinsed. D. Williams noted the increase of activity for the 4th of July holiday. M. Foote stated he has a volunteer in mind. 7.VI. Tributary And Paugus Bay Water Quality Sampling A. Ruprecht and Chair D. Anson will be beginning VRAP sampling soon with the help of WWN, and are tentatively planning on next Friday (7/17/2020). There will be no VLAP sampling on Paugus Bay this year due to social distance restrictions. 7.VI.i. 2020 VRAP Sampling Analysis Plan (SAP) 7.VII. Rules Of Procedure A. Ruprecht will resend out the latest version of the Rules of the Procedure for the Commission to review and provide comments on. 8. OTHER BUSINESS M. Foote asked where funds are distributed from Intent to Cuts that are filed, and if they contribute to the Conservation Fund. A. Ruprecht stated she will look into this and let the Commission know. The Commission discusses portable toilets and their distances to waterbodies. A. Ruprecht stated the City does not have an ordinance in regards to this but will see what information she can find from NHDES. L. Morin stated this should be an item on the checklist they used to have when reviewing projects. A. Ruprecht will look to see if she can find the checklist mentioned. The Commission discussed the garbage problem at Ahern and other parks. The Commission would like to write to the State Parks and Recreation Department to advocate for cleanup and support of having an attendant tending to the park to make sure people carry in/carry out. A. Ruprecht will draft a letter for the Commission's review. The Commission would like to organize clean up events but it is difficult with the pandemic. L. Morin mentions it would be best to clean up the lake during drawdown in the fall. 9. LIAISON AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 10. STAFF REPORT A. Ruprecht asks if the Commission has any additional feedback for the Stafford Oil CUP that came before the board for a preliminary presentation in March. Chair D. Anson will review and provide any additional comments on the application. A. Ruprecht discussed conservation easement walks that are in progress, and thanked D. Williams and Chair D. Anson for their assistance in filming the watershed activity for Belknap Mill's Kids in the Park event  A. Ruprecht asks if the Commission has any additional feedback for the Stafford Oil CUP that came before the board for a preliminary presentation in March. Chair D. Anson will review and provide any additional comments on the application. A. Ruprecht discussed conservation easement walks that are in progress, and thanked D. Williams and Chair D. Anson for their assistance in filming the watershed activity for Belknap Mill's Kids in the Park event that is remote this year due to the pandemic. 11. ADJOURNMENT M. Schulz motioned to adjourn the meeting. M. Foote seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:49 PM.