Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission Wednesday, June 7, 2023 - 6:00 PM City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Accepted July 19, 2023 6/7/2023 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:01pm. 2. ROLL CALL Dean Anson, Deb Williams, Mike Foote, Bob Harrington 3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG The commission saluted the flag 4. RECORDING SECRETARY Deb Williams 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 6.I. Acceptance Of May 3 Minutes They did not have minutes printed to review and will review them at the next meeting. 7. OLD BUSINESS Public Comments: Vicki Viebrooks from Beaver Pond Estates, Condo Assoc. of 49 units. The association is concerned about the RV park being built on their north side. They are direct abutters but were never informed because letters were sent to the condo’s builders. Their concerns include: Too many trees have been cut down, the noise level, density issue, light pollution, and security. Steve Ferland from the board of the Condo Assoc. also spoke. He said that he had heard trees being cut last spring. He talked to Dean Trefethen at that time and was told the city didn’t know of any improvement plan to that property. Mr. Ferland said the property was clear-cut to the condos property line and by November it looked like a moonscape. He found out that the owner had been given a permit to cut trees last August, but says the plan was not followed. Mike Foote said that he would like to walk the property. John Bouton spoke representing the RV Park. Mr. Bouton said they have silt fences in place. He said there will be significant improvement to the land when the project is finished. There should be no foot traffic, so no security problems. He said there will be seven foot arborvitae trees planted along the property line to screen the park from the condos. There is 20 feet between the planned road and the property line. Nick also spoke for the RV Park. He explains that they didn’t buy the property until July 22, 2022, so any tree cutting before that wasn’t done by them. They obtained intent to cut from the city. They installed erosion control with hay mix. They will have stormwater basins to collect and treat run-off before it leaves property. They will follow Best Practices from state guidelines. They have now studied the steep slopes on the  trees planted along the property line to screen the park from the condos. There is 20 feet between the planned road and the property line. Nick also spoke for the RV Park. He explains that they didn’t buy the property until July 22, 2022, so any tree cutting before that wasn’t done by them. They obtained intent to cut from the city. They installed erosion control with hay mix. They will have stormwater basins to collect and treat run-off before it leaves property. They will follow Best Practices from state guidelines. They have now studied the steep slopes on the property, which they did not before, and found that they are in the precautionary grade, not prohibitive. They are at 21% grade. They have also changed their site plans to include a rain garden at each RV site, instead of crushed stone. The road grade will be made with a V-channel to funnel run-off to catch basins. The management plan for the catch basins include having them cleaned out twice a year. They will keep the park at 100 units. There will be sewer hookups at each site and no external hose connections. Part of the utilities will be underground and they will have 4 telephone/light poles. Lights and electric will be shut off October-May. There will be no gate, as requested by police and fire department. Traffic should be limited as RVs will be stationary. Dean Anson asked about light pollution for the neighborhood. He also suggests that they install a security system Mike Foote asks about green space. Response was that it will be around 60%, as the RV sites are not paved. Mike asks if there will be an HOA fee. Response was that each RV spot will be owned Dean Anson asks if the owners can change their foundations after a 51% buy-in. The response is no they cannot. Dean asked if the erosion can be controlled now as runoff water should not be leaving the property Deb Williams asked if the silt socks and fences were in place this past winter when the erosion happened at the condos. The response was yes, they had been in place More public comments: Vicki asks about blasting that will occur. And have they planned for 20- 50 year storms? Vicki is also concerned about closing off any wildlife corridor. And she brings up safety concerns if the RVs are left there all winter Answers from the RV Park: Blasting, stormwater runoff, and steep slopes will have 3 rd party reviews. There will be groundwater and well monitoring during and after blasting. The blasting company must inspect neighboring foundations before and after the blasting occurs to check for damage. They will send a notice to the abutters listing the dates of any blasting The RV Park owners will send us updated plans that include the rain gardens. They will contact Mike F. about walking the property. 7.I. 464-303-28 Vacant Lot On Route 106 Interim Planning Director Kathy Menici has instructed Scott Pelchat to send the owner a cease and desist letter. The owner did have a driveway permit from the state since it’s on a state highway. The owner is cooperating Signs for WOW Trail and installation: Deb will call the Sign Shop to see if the owner is back from Florida. 7.II. Cohort Install 8. NEW BUSINESS  from Florida. 7.II. Cohort Install 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.I. Land & Water Conservation Collaboration Dean met with Laconia Water Dept. and the Lake Winnipesaukee Assoc. to see if we can coordinate water quality samples, maybe using the same lab for testing. We may share some of the testing equipment. Dean and Deb met with Rich Tilton and Dick Steinhoff about Langley Cove. Dredging is probably the only answer to help the homeowners. Dick and Rich will look into permits and funding. Ben Crawford, from the Water Dept., talked to Dean about the property on Lafayette St. Dean went to a presentation at Prescott Farm that invited many different conservation groups. They brainstormed ways to expose more people to land and water concerns happening now and in the future. 8.II. Lakes Congress Deb, Dean, and Lisa Morin went to the Lakes Congress last week and attended some great informational workshops. The recorded workshops are now online if you go to NHLakes.org 8.III. Wetlands Complaints 9. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS 10. OTHER BUSINESS Bob Harrington fertilizer. reportedsprinklers They have on the Taylor Community. The community also seem toisbe mowing cuttingand onspreading Bob wondered if theythe on every needed a permit. night. They a hillside, Mike Foote brought up the thought that some people might be against the idea of land conservation right now since new housing is desperately needed. 11. LIAISON AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 12. STAFF REPORT 13. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm. Mike made the motion and Bob seconded it. Minutes respectfully submitted by Deb Williams