Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - 6:00 PM City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Draft Minutes 11/20/2024 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER D. Anson calls the meeting to order at 6:00. 2. ROLL CALL L. Morin, R. Harrington, D. Williams, D. Anson, and M. Foote are present. 3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG 4. RECORDING SECRETARY Grey Draper 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Grey Draper, Conservation Technician 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS L. Morin motions to accept. R. Harrington seconds the motion. Unanimous. 6.I. 11.6 Minutes 7. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS No applications. 8. OLD BUSINESS 8.I. All New Construction Be Required To Have Solar Paneling M. Foote raises concerns with the age of buildings and their solar exposure in requiring all new builds to have solar paneling. D. Williams thinks solar paneling should be suggested rather than required. L. Morin suggests including solar paneling in a new build be decided upon their solar exposure percentage. L. Morin suggests reaching out to a Lakes Region Community College professor who specializes in solar energy. She also suggests that we base the language off of other cities’ ordinances. D. Williams suggests focusing on commercial builds for this requirement. 8.I.i. All New Constrction Be Required To Have Solar Paneling = This Is Self Explanatory. Suggest That New Building Construction Include Solar Panels As A Way To Reduce Electrical Demand From The Grid. 8.II. Winter Street Treatment Mitigation L. Morin explains what Green Snow Pro is. 8.II.i. Winter Street Treatment Mitigation = The Treatment Of Streets In Winter Using Salt Should Require Property Owners And The City DPW To Use Green Snow Pro. The State DOT Has A Training  8.II. Winter Street Treatment Mitigation L. Morin explains what Green Snow Pro is. 8.II.i. Winter Street Treatment Mitigation = The Treatment Of Streets In Winter Using Salt Should Require Property Owners And The City DPW To Use Green Snow Pro. The State DOT Has A Training Program Certification For This Process. 8.III. The Water Department Drilling Water Wells Con Com will suggest that the Water Dept. look into this option as an alternative water reserve. 8.III.i. The Water Department Drilling Water Wells = Has The Water Department Investigated Drilling Drinking Water Supply Wells To Supply Water In The Event That There Is A Water Quality Emergency In Paugus Bay? 8.IV. Con Comm Checklist Con COm would like to review the checklist for developers. 8.IV.i. Con Comm Checklist = Applicants Get A Checklist Of Con Comm Requirements. Let’s Review Ad Update The Checklist. 8.V. All Performance Zoning Projects Be Reviewed By The Con Comm D. Williams wants requirements to apply to all new builds. Con Com would like to see all new builds, not necessarily approve them. D. Anson explains that this will improve visibility and Con Com can offer suggestions to developers. 8.V.i. All Performance Zoning Projects Be Reviewed By The Con Comm = Con Comm Reviews Seek To Improve Applications, Especially With Regard To Protecting Natural Resources. 8.VI. Stormwater Tabled until next meeting. 8.VI.i. Stormwater = Not Very Clear, But Suspect It Means Find The Storm Water Project Performed By The Intern From Antioch University. 8.VII. Number Of Parking Tabled until next meeting. 8.VII.i. Number Of Parking Spaces = Does The Zoning Regulations Allow For A Reduction In The Number Of Parking Spaces Per Size Of The Building? This Would Reduce The Amount Of Pervious Surface And Everything Associated With Previous Surface , Such As Amount Salt Usage And Amount Of Stormwater Runoff. 8.VIII. EV Charging Stations Tabled until next meeting. 8.VIII.i. Is There A Demand Or Additional EV Charging Stations In The City? Does The City Map Have Show The Locations Of These Stations? 8.IX. Food Waste Control Tabled until next meeting. 8.IX.i. Food Waste Control =. Lisa Morin Sent Con Comm An Email Regarding A New State Law Regarding Composting Food By Restaurants That Goes Into Effect In February. How Is The City Going To Deal With This Regulation? Is This A Subject That Con Comm Should Take On?  8.IX. Tabled until next meeting. 8.IX.i. Food Waste Control =. Lisa Morin Sent Con Comm An Email Regarding A New State Law Regarding Composting Food By Restaurants That Goes Into Effect In February. How Is The City Going To Deal With This Regulation? Is This A Subject That Con Comm Should Take On? 8.X. Expand The Wetland Buffer Tabled until next meeting. 8.X.i. Expand The Wetland Buffer = This Is Self Explanatory. Con Comm Would Have To Get Planning Board And City Council Approval. 8.XI. Fertilizer Controls And Erosion Mitigation Tabled until next meeting. 8.XI.i. Fetilizer Controls And Erosion Mitigation = Phosphorus Is Introduced Into Waters By Fertilizers With Phosphorus And By Soils Eroded Into Waters. Soil Particles Have Phosphorus Attached To Them. The Purpose Of This Suggestion Was To Institute A Ban From Use Fertilizers With Phosphorus In Them. The City Needs To Make Sure Property Owners And Developers Prevent Erosion. 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.I. Food Ban Update The City of Laconia does not need to do anything for this regulation change. There was discussion about food waste disposal and composting ideas. 9.I.i. A Few Clarifications About The Ban 9.I.i.1. It Applies To Individual Locations (Businesses, Universities, Schools, Hospitals, Prisons, Etc.). Towns And Cities Are Not Considered A “Generator” Under The Current Law. 9.I.i.2. Composting Facilities Are Not The Only Diversion Option. Entities Also Need To Look At Whether There Are Food Pantries, Farms, Or Anerobic Digestors Within A 20-Mile Radius That Can Accept Their Excess Food. 9.I.i.3. We Are Not Requiring Town Transfer Stations To Serve As A Diversion Outlet For These Large Generators. In Most Cases, Town Transfer Stations With A Food Scrap Drop-Off Program Only Serve Their Residents. There Are A Couple Exceptions (E.g., City Of Lebanon Accepts Food Waste From Dartmouth College). 9.II. State Farm Grants 9.II.i. State Farm Grants 9.III. Solid Waste Management Fund 9.III.i. Solid Waste Management Fund 10. LIAISON, SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, AND UPCOMING EVENTS 11. OTHER BUSINESS 11.I. Pervious & Impervious Surfaces In The SPOD 11.II. Parking Requirement Change 11. OTHER BUSINESS 11.I. Pervious & Impervious Surfaces In The SPOD 11.II. Parking Requirement Change 12. STAFF REPORT R. Mora needs the estimate numbers from Con Com by Dec. 1 st for the Gale Ave. project in order to get it into next fiscal year’s budget. 13. ADJOURNMENT D. Anson adjourns the meeting at 7:43.