TOWN OF OTIS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
02/20/2018 MEETING MINUTES
Location: Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis
Conservation Commission Members present: Dave Sarnacki, Roger Meyer, Jeff Laramy, Domenic Battista and Renee Dube’.
Conservation Commission Members absent: Bruce Wall
Staff and others present: Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary; Bob Mason with MA DCR; Sara Gapinski;
Opening items/Introduction of Commission members and staff. Dave Sarnacki opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. He noted that the meeting is being recorded. The deadline for applications for the March 20th meeting is March 7, 2018 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the March 20th meeting, is March 7th from 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Dave introduced the members of the commission, as well as Bob Mason with MA DCR, and asked everyone to turn off/down their cell phones for the duration of the meeting.
Minutes: Dave made a motion to approve the minutes from our January 16, 2018 meeting, with changes as discussed and outlined; DB 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the January 16, 2018 meeting, with changes as discussed and outlined.
- Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by SK Design Group, on behalf of Gary & Alicia Belanger, 20 Pine Rd., map 17C lot 94, regarding the demolition of existing dock & stairs, and installation of new, including a boat lift located centrally on the lot, on OR. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Sara Gapinski was in attendance for this hearing, and Dave recused himself from the vote, as he is an abutter to this applicant/location. Jeff Laramy stepped in as Temporary Chair for this particular NOI hearing as a result of Dave’s recusal. Sara discussed the project with the Commission and the only questions were based on if the seawall was there prior to these owners, and per MASS DEP, it was there pre-1994. There was some discussion on this point, and it was ultimately decided that unless anyone had proof to the wall NOT being there prior to these owners, then the decision will stand that it was there pre-1994, and the points made contrary are not relevant to this NOI. There was additional discussion on the exact location of the dock(s), and per Sara, the docks layout was designed in conjunction with MASS DEP, as per their requirements for setbacks and lateral access for walkers; again, since the seawall disposition is not up for debate on the NOI, we cannot consider. Jeff made a motion to approve and issue the NOI; DB 2nd the motion and the commission voted two to one for the OOC to be issued with standard conditions, including special condition that OCC may inspect this property for 3 years from date of approval. RM was against the project as proposed due to his belief that the seawall was NOT there prior to this applicant’s purchase of the property.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Continuation – Submitted by SK Design Group, on behalf of Gary & Alicia Belanger, 20 Pine Rd., map 17C lot 94, regarding the demolition of existing dock & stairs, and installation of new, including a boat lift located centrally on the lot, on OR. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Sara Gapinski was in attendance for this hearing, and requested that we withdraw this RDA, as per OCC requirements, an NOI will be required to do the associated project, as listed herewith. Dave made a motion to withdraw this RDA per applicant request; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the withdrawal of this RDA filing.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Continuation – Submitted by White Engineering on behalf of Steven & Kathy Cloud, 257 Brookman Drive, map 18C/18B lot 32/6, regarding the reconstruction of existing dock in identical footprint & elevation, using techno-metal post with Trex decking, on OR. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. No one was in attendance, however, Shannon Boomsma emailed KB via Concom and requested that the RDA be withdrawn. Dave made a motion to withdraw the RDA, RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to withdraw this RDA filing.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Enforcement Orders/Letters:
Emergency Certifications:
Forest Cutting Plans:
Extensions of Orders of Condition:
Certificate of Compliance Requests:
Unanticipated Business:
Next office hours: Wednesday, March 7, 2018 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall. Meeting adjourned at 6:49 PM.