Dublin Conservation Commission
Minutes
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Attending: Jack Lewis (chair), Anne Anable, Jerry Branch, Karen Bunch, Charlie Champagne, Suzan Macy, Howard Thomas and guests Chris Raymond and Matt Tolman.
Mud Pond: The commission started the meeting with an extensive discussion with Matt Tolman and Chris Raymond about Matt’s plans for the property that he has recently purchased on the northeastern shore of Mud Pond. Matt runs Interval Construction Company, and plans to base the company on the Mud Pond property he has purchased from the Bernier family. Matt and Chris explained that they plan to construct a 100 foot by 100 foot building to house all their equipment and supplies. Their work includes a significant amount of maintenance work on telecommunications facilities, and they need quick access to such items as cable and conduits when a problem occurs. At their current location this is housed outside. In the winter it requires digging out from under snow and
ice based on memory of what was left where. The planned indoor storage would be much more efficient for them.
Over all, Interval plans to use less than 2 acres of the 40 acre property (of which about 12 acres is above water). This usage will include the building site, parking for employee vehicles, some bins for sand, gravel, road salt etc., and a small amount of fuel storage. Interval currently plans to have the floor of the building raised above the Mud Pond 100 year flood level, and plans to have the floor of the building be impervious, with drains leading to a sizable underground holding tank designed to contain any possible spills. Fuel storage would be in tanks which would be in cement containers big enough to hold any possible leakage. The building is planned to be at least 150 feet from the water line (just possible given the property parameters).
Commissioners discussed with Matt and Chris their two basic concerns – that the proposed use would risk polluting the water of Mud Pond or its underlying aquifer, which is Dublin’s primary aquifer, and that the construction of a building of the size being contemplated would significantly mar the view of Mud Pond, especially from Route 137. That view was one of the key views shown in the town’s viewshed analysis done in 2005 in response to the town’s Master Plan. Commissioners generally felt that Interval had done a good job of putting together facilities and protections which would reduce the chances of pollution from the activities planned for the site. They wanted to make sure that here was some way of ensuring that the capabilities (holding tanks, etc.) would be
properly maintained over time and that there would be ways to make sure that contaminants were not getting into Mud Pond or the aquifer. Neither Matt nor the commissioners were sure about how to address the aesthetic issue, but Matt indicated a willingness to use colors and screening to reduce the visual impact of the building and surrounding facilities.
The commissioners felt that Matt and Chris had been quite forthcoming and willing to work to make this a safe project, and that the discussion had been quite informative and fruitful. They resolved to include in the Commission’s letter to the Zoning Board of Adjustment both their concerns about any development of the property and their positive reaction to the efforts of Interval to deal with their concerns.
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of Wednesday, October 8, 2008 were reviewed and approved.
Howe Reservoir: Jack Lewis noted that he had found the NHDES person who monitors lake draw-downs. Jack suggested that commissioners take a look at the Howe Reservoir to determine whether limiting the drawdown to three feet rather than its current six feet would eliminate the current mud flat look on the south side of Route 101. The Commissioners recommend that Jack write the appropriate NHDES person and request that the drawdown be changed from six feet to three feet.
Cell Tower: Jack Lewis mentioned that the Commission had sent a letter to the Zoning Board of Adjustment commenting on the proposed cell tower on Old Peterborough Road. Concerns mentioned included the impact of a logging road on the wetlands near the property’s Goldmine Road border, and the possible effect of continued logging on the visibility of the tower.
Senate Bill 381: The Commission briefly discussed Senate Bill 381, which requires towns to pass warrant articles to give money to land trusts or to participate in buying land or easements outside the town. The Commission plans to determine whether or not to sponsor either warrant article at its December meeting.
Other Business:
- The NH Lakes Association Watershed Conference, scheduled for November 15 was recommended again.
- The Southwest Regional Planning Commission fall meeting is scheduled for November 18
Meeting Schedule: The Commission will continue to meet at 7 PM on the second Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for December 10, 2008.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 PM.
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