Conservation Commission Meeting: May 20, 2025

Note: this public meeting and public hearing were conducted in person at the Annex, with a remote teleconferencing option available for public participation. Public participation details were posted with the agenda.

Members in attendance: Brian Keevan, Holly Palmgren, Bonnie Hirsh, Jennifer Vuona, Jeff Hoodlet

Members in attendance remotely:

Applicants and others in attendance: Larry Greene Jr.

Applicants and others in attendance remotely: Roger Brooks

Votes taken in the following actions are “all in favor” unless noted otherwise.

Holly Palmgren called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

Item 1: 7:02 P.M. NOI for 175 Brooks Station Rd Lot 1 Driveway – Three Oaks Environmental has filed an NOI (DEP File #267-0467) on behalf of Pickoff Properties for a new driveway off an existing common driveway at 175 Brooks Station Rd to access the newly created backlot. MaryAnn emailed today and asked for a continuation to the June 17th meeting.  At 7:02 the Commissioners voted to continue the hearing to June 17^th.

Item 2: 7:02 P.M.  A Notice of Intent was filed (DEP file number 267-0468) by American Tower Company for culvert replacement and road improvement of an access road to their communications tower off Thompson Road. DEP issued a file number today with comments. The applicant has requested by email today to continue the hearing to the next meeting so they have time to respond to the comments.  At 7:04 Commissioners voted to continue the hearing to the June 17^th meeting.

Item 3: 7:04 pm.  Certificate of Compliance request.  A request for CoC was received by the applicant for DEP file #267-0466 (septic system replacement at 57 East Princeton Road). A site visit could not be successfully arranged prior to the meeting. The item will be addressed at the next meeting in June. A motion to table the item was made and seconded, and commissioners voted to table the item until the June 17^th meeting.

Item 4: 7:05 pm.  Request for Extension of Determination of Applicability received from Jennifer Shenk at 69 Mirick Road. Determination is set to expire on May 23, 2025. Tree work is done but they are still doing the invasive plant removal.  Holly explained that there is no official form for extending a Determination, but it can be done via letter if the Commission agrees. At 7:08 the PCC voted to authorize the Chair to send a letter extending the Determination to 5/23/2027.

Item 5: 7:09 pm.  Request for Determination of Applicability filed by McCarty Engineering on behalf of Princeton Highway Department for visitor parking on Westminster Road. Site visit on 5/16/2025 (Bonnie, Brian, Jeff, Holly, Lar). Larry Greene presented on behalf of the PHD.  Five parking spots to be created along the side of and parallel to Westminster Road just west of the Harrington/Dickens Trail crossing as part of the overall road paving/improvement project currently ongoing. Road surface will be shifted slightly to the south to add enough space for parking, all within buffer. At 7:20 p.m. Commissioners voted to issue a Negative Determination #3, with a condition to notify the Commission 48 hours in advance of start of construction.

7:21 p.m.  Not an agenda item. Roger Brooks discussed cutting on his parcel on Old Mill Road. After some cutting was started it was determined that he couldn’t continue without a plan.  He is now working on a ANR plan to bring to the Planning Board. Commissioners requested a site visit to confirm that the cutting was not near any wetlands. Roger will ask his engineer to contact us and set up a site visit.

Item 6: PCC voted to approve the minutes from 4/15/2025 as drafted with minor amendments at 7:47 p.m.

7:48 p.m. Not an agenda item. Follow up on item 5 from the minutes of the 4/15/2025 meeting. On 4/23/2025 a site visit was held at 311 Worcester Road; Jeff, Holly, Jennifer, and Brian attended with Ben Metcalf and Larry Greene Jr. Purpose to assess the proposed culvert replacement. Commissioners confirmed that the wetland resource was non-jurisdictional.

Item 7: 7:53 p.m. Tabled policy and procedures discussion to the next meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Building Permit subcommittee update: Bonnie is up to date.
• Forest Cutting plans: One received for Eicholzer at 264 Mirick Road. After review of the cutting plan commissioners noted that a stream was not shown and additional crossings may be needed to access the entire stands slated to be harvested.  Chair will email the service forester to explain these concerns.
• Commission business; correspondence; mail; procedures; etc. Due to scheduling conflicts, the June 17^th meeting did not have a quorum. Commissioners voted to move the meeting to June 24^th.

The next meeting of the PCC is scheduled for June 24, 2025.

Commissioners voted to adjourn at 8:05 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Brian Keevan

Documents received/reviewed:

• RDA plan for Westminster Road