Williamstown Con Comm Seeks Specifics on Spruces Plantings
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Conservation Commission on Thursday evening reiterated its request for a detailed list of the plants that a local nonprofit hopes to put on town-owned land on Sept. 1.
And the commissioners expressed some dismay about having to ask twice.
The Hoosic River Watershed Association, backed by funds from the town's Community Preservation Act funds, plans to plant native species along the swale that carries an unnamed stream across the former Spruces Mobile Home Park property toward the river.
Earlier this summer, the Con Comm asked HooRWA for a list of the plants, indicating that the commissioners wanted to offer input about the species selection.
On Thursday, Lauren Stevens of the HooRWA board apologized to the Con Comm telling it, "that request ran into a little resistance."
The commissioners were puzzled by the response, and Chairman Henry Art, a professor of environmental studies, pressed the point.
"It seems to me an entirely reasonable request," Art said. "You are permitted to plant native species. That's an exempt activity [in the protected zone]. You're not permitted to plant things that aren't native, and there's no need to waste CPA funds on things that aren't going to work."
Stevens said the plants' provider, North Branch Nursery, declined to provide a list of the specimens, which are at the nursery awaiting delivery next Thursday.
"The concern was the nursery feels that they're kind of being a little micromanaged if there's an opportunity to pick and choose," Stevens said. "They feel they've come up with a good list."
Commissioner Sarah Foehl noted that if there was nothing wrong with the list, there should not have been a problem providing it.
Art said he did not expect there to be a problem, but he was perplexed by the nursery's refusal.
"It seems to me the vendor should act in a way that's respectful not only of the client but also state law," Art said. "This is not an issue of mistrusting — though now I'm beginning to [mistrust] because of this reaction — but one of trying to collaborate and cooperate."
Commissioner Philip McKnight reiterated the fact that town money, approved by town meeting, was being spent on the project, which was green-lighted by the Con Comm with the understanding that the plants would be appropriate.
"If there's a motion we can make to prevent the planting of unknown plants until we're sure they meet state requirements, I'd be happy to make that motion," McKnight said.
McKnight ultimately moved that the list be provided to the town's conservation agent by the close of business Monday, noting that the commission's chair could call an emergency meeting next week if necessary. The motion passed 5-0.
The Con Comm also agreed on Thursday to require a Notice of Intent from the owners of the residence at 10 Porter St., who submitted a request for determination of applicability of the Wetlands Protection Act for a project proposed at the property.
Thursday marked the second meeting this summer where the applicants did not attend. The hearing on the RDA was adjourned from an earlier meeting, and the commission determined it needed to make a decision within 21 days of the hearing's opening — a deadline that passes on Friday.
Several commissioners noted questions about the project that they would have liked to address to the petitioners — specifically how they planned to deal with water runoff from an increase in impervious surfaces and where they planned to dispose of soil that would be excavated according to the plan submitted.
"I feel, frankly, one way or the other either we're missing the kind of detail that would tell us how the site is going to be disturbed — what is going to happen to the water coming off the roofs and other construction detail in an area we know by repeated visits by the Con Comm — on at least four of the properties on Belden and Porter Street — this is an area prone to flooding," Art said.
The commissioners debated whether to reach a determination of applicability, which automatically forces the stricter scrutiny of the NOI process, or dismiss the application outright and force the petitioner to file a second RDA.
Conservation Agent Andrew Groff told the commissioners that the latter course would require the petitioner to pay the $60 RDA fee again.
Ultimately, a majority of the commissioners expressed the belief that the project would require the Notice of Intent, making a second RDA superfluous.
"If we are going to say this needs more work, that's a positive [determination] and requires the filing of an NOI," Commissioner Richard Schlessinger said.
In other business on Thursday, the Con Comm appointed appointed the town's health agent, Jeffrey Kennedy, to be its alternate conservation agent in case any issues come up while Groff is out of town on an upcoming vacation, and Art gave the panel an update on the Stone Hill trail network project. On Thursday, he received five vinyl maps outlining the network; the durable maps will be installed on kiosks at key locations this week, bringing the last major phase of the project to a close.
Tags: conservation commission, conserved land, CPA, HooRWA, Spruces,
