ATHOL – During the Conservation Commission meeting Tuesday night, a Notice of Intent submitted by Matson Homes Inc., of New Ipswich, NH to construct three single family homes on Chestnut Street was continued because applicant Kenneth Matson was not present at the scheduled hearing. Two of the lots are in the Commission’s jurisdiction. The committee will use the time to collect additional information.
The proposed project lies in the middle of a brook near the site of a former ice house. According to wetlands agent Ward Smith, the Department of Environmental Protection is of the opinion that the stream, which sometimes flows into a nearby pond, must be proved to be intermittent and not perennial. The stream has to be dry for five days and during a non-drought period. The Commission has already ruled that part of the stream is intermittent. Smith recommended to the property owner Brian Stoddard to modify the plan by not building the home planned closest to the brook. Matson showed up later in the meeting and was briefed on the hearing with the suggestion to redevelop the plan.
The Commission is hoping to find a grant writer to help get funding from the state. Member Bill Wheeler shared an article that appeared in a local newspaper reporting that about $5 million in MassTrails grants were awarded to 71 trail projects throughout the Commonwealth, including 10 towns in Franklin County. Chair Bob Muzzy said he will talk to Town Planner Eric Smith about looking into similar grants for Athol.
At the June Conservation Commission meeting, David Durkee of 703 Pleasant St. informed the group of his concern about logging being done next to his property which he believed changed the water table, placing his back yard under water and preventing him from mowing his lawn and growing a garden because it is constantly wet. Smith told the Commission Tuesday that he did a site visit and based on the soil, the area has always been wet and could have been exacerbated by the cutting and the season’s high volume of rain. He said the logger followed the logging permit and he will have Durkee contact the state forester to ensure plans were followed.
Commission members conducted a site visit following a complaint of water draining on property at Tom Swamp Road and Bigelow Road. They looked at the perimeter and found no evidence of water running across the surface on the neighbor’s property.
A large beaver dam backing up water near Dollar Tree at North Quabbin Commons was determined not to be posing any problems at this time.
Commission member David Small reported that Paige Cabin at the Bearsden Conservation Area has been booked every day through September.
The next Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall.