Kensington Conservation Commission

Minutes of Jan. 11, 2005

Members in attendance: John and Joan Skewes, Sydnee Goddard, Harry Bodwell

1. Call to order 7:38 pm

2. Minutes approved

3. Joan indicated that deadline for warrant articles has passed.

4. Joan shared that selectmen, at Joan's request, wrote a cease and desist order to halt logging on Old Queen Bridge Road Property, because the logging crossed wetlands. The owner stopped the logging. Joan spoke to D.E.S. before Thanksgiving about this but has not heard back from them.

5. Joan shared that Charlie Tucker sent a letter to KCC indicating that a parcel is missing from the Meeting House Hill Conservation Area. Mr. Tucker requested that Tom Brouillette do more surveying to add this piece. Tom indicated that he will not survey more until he has received payment for his earlier work. Joan had requested that Tom be paid and will check on why he has not been.

6. Joan shared that Dick Welch received approval for his after the fact application to D.E.S. to fill 9,000 square feet of wetlands, in order to create a road to Route 150. Mr. Welch filled the wetlands before applying for the permit. He applied for permit after the filling was observed by KCC members and after the selectmen requested that Mr. Welch stop the unlawful filling. Because Mr. Welch has a letter from selectmen saying that he cannot remove gravel via the North Road entrance to his property, he has been given permission to create an entrance onto Route 150. A motion was made to write a letter to D.E.S. from KCC opposing this after the fact approval of a road cut over wetland and asking that Mr. Welch be required to post a bond on the project. Because of his history of noncompliance the KCC feels Mr. Welch needs further motivation to follow the requirements for the project specified by D.E.S. Motion seconded, and passed 3 in favor, 1 abstention. John will go to selectmen to request the bond.

7. Motion made to pay 1/3 of estimated appraisal costs on a Kensington property on which the owner is seeking a conservation easement. Cost to KCC would be approximately $1,500. Motion seconded and unanimously approved.

8. Joan proposed that KCC pay $150 to Exeter Local River Advisory to support their Alewife Festival and programs. Have done so in the past. Motion made, seconded, and approved unanimously.

9. Barbara Boudreau presented another proposal for conserving her property on Osgood Road. This proposal asks KCC to purchase the property for the town for $262,000 and put a conservation easement on it with restrictions dictated by Mrs. Boudreau. This is the same price she brought before the KCC during the December meeting, but now excludes a 2 acre lot adjacent to her home. The letter indicated that the town would be responsible for completing the subdivision of the property. Discussion was not in favor of the proposal because removing the 2 acres should significantly reduce the development value of the land behind. It would no longer be valued at $262,000 as the original estimate found. KCC could not justify spending that much for it. John suggested that another appraisal of the land minus this 2 acres and considering the restrictions that Barbara would like to impose would be needed before KCC could agree on a price. John indicated that Barbara should revisit her proposal quickly, because the KCC has limited funds and we have other projects we are working on.

10. John proposed a meeting with the Kimballs in 2 weeks at the library.

11. Theresa Walker of Rockingham Planning Commission brought a partially completed Trails Grant and asked questions to help her complete it. Members helped locate areas for footbridges, signs, parking area, Kiosk, and crushed stone. KCC agreed to try and obtain letters of support for the grant from selectmen, recreation committee, and KES Physical Educator (Lily Spinosa).

12. John shared Tree Regulation Proposal that will appear on March ballot.

13. Adjourn 9:28 pm