Conservation Commission
TOWN OF PRINCETON
BOARD/COMMITTEE: PRINCETON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
DATE: August 18, 2020 TIME: 7:00 LOCATION: Remote access only
Note: this public meeting and public hearing were conducted via remote teleconferencing due to COVID-19 precautions. Public participation details were posted with the agenda.
Members in attendance remotely: Brian Keevan, Bonnie Hirsh, Rachael Catlow, Sue Mitchell
Applicants and others in attendance remotely: Mohamed Samoda, Victoria Taft, Ben Whitaker
Brian Keevan called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM.
Votes taken in the following actions are “all in favor” unless noted otherwise.
Approve Minutes
July 21 minutes were approved with edits.
Public Hearings and Meetings:
Item 1: 7:18pm – 7:11pm – NOI #267-0430 - Parcel C, Grow Lane, Jen Caswell. Continued to the September 15th meeting at the request of the applicant.
Item 2: 7:12pm – 7:45pm – File #267-0423 – 77 Main Street, Mohamed Samoda. Site walk conducted on August 9th by Brian Keevan and Sue Mitchell. The septic system has been completed and the ground is fully seeded. A new driveway, deck, and stairway was installed which was not part of the NOI but is in the riverfront zone and most likely not in the buffer zone. The Commission asked for an updated site plan from the applicant showing these changes.
Item 3: 7:45pm – 8:13pm – File # 267-0418 – 143 Calamint Hill Road, Ben Whittaker, restoration project update. The applicant, Ben Whittaker, was present for the call. A site walk conducted on August 9th by Brian Keevan, Sue Mitchell, and Bonnie Hirsh. The site was planted with various fruit trees as planned and the wetland buffer restoration area was planted with various native and non-native species and the berm has been removed. The applicant stated that more vegetation needs to be planted due to a significant loss of shrubs with the direct sun and dry summer. The Commission suggested sweetfern and northern bayberry for the more challenging areas.
Commission Other Business, Mail, Procedures, etc.:
Conservation Commission applicant Victoria Taft.
The Commission met with potential applicant Victoria Taft and voted to make Victoria an Associate Member of the Commission at 8:31pm. The Commission also voted to recommend Victoria to the Select Board for a Conservation Commission appointment.
Update from Open Space Committee
The Commission discussed a request from the Open Space committee for funds for the purchase of a kiosk at the Fieldstone Farm property. No representative from the Committee was available for the discussion. Rick Gardner will be contacted and a site visit arranged.
Forest Cutting Plan
DCR Worcester Road –The Commission received a one-year extension for the existing cutting plan.
Meeting adjourned at 9:02pm
Respectfully submitted, Rachael Catlow