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CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES – March 27, 2017
Present: Scott McIsaac- Chair, Bob Mosher, Bob Hidell, Laurie Freeman, Loni Fournier- Conservation Officer
Absent: Adrienne DuBois, Paul Hall, John Morrissey
The meeting was called to order at 7:26 PM.
Approval of Minutes
Motion: Commissioner Freeman motioned to approve the minutes from the March 13, 2017 Commission meeting.
Second: Commissioner Hidell In Favor: All Opposed: None
Request for Determination of Applicability
5 Melville Walk
Applicant: Dawn Martel
Representative: John Cavanaro, Cavanaro Consulting, Inc.
Proposed: Patio rebuild & landscaping
The applicant is proposing to remove the existing 827sf brick patio and replace it with a new 908sf stone patio
containing an outdoor fireplace, kitchen, and island counter. The existing 140sf staircase will be replaced with a new,
reconfigured 195sf staircase. Most of the work is located in the 100ft buffer zone. A portion of the patio and walkway
improvements are located within the 50ft buffer zone. All of the hardscaping is located outside of the flood zone. New
plantings are proposed between the coastal beach and the patio. The plantings will be placed on both sides of an
existing retaining wall and along the northwestern property boundary, within the 50 and 100ft buffer zones. Those
plantings located on the side of the existing retaining wall, closest to the coastal beach, will be located within the flood
zone. The proposed plantings will be native coastal species.
Staff visited the site on 3/23/17. The proposed improvements will are located in an area that is maintained as patio and
lawn. The raised portion of the yard, between the house and the retaining wall is flat. The area between the retaining
wall and the coastal beach slopes towards the water. The retaining wall appears to be in good condition. The proposed
improvements should not impact the resource areas.
John Cavanaro (Cavanaro Consulting) and Sean Papich (Landscape Architect) were present to discuss the application.
Applicants Dawn, Tom and son, Spencer, Martel were present. Andrew Schlossberg and Hillary Plummer, of 2 Alice Walk,
were there in support of the project.
J. Cavanaro reviewed the project. One goal is to reconstruct the straight large stairway, bringing people down to the
reconfigured patio area and terrace. A second goal is to remove portions of lawn and replant these areas with native
seaside plants and shrubs. S. Papich described in further detail the proposed hardscaping (bluestone) and landscaping.
Commissioner Hidell asked how stable the retaining wall was. The applicants and S.Papich concurred that it was built in
2005 and was stable.
The Conservation Officer asked if the applicants had a plan for how they would get equipment to the site. D.Martel
replied that she had spoken to Frank Corrado, the contractor, who said that they would be able to bring in all the
equipment from the front of the house down along the side of the house. The C.O. included a condition that no
equipment, materials, or dumpsters are permitted on the lower part of the lawn, closest to the beach; that’s the most
