Administration
Administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act regulations requires the Conservation Commission to review and issue permits for work within and adjacent to wetlands. In addition, the Commission responded to many requests for comments on Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Board of Selectmen applications.
During FY01, the Commission experienced a dramatic increase in the size of application proposals, especially for large subdivision projects with many houses. The most sizeable of these projects are Apple Orchard Estates off Lancaster Road and The Meadows Phase II and Countryside Acres on Clark Road. Other subdivisions that required wetland filings included The Arboretum and Fairway Estates on Groton Road, as well as Lakeview and Oakes Landing on Catacunemaug Road. Some of these projects are still under review due to their size and the complexity of wetland and drainage issues.
The Conservation Commission reminds property owners that projects (including sheds, tree removal, pools, etc.) within 100 feet of a wetland (brook, pond, swamp, etc.) or in floodplain areas must be reviewed by the Conservation Commission. In addition, work within 200 feet of a perennial stream may also require a filing. Please call the office at 978-425-2618 if you have any questions regarding wetland issues or if you are uncertain whether you should file, particularly if you are a new homeowner. We encourage residents to retain native vegetative borders between their lawns and adjacent wetland and waterways buffer areas. To that end, the Commission has adopted a setback policy from wetlands that requires new buildings to be at least 40 feet from wetlands and the limit of work at least 25 feet from wetlands.
The current Open Space & Recreation Plan expired at the end of 2001. This Plan is required to make applications for state Self-Help grants, under which the Commission has successfully obtained funds for the purchase of several parcels in Shirley. The Conservation Commission, along with a number of interested residents, is currently updating this Plan in 2002.
The Community Preservation Act failed to pass at the Annual Town Meeting. This proposal would have set aside a 3-percent surtax for acquisition of open space, recreation, affordable housing, and historic purposes and would have included state matching funds.
Open Space Acquisition & Stewardship
The Conservation Commission also helps maintain and acquire open space for the Town of Shirley. Open space is valuable to town residents as recreational land and enhances the overall desirability of living in our community. Trail maps for some parcels are available at the Conservation Office and at the Hazen Library.
The Town purchased 16 acres as a bargain sale from the Dow's on Groton Road. The Holdenwood Trust donated a Conservation Restriction on 100 acres of land that stretches from Great Road to the top of Benjamin Hill, thereby permanently protecting them from development.
During the past 12 months, trail improvements continued with the help of volunteers from the Greenway Committee and the Boy Scouts. As part of his successful Eagle Scout project, Justin Oliviera installed a gate, constructed a stone wall, and mapped trails on the Haines parcel on Townsend Road. Two more vernal pools-one on the North Post of Devens and a second pool on the Commission's Rich Tree Farm off Walker Road-were certified by The Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. Associate Commission member Tim Gabriel located these pools, doing substantial research and making applications of their certification. This brings Shirley's certified vernal pool total to four--the first being located on the Commission's Ronchetti parcel off Holden Road and the second also on the Rich Tree Farm.
The Commission held its sixth Annual Fall Foliage Hike with the Greenway Committee at Valley Farm and Farandnear on Center Road. The Commission also joined with the Greenway Committee and the Historical Society for a Benton MacKaye Memorial Hike in the Birchwood Hills Conservation Area on Catacunemaug Road. On both occasions, attendants were blessed with nature's full cooperation in color and bloom, respectively.
Members
The Conservation Commission continues with the same members, and the Commission is still short one member. Anne Gagnon remains the part-time Conservation Administrator and Ruth Terry, the part-time secretary.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Cronin Wilson, Chair
E. Heidi Roddis, Vice-Chair
Bob Burkhardt
Paul Leaman
John Rounds
C. Kay Tohline