Corrected and updated June 19, 2009
Citizens sought for wind turbine subcommittee
The Planning Board has begun the search for citizens to serve on a subcommittee that will make recommendations to the board that may pave the way for residential wind turbines in Harvard.
The subcommittee of five to seven residents will recommend how to revise the amendment to the protective bylaw that failed to pass at Annual Town Meeting on May 2. The board decided at its June 1 meeting that six people will be invited to serve and volunteers are also welcome to submit their names.
The board will not write a new bylaw, but will work with the subcommittee to draft changes that would give the amendment a better chance of passing at Annual Town Meeting in 2010. Chairman Joe Sudol said the subcommittee will “highlight what they believe to be most restrictive in the bylaw and then we’ll find a middle ground.”
The board indicated that residents who want to serve on the subcommittee should contact Liz Allard, land use administrator, at 978-456-4106.
Tree, wall, wetlands complicate driveway plan
The Planning Board is seeking the judgments of other town officials before it will determine whether the Russell family will receive a scenic road consent that would allow the removal of a mature ash tree and 36 feet of an old stone wall on their undeveloped Old Littleton Road property.
The Russells intend to sell the land, on which a single family home could be built. They want to remove the tree and wall section to demonstrate to potential buyers that a driveway can be built in a cost-effective location.
The proposed location of the driveway places it within 100 feet from bordering wetlands, per the protective bylaw. However, the board prefers that the driveway be built at least 20 feet closer to the wetlands—inside the buffer zone—in order to save the ash tree and remove fewer stones from the wall. Member Craig Bardenheuer suggested that the board send a letter to the Conservation Commission that outlines its concerns. He added, “I don’t believe we can justify removing the tree. If the tree stays, there’ll be incremental impact to the wetlands.” The commission has the power to grant a waiver in such cases.
Board members also stated that the stone wall must be preserved because it is owned by both the Russells and the town. The property line runs down the middle of the wall. The board preferred that a developer remove only 20 to 25 feet of the stone wall—for a 16-foot-wide driveway—and that those stones be added to the remaining wall.
The scenic road consent would also allow for a catch basin instead of a culvert, which is the standard practice when builders divert water under a driveway. Board members were concerned that the catch basin would be located on town land. Chairman Joe Sudol said, “We’ll need to consult with town counsel and the Department of Public Works to determine who would be responsible for cleaning the catch basin.”
The hearing was continued to July 6.
Editor’s note: This article has been corrected and updated. The original version reported that the proposed location of a driveway on the Russell’s Old Littleton Road property was more than 100 feet from bordering wetlands. The location is actually within 100 feet of the wetlands.
