City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Conservation Commission, 14 Dec 2022

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From YouTube: 12.14.2022 Conservation Commission

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12.14.2022 Conservation Commission

A

I'll try to simplify this was that I recommend that we discuss next year.

A

The capital improvement program earlier on the schedule, because I had had some.

A

Suggestions that I thought others might have suggestions too. So if we just put cip.

A

Discussion on our schedule for next year on a regular meeting.

B

Okay! Okay! Yes! Yes! um So on that same page, six under other business that first paragraph ms.

C

Mcmillan and then it says and samantha that's when I think I could probably say acting chair collins.

C

D

Okay, thank you anything else. Yes, it doesn't have me listed.

E

As a member present- and I was here for the november meeting.

D

Okay, did you get that yep got it.

F

Get those changes any others? Oh no, and actually we don't have a motion right allison. You didn't.

D

Make emotions I just wanted to say that I wasn't going to vote right. Anybody want to.

D

Make a motion to approve with this person said they can't hear okay, you can't hear.

D

Okay, is it better now or okay.

B

Okay, thank you. Sorry. Anybody want to make a motion. Yes, just I'll make a motion to.

C

Approve the november 9th uh meeting minutes with the noted changes. Thank you. Second.

D

Okay, great abigail and any any other discussion- and we are all here so all those in favor.

D

And we have two abstaining, probably actually grind some voting, so just allison right great. Thank you.

D

um The second item on the agenda is the wetland conditional use permit new business 12, regina.

D

Road anybody here to speak to that. Yes, I can take the microphone and introduce yourself.

G

Hi everybody I'm kathleen vieira, I'm the co-owner of the property at 12, regina road. My husband would.

G

Be here, but he had back surgery on monday, so he apologizes for not being able to attend we're.

G

Asking to put a 10 by 10 shed on the property from the diagram that I submitted. You can see.

G

That most of our property is wetlands buffer, not a lot of places to put anything other than like.

G

Right in the middle of the front yard or right in front of the house, um uh this shed will be.

G

On a 12 by 12 set of rocks- and it is in an area that we think has the least amount of impact on.

G

Any of the wetlands we are going to plant some blueberry bushes in that area. Some suggestions.

G

Around putting it sort of where the wooded area is more um and we'll do that in the spring.

F

Sorry, I'm trying to find the definition here.

D

And you'd already had the gravel put down yeah before I realized that we shouldn't have done.

G

That I apologize for that okay, I think a lot of us went out to the site visit on that too. So.

D

To um any questions, yes, yeah, the only other thing is that um we'd, like you to put up a.

H

Couple of uh signs by the wetland just saying do not cut or disturb yeah. We talked about that.

G

Yep happy to do that. We have the sample right here. Yeah yeah, you mentioned that they were.

G

Just I think they just became available right, yes, yeah and it's just a very little corner. A couple.

G

Corners where we've got some wetlands that are right on our property but happy to put up signs.

A

Come before us for approvals like this.

A

um uh We talked we asked or suggested them that they follow organic claim management practices.

A

Because you're so close to wetlands, you know and there's a whole book about it and we can.

A

Send it to you and it's called the the northeast organic farmers association puts together this.

A

Manuals real general: we just ask that you follow the best practices and it's really kind of fun.

A

It's educational and we can send you the link guys online yeah yeah. We have a couple people.

G

Notice that we have that zoysia grass out in front of our house um and it we didn't put anything down.

G

And it did great all season and stayed green in all the dryness that we had this year. So we've.

G

Not been putting down any um uh pesticides or anything like that, yeah, that's great yeah.

D

um Can I mention having been out to the site, thank you so much for hosting us um that the area.

D

That you have that grassy area going down to the wetland there. That is like kind of direct contact.

D

With the water flowing by um I mean- I mean I don't know about the other commissioners, but it's great.

D

It would be great if you could get that down to like a path or something instead of that area.

D

It's not, I don't think we're gonna yeah. We just purchased the house in in february and moved in.

G

April so we just have kind of been maintaining it um not changing anything, because we were.

G

Concerned about we knew their wetlands were there. We were afraid to touch anything. To be honest with.

G

You yeah, but yeah. We talked about maybe putting down some wild seeds or something like that. Yeah.

D

Letting things grow up, yeah we're not it's just my husband and I we don't we're not using like that.

G

Area anyway, so yeah, let's maintain for you yeah exactly but yeah. Is there any other comments? Yes,.

I

Abigail I was going to bring up that that point and- um and there might have been some um sort.

I

Of um shrub or tall things that maybe were cut down and just not right near there, we hadn't, but.

G

um Between like where we walked behind the fence, we had cleaned out some of those.

G

um Vines that were like real prickly and they were scratching us as we were cutting the grass.

G

But we that's all we had done, we hadn't done anything else and I mean when I know they're.

I

Not the same place, I I know right by there we did limb one of the trees because it was hitting us.

G

In the faces we were cutting the grass, but we didn't cut any trees down. We just lived it. It.

G

Was right at high level yeah, no, but yeah happy to make that a little bit more wild. We have plenty.

G

Of wild grasses people that didn't come out so happy to make that more wild. That's great.

D

Questions or comments: no, no. Anybody want to make a motion. Yep samantha uh I'd like to recommend.

J

Approval for the conditional use permit for 12 regina road. Thank you. Second second discussion.

D

Oh, thank you. Thank you all very much yeah. We need to vote. Oh I'm, sorry and all those in favor.

D

Opposed you're good. Thank you all. Thank you. Next item on the agenda is the state wetland.

D

Bureau applications new business um marcy street prescott park. Somebody here to speak to that.

K

Good afternoon, commissioners, my name is joseph almeida: I'm the facilities manager for the city.

K

Of portsmouth uh we're here to present to you the prescott park, phase, 1a improvements.

K

um Many of you were at the sitewalk last week in the rain, thank you and for coming out on.

K

Such a soggy day, um as most of you probably know as the whole community knows, we have.

K

um Been going through a lot of design and a lot of um master planning for prescott park, it's a.

K

Very large project multi-phase project that will take place over over years. This first piece has.

K

Been through other land use boards, including the htc, I believe it's clearly defined in the packet.

K

That was provided to you, um so I would actually just gonna I'm gonna step aside and allow my.

K

um Consultants to present the project in a and um in a more detailed way, uh cassie bethany and devin.

K

Herrick are with weston sampson. I believe you met them on the walk through so um hopefully you've.

K

Als had a chance to look closer at the drawings and um give them any questions you might have. Okay,.

D

Thank you, I'm trying to get the drawing up right now, I'm just I'm gonna take off my.

L

Mouse just for talking and thank you for your time. um I'll start the conversation.

L

Then I'll pass it to devin to go through impact numbers and then I'll follow up at the end or.

L

F

It's just a huge packet.

F

Not technical difficulties, just personal, but so.

H

Put that bar back.

F

Sorry about this yeah, that's what I mean totally unnecessary experience.

J

Like stages stage is going over here, I don't know the stage that was here is now.

H

We do have the slides on a usb. If that's helpful, do you watch.

L

Rather, on that that'd be better, do you have the usb available.

J

Does this look like they're moving the gardens here.

C

You have these ones. I thought that would be better.

F

Oh wait a minute. Is it in here? Oh here we go. I got it.

F

You have, it looks like I have it.

L

Excellent, so um one of the questions that came up last time was just to provide some con at.

L

Our site visit was to provide some context um and so I'll go through the phase. One, a scope.

L

Of work and the lar, the broader master plan setting uh devin, as mentioned we'll go through.

L

Impact numbers I'll go through schedule and then we'll open it up for your questions next slide.

L

So we completed the master plan in 2017 and moved into an enabling engineering phase. Thereafter.

L

Part of that study was a a deep dive into the resiliency challenges. The storm water impacts.

L

And sea level rise impacts on prescott park and the surrounding neighborhood, so we looked.

L

At strawberry bank and the south end as well, and we found that there were some significant.

L

Improvements that we could make within the design of the master plan to make improvements.

L

More broadly within the neighborhood, and so this slide, although small kind of the high level idea.

L

Is that there are several interventions across the entire park that we'll make, and from this we found.

L

We re-jiggered our phasing plan and really focused on the center of the park, meaning the shaw and the.

L

Sheath, the water street area and the performance lawn as where a bulk of those resiliency.

L

Interventions would be happening, and so we wanted to do those first to make the most impact as soon.

L

As possible, and so this was the driver to develop our phase one area and now we've tightened up.

L

That phase one area to a phase, one area, 1a area- that I'll share in a moment next slide.

L

So, as you know, prescott park is in a downtown. Highly populated park gets tons of daily use.

L

It's home to the arts festival, and so this core of the park sees a lot of foot traffic. It sees.

L

So much use- and we are have been working with the arts festival, to look at where the stage is.

L

Located and and where it needs to move to how we deal with trailers and where the trailers would.

L

Move to through these improvements and things like that and we've honed, this phase, one a area.

L

In the solid line here that you can see, that's wrapped around water street, it really connects.

L

The sheath down to the the shaw down to the sheaf at the water, our improvements there.

L

Will it will include actually lifting and moving the shaw building so that it's moved closer to a.

L

Water street: that's the really the the biggest mover we're doing here where we're protecting.

L

That cultural asset, that's important to the city and and culturally important and a historically.

L

Significant building we're also raising water street, uh as we talked about on the sitewalk.

L

To an elevation that will meet that new elevation for the shah, so it'll read as one complete plane.

L

We are installing preferential flood pathways, storm water infrastructure underneath water.

L

Street, so that we can start to capture that storm water and flooding that's happening on.

L

Site now we're upgrading structures we're adding tide gates to that new line. That's going in and.

L

We're jump we're making upgrades the parking lot by proxy of doing this work, we'll tie the.

L

The new grading, that's elevated up three and a half feet down into the existing fabric of.

L

The park and so it'll feel like a seamless, new connection within the space, and you can see the.

L

Dashed, yellow line was indicating a larger phase. One scope that we'll do next, but we've tightened.

L

Up the scope for now to match our funding availability, so next slide I'll just get a.

L

Little bit into lifting and moving the shaw and the reasoning behind it. So in the phase.

L

One shaw: building goals: we are demolishing the garage and lean to that's the first.

L

Building in the foremost and then the middle building, then the shaw is the largest building.

L

The three-story building, in the the background of this image, we will relocate that shaw out of the.

L

Current flood zone and allow for a future edition within that I guess garage and lean tune. Space and.

L

We'll do a form, a full exterior renovation to that building that, based on our investigations on site.

L

And looking into the building through this phase, one design process, we found really needs that work.

L

Done so that work was presented to the hdc and we received full approval for that next slide.

L

So today, this oblique image shows what the conditions are. Today, you can see the sheath.

L

Out in the water, the garage lean to and the shaw and then the a setup of the prescott park, arts.

L

Festival stage in the trailer set up backup stage situation behind to give people a sense next slide.

L

And so just to reiterate, we are removing those buildings and we're lifting and.

L

Moving the shawl closer to the sheath in the phase, one condition we will leave the.

L

The stage and the the trailer setup will have will stay in its current location.

L

We're not making any adjustments to that area of the park at the moment. Next slide.

L

And then, once this work is complete after phase 1a.

L

This we'd like to lift and move the stage back and so that it's in line with the shaw.

L

Building and so then, we can really open up the park and make it feel more connected.

L

And let's just destroyed it and make use of that space that the stage currently occupies.

L

Next slide, ultimately, will build a a bowl or a performance lawn space that will double as above.

L

Ground flood storage during a storm surge and it'd also be a spectator, seating area. An overflow.

L

Seating area it'll be centered on the stage. It'll become a really nice civic, open space within.

L

The park, so that's the overall vision with the addition added and the stage there just to give.

L

Folks, a sense, but that's not what's slated for the moment, that's just ultimately our goal slide so.

L

I'll pass it to devon to talk specifically about the impacts on this phase. One area.

M

Thank you, cassie uh devin herrick, I'm a certified butlin scientist with weston and samson. So I'll.

M

Speak with you briefly about some of the impacts that went into the new hampshire des major impact.

M

Application as it was submitted, so we're looking at three different. What will term resource areas.

M

For the time being within prescott park which require permitting, we have our tidal waters to.

M

Start with the piscataqua river within the piscataqua, we're looking at 14 square feet.

M

Of permanent impact that permanent impact is for a new outfall, that's necessary in.

M

Order to support some of the utility work that will be going in underwater street.

M

We also have the perennial stream bank again for the piscataqua for permanent impact, we're looking.

M

At 38 linear feet and what that accounts for is for the new vertical edition that will go on the.

M

Side of the sheath building we made, we pointed it out on the sidewalk there's a short concrete.

M

Wall, that's currently existing adjacent to the sheath. When the land around it is raised. We need.

M

To raise that wall up in order to meet the new grades that will be occurring, so the wall will.

M

Remain in its same location, same configuration, it just needs to get a little higher in order to.

M

Meet the new grades that will be coming in we'll also be looking at 2021 linear feet of temporary.

M

Impact that breaks down to 771 linear feet of impact for a vegetation removal along the wall.

M

That's necessary because the wall needs repairs to the mortar. Much of it has cracked out and it.

M

Needs to be resurfaced in that way in order to maintain its integrity, so we'll be looking to.

M

Remove vegetation between the top of bank and the highest observable tideline, it will be done.

M

Either by the upland or by boats, there will be no dewatering proposed as part of this project.

M

We did speak with both new hampshire des and the army corps. Regarding these impacts. They did not.

M

Feel that any sort of mitigation is necessary because we did do some research into kind of.

M

Two of the species that most commonly make up the seaweed. That's along these walls in particular, we.

M

Have our bladder racks and our sea lettuce? They have such a rapid regrowth rate that we don't.

M

Have concerns about it being able to reseed itself very quickly in the same area we did.

M

Look into whether there were any opportunities to maybe save that material and re-put it onto.

M

The same locations but the piscataqua river, it just it moves too quickly and the wave impacts.

M

From the boats that go by it's just not a good opportunity for that. Unfortunately, so we expect.

M

To see regrowth in a very quick fashion, regrowth does depend a bit on ocean temperatures, so I.

M

Can't say exactly what the regrowth rate would be, but we do expect it to regrow very rapidly.

M

We also have 479 linear feet of impact to account for shifting the granite blocks. That.

M

Are on top of the wall on our sidewalk you may have observed, there are several.

M

Granite blocks that are quite out of place, um they pose a bit of a hazard.

M

So we're proposing to lift those up, realign and put them back same location, same blocks.

M

We also have, let's see oh 771 linear square feet of re-pointing and spot repairs that occurs along.

M

The same locations as the vegetation removal along the wall, so that is your cumulative 2021, linear.

M

Feet of impact- one thing I did forget to mention about the tidal waters is that des did feel that.

M

That 14 square feet would be subject to mitigation, and so that is being proposed for in luffy.

M

For the developed title buffer zone, we're looking for a cumulative total of 22 387 square feet that.

M

Accounts for all the re-grading, the relocation of the structures and the proposed walkways.

M

With an additional 5278 square feet of impact, those are four areas um that have the existing.

M

Walkways roadways, a long to lawn conversion with no great change. The next slide. Please.

M

We also wanted to bring this slide up, because a few folks had questions about impervious area.

M

um As part of the submission, there were also five shoreland applications that went.

M

In because this section of prescott park is made up of five lots, and so each one.

M

Requires its own submission. But if you look here um we're actually seeing a cumulative.

M

Reduction in impervious area as a result of this project, with that, I'm going to turn it.

M

Back to cassie for the time being, but if you have any questions, if you have any after them,.

L

To the next slide, so this is the last slide and I'll just end on overall schedule, and I realize.

L

This is very small to see, um but essentially we have submitted. uh We have done uh investigatory.

L

Work geotech, geotechnical, boring storm water test pits and worked on our construction construction.

L

Documents to a 90 percent complete level and submitted those as a permitting set to the state.

L

And that's the package that you received. We are in the review period for the state.

L

um Through the permits that devin mentioned, and also through the dhr for the moving of the shaw.

L

We expect that we'll have comments and responses back from them by the end of january, beginning.

L

Of february, at which time we'll respond to comments and continue to to secure those.

L

Permits then the project will go before the council and governors because we'll be with.

L

The with the new preferential line will be below the high water line and and then we'll continue.

L

Thereafter, with, hopefully approved permits to move forward, we'll finalize the documents and.

L

We're hoping to be out to bid by the middle to end of next year so at the beginning of fall.

L

So that we can have a contractor on board and be able to start construction by early part of 2024.

L

So with that I'll pass it to the commission to field any questions, thank you very much.

D

Any questions, thank you allison. Yes, I I have a few questions.

H

um One is how much input has the public had on this particular plan.

L

The public input process has been extensive since 2016 when the master plan was completed. We have a.

L

Committee, that's formed was formed through the master plan. We had an implementation committee.

L

Formed that was chaired by tom watson and that has continued on through our process and so at.

L

Every time where there's we've needed a decision or we've needed to progress, the project we've.

L

Met with that committee- and so I I've indicated some of those, but we haven't included the whole.

L

Schedule but we've had countless meetings with that group and we had dedicated public.

L

Engagement during the master plan dedicated public engagement bearing in the implementation phase and.

L

So the engagement has been significant and then we've engaged with boards, where there's been.

L

An opportunity for public comment as well. It's just confusing to me because when you.

H

um When we were talking the other day, there was a very large tree, and you were talking about.

H

Pouring concrete and then putting a brick walkway over it and yet in the diagram, that's on page 42.

H

Which is the overall plan, it seems like that walkway isn't there and that tree isn't there.

H

And I'm just wondering why you would pour concrete and put a brick walkway on it when, ultimately, it's.

H

Not going to be in the final plan, I'm not sure which one you're referring to closer the water.

H

So it was no there's a do. You have a current plan.

H

It doesn't show the trees, though.

K

Could we go to that? That shows the entire? Oh sorry, it looks like you're trying to now I'll pull it up.

D

L

That's right and peter in the back of the presentation that you just had up. There was.

L

A full plan set just in case detailed questions came up numbers [music] I'm looking at this and.

H

I'm I'm looking at it. Oh that plan yeah. No, I'm I'm looking at that one and I'm saying that the.

H

Tree is not there and the walkway that they're talking about pouring concrete for is not there.

K

No, that one's right by the water peter could I have frozen. This tree is not yeah from that. One.

J

This is current. Yes, you can pull it up. Yeah.

K

And the tree, we're speaking of when we're out outside, is that the tree you're everything.

J

Might be that guy yeah, I thought. Maybe that was yeah yeah. That's here, okay, but the thing is the.

H

Walkway isn't in the same position that you were talking about pouring concrete.

L

So the tree that we're talking about is the one uh inside the bowl on the piscataqua side, correct.

L

Yes, so in both the temporary walkway that needs to connect from our new path to an existing path and.

L

This master plan condition we're not impacting that tree, but we're not. We should not be going.

L

In the drip line and the grading doesn't even doesn't that that's good, I'm glad about that, but.

H

I'm I'm thinking about the walkway and, like I was very concerned that you were making it impervious.

H

um By pouring the concrete and then you're going to set bricks on it, you were saying.

H

Well, that was to make it last longer, but the thing is that it doesn't look like it's the same.

H

Pathway that we're seeing here, because that pathway went right to water street and it's.

H

This does not go to water street anymore, the pathway, that's by this tree.

L

So in the phase 1a since we're doing this sliver, but we're also trying to negotiate a larger master.

L

Plan vision, there are a few temporary connections we have to make and the one that you're talking.

L

About is a temporary pathway that runs from the stretch of brick along the piscataqua. That's going.

L

To be permanent to where the the nose of like a you have a oh, I see where the stage is yeah.

L

Foreign, so this pathway right here yeah we have to connect to this existing pathway right here.

L

It's more or less existing right. The trouble is that we're looking at a master plan view right.

L

Now but we're actually tying into an existing park, and so we we have those plans, but this is.

L

Drawn on the master plan, but we're making this connection here, it's a little bit of a different.

L

Configuration because it's not that exact layout, that the master plan is going to be it's just.

L

Going to be in a pervious pathway connection that more or less follows this alignment, but just as a.

L

Phase one temporary connection to allow people to move from this new pathway over to here. Well,.

H

If it's temporary, that's, why I'm wondering why you have to pour concrete we're not pouring concrete.

L

Okay, you're, not that one, the concrete that will be poured is under this permanent pathway. Okay,.

L

And then the temporary connection will be pervious. Okay, that's what I wanted to find out about and.

H

Then the other thing is we had a little discussion about the fact that there's going to be.

H

An area where the lawn is a long sloping lawn um will exist along the entire length of the phase.

H

One work this area right here, yeah, and so I'm wondering how long is that long going to be there.

L

So joe, that's really comes down to funding. Ultimately yeah. The following phases will.

K

Address that area in a permanent way and as of right now, um there is no exact time frame on that.

H

So it could be years, it could be okay, because that was where we had discussed potentially putting in.

H

A pollinator garden instead of doing a lawn and I'm wondering if that's a possibility, because I.

H

Mean you know, there's a lot of law on there and it would be nice to decrease some of it with. Were you.

K

Like a pollinator garden, so in your description of that area, you you mentioned correctly because.

K

We've explained it that there's going to be a kind of a sloping berm that runs a full length of.

K

It runs the the sloping berm is going to run. You know the full length of from where shaw.

K

Is relocated, you know all the way down. um Are you simply referring to just the berm or were.

K

You were you suggesting we get out into the lawn yeah. No, I was just talking about the part.

H

That, like you're talking about what is going to need to be receded, any soil that you don't want.

H

To leave there, and I was thinking that as long as you've got it, why not put in you know like a.

H

Wildflower pollinator garden or something instead of doing that, and ultimately I think that, having.

H

Something like that permanently somewhere within this plan would be a good idea, but at any rate.

H

I think that just even a temporary covering putting something like that would be beneficial.

L

Peter there's a slide, if you don't mind skipping down to where we show the trailers moved back. Yep.

L

Just uh before we're yep right there, um so we, I think it's an interesting idea, I'm not sure.

L

If it works in this particular setting for this particular park, we're in a downtown setting the.

L

Amount of foot traffic that we have moving through the park and then supporting the arts festival. I.

L

Think allowing us to move this stage back into that space will allow that park to really open.

L

Up and spectators will be able to move into that lawn space and you that'll be if it's open, clean.

L

Lawn, I think, it'll be a better use of that space than a meadow which I I worry would be.

L

Successful, given the amount of people like the tens of thousands of people that come into that.

L

Space to to just go to a show, let alone the daily use, that's moving through that space. Well, I'm I'm.

H

Not saying make that permanent, because obviously you're talking about moving the trailer to the.

H

Stage, but what I'm saying is that it may be years that this might be open, and so, instead of having.

H

It be long if you're not moving anything into it right now, why not plant a pollinator garden.

H

Or plant, something that doesn't need the care and maintenance that the majority of lawns need.

L

Point, I'm not sure what more to add to that.

D

Jess, um I'm just curious: are you because it could be years after this initial phase happens? Are you.

C

Concerned about what is currently the stage area flooding like, I know, you're gonna try to direct.

C

Storm water, as best you can, but water is going to go where it wants to go. So if you have a sloping.

C

Lawn with an elevated road, it seems like that's current stage area could wind up being in a puddle.

C

Do you have you the current stage area does flood currently yeah and so the future phase.

L

When we're able to do it, would it really lean into that idea of creating this bowl.

L

In a temporary condition, I think it'll happen anyway, and now a stage won't be sitting in.

L

There, like sitting in wet feet during a storm surge, so I think that improvement.

L

Alone of moving it back and elevating, it will be a good thing and then, of course, in.

K

This phase itself there's there's a lot of work beneath the surface that addresses storm water.

K

um Which is shown on the resiliency intervention seat, um we're upsizing a lot of the.

K

uh One of the outflows in a very significant way right in this immediate area, we're adding.

K

A second one, which is why we're going to be disturbing the you know the seaweed so the the.

K

Storm water is, is significantly at the conclusion of phase 1a um improved the management of that.

C

And I know that's not relevant to what you're doing right now, but when you've moved this.

C

Stage are you making it bigger, what's happening to so we're gonna keep the current set up for.

L

The stage right right, but when you get to the next phase and you move it where we can we're.

L

Considering options for a future stage, but it's not just designed or considered anything other.

L

Than what's currently there at the moment and my final question to you- and I I ask you, the expert.

C

um This just seems like a really good opportunity. You know portsmouth's on the brink of creating.

C

A climate action plan like are there more innovative ways that we can do some of this.

C

Stuff, like especially without just laying down slabs of concrete that don't seem very.

C

Yeah, you know, I don't know, have those options been considered? Are there other things like.

C

That it just, I would hate for us to just kind of do those things the way we usually do them.

C

You know when we're doing all this work, to preserve and protect and.

L

I I wouldn't discount the the creativity that went in into this multi-pronged resiliency approach.

L

Like this alone, I've been speaking about it to. I went down to philly to talk about it. It's people.

L

Are learning from portsmouth just on prescott park and what we're doing in this approach so.

L

The fact that we've woven we've looked at a myriad of different resiliency strategies and.

L

Came up with this five pronged approach that works together to make the best improvement possible for.

L

This context, I think the creativity involved in this is, is astounding and should be looked at as.

L

An exemplar uh an example of of what other cities should be doing um so so I think that's one thing.

L

um And then, in terms of material selections, um we were trying to be, as I think, we've we've.

L

Looked at the the regulations and how we can do better, and um so so we are proposing permeable.

L

Pavements in certain places where, where it needs to happen and we're balancing maintenance concerns.

L

And constructability um so so I think we're trying our best and trying to negotiate all the.

L

The different considerations and challenges that come along with that, but I appreciate that point.

D

Another question: yes, like that's: what we're talking about kind of.

E

The the longer term vision for the park, I'm kind of two questions, one of them.

E

Curious about the involvement with strawberry bank and like what that looks like, and I know.

E

That they've got also some like kind of innovative things that they're considering long term. Thank you. We do meet with strawberry banks. We met as recently as last week with them.

K

um To be sure that um what we're doing um can align with what they're doing- and we have great.

K

Communication with them and look and give them access to all of our studies and vice versa. So.

K

um They are, as you know, very impacted this this. What this, this location that we're working in.

K

um Truly, is it's it's it's a critical spot for us to correct and it affects them. It affects.

K

The whole neighborhood and uh um long answer to a question but we're very much in communication with.

K

Them heard like a rumor, and maybe this is just like a- I don't know all the details, but that they.

E

Were you know right there used to be water flowing down water streets right? It used to be water right.

E

um So what you're proposing is, you know elevating it and kind of reinforcing it, and I guess I.

E

Thought that strawberry bank was considering kind of like recreating some water features.

E

You know where the puddle duck skating rink is yeah. I don't want to speak for them and yeah.

E

By any surprises, they might be right or wanting to unveil but yeah they're working on a very exciting.

K

um Aesthetically, their project is very exciting as well, um and um I I wasn't aware that the uh when I.

K

Looked at their data that the um the water used to make its way all the way to south mill pond right.

K

um Which was astounding, and some of the studies that we've had um we've had done for this project.

K

um So you know data projected out um 50 to 100 years and it shows what the impact will be. It's.

K

All on the city's website, anyone can look at it, it's it's, um it's very informative and, and you.

K

Know shocking to see, um but um the amount of water that wants to come into this spot where.

K

It came in before it just wants to come back and um we're just trying to manage it. As this we can.

K

Yeah yeah I'd add to that too yeah I've been talking with strawberry bank, although they're.

F

Elevating that area they're bringing it up to the grade of a piece of property, that's already there.

F

And adding additional storm water connections that'll be higher up in the outfall. The second.

F

Outfall they're, adding here, which allows water to flow where it can't right now, because it's so low.

F

And the flood, the flapper gate or the tide gate will stop that, but the higher it'll be a little.

F

Bit higher the second one, so they'll have some but they're. This is really a ground zero in portsmouth.

F

In terms of storm water and flooding, so there's going to be a lot of innovative strategies. I think.

F

What they're doing is innovative with strawberry banks and doing is innovative, but we are working.

F

Really closely with them and trying to find solutions, but there's no there's no silver bullet.

F

That's for sure they showed us an image of peter. You saw with the the image of it was a hurricane.

K

In 1991 I remember the name of a hurricane yeah, but it showed their entire green. The entire green.

K

Where the skating rink was all under a lot of water yeah a lot of water, it was, it was.

K

A lake all the way up to is it washington street yeah and they have so. We have the huge rainfall.

F

Events and then coastal flooding events into nor'easter that you know water's gonna, water's,.

F

Gonna sit here at times, there's gonna, that's just gonna be a fact of life, but I think the fact that.

F

It's not a critical facility that what they're! Looking at with this performance lawn area in.

F

The future or other ideas to store water and then ways to keep water out are going to be. You know.

F

Things that we're going to need to look at as models and see how we do, but there's also some.

F

Storm water work going on to track some of that yeah, it's not just keeping water out. It's also.

L

Accommodating water and like accepting the fact that water will come in and how can we put it in.

L

A place and allow it to do its thing so that it it doesn't impact the use of the park and such things.

D

And to clarify you just recently started talking to them. No, no. We've been sharing.

K

We we've had a we've, had a recent formal meeting with them all of us around the table.

K

um But um we've been we've been providing them with, with data that we have been producing.

K

um But most our most recent meeting was boy I want to say it was last week or was it earlier. It was.

B

Monday, or was it monday, I'm losing yeah yeah, it's very recent. It's been a year yeah, it's been years.

L

I think they were involved in the master planning effort as well, and they have an ongoing planning.

F

Effort going that we're involved with so we have been talking and yeah, so this doesn't interfere.

E

With their idea of kind of, does it because I thought there's even going to be title flows.

E

In the strawberry bank, but right it actually yeah. Hopefully it helps it, but I think there's.

F

Going to have to be some coordination as they move forward in their process and.

F

You know everybody talks about. Well, maybe just opening up puddle dock again, but that's not.

F

Really realistic in the downtown, and it's not going to help it's just going to allow water to.

F

Go further in so yeah this is these are ways I mean this plan has ways to accommodate some of.

F

The storm water, but well what we feel will help them in a very significant way is the.

K

Improvements we're making to the the you know the pipe sizing and where it's going.

K

So when they're, when their water reaches marcy street, it will find our new pipes.

K

And it'll drain it much faster for them and they're working on dealing with their water yeah.

E

Can I ask one more question, sorry again in terms of the long-term vision, I'm I'm super curious.

E

About the boardwalk, and does that function as kind of a barrier or is it just like a recreational.

E

Access point yeah: I think the intention behind that was to attenuate wave action as kind of one.

L

Of the drivers ultimately and try to reduce the load, that's coming onto the park proper.

L

um But it also functions as a recreational asset too. That would be a new use.

L

Yes, so when we get into the water- but maybe not all the way down- is that it's it's not.

L

Designed yet I don't know if it would touch the ground or if it would be cantilevered or what.

I

Have we go? My question was just back to what we were talking about just before that question.

I

um No, that's fine, it made sense, um but with all the elevation changes um and- and this.

I

Has to do with you know, a strawberry bank and everything, and you guys are working with them.

I

um But uh the displacement of the water by raising up the grade is.

I

There any displacement, that's happening that will be sent out or or is everything.

I

That would have landed on that spot when it was low still going to be collected.

I

um Despite the anyway, you know what I'm asking yeah all the water: the way that it travels through.

L

The site will be collected and the the two drain, the structures that joe is just speaking of in.

L

Marcy street and then they'll be piped down underneath water street. Actually in a larger.

L

Train than what that we have now back out to the river and before it gets to the river it'll, be.

L

Treated and cleaned and all the things that need to happen so that it'll be coming back into the.

L

River, better than it came onto the side, I thought you guys had talked about that. I just wanted to.

D

D

And I I was just going to clarify too on the parking lot. That's happening in this phase that.

D

Parking area is you're, changing the yeah right now. You know people park in parallel and it creates.

L

Like a double wide barrier through the park, so in this design we've got a a driveway, that's thinned.

L

Up and then people will actually be able to park head in at a 90 degree, and so we're shortening.

L

That distance, that actually is visually cars and that will be permeable asphalt. The actual.

L

Parking area and then it'll be the more or less the same number of spaces. It'll just be in a.

L

Tighter zone within the park, and when you say it's a permeable area, if it wasn't permeable, you'd, be.

D

Adding more impervious surface is that or is it just kind of? Could it's like a moving of asphalt.

D

So when you do it, I didn't see any kind of maintenance plan in there, and I know.

D

It would be the city probably maintaining it, but correct. Can you add a maintenance plan.

D

To that of maintaining it appropriately for previous pavement um yeah, um and I I don't.

L

Want to speak out of term, but the city I assume, has permeable asphalt and other locations. It's.

L

A vacuuming process that they do semi-annually to clear that out, I'm sure you've seen you know.

L

Projects come before you with that aspect and I'm speaking about winter maintenance too, because to.

D

Make sure that they maintain it properly for winter maintenance, absolutely, especially if.

D

It's new and it hasn't cured for a while that first year is going to be really important.

D

um I had other questions too about the tide, gate.

D

um So you guys it's a great job of explaining it in the application.

D

But I'm wondering how that impacts aquatic life at all. If there's that potential.

D

um It's a what is it a 36 inch culvert or, um I believe, there's a 32, I believe we're upsizing. I.

L

Don't know by the time it makes it, I'm not sure the tide gate is fitted to that line.

L

And this one yeah and we're going from a 24 to 36 inch yeah.

L

um I'm not sure the answer on the aquatic life. Do you know devin um again, I'm not the engineer.

M

But I did ask them a few questions when they were designing it. It's my understanding that.

M

The tie gate will only allow water to go out, and uh the salty brackish water cannot come back in.

M

um That's how it was meant to function so that that storm water can leave the site and not.

M

Back up so it'd be my understanding that there wouldn't be much in the way of impact to aquatic.

M

Life because in theory, it shouldn't be able to get back in in that way. Okay, thank you and I.

D

Had a question about the drawings and how it looks for the flared area where the pipe comes out, that.

D

um It looks like that flared area goes right to the edge of whatever you have for rock or.

D

Rip wrap there yeah, so we observe the the stone or vet mint. That's mortared in and.

L

So the the pipe will come through that and the pipe will flare out and sit at that edge.

L

um So it'll be an opening in the wall. Essentially there will be there any.

D

Opportunity anywhere beyond that flare to avoid erosion. Anything in there any kind of.

L

um I'm not so the the wall itself is a hardened wall, I'm not sure it would have rode.

L

um Very large rip rockets he's very the wallet it was made up of. As you might already know, they're.

B

Very large um they're prep stones, I believe our detail has has like a stone apron. Perhaps.

L

I'd have to check back at that detail, but there should be some accommodation for the actual.

L

The bottom of the riverbed okay for any erosion issues: okay,.

D

My cancer comments, so I I wanted to ask to speak to and maybe.

D

The question about the pollinator garden a little bit there doesn't seem to be any kind of.

D

Plantings other than grass, so I mean are there any other opportunities that you.

D

Guys can temporarily put things in, or maybe in a bigger scheme of things make well of.

K

Course, in the bigger scheme of things, there are several gardens that are being replanted in the.

K

In the overall you know master plan, if you, if you look at this image, there's opportunities.

K

For to specify the gardens in in you know the rest of the site for sure there's a there's, a.

K

Very significant amount of um yeah, the hubby fountain area and then the formal gardens as.

L

Well- and you were just starting to point out- the trial gardens as well.

L

Those were the zones that we were and we obviously haven't thought about plants at.

L

This stage, so we can, we can do a pollinator, focused planting for those, um but the core.

L

Of the park, that's really a spectator audience zone, and so we were hoping to keep that open.

E

Yes, I can just kind of building on the that kind of line of questioning.

E

um Just as somebody who like takes kids to the shows at prescott park, you know daytime.

E

Shows when it's hot trees are fantastic um and just in the really really re-jiggering of the.

E

The stage just to kind of voice that request and it would also meet somebody's climate, your goals.

L

I just thought of one other thing around um so planting wise, we're also there's it's hard to see.

L

Here but like a there's like a yellowish tinge to the rendering in certain areas, so there's there's.

L

Some of that, along this pier and then along these edges as well, and then that is intended to be like.

L

A a pollinator or like a meadow type intervention, so that's planned for future and then within this.

L

Area where we were talking about wave attenuation before, I think the idea and the master plan had.

L

Always been to also use plants like a living shoreline type application to help attenuate.

L

The waves, so we have hard sea wall, you know you see. The whole edge right now is currently hard.

L

Sea wall, and so that planting could also be native aquatic species that would help slow.

L

Water down and such and provide more habitat for for for those areas that currently don't have any.

D

So, and it's just why you guys are here and you can respond, I just was going to say that makes.

D

Me think of the fact that you didn't include the conservation commission in on your planning up to.

D

This point, and and I'm not sure about the planning board, but we would like to participate from now on.

D

um Because this kind of dialogue is really important and we don't know all of this, but we do.

D

Know what we think is important and I I think you would really it would be very valuable for all of.

D

Us to participate in that absolutely we welcome it uh formal basis at some point. From now on.

D

Because there's a lot going on yeah, there could be some fun like you know, interpretation.

E

Like education, stuff, that we could maybe help contribute to right like it's a really lovely.

E

Place to like do a little bit of teaching about what is good buffer plantings look like, and why.

E

Are they important or even going right down to the shoreline edge? There could be some fun stuff.

E

With the rocks and the seaweed yeah and needless to say, we're looking forward to implementing the.

K

Rest of it and getting to that place where we, where we can do that collaboratively for sure.

K

Exciting project just we're trying to get this little piece. One piece started to get the ball.

K

Rolling and there's a composting bins there that I guess you're going to have to remove.

D

Which was an educational piece originally back in the 90s that we put up and.

D

So that's something that you know you could incorporate things like that in there too.

D

Any other comments or questions. Yes, I just had a comment sort of following up on what.

I

You guys have said it's like when I was there the other day I was thinking you.

I

Know for the site walk. I was thinking, it'd be really fun. If this the layout became.

I

Something into the future, as opposed to this sort of remnant of old parks.

I

um Which you've it's all touching on, you know pollinator gardens and and stuff that goes. You.

I

Know natural stuff that goes down to the shoreline and sort of the education thing, but just sort of.

I

Sort of you know maybe an idea of what our park should look like going forward, not.

I

um So much of a uh thing to the you know a salute to the past, because the past is.

I

Just a lot of cut lawns, so um but anyway, so I just wanted to put two cents in there for.

I

Show them more support for that idea. So, anyway,.

E

I'm also curious about the the rocks right that have the the seaweed on them.

E

um What is happening to those rocks? Are they getting reused or it's so a part of this effort.

L

Is since we're working in this zone of water street we're going to repair the sea wall in.

L

Our working area and so we'll be pulling out the mortar, essentially repointing the wall in certain.

L

Areas and fixing the blocks that's what devin had mentioned were the in those impact areas.

L

um And so, in order to do that, work that aquatic those aquatic plants would need to be removed.

L

um And and we've vetted the idea of of removing them, but you know, do we have to replace them and.

L

um Army corps in the state seem to agree that they're fast growing.

L

Enough and they're not endangered species or anything, and so that it wasn't a concern.

E

Using the rocks, but in order to do the like the upgrade you have to it's all.

L

The same rocks it's just free, pointing at work right. Do the rocks even stay in the.

I

Place and it's just the mortar you're taking out and exactly right, yeah, okay,.

D

Ask now, if there's anybody from the public or I don't know, if there's anybody from the.

D

Public that wanted to speak on this. If there's no other questions here, thank you very much.

E

N

Elizabeth's brighter property owner 159 mcdonough street. I'm sorry that I'm passing out what I'm.

N

Going to say to you is because I normally would have written a letter, but I finished reading the.

N

492 pages at three o'clock, so, needless to say what I wrote may not be as organized as I like to be.

N

But um I'm going to present it anyway, I was hoping that somebody could find the picture of the flood.

N

Zone, do you have it in your life? Can you tell us where that is? Is one of the sheets in the back.

L

Of the side there, okay, so all of the numbers are here on here- are from the packet. It's because.

N

Okay, you don't have the actual flood zone in color, though.

N

Okay, all right so page 336 in our packet, so we'll just pull it up. If.

N

You yeah it's p, it's page 73 in your packet, if you guys have the packet.

N

So I just wanted to give you a quick history, which you probably already know that in 1930 josephine.

N

And mary prescott bought the land along marcy street, which was formerly called water street.

N

To clean up the area and fill it with gardens, it was donated to the city of portsmouth in 1954.

N

Phase one is proposed to be reviewed today and can be found on page 482 of the application, so.

N

Pretty much you have to read the whole thing to find it. It is shown as updating utilities.

N

Raising and resurfacing of water street the removal of the shaw garage and lean to.

N

Adding a new foundation and moving the shaw building seating, the grade changes and repairing.

N

This old sea wall, it was my understanding that the moving of the stage was not part of this. It was.

N

Part of one of 1b that maybe I'm wrong about that. I would like to point out some observations. I made.

N

In reading all of this lovely stuff, first on page 168 to 188, is the delineation of wetlands report.

N

And this area is considered a developed area, plantings along the sea wall.

N

Help in in any instance, to uptake water control runoff and to buffer from waves and erosion and.

N

They're talking about when they talk about plantings along the sea, well, they're talking.

N

About on the inside, not on the water side, the water side, there is pretty deep, it would be.

N

Difficult to put plantings along some of the area in phase one, sadly, as many of you noted, there is.

N

No proposal of restoration or natural gardens along the sea wall- it's just grass and sidewalks.

N

um Please consider the actual flood zone, which is on page 23, I'm sorry 73 the packet. It's elevation.

N

Eight and in it includes the seating and stage areas for the prescott parts, arts, festival.

N

All of water, street and all of strawberry bank, as a matter of fact, if we do not do anything.

N

um Pleasant street will be waterfront property in the summary of the stormwater modeling on.

N

Page three, which happens up between page 317 and 322. It shows a height increase of just a.

N

Little above eight feet, so the amica insurance states that an at ae flood zones are areas.

N

That present a one percent annual chance of flooding and a 26 percent chance over a.

N

30-Year mortgage, which is according to fema, but what's important in here, is that the.

N

Elevation of the lowest floor in a structure must be at or above the zone's flood base.

N

According to the application that was presented, the chief warehouse is not of concern.

N

Although when you look at it, it does seem to be just barely a does not seem to be above elevation.

N

Of eight feet, storm waters, basins, culverts and drainage are wonderful, but when it rains or.

N

Snows the wind determine where the water grows, not the engineers. Another area of concern is that the.

N

Coastal modeling report on page 359 states and I put a copy of it at the very end. The actual quote.

N

In using the mean confidence interval, there is a there is a known 50 percent change in.

N

The surge water level and that could be higher than what is predicted, in other words, using.

N

The base conditions and a 96 ran and 96 random tides would have provided provided a 95 percent.

N

Ile of confidence in the intervals, so I just have concerns about that. If you bring up page.

N

483, that's where the actual work being done is shown, and it shows where the title zones are.

N

It makes sense to raise water street and update the utilities as needed. The question is, and some.

N

Of you brought, this up is when water street is raised, in other words, at the end of phase 1a.

N

And the slope is graded: how much of the storm water will run off into the garden side of.

N

Prescott park or end marcy street water street is being raised and filled will likely cause a slower.

N

Infiltration rate than what's there now, due to the height and also the pervious payment, because.

N

When right now, you have to remember that the water runs onto water street over the embankment.

N

Water street acts as a culvert and it flows into the storm water basins that are there.

N

And on marcy street, because it is all pervious, it is all impervious surface.

N

But when you add pervious surface it slows down how fast the water is observed, absorbed. Sorry.

N

To me, it does not make sense at all to move the shaw building from what seems to be its original.

N

Location, looking at all the pictures provided, including the ones I provided for you on page 241,.

N

The reason for moving it is because it's not up to code, and but it's been sitting there for 92 years.

N

The entire area was filled years ago with who knows what, and there is a boring and lab results.

N

On page 266 to 305, but how much water is held there during high tide and storms is difficult.

N

To ascertain water may run down, but it doesn't always go where the engineers predict. It will.

N

So moving a building to keep it and keep it in the same flood zone, so the flood zone goes all the way.

N

Down water street crosses water street into the strawberry bank. So if you continue to move if.

N

You move the shaw building from where it is now and you move it. I don't care 500 feet towards.

N

Marcy street you're keeping it in the same flood zone and that doesn't make any sense to me at all.

N

It is stated as being done to maintain the original wharf setup. However, what really is.

N

Being done is they're removing the shaw building through a bigger stage and a dressing room area.

N

Can be built and added between the sheath and the warehouse and the shaw building.

N

If the idea of moving the shaw building is to preserve it, it should be moved to.

N

An area outside of that flood zone and currently that's where the flower gardens is on the right.

N

Just like the homes removed on the north end to preserve them on the hill.

N

Any activity that includes digging into the filled areas of this park opens up the piscataqua river.

N

Through runoff of unknown contamination, considering what has been filled in there.

N

There were no regulations at that time and they could end up in the waterway.

N

As a conservation commission, one could justify moving the building to take out to take the.

N

Foundation out of the buffer zone, however, since two new structures will be added in.

N

That area it is just creating more additional impervious surface in a high risk flood zone.

N

Please request that the shaw building be repaired on site or moved to the.

N

Fema floods out of the fema flood zone, repairing the sea wall makes perfect sense.

N

And most of the work really seems to be innocuous, but oil booms should be kept on hand or whatever.

N

They're called they're like those little floating things in the water should be kept on hand in case.

N

Any of the storms from the sea wall fall out and unknown materials start to drain through the area.

N

The sea wall is very old from what I can tell and we recently did work on our own sea wall.

N

And when we took out one of the stones, of course, two or three other ones decided they would fall.

N

And so all the stuff that was behind the seawall came forward, so we don't know, what's behind the.

N

Sea wall- I know they did some borings, but it would be interesting to be at least cautious.

N

Of if something comes out, while they're doing the cleaning or anything that those booms are.

N

Available to be used by the time the coast guard gets there on whatever it is, is going.

N

To be pushed pulled into the current of the piscataqua, one would hope that whatever is.

N

In there has been absorbed, but it would make sense to be prepared in case a vein of oil or some other.

N

Unknown substances flows out, seawall repairs could include the removal of grass and some restoration.

N

Along the interior of the sea wall to insist with water, upticks and erosion, please ask why the mean.

N

Confidence intervals were used instead of the 96 random tides. A 50 percent mis-evaluation seems.

N

Like a lot when you're talking about water, thank you for cons for your consideration of these ideas.

N

Thank you the reason. The reason I did think about oil is, I don't know my husband's aunt.

N

Died a few years ago and in her 90s and she lived in puddledock most of her life.

N

um And she told me that those there used to be oil, things that were stored there during.

N

The war, so when you look at the pictures, you see these big containers, I don't know- and I.

N

Don't know what was in them, I was not able to find that looking through the history of the.

N

Archives, so that was what made me wonder whether if that was oil, what how much of that ended up in.

N

The ground when they when they recreated the park. Thank you ridiculous questions, comments.

F

Say this again, I said no other speakers, there's no other speakers. Okay,.

D

I actually had a question about contamination too. I is that something that you guys have addressed.

D

I assume it so we're we're intimately familiar with everything. That's happened on the site. We.

K

Have documentation that um indicates everything. That's happened historically on the site, soil.

K

Samples have been taken, we do know. What's behind the sea walls, we've done, borings we've done test.

K

Pits we've um in an archaeological way. We know. What's in the ground there we uncovered some.

K

um You know some some pieces that I think you may have seen in the paper. I guess the.

K

Point I want to make- and you know with just a few words is, is we are very aware of what is.

K

Of the park's history and what the park needs- and you know this is not something that hasn't.

K

Been well thought out and has, and and it's been before, the community for a long time, a lot of.

K

Engineers have studied it, a lot of historians have chimed in. We have blue ribbon committees, various.

K

um City councils have have, you know, championed the project, um there's a lot.

K

Of knowledge behind the decisions we've made, we're not doing this in a in a whimsical way.

D

Anybody want to make a motion. Is there any other question? Well, just just to kind of.

E

Clarify, if there's anything else that you wanted to share in response to the comments like maybe.

E

Specifically about the moving of the um stage and the like future sort of development of.

E

The yeah, the only reason we the she is correct, the the um the the moving of the stage is not.

K

Something that's happening in phase 1a. We were asked specifically by the commission to speak.

K

About the future phases, however, which is why we get into a small discussion about the stage.

K

um The the stage design has been revisited many times it's a controversial piece of the park.

K

Whether it's permanent, temporary there's there's language in the um the master plan that says.

K

Specifically, what the stage has to be so we will get, we will get to the stage design at some point.

K

In the future, I look forward to it, but as of right now um the stage will stay where it is. um It might.

K

Be part of the next phase, which would be nice if we could, if we could get to it, because it's such.

K

An important part of how the project how the uh the park functions, but in the meantime, we'll keep.

K

Patching that little thing and resurfacing it and propping it up, and what is the controversy around.

E

It uh the I know at one time there was a it was highly controversial as to whether or not the.

K

Stage was a permanent structure or a temporary structure, um and we've studied both um scenarios.

K

If it's temporary, um you know engineers have to sign off on it. Every every season, uh instructional.

K

Engineers have to come and then we have to store it. Take it down um if it's permanent.

K

um It's more robust, we don't have to take it down, store it sign off on it every season, but.

K

um That's definitely not a discussion I want to get into now, because it's so I.

K

Mean there are two camps forming that want some on a permanent one, some on.

K

A temporary end we'll get to that, but it sounds like that's part of your concern. My.

K

It's not in this phase. Yeah, that's true.

J

I'll make a motion to recommend approval for the state wetland bureau, application for.

J

Prescott park for discussion purposes. Thank you. Five seconds discussion.

H

I don't know my head must have been in the sand the whole time this discussion was going on because.

H

I don't know, there's there's not much about it that I like. I see a lot of trees coming down. Ultimately,.

H

And reconfiguring it when it's just such a wet area, I understand that we want to get.

H

The building moved to a higher area, but how long is that going to be higher area.

H

And I don't know if suppressing nature is always the best way to handle things.

H

If the whole area wants to fill with water, maybe it should.

B

O

Feel like yes, um particularly for phase 1a, but also kind of.

J

Spanning all of the phases, um I think the amount of lawn uh is is quite a bit, and I.

J

Totally understand needing large, open areas for seeding like the performance lawn, in particular.

J

um You know, and maybe liberty lawn stays open, but there's a lot of small pocket areas that at least.

J

On on uh the imagery were shown that looks like grass and I think, there's a lot of opportunity.

J

There to fill in those pocket areas with other types of vegetation really anything is, is better.

J

Than than lawn um like the pollinator garden we spoke about, um but you know lots of other types of.

J

um Probably low growing vegetation um and then in particular for phase 1a. You know I understand that.

J

You're reseeding area that might be torn up again in the future um for the different phases.

J

However, I do still think that, because it's unclear when the next phases will take place.

J

If there's any opportunity to reseed with something else again, besides lawn.

J

um If it is shrubbery, if it is a pollinator garden and potentially things that can be moved.

J

In the future, that would be, I think, a much better option than just reseeding with lawn.

D

Okay, thank you.

D

A

I just want to second that point that you're making uh sam because.

A

There are a lot of things that you can plant that people can walk on and they.

A

Can put a lawn chair on and they're still, you know little flowers, you know, there's a.

A

Lot of rugged things that can be planted, particularly if it's going to be years.

A

Coming so its use doesn't preclude it from planting things that can deal with that use.

D

Yeah, I guess that's something yeah. Oh sorry, um I think I would just like to add to your point.

C

Barbara and sort of to what allison said at I agree I feel like I try to pay attention to.

C

What's going on in town- and I this is really the first- I've had any real understanding of what the.

C

Plan is for prescott park, so it would be really nice if we could be involved in future phases.

C

Because this just it feels like a lot and a lot to consider- and I appreciate the ingenuity and all.

C

The thought and the years and all of the efforts that you guys have done um but again for me, I you.

C

Know I just are we just putting that band-aid on something that is going to be a mess in 20 years?.

C

Again and we're gonna have to be back here. Having this conversation, that's that's just my concern.

C

About doing all this work and then what's actually coming, is this project isn't going to manage it so.

D

E

Good, I feel kind of torn right because, like our role here right is to think about.

E

Sort of the wetland resources right- and I guess this is like already super developed and I guess.

E

I'm actually not concerned about the additional impact on like nature through this project and but.

E

But I feel like some of these concerns around. Do we invest in moving a building and the you.

E

Know the sort of exact metrics that were used to calculate flood risk feels a little outside of.

E

Scope, but I I don't know if that's true or not, I guess I'm looking for like some guidance on.

E

Whether or not that is something that we're even invited to weigh in on or for a recommendation for.

D

The wellness permit, I guess right I mean we have to stick with what they have, what they can use.

D

If we're making recommendations or mm-hmm but but we can yeah, we can I mean yes, there we go.

I

um All the inundation maps and everything I mean it basically shows the whole area underwater. So.

I

And granted some of it's like 100 years out or whatever, but where.

I

In 20 years is there I, I don't know where it is. There are so many pages.

I

um Is there a a map that shows what the water level is going to be in 20 years and are you.

I

Using a lot of people a lot, I think portsmouth uses a core of army engineers, but there are other.

I

There are other resources for predicting water sea water rise and they actually are more accurate.

I

They found to be more accurate, but they also show much more sea level rise than army corps.

I

Of engineers shows so, can you tell me where it is that shows like in 25 years what the water level.

I

Is going to be because all your maps actually have the like all of prescott park underwater.

F

I think if I'm reading them correctly they're all in blue, can I speak to that because there's.

F

A lot of uncertainty about where they're going to be exactly in 20 years. Nobody really knows, but.

F

They're going to be higher than they are today, and I guess I guess what I would want to say just to.

F

Not just to support the project but to talk about all the work we've done so far on sea level rise.

F

In the downtown and looking at how we're going to be resilient in the future, this is a plan that has.

F

Taken that into consideration the reason, they've, elevated water street, the reason they've upgraded.

F

The storm water is really for that reason. It's a developed park, so it's not going to be a pristine.

F

Natural here, but I think you're right, I feel, take some responsibility for not bringing this to you. I.

F

Wasn't that involved in the planning process to get it to the public, but there's been a ton of.

F

Public outreach and input on this plan, but if you look closer at it, there's quite a bit of planting.

F

That isn't there now there's these bands that go through the park that you can see on there.

F

But I guess what I'm really want to get at is we. We have a uncertain future for sure, but it's.

F

Going to include flooding and we have to learn how to live without and accommodate it, and this.

F

Is an area where nobody lives so think about all the people in the south end that are going to get.

F

Inundated with flood waters and they have their homes are going to be impacted. This is a place.

F

That can take flood water, so the idea is this is where the flood water should go. If you look.

F

At the plans in new york city and the parks along the shore they're accommodating flood.

F

Waters so that they protect the residences and the critical infrastructure. This is a first step in.

F

That process- and I feel like these guys, you know they've- created a resilience plan. They've tried to.

F

Address it in the best way, we know how this is one of the first plan. That's really addressed climate.

F

Change and sea level rise, so from that standpoint, in the flooding sense of things, you know not the.

F

The protection of the natural resource, but in the flooding sense of things I just want to make.

F

A statement that this is sort of the first step- and you know we have to work together to try and.

F

Find a solution and to come up with reasons why they can't do it. I think, is easy, but what's good.

F

About it is what I'm, seeing and they're really working hard to elevate some things to keep water.

F

Out, but also accommodating water by building new infrastructure that goes through it. So I don't.

F

Know I guess I just feel like um I understand they didn't come before the commission and work.

F

Closer to the commission and that's something that could be helpful, but that was several years ago in.

F

The making this project spent a long time in the making, and there has been quite a bit of public.

F

Outreach that people get involved in, but it hasn't been to the commission. So I take responsibility.

F

For that and not bringing it to you guys and I think that's a lesson we can learn on a lot of.

F

These projects and we're working on it, but in this case I just want to talk in terms of the flooding.

F

Piece, it's sort of a first step that someone's taking and it's the city and we're trying to be.

F

Leaders in taking a step to address flooding, so I just want to put that out there that you know.

F

It might not be perfect in terms of the natural resources, but really their goal is to make it a.

F

Resilience plan not to make it a natural area, you know, because it's not really a natural area, but.

F

um But there's a lot of natural areas or really cultivated areas in prescott park. All these.

F

Gardens and they've added to that, so I think that's how they've tried to address it. In my.

F

Opinion, that's for them long term, they've added for the long term, because without the long-term.

F

Plan and then for the short-term flooding the street elevating and the warehouse raising the.

F

Warehouse and putting in storm water is for the shortcuts for flooding. I get I get that.

I

Idea- and I guess it seems like it's kind of mixed signals, because they're raising buildings to keep.

I

Them dry, I assume why, if this is an area, that's sort of supposed to be resilient, why are there.

I

Any bill, why are they not just moving the buildings elsewhere or something I I guess.

I

I'm getting mixed signals does that well they're raising to protect them in the short term right.

I

That's just a short-term measure might be a next step. I mean the long term. You know we should all.

F

Move out of the seacoast, because in 150 years it's going to be eight to ten feet. You know.

F

So so this is, this is my point. Is that it's not easy? It's not easy. We have a flooding situation.

F

That we're trying to deal with- and I think this is a I just needed to know- I wanted a potential.

F

Path forward, maybe it's not the right one, but in my opinion it's it's at least someone trying to.

I

Do something I just needed the logic to get sort of smoothed out. So it's it's a temporary move, the.

I

Building thing is, I mean, I mean in the 100 year time scale, maybe or even maybe last but yeah, okay.

I

I think the shape warehouse is a great example of what you just said. It was moved to that location.

K

From mechanic street right and it was actually put at the proper elevation when they moved it, that's.

K

The elevation we're putting shot as the floor levels are going to be the same for floor levels.

K

um And we've been able to enjoy it for another 50 years and and beyond now, so that's a great example.

K

And who knows what what the safets are going to have to deal with 100 years from now, but right.

K

We're buying time yeah. That's that's kind of my point. It's an effort to try to address this. I know.

D

So um I think we have a motion and I don't think, there's any conditions on it at this point I.

D

Didn't have any, um do you guys want any conditions in case? I know it's for discussion purposes, but I.

H

Would like two conditions, at least if they plant something other than grass seed on the open soil.

H

Areas and that they develop a maintenance plan for the pervious areas of the park.

D

You're right with that, I'm all good with that: yep, okay, so first and seconded with two conditions.

F

What was the second one provide? Pervious areas um provide a maintenance plan for the pervious area.

D

And I I just want to say that we I I can't emphasize enough how much we really want.

D

To participate in input from now on, because it can be really exciting and.

D

um So I don't know if we want to any other discussion or anything from anybody.

D

All those in favor.

D

And opposed motion passes with those recommendations. Thank you.

D

The next item is a work session. 89 spar hawk street. Anybody just to remind you guys, are outside.

B

To hear it out of here at 5, 30., okay, somebody here to speak to that yeah they're outside.

I

What are you doing, sprock.

F

H

I know you're right, somebody comes in at 5 30., I just hit the bookmark and it said 507.

F

O

Your parents had them to make high balls. Are we waiting for you right.

F

Now I'll get it dude, okay, I wasn't sure what we were waiting for if they wanted to get us.

F

F

Are you guys ready? Yes, okay, oh you're, waiting for peter right to put the okay? Sorry! I wasn't.

P

Sure, where we were at there, thank you, I'm uh steve riker from amba engineering, I'm here today.

P

uh Representing uh jonathan and lisa morse, they own property, 89 sparhawk street. uh This is.

P

We've submitted materials uh for a work session here we're looking uh for this commission to.

P

Provide us with some comments before we proceed with a more full design. um We've been working.

P

On this project, for for a few months now, with these property owners, the project team.

P

Consists of myself and john shagnan from amba engineering, robbie woodburn from woodburn and.

P

Company landscape, architects and jen ramsey from soma studios here in portsmouth has the uh the.

P

Architectural component of the project, um perfect peter's, got the existing conditions plan up.

P

So this is the lot here.

P

There we go it's an existing uh residential structure located here, uh driveway off from.

P

Sparhawk street is here: there's a patio in the rear of the house. There's also a deck right.

P

Here in the rear of the house um further to the north is a title wetland located here and then.

P

There's also a freshwater wetland that extends in this direction. On the lot the result is, we have.

P

A for ds purposes, we have a title buffer zone, that's right here this line and we have a city.

P

Of portsmouth uh 100 foot wetland buffer line. That is right here, and you can see that wetland.

P

Buffer line right now currently goes through the rear of the home. uh The project is uh to construct.

P

An addition onto this house, a garage edition and peter, if you could forward the next sheet.

P

Sheets well, actually, this is the demolition plan. So let me talk about that. First, uh the.

P

Existing patio will be removed, there's a granite, walkway or a stone walker walkway right here.

P

That will also be removed, as well as there's a series of retaining walls on this property.

P

They are the dark lines that you see here. All those retaining walls will also be removed.

P

The next sheet shows the proposed edition, which would be located right here, as you can see, the.

P

Wetland buffer would go right through the middle of the edition, so to speak, a patio here removing.

P

The patio that exists on the lot now and trying to get it outside the 100 foot title buffer zone.

P

For des purposes was one of our goals: move it further away from the resource, the deck.

P

Would remain on the home and the garage edition would go right here. It is a three-story garage.

P

Two: it's a two-story garage, new driveway location in front of the garage that lines.

P

Up with the garage bays, uh this last bay over here is more of a storage bay.

P

um We haven't designed any stormwater control, yet we will be doing that.

P

um One thing I wanted to mention.

P

That we do not show on our plan set is the property owners install? They.

P

Landscape area back here, which is planted with native shrubs, I believe they are silky dogwood.

P

Looks very nice they've done that on their own, um but we'd be looking to do a full storm water.

P

Design to handle control and treat storm water for this project. After this meeting, we would.

P

Come back with a with a stormwater design later um a couple other things I wanted to point out.

P

There's a proposed walkway right here, as well as a set of stairs again. Those are.

P

Those are accessory structures that provide foot access. They.

P

Are outside of the buffer, but they are part of the project.

P

In the packet that you have is uh two pages of architectural elevations that show the proposed.

P

Edition- and there is also a photo log in there- that shows some photos of the site and I believe.

P

We are lined up to have a sitewalk here in january. I think on january 4th, so I'm assuming there'll be.

P

Some more some more questions, then, and also being able to see the site, I think, will help as well.

D

Thank you thanks questions yourselves um well, you're you're, doubling the amount.

H

Of impervious surface area on the property, at least according to your your schedule here and.

H

um That garage and storage area is really large, and I would think that if you were going to put.

H

Something on this property you'd understand that the buffer area is there for a reason, and that.

H

um Making something this large in the buffer. I just think it's it's just too big.

H

um You need to shrink the size of the garage and storage area. That's my personal feeling. Okay,.

D

Yeah yes, go ahead. um Can you tell me what the um when you're? Looking at that plan the and say.

I

You're you're on spar hawk street. Looking at the house, what is the um the dimension? How many feet.

I

From the building setback to the wall of the existing house is.

I

On that side, and I'm going to ask you what it is on the other side, just like where your, um where.

I

The addition is going so I basically I'd like to see I'd like to know what the the dimensions are.

I

um If you have them, because I couldn't figure out where they are, and I'm just going to take.

I

A tape measure out um to the yard, but I didn't have time so let me just make sure.

P

um That I'm understanding you correctly are you talking about the building setback.

P

uh Right from the front, the dimension from the building setback to the actual wall, in other.

I

Words, if you were going to put an addition, but put it on the other side, how much room do you.

I

Have to work with, as opposed to keeping it on the right side just so. I I'd basically like to know.

I

The dimensions on each side of the house to these side setbacks, gotcha. Okay, let me grab a scale. Okay,.

P

Let me just checked this in a couple spots.

P

Foreign, there is about 34 feet, 34 feet.

P

P

There it is, and on the right side there is 48 feet: okay,.

P

um From the existing home right um good, the proposed driveway um the same um graphic.

I

Used for the proposed driveway is also what's in front of between the street and that storage area.

I

uh Is that what is that going to be I'll? Have um jen address that? Okay? Are they the same.

I

Material are you planning on it being the same material? Yes, so why is there paving in front of.

I

A storage area, is it really going to be like a is it sort of like a almost a three-car garage yeah.

P

I'll have I'll have jen answer that question all right. I figured I'd just throw the questions out.

Q

um It can be a three-car garage, they do intend to use that third bite bay for kayaks.

Q

um Longboard surfboards things that have length to them. uh They have a small sports car which can.

Q

Fit in that that third bay um and the reason that we're trying to make it functional for both those.

Q

Attributes is because a lot of cars park on the street on that very narrow street on both sides.

Q

And so this is a family of five and if they can get cars off the road more often than not, it's.

Q

Actually, a benefit to the neighborhood, which is something that everyone kind of agrees with. So it.

Q

It would fit a small car. The bays themselves are not the actual garage bays themselves are very.

Q

Conservatively sized for the reasons I'm sure you're all interested in knowing and we tried.

Q

To keep this very conservative they're, not extra deep, there isn't room for a workbench in the back.

Q

um Trash recycling don't have a space to fit when their car is going to be in there.

Q

So we were trying to be thoughtful at all of those different respects.

Q

But it's like everyday living. Basically, can you just introduce your name just.

D

Sorry, yes, jennifer ramsey with soma studios on behalf of the applicant. Thank you um is there.

I

Okay well, anyway, um uh my next question is this: drawing has.

I

As you're looking at the house, it has on the left side, it has the new that big new.

I

Building the behemoth building that out, it's got that um wall line the neighbor on the other side.

I

You do not have that, and that house is extremely close to I mean I think their fence might be.

I

I don't the property lines didn't sort of seem to match up with, where the actual I mean.

I

Where the supposed ones are versus, where the actual seem to be, can you can you discuss.

I

One you know how close that house is, because these these drawings, I find, are quite deceptive compared.

I

To being on site yeah, um I might defer back to steve on that um you're, implying that their fence.

Q

May be on our land. Is that what you're? Well, I don't know exactly what's that little line is.

I

That the fence line that's actually inside their property line. That is this line here.

I

So the neighbors fence, and how close is that is the neighbors um house to um to.

I

That property line, the neighbor's house is seven feet from the property line: seven feet: yep: okay,.

P

And his offenses the fence, it was a little bit of an angle there, but the fence is about.

P

Three feet off the line onto onto this property: yeah yep and are you.

I

Gonna be changing that or leaving it, as is. Oh there's, no change to that.

I

I

um Did you guys think about putting anything on the other side of the house? You know closer.

I

To the the big blue building, um because that's not in the buffer, you know most of that would.

I

Be outside the buffer zone, I mean, I know, you've probably got a porch and all that, but.

Q

um We we did look at all the opportunities to achieve the goals of the client was looking for.

Q

um The existing home, as it's currently laid out this side of the home, is where the mudroom is.

Q

The laundry the kitchen right so perceptively, a garage on that side makes more sense. Furthermore,.

Q

If we put the garage on the other side, it's it's a little bit hard to tell and perhaps maybe easier.

Q

To tell when you're on site the existing original home, which sits right on the street, it's in it's.

Q

In you know, all those houses are right on the street and so the so it's actually that original.

Q

Main house is more like a story and a half than two stories, so the windows on the left hand, side.

Q

On the side you're inquiring about on the second floor, those are bedrooms um there's only two of.

Q

Them and the windows are very, very low to the the um the the floor. Basically right. So if we were to.

Q

Put the garage there, we would basically eliminate our life safety egress and we would abandon.

Q

Two bedrooms in a four bedroom home, so it was really about not changing um the current layout.

Q

Of the home, this home did go through a renovation relatively recently with the addition on the back.

Q

And so there's been work done to make improvements to the structure as it is and preserve it. So going.

Q

In there and trying to turn the whole thing on its head really felt like a lot more egregious.

Q

In many many ways, there's also mechanicals on that side of the lot adjacent to the home. Those have.

Q

To relocated, so it was um a lot of things where we play. Basically, when we were laying this out.

I

um If you, the building, is the new, the addition is, its plans is way way into the buffer. I mean.

I

As allison said, half of it's in the buffer- um uh and I know you're working with the street.

I

Setbacks but all the houses there are right up on the street. I'm wondering why you didn't just move.

I

It forward so then it stays out of the wetlands more sure. If not completely, we were trying to.

Q

Maintain some driveway before you get into the garage for ease and safety with backing out and.

Q

Also for the ability to put cars in the driveway, as well as in the garage in a case that you know.

Q

It should have come up, um it's a very valid point, to push it right up closer. But again I.

Q

Think there was certainly some safety concerns with backings backing onto that narrow street.

Q

Across the street is a retaining wall and I know I've been in their driveway before and even my.

Q

Car backing up was a little bit treacherous yeah. The whole thing is yeah. It's a bit of a mess yeah.

I

um But what if? What? If you put like the storage over onto the other side of the building.

I

The uh of the house I mean, I know, because that would be lower right right. It would be lower.

Q

Right and so if we were trying to do anything in the car, we'd have to raise them, yeah sure those.

I

Are all my questions? Thank you. I'm sorry, brian! No, that's a good! That's a good segue, because I.

R

Had the same thought or question there, is it true? um I don't know if I consumed this properly is.

R

There not a garage on the property today, there's no garage just a little crushed stone parking.

Q

Area so, just to make sure I understand it in this ad, it adds basically three garage spots.

R

Or two plus one yeah and also adds a driveway right, so a substantial amount of parking space.

R

And, as a result, all of that pushes it into the zone. I just wanted to make sure that I.

R

Understood that was the substantial different from that would rep yes, so it's two months.

Q

Two stem ones: that's shallower, because we've recessed that back a little bit more for more for some massing and there is driveways in front of all three um all of the driveway space where.

Q

Robbie was saying could be um made to be pervious, the patios could be made to be pervious as well.

Q

Going back to one of the early questions, so even even the three-car garage, if it were pulled back.

R

Closer to the street would be a substantial add to the property versus today. Yes, sure.

R

Thanks absolutely other questions. Other commissioners, I had a question um the impervious.

F

Surface area table is there one that has the buffer comparison? I think this is just total right.

F

This is total. That's crazy, total comparison in previous service in the buffer versus.

P

Yeah we would, we would come back with one that has just the buffer that'd, be great. If that's what you.

P

Want thank you um also just wanted to address that the front setback, the building setback.

P

It's tough to see, but there's a dotted line and it's right there so pushing pushing the.

P

Structure more towards the street certainly gets more of the structure out of the buffer.

P

But it would require a variance from the zoning borders to well. Yes, this is sort of like where.

P

We're trying to we're trying to balance that as well, and I might just um at your point earlier.

Q

Currently they can park two cars there. So if we were to go with the three-part.

Q

Garage pull it forward, so we can't park any in a driveway. They'd only be gaining one additional.

Q

Space basically there'd be three covered spaces: no outside yeah yeah. It makes sense.

J

um I would just like to ask when we uh come before you for our site walk if things could be staked.

J

Out um you know exactly where the corners are of this new proposed area, as well as.

J

Where you're potentially planning on doing more plantings, I know you said.

J

The applicant has plantings there already. Obviously we can't really.

J

See them on or don't see them on the uh on the plan, so we'll see them in person, but.

J

um Putting those on future plans and then any opportunity to enhance the buffer would be great.

J

And kind of staking that out also in the field is just really helpful for us. When we get out there.

B

Yeah yep, so we could. um Oh, we could do.

P

Well, these five corners of the structure, yeah and, I think, also the patty, the new, where the new patio.

J

Is yeah we'll do uh we'll do this corner uh in this corner as well, and then the patio itself.

P

Too yeah, it just helps us get an idea of like visually. How close you are to uh with the wetland.

D

I have another question real, quick, please sorry! This is equivalent. It's a dimension, question.

F

um I'm getting word from the producer, but they're not hearing it very well. If you.

F

Could just try to speak closer to your mic somewhere? I can't find it now, but I think I.

I

Saw it somewhere, but could you just tell me how long um what's the width of what's the, what are.

I

The dimensions of the new garage, slash home, theater, slash family room um in terms of.

I

Because we basically taken some of this addition and well I'm trying to think of the best way to.

Q

Explain this but part of what's existing and part of what is new, is kind of is kind of overlaps on.

Q

Itself a bit so the actual from the point of the existing face of the building. um We are, let's say.

Q

We're like we're 30 feet to two and then it's 40 feet for the three bays so say: 40 feet from the.

Q

Fur because the current house jogs several times, there's areas, there's no foundation. So from that.

Q

Furthest um wall out does that make sense and well, I think, when it's stable, I saw it somewhere. Yeah.

I

Yeah it's a bit of a dimension somewhere. I just couldn't find the drawing again and I figured you.

I

Could just uh yeah thank you. I knew I saw it, but from the standpoint of the size of these garage.

Q

The garage bays themselves, you know it's a two, the two car. Let's say it's 26 wide and only 24 deep. So.

Q

It's a very conservatively sized garage by what today today's standards, the people are building.

Q

Which is why we put the cars in there as well, so you can see what their cars would be like inside that that bag.

J

But yes, um I would just like to reiterate um what allison said at the very beginning like it, you.

J

Are saying it's conservative sized by you know present day standards, um it's still a three-car.

J

Garage and it's still in an area that is a very small parcel, you're right in a very sensitive area.

J

um And and to brian's point you know, moving it up close to the road does require variance, but.

J

You also are required conditional use permit here so yeah kind of looking at both options um that.

J

Would pull it quite a bit out of the buffer and allowing you still to get that that size, you're.

J

Looking for sure, um so I think that should be something that you you do look into for sure.

D

Yeah, I agree. Okay, are we good on questions? Are you guys good, we'll see you in january sounds.

P

Great, thank you. Thank you. Okay, thank you. So much. Thank you appreciate it. Thanks for waiting so.

D

The next step and last items we have our other business. We already welcomed the new members.

D

um Kate, I think you were gonna. Do a brief sorry update on the.

D

Weather wetland boundary markers that we have here, people have them, we have them so cool.

S

So I passed out four or five of them, but that's what we got from um the massachusetts company that.

S

We ordered from, and so the plan is so those costs we got 250 pieces ordered and I think at cost. They.

S

Were a buck 90 a piece and we are going to be selling them out of the playing department to.

S

The applicants for five dollars, a piece and so sort of the rule here, is that in the ordinance.

S

It says that applicants must show where they would be placing well and boundary marker signs.

S

On their plans, which a lot of applicants don't do currently so we're going to try and make it.

S

um Onto every staff memo as a recommendation or as a stipulation that plans must show where.

S

They were going to be putting what the battery marker signs as they're coming in.

S

um And so sort of our role will be to sort of see on the plan where those will be and if they.

S

Haven't shown it on the plan, we're not allowed to really pinpoint where exactly we would like.

S

To see it, but we can give them a general sort of recommendation. According to the legal department.

S

Where we would like to see it sort of placed on a tree or sort of outside your wetland buffer area.

S

Or in a place that leads towards the sensitive area, but um that's sort of what we're allowed to.

S

Do and we are allowed to suggest that they purchase from us in the playing department.

S

Upstairs or if they would like to purchase wetland boundary marker signs from another company, we are.

S

Allowed to review that and reject it. If we don't like it, yes, we've sort of vacillated regarding.

H

Where we wanted those signs, do we want them at the edge of the buffer? Do we want them at the edge of.

H

Wet where do we want them, and sometimes it really depends on the property itself. I mean sometimes.

H

It makes sense to go a little bit further than than the buffer yeah the wetland and other times.

H

You need to mark where that buffer is so yeah when they ask us it's kind of hard to say it.

S

Might be a more site-by-site like recommendation of where we can maybe push where we would like.

S

To see it- and I think that's also going to be something that we're going to talk about.

S

With maybe potential future amendment change or zoning amendment changes trying to add in.

S

With that section of the welton boundary markers where we like to see it like before I mentioned.

S

A couple weeks ago or months ago, exeter has it in their ordinance, is every 50 feet on.

S

The weapon wetland buffer delineation, so maybe that's something or something similar to that.

S

Something we can talk about in the future for changes if we're thinking of going that route.

S

Thank you jess just well. First of all, they look awesome. You did a great job. Well done. Nice work.

C

um Just sort of uh I don't know if this is an appropriate question, but the proceeds.

C

From these, what's the greatest question very appropriate question, so um isaac- and I have.

S

Figured it out with the finance department, so at first there's you might already know.

S

So annually in the planning department there's a budget for the conservation commission to do.

S

um Trainings and like things like that in conferences, that's, I believe either 1600 or.

S

1800 a year and so at first all those proceeds will go into that budget and at the end of every.

S

Year that budget gets rolled into the overall conservation fund for um purchasing properties.

S

And things like that, so it'll just keep rolling into the fund why'd you charge ten dollars well,.

D

I mean yeah five dollars is pretty good. I think it's each one yeah making some money back, but.

S

um I think also this is sort of our test run, so we only ordered 250. So the idea is, if we think.

S

It's not enough or if we think it's too much or we want to change the design in the future.

S

We can see how it goes and if property owners are okay with this and really think it's a positive.

S

Thing to do so we can sort of adapt as we go along yeah. Okay, thank you all right. Thank you.

B

Thank you awesome. They look great, um we'll be collecting those at the end. Just so yeah.

D

um I have two two other announcements. I think one really quickly. Tomorrow night, I'm gonna.

D

Talk or read the letter at the planning board meeting for the cip requests and if anybody else.

D

Wants to go six o'clock right, it starts at six yeah, it's probably they'll. Do every department.

F

Is going to present- and I think they'll take public comment after that right after that.

D

So anybody else wants interested in chiming in or whatever, so it's not. After all, the applicants have.

H

Been heard it's before the applicants yeah it's in advance of the meeting yeah okay, yeah.

D

Why are here peter- and I have been working on this.

D

um Workshop, that's the flood smart portsmouth, with um let's see cooperative extension and seagrance.

D

um And we're going to get this out to all the different boards and landry's planning um and also.

D

Staff and trying to get a representative at least one person from each board, um so they'll, appoint.

D

Somebody, but it would be great, whoever wants to go, that's free and it's virtual and it's virtual yep.

D

Really good peter's going to be presenting the a detailed agenda will come out in the next couple of weeks, but.

D

Give us some really good tools. Can I make a suggestion for the agenda because it's.

A

Relevant to this particular board, I it'd be really interesting to see what some of the projections.

A

Are for the outdoor pool? You know the psl and pool I'd be really interested in seeing what.

A

We're using for that measurement because in this part of the presence we already have that on plans.

D

On the regulations and looking at that is, I did meet with the um the chair of the planning board.

D

The other day, but the next steps really include getting in touch with the city council and putting.

D

A recommendation in to make changes to the cup and then um and then working as a group to come.

D

Up with what we have so maybe doing a non-public kind of couple of members giving feedback right.

F

A couple members could do like a study group and then bring it to a work session with the whole.

F

Commission and then meet with the planning board is what we talked about this morning.

D

um But if you for next steps I mean giving samantha, I know samantha spearheaded it so.

F

I guess her and two other members could do it. um My studies or if two study groups wanted to.

B

Start they could do it separately, yeah. So what are we looking at? What do you mean a study group.

H

So, rather than a quorum rather than having a meeting, require a public meeting. If four.

F

Members got together: if only three members got together, you could talk about it and then bring.

F

That to everybody in a public forum, so you know kind of talk about where areas are that you want.

F

To make changes doesn't have to be very detailed, but these are the things that we run into these.

F

Are the changes we'd like to see and bring that to the whole commission and then from that? If.

F

The city council supports it, then take it um and meet with the planning board, see what they want to.

F

Change together and then together probably hire a consultant to write actually or actual ordinances.

F

That we can also review, and then the city council ultimately has to prove it with the planning board.

F

Weighing in okay, okay- and we just really quickly need to do a vote to make a recommendation to the.

D

City council, right, you would say: oh that would be good yeah. You don't have to. I mean yeah. If it's a.

F

Consensus, but I think yeah yeah so to do this, so everybody from the city enough information.

F

um Give you the go-ahead to start working on changes to the wetland.

F

Ordinance in the zoning ordinance wetland sections. So what do we have to vote on.

J

Yeah they have to let us look at it. Is that sort of well they're they're, because they they finally.

F

Adopt the zoning ordinance, so the idea is that, if they're going to adopt the zoning ordinance.

F

They're going to want to adopt things that they care about, so if they don't want to.

F

See changes to the wet and learns, then it wouldn't make sense to do all that work behind the scenes. So it's kind of laying out for them that you're going to want to.

F

Tackle this project just to get their support initially, so then you can do the work and then.

F

You don't have to go back and say: oh you don't want to do that. You know.

D

Okay, so all those in favor of making a recommendation to the city council, of course,.

D

Opposed okay, thank you and why get rid of that person? Two jen? Oh okay! Unless there's anybody else.

D

Oh wow, okay, no emotion! Any motion to adjourn okay.

H

Thank you. Sorry.