The Scituate Conservation Commission addressed a dense agenda on Monday night, headlined by a significant mitigation expansion for a single-family home project at 107 Edward Foster Road. Attorney Adam Brodsky opened the discussion, noting that the team had revised the project to reduce the sideyard and increase the mitigation area. Engineer Greg Morse explained that the revised site plan relocated the new gravel driveway entirely outside of the 50-foot buffer zone, allowing for a split-rail fence and an upland meadow conversion. Scientist Chris Lucas confirmed the plan would include salt-tolerant native plants, stating, we have substantially increased the size of the mitigation area and everything else with the mitigation plan is as reviewed. Despite these additions, Penny Scott-Pipes remained skeptical, remarking, I am just not a fan of this project, that's all. Jen Foley added, same as Penny, shortly before leaving the meeting. Motion Made by Penny Scott-Pipes to close. Motion Passed 3-0

The hearing also featured a historical debate regarding the property's lawn. Brendan Collins raised questions about site imagery, noting, according to Google Earth you look at it it's questionable between March 10th of 1995 and April 18th of 2008 that the lawn actually goes straight across that wall. This prompted property owner Maureen Coven to defend the site's history, testifying, I do have photographs from when I purchased this property on August 1st, 1994, and that the wall and lawn had been there since the 1960s. Abutter concerns were raised by Attorney Walter Sullivan, who stated, I'd like to state for the record four of our more serious concerns with this application. Consultant Paul Mirabito elaborated on technical issues, warning that if this plan is not on mean sea level datum, the 10-foot contour for this site would be the 9.2 foot contour which goes right through the proposed building.

The Commission also reviewed a raise-and-rebuild project at 37 Ocean Drive, where Jed Hannon proposed removing existing asphalt to comply with barrier beach standards. Hannon explained, the proposed project at 37 Ocean Drive is a raise and reconstruct in a coastal dune and barrier beach on wood driven piles. Robbie Mixon voiced support for the change, saying, like the removal of the asphalt. Just want to mention that. Motion Made by Penny Scott-Pipes to close and issue. Motion Passed 4-0. Meanwhile, a project at 47 Rebecca Road faced tougher scrutiny over proposed pervious pavers and hinged panels. Architect Roger Hoy explained the design’s intent to allow flow, saying, the whole idea here was for us to try to make as many of these surfaces as pervious as possible. However, Eric Arrell cautioned, storm damage prevention is critical here and the surfaces that are being proposed will still not have significant impact in slowing storm water overwatch. Abutter George Simmons shared this concern, noting, my concern is that all of this material that we're talking about is going to end up in my yard across the street. Roger Booth urged the applicant to ensure that things that are being committed to are followed through with during the construction.

Later in the meeting, Harry McCarti corrected the record on his name during a septic repair hearing for 11 Clap Road, pointing out, everyone in this meeting with the exception of Frank has misspelled my last name. Brad Holmes provided the mitigation plan for that site. Motion Made by Brendan Collins to close and issue 11 clap. Motion Passed 3-0. Finally, at 8 Atlantic Drive, Thomas Trembley proposed a new deck using diamond piers, stating, the deck will have no lattice attached to it to allow sand to be able to move easily in and out of the surface. Motion Made by Penny Scott-Pipes to close and issue on 8 Atlantic. Motion Passed 5-0. Chairman Frank Snow closed the meeting by noting the completion of the Tik Sherman bridge, observing, I was hoping that if the meeting doesn't go on for too long, we might have a quick chat about getting commission members together informally to talk about visions.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM