7.17.2023 Conservation Commission

Fall River Government TV Jul 17, 2023 YouTube Report Issue

The Fall River Conservation Commission held a meeting on July 17th at 5:37 PM at Cafeteria One Government Center to discuss and revise the city's conservation bylaws, which currently rely on state standards. The primary focus was on establishing local fee structures for various applications and reviewing buffer zone regulations. Commissioners Lewis Forever, James Winsby, and John Brandt were present, along with Nina Pavo from conservation and Pamela Nickerson from Fall River TV. Jim Cusick was noted as absent. Key discussions included the potential increase of the Board of Vegetative Wetlands buffer zone from 100 to 150 feet, with members debating the balance between environmental protection and economic development. A motion to increase the buffer to 150 feet did not receive a second, and the commission decided to table this decision for further research by Dan, who will prepare a report on the implications of 100-foot versus 150-foot buffers. The bulk of the meeting was dedicated to establishing a comprehensive fee schedule for Notice of Intent (NOI), Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA), Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD), Certificate of Compliance (COC), after-the-fact filings, extensions of order conditions, amended order conditions, and tabling fees. Fees were differentiated for residential and commercial projects, with specific amounts set for initial filings and refilings. For example, commercial NOIs were set at $450, residential COCs at $100, and after-the-fact filings at $500. A significant discussion also revolved around implementing refiling fees for COCs to encourage timely and complete submissions, and addressing a loophole that allows occupancy permits to be issued before COC completion. The commission agreed to move forward with drafting the proposed fee structure and to revisit the buffer zone discussion at their next meeting. They also decided that funds collected from these new fees would remain within the conservation department to support training, cleanups, exhibits, and potentially fund a conservation agent. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, with future meetings planned to be 60-90 minutes to manage the extensive work on the bylaws.

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