ORlEANS ANNUAl TOwN REPORt FOR YEAR ... - Town Of Orleans

Committee is committed to continue to support, within the funding available, projectsthat will preserve the character and beauty of Orleans in the areas of open space,community housing, historic preservation and recreation.Respectfully submitted,Julia S. Enroth, ChairwomanCONSERVATION COMMISSIONThe Conservation Commission implements the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Actand the Orleans Wetland Protection Bylaw. In the Town of Orleans, the ConservationCommission reviews and approves applications for projects affecting any of the Town’swetland resource areas and manages the Town’s Conservation Areas.Reviewing and Approving Wetland ProjectsAny activity that alters a wetland resource area or the 100 foot buffer to the resource area,including filling, construction, renovation, pruning, removing or planting vegetation, mustbe filed with the Conservation Commission prior to initiation. Wetland resource areasencompass wetland vegetation, coastal banks, dunes, Land Subject to Coastal StormFlowage and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) among others. For minoralterations, such as brush or tree pruning or small construction projects more than 50 feetfrom a resource area, a brief Administrative Review form can be submitted. Largerprojects require, at minimum, notification of abutters within 100 feet of the lot line of theproperty, a plot plan with a limit of work, and precise delineation of the wetland boundaries.In 2008, the Conservation Commission heard 55 Notices of Intent, 4 Amended Orders, 1Request for Determination and 153 Administrative Reviews.Management of Open Space AreasThe Orleans Conservation Commission is responsible for the management of the Town’sConservation Areas. Most of these areas are available to the public and offer passiverecreational opportunities with trails and scenic views. In 2008, the ConservationCommission continued to support the Parks Department’s efforts to improve naturalizedareas. The Town has purchased additional acreage at John Kenrick Woods. Someinvasive species removal by an independent contractor on Kent’s Point was funded by aBarnstable County Land Management Grant.Meeting ScheduleThe Conservation Commission meets in the mornings the first four Tuesdays of everymonth. New hearings are advertised the first and third weeks of the month.Respectfully submitted,Arnold Henson, Chairman149