Conservation Commission - September 15, 2026

All right, welcome to Westport Conservation Meeting September 15th. The meeting is being recorded. Please stand and flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. All right, first hearing from tonight is going to be uh Clifton Clifton Preser 10 165 Plymouth Boulevard demolish existing home in buffer zone south pond to construct a new home with septic and red in the buffer zone. Thank you very much.

Good evening.

Good evening.

fire here for West Point Design here for Clifton and Bethany Preser 165 Boulevard.

And what we have is we have an existing home on the pond that was been demolished and we have a wetlands along the pond 100 through 104 as shown on the plaque. We have a flood zone here zone flood zone here zone A and zone X is this side. Of course, the new home is shown on the plan, and that's going to be moved back around 15 ft from what the

closest point of the existing home was to the pond. And I'm going to put a new septic in. Unfortunately, the well is located right here in the middle of the lot. So, we're going to put the system way up here by Plymouth Boulevard as shown. It's out of any resource area.

And more unfortunately, I have to put the tanks down here cuz I got to be 50 ft away from this well. So there's virtually there's a big garage here right now. This is all paved. There's no place to put this thing get 50 ft away from the wall. So I have to put this tank down here, pump chamber, and then pump off to the waist field. And that uh

pump chamber is 43 ft from the edge of the pond. The house itself, the closest point is 79 ft.

Silk fence shown and it is there all around the uh all around the property.

Uh there's some grading involved along slopes steeply from the road down to the front of the garage and then gently rolls down to the pond. So pretty much what we're going to do is grade off the existing contour. So you got some fill also fill in the front to give some kind of a reasonably flat soil going down toward the pond. There's a little bit of filling on this side of the flood zone

that's really quite insignificant.

That's pretty much it.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clifton uh Preseras 165 Plymouth Boulevard intent filed by Westport Environmental Design with Len Potter here representing. Report date is September 3rd, 2026.

The file number with no adverse comments is SE802858.

Um site visit was also on September 3rd, 2026.

Description of the work the owner has filed to reconstruct the single family home on the pre-existing lot of record.

The threebedroom home was demolished and the new structure will fall within the same footprint. The lot is located on Sula Tuppa pond has an existing lawn down to the walled and edge of the pond of Sula Tuppa. Any slope a sloped access to the pond is also existing. Old home has been previously demolished. During onsite, an oil tank was observed with an odor of fuel present. The owner was

notified and currently the tank is under review to be removed with the fire department uh being present. uh that must have been existing under a cement slab in front of that old dwelling and uh for some reason uh no one caught it till um my observation of it. Uh the new home will be slightly larger than the previous home and will be 79 ft. The previous home was 62 ft from that

wetland edge. Roof runoff will be directed into a dry well system and will be an improvement over the current conditions. The septic tanks will need to be placed below home and 43 ft to that wetland edge. As Lenny mentioned, this is for the sewer force man. Uh again, will be pumped and extended up to the leeching field which is proposed outside of the buffer zone and up near the Plymouth Boulevard uh street

location. Erosion controls are existing from the house uh for the demolition and shall remain until all disturbed areas are seated and growing. The approval for work doesn't include any waterfront activities and this should require additional filings or a chapter 91 waterways license uh if a dock is considered. This is a buffer zone and minor flood zone activity recommendations. The Westport

Conservation Commission should approve the single family home grading, infiltration chambers, and septic tank uh with standard conditions and also that condition that any future work along the waterfront u be filed for separately. That's all, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Any questions on any questions from the audience?

I just I just had a quick question. Is that is that garage above there staying there? Is it Yes.

Okay, that was it.

Thank you. Motion to approve.

It would complicate the project because it's if they could move it that get more room and where the house could be and then things could shift a little bit but that well is really a killer as Lonnie mentionable.

Second.

Okay. That was the Jake and Phil. All in favor?

Okay. All right. That's unan. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You have a nice evening.

All right. Uh, Robert Bey, notice of intent 726 River Road. Remove two-bedroom cottage north wing of main house utilities. Uh, construct threebedroom cottage with new septic tank in the riverfront buffer zone and flood zones.

Green cards are in my file, Mr.

Chairman. Just please.

Good evening. Don Maderas from Aal Engineering in Little Compton here with Robert B 726 River Road. Properties on the West Bridge of the West River.

Existing lot was developed 53 5.3 acres.

Property's been in Mr. De's family about 75 years. This is the third generation owner. Um, basically what he's proposing to do, there's there's an existing house there's u which is to remain. Uh, there's an existing wing off the house to the south which is to remain neither to be um mod proposed to be modified. Um there are there are two cottages a small cottage north of the house and then a

small detached cottage north of that. uh the small cottage north of the house is is proposed to be removed and a a new structure built in its in in its location. Um and the northerly cottage is is going to be removed. Um we have a five bedroomedroom u leeching field septic system. It's bass title 5. Um the northerly cottage has a cess pool that's going to be removed along with the with

the northerly cottage. Um We put in a um singular septic tank for nitrogen removal.

Um the we are in a u we're in the 200 foot just in the 200t river zone which is basically 200t river zone line is here. Um we're also in the 100 foot buffer zone. Um that line the the wetland edge runs along the south side of the driveway and there's also a wetland off site to the north. Um basically we're about 180 ft back from the um uh the top of bank of

the river and all the construction is going to be basically in the same area as the existing structure portion of the existing structure to be removed. Um we're not increasing bedrooms. Our existing lot coverage is 1.8%. Our proposed lot coverage is 1.8%. So we're not increasing lot coverage.

Essentially, that's basically the nuts and bolts of what we're proposing.

Mr. Chair, may I ask a question? Sure.

You're removing both cottages.

That's correct.

I thought you were leaving one. So, in my report, it says I will reward that, but just be aware that two cottages are going for the exchange of the addition, which makes more sense um and less impact as I Mr. Chairman, if I may. Sure.

Uh this is Robert Bey, 726 River Road.

This a notice of intent application. Uh tonight we have Don Mceras from Ael Engineering and uh Aimemesis Environmental uh did the application submitt. Um date is September 5th uh 2026. The final number is still pending.

I haven't seen anything on that uh as I look this afternoon. The site visit was also on September 5th, 2026. Description of the work the owner has filed to demolish uh a two-bedroom cottage and construct an addition to the main house.

The property is located north of Spindle Rock Club and on the west branch of the river. Property contains an existing main house with two cottages. Uh the only proposed demolish the two cottages, I apologize, and construct a 42x 22 addition attached to the main house. The addition will be constructed on elevated piles and fully comply with the FEMA construction requirements for work in a

flood zone or rather a velocity zone as again this work falls within flood zone VE and the riverfront area. Wetlands do exist on the site and have been verified. However, all activity falls outside the buffer zone to the BVW. The work will be no closer to the river uh as uh proposed than the existing cottages footprints. So this new structure is at the same setback distance which is a requirement under

that uh river protection activities. The new singulator septic tank will be installed for the new addition and connected to the approved existing title 5 five- bedroomedroom system. Um the old cess poolool will be removed per title 5 regulations. So they're taking some existing systems and combining them all to the central uh five- bedroomedroom system. The old cess poolool again will

be uh decommissioned grading around the area with seed following the completion.

Uh obviously uh the remaining area under the house will not be liveable uh as they meet those requirements and the shown floor floor elevation uh exceeds the requirements of the FEMA height uh of that flood zone. The pros work meets the riverfront regulations also as they are disturbing less than 10% of the total riverfront area. Uh under the regulations, if you have a pre-existing

lot of record, you can either do 5,000 square ft or 10% of the riverfront area.

In this case, the 10% would come to 12,85351 8 12,800 and 12,800 we'll say. Um, total disturbance is the 10%. They're doing only 9,75 square ft. So, they're well under their 10% threshold. Resource areas to be packed are the flood zone and the riverfront area. Uh, recommendations.

The West Conservation should approve the proposed addition, the new singular tank and grading with standard conditions, and all work must comply with FEMA. And I do suggest that roof runoff be diverted into dry wells uh at some area of this addition. And then this would be pending a file number issuance with that approval. Mr. Chair.

Okay. You have any questions on that?

Uh just one one comment. Um Mr. Be's landscape architect is proposing rain gardens for runoff as opposed to dry wells.

That's perfect. Rain gardens are acceptable. Thank you.

Thank you.

All right. Any questions from the audience table?

Motion to approve.

Second.

That was Jacob Phil. All in favor?

All right. That's unanimous sale. Thank you.

Thank you.

Next on the agenda, we have Ryan Ferrer.

Notice intend 472 Main Road. Construct single family dwelling with driveway uh extension of the buffer zone.

Sorry.

Good evening, Bill.

Did the green cards go?

Yep.

Thank you.

2857.

Thank you.

You're welcome. All right. Go ahead, Bill.

Good evening. Uh what we're proposing uh flying with Ryan Pereira uh was at 472 main road just south of the Charlotte White Road intersection on the east side of the roadway. Uh main road being here.

There's a wetland complex to the further to the east. He has an existing house.

He'd like to add an addition to the house for garage storage and some additional living space in the house. We have a existing three-bedroom septic system. It's past title 5. We're not going to exceed that that threebedroom system. Um, relatively straightforward.

The house right now is about 67 ft from the wetland. So, the wetland was was flagged by Jake Walsh. Um so and as the addition will be on the south side of the house which would actually be further further be ver uh be enterandry further away from the wetlands as it were as you travel south.

That's it.

All right Chris Mr. Chairman, members, this is Ryan Ferrer, 472 Main Road. An or notice of intent filed uh by Civil Engineering Concepts with Bill Smith representing.

Report date is September 3rd, 2026.

There is a file number. It's SE802857 with no adverse comments. My site visit was also on September 3rd, 2026. The owner has filed to construct a garage addition with a room above in the buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland.

The wetland is shown as wet flags 101 through 109 has been determined to be accurate. The addition will be approximately 67 ft at the closest point what basically the existing home is.

Roaching controls will be installed around the work area main until the area is stabilized. Um some tree removal will also be required along the edge of the existing lawn to accommodate the addition. Uh so that would be something to just consider. uh roof runoff in the drywall should be considered as a condition of approval. So I recommend to the board the Westport Conservation

should approve the garage edition with a condition that roof runoff uh discharge into a dry well system and the allowance of removal of a few trees. That's all Mr. Chip.

Thank you. Any questions, Bill?

Any questions from the audience table?

Motion to approve.

Second. That was George and Jake and Kevin.

All in favor? I had called me for the trees, so that's why I just added that. Okay.

Cuz you felt there was some that were going to be overhanging overhanging the perfect. Thank you.

Yes. Just so you have that for your knowledge.

Peter Humphrey Trust 2012 and Barbara Humphrey Trust 2012. Notice intent 5A Main Construct an ingground pool with associated uh decking and equipment coastal resource area

285.

Good evening. Bill Smith from Civil Engineering Concepts. With me tonight is Michael Humphrey, one of the owners of the property. There's existing dwelling that's being um complete. The construction is being completed. In fact, they're hoping for a co in the next in the next few days. Um property is located on that Humber Lane on the south and Oakit Road, River Road that just about at the change in name uh on

the uh the north side. Um again existing single family dwelling advanced treatment septic system um rain garden or not rain garden but uh underground infiltration system for the roof runner for the house which was permitted previously with uh we were before the board approximately a year and maybe 15 months ago there about what we'd like to do is add an 18 by 36 inground swimming pool decking fencing and that sort of

thing to to really complet the project um relatively straightforward. It's not in a resource area other well this is in a flood zone and we're because we're working in the flood zone um we're we're required to come before you. We're we'll have no net increase in um fill within the area. Um so we're we're cutting on the high side, filling on the low side.

It would be a net delta of zero impacting storage capacity.

Thank you, Chris, Mr. Chairman, members. Peter and Barbara Humphrey, 5A Mackane.

It's the notice of intent application filed by Civil Engineering Concepts.

Report is dated September 3rd, 2026.

File number for this project with no adverse comments is SC802859.

Site visit was also on September 3rd, 2026. Description of the work. The current owner has an order of conditions to construct a single family home while grading and the sewage disposal system in a flood zone. This NOI is filed to install an ingground pool within the rear yard. The work would be only within a flood zone AE elevation 17 with a small portion of it within the VE elevation 20. A pool within the flood

zone AE or FE requires to maintain existing elevations and allow the flood waters to enter the pool during an event. As Mr. Smith mentioned, this pool is going to be set at the same grade as what is currently existing and there would be no effect for the pool to displace any flood waters. The design is at the existing elevations and does meet the FEMA requirements.

perimeter of fencing as required will be installed around it if needed. Some cases nowadays they're putting the protective covers that can override that fencing requirement cuz the covers now you can walk across the pool. So that's something that they may could consider in its design as well. That eliminates that obstruction of the fencing uh for maybe a visual, but that's up to the

owners. All disturbed areas will be seated after completion uh under this as well as under the current determination that was filed for the house. So uh that's is covered both ways.

Recommendations. So Westport Conservation Commission should approve the ingground pool within the flood zone with standard conditions. That's all Mr.

Chen.

Thank you. Any questions about any questions from the audience? Any questions from the table? Motion.

Motion to approve.

Second. Motion J, second for Phil. All in favor?

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thanks.

All right. Stri compliance of Riley Homes uh SE82 2809 to Wild Berry Way.

Jim, this is the last developer lot in Wildberry Way to Wildberry Way filed by Riley Holmes. mergency request for certificate compliance engineer record is SNK engineering report date is September 4th 2026 the file number for this project was SC802809 the site visit was also on September 4th description of work the owner has filed a request for certificate compliance for two while berry way design engineer uh

from SNK has provided a letter supporting all work as completed according to the plan a record uh area seated well established around the portion of the buffer zone. In addition, stones have been placed along the 25 limit of all work as conditioned. Um recommendations and the West Conservation should approve the full release of file number SC802809 as all work has been completed according

to plan of record for Riley Holmes to Wild Barry.

All right. Any questions?

Motion to approve certificate of compliance.

Second.

Second from Kevin. All in favor?

All right. Extensions. Uh John Westerman, SEA 2702, 126 East Beach Road.

Mr. Chairman, this is a request for an extension for a beach uh lot on East Beach Road at 126 John Westerman. Uh this is a request for an extension of 3 years. The file number SE802702.

Uh the report date is September 4th, 2026.

Detailed description. The applicant has filed to apply for a three-year extension for the order of conditions to maintain the existing trail lot on the ocean side of East Beach Road.

Um the only new condition I would add to this, the applicant must adhere to using compatible beach materials per the beach management plan. So, I'm going to add a little few things uh within their uh conditions so they're aware that uh we are monitoring what is being done.

Recommendations. Westport Conservation Commission should approve the three-year extension for John Westerman file number SE 802702 for 3 years.

Had there been issues with material being put down there? That's not I haven't been down. I haven't seen the evacuation yet, Mr. Chairman. They usually wait right till the end of September.

Um, so no, I haven't seen I have seen some people placing boulders.

Um, which again there's going to be a lot of discussion as time progresses on these lots.

All right, we have a motion.

Motion to approve with Chris's recommendations.

Second.

Kevin and Jay. All in favor?

Unanimous.

Just one quick question. My client just informed me that they've changed the address on her house from 5A to 3 Matt Humber.

That's perfect. That is perfectly fine.

We'll make sure we I just didn't want that to cause a hitch in the whole No, no, no. Thank you for catching that.

We'll update that though.

Yes. Main. Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

So, we have a minute. I'm sorry.

I have no chairman. I'm sorry.

Minutes from uh September 1. present were J Jason Kevin Burton. So that's that's a no go. Okay, we need four. Who is that?

You didn't have Yeah, we don't have only three of you guys are Oh, Jason. Okay, Phil messed that one up.

Yeah.

Uh August 18th present were myself, Jason, Kevin, Phil, and Burton. Okay, so we can vote on this one. No.

Do we have a motion for the uh to approve the August 18th minutes of the West Conservation Commission?

So moved.

We have a second.

Second.

Phil and Kevin. All in favor?

I posted abstensions.

No bills.

No bills.

No, that's it.

I I just have a question. Has George Campbell done responded?

Yes. Oh, I haven't seen your You haven't seen your email?

No.

Look it up. I haven't responded. Guy was on vacation last week. So, yes, he sent his response. Okay.

But it's like a draft again. So, I don't know how it quick. If you missed the email, I'll send it to you tomorrow.

Okay.

Yeah. He might have sent it to you. I don't No, you were in the I think you were in it. Yeah.

Okay. All right. I I'll look it up.

Yeah. I'll find it later.

Do you want to send Chris a video again?

Is it out? What is it about?

Yeah. I don't know if you could find it.

What's it for?

Legal ad.

Uh, I don't know if it's on my desk, my f.

Yeah, go get it. I did pull it off the cop.

Two East Bay things, but no no um formal signatures section.

Well, we can approve it.

They can just make the motion for the amount.

Yeah.

Okay. I'll be right back. All right, Bruce.

We'll fill time.

The envelope says legal as it is.

for your viewing pleasure. Do we want to carry on a podcast or something?

Did you I mean based on your email, did you want to um postpone the next meeting cuz we was only two certificates?

No, we ended up getting the big file.

Oh, okay. All right.

Yeah.

For what? No vacation for you.

It's a commercial site. It's Wolfford's garage.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, Wilford's garage.

Yeah, we didn't have that. Um, that's what we're Okay.

There's an electrician now.

He's trying to Is it of a conflict of interest? Except that's where I take my car, but there's a lot of wet weathers back there. So, we've been doing this for a while.

They're supposed to drive the fourth.

Yeah. What's cool out? Really? I drove to Connecticut the other day, so I have some bugs on the floor I have to clean off.

That's my project this weekend. I did the kids.

Now I got to do Yeah, they sit outside.

No, put it in my parents garage.

Oh, okay.

We're talking about car care if anyone's wondering at home.

Yes. Can Can you do my What do you need now?

You should see my windshield and my back.

All right.

They really made a mess. I can only reach so far.

And it'll bleed about that much that they clean.

Actually, if you want, I'll do when we go home right now. We just Why not? There's no sunlight. It's not going to get streaks.

Oh, okay. All right.

One last one last bill, ladies and gentlemen. We have a bill for advertisement for East Bay for $258. You need a motion to pay.

Motion to pay $258.

Second.

Okay, that was Jake and Phil. All in favor?

I love to motion to adjurnn.

Motion to adjurnn.

Second.

Jake and Kevin. All in favor?

All set. Thank you.

Thank you, Val.