Um, welcome to the Danvers Conservation Commission meeting for April 23rd, 2026. We operate under the Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, Section 40, the Wetlands Protection Act, and Chapter
26 of the Town of Danvers General bylaw, the Wetlands Protection bylaw. After the applicant presents his or her request and the board has had time to ask questions and discuss the project, we will accept questions from the audience.
Because this is a public meeting, it is required by law that you give your name and address first. Although we may disagree on the issues raised, all persons present during this meeting are expected to be civil to all other
meeting attendees. This includes the members of the commission staff, abutters, concerned citizens and property owners and project applicants. We also request that you confine your questions to the project and only as it
pertains to the wetlands act. We cannot handle nor do we have jurisdiction regarding such things as noise or traffic. All problems not related to the wetlands protection act and the town of Danver's wetlands protection bylaw must
be taken up with other boards. All right. Um we're going to take attendance. State your name and that you are present. Uh Lorraine Drapek. >> Lorraine Drapek. Present. >> Paul McNelte. >> Paul McNelte here.
>> Michael Spplaina. >> Peter Wilson. >> I'm here. >> All right. Our first agenda item today is 86 Elliot Street notice of intent D file number 14-1450. The applicant is Melinda Vaka. This item
is being continued to May 14, 2026. Can someone make a motion to continue 86 Elliot Street D number 14450 to May 14th, 2026? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> In favor? >> I. >> Okay, we're on to item number two. 35 Doy Avenue. Enforcement order check-in Edward Doherty D number 14-0883.
Um, can the applicant provide an update on enforcement order? Is there somebody on there? >> Um, so it's I just emailed Bob Griffin. It's I was under the impression that he was going to be in attendance tonight. Um, I'm not sure where he is, but he did email over an update, so I'm happy to
talk through it with the commission in his absence. Um, >> of course. So, let me pull up the plan here. Just give me a quick sec. So, the the brief overview is back in September, um the applicant had come in looking requesting for a certificate of
compliance for an expired order of conditions. There was some work that had been done on the property that was not permitted under that order. So, an enforcement order was issued to correct some of those items. And once those were corrected and um a certificate of
compliance would be issued and one of the requirements was a check-in at the April meeting. Um so I can provide one second I can pull up the email that I received from Mr. Griffin yesterday. Um
he's the Bob Griffin was the applicant's representative. So, I don't know if you recall, there was a I think it was about a 1,200 square foot sports court on the property >> that was to be removed and replaced with lawn. Um, re uh granite rocks were going
to be relocated and a it's a 375 square foot upland shrubs were going to be planted and then a 100 foot pollinator garden. And once that was completed and there's another site visit and an asvil plan is presented showing that then a certificate of compliance would be
issued. Um Mr. Griffin said that Mr. Dhy is planning the work for May. Anticipates that it will all be completed by June 6th. So we'll be able to hopefully schedule a site visit as soon as that is done. Make sure we can get that checked off and then issue the certificate of compliance. And that will
also lift the enforcement order stating that the work was done according to um according to what was required at that time. >> So just go over again please Emily that they're going to remove the the court >> remove the sports court >> uh some granite stones are going to be relocated or
>> Yes. Yep. They were going to be relocated to demarcate the um some of the wetlands on the property because the stones were placed >> further into the wetlands I believe. So they were going to be >> I already thought they were wasn't like a long strip of stone. Yes. Yeah. So, they were going to move those, I believe, like further out of the
wetlands and kind of >> Oh, just moved the whole line of them. >> Yes. Y >> Okay. >> And then the third one was a pollinator garden. >> Yeah. 100 square foot pollinator garden and also 375 square feet of upland shrubs. >> We're going to Is the um the asbuilt apt
to look different than what was originally contemplated or >> the asbuilt um the new asbuilt is going to have to reflect these changes that were required as part of the enforcement order. Yeah. >> So, we'll need a new asbuilt >> um when they're ready for the certificate of compliance.
>> And wasn't there something else there about the dock? >> That's on a separate um order of conditions. They were at the time, at least as of last fall, they were they withdrew that COC request and they were contemplating doing an after the fact filing to try to get what's there now
into compliance. I haven't heard back on that, so I'm not really sure. >> So, is that a violation? >> Did they have an an enforcement order? Um, we could we can talk to Mr. Griffin about that. Um, and I can see what the status is because I'm not sure if they have made any modifications to try to
make it according to what was um what was approved at the time, but I'll have an update for that for the next meeting for you. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Good. >> Any other questions? >> I guess so. the next step from the applicant or from the property owners, they will then uh come either bring
before the board uh confirmation that this work has been done whether it's through photographs or you visit the site, something along that line. >> Yes. >> We're going to we're going to go out there, aren't we? >> Yes. Yeah, we'll do another site visit and they'll be it'll be a whole new asbuilt um that reflects all the changes that were made.
>> So, yeah. >> Was this house waiting to be sold or did it already been sold? And >> I don't think they ended up selling it. >> I think they took it off the market. I thought for a while. Yeah. I don't know if it was part of the whole thing. They want to sell it to get all that cleaned up. >> But um I think they I I think they had taken it. >> Okay. >> Yeah,
>> that's okay. I emailed Bob they >> they're working on it, huh? >> Yeah. >> Right. And that they came back to us as they said they would. >> Yep. Yep. Absolutely. Yeah. Yep. They've been been great to work with. So, uh there's really no vote tonight. Um
that's the email that Mr. Griffin had emailed over to me yesterday. Um, that's really all I've all I've done. >> So, what's the timing on that again then, Emily? >> Um, they plan on having it done by June 6th. So, I'll I'll touch base with them
and hopefully we can get them on one of the June meetings and get this one squared away >> and a a site visit obviously. >> Yep, we'll definitely do a site visit. >> Do we need to do a continuence on this or >> um No, it's not really. >> Yeah, >> this was just one of their requirements of the enforcement order was a check-in
at one of the April meetings. >> Yeah. So, we're just basically checking the box that they provided. Even though they're not here, that's okay. They they provided the update in the >> stat update. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, is that it?
>> I guess that's the update. >> So, we have the update. Are we ready to do minutes? >> Yeah, it's I'll send Mr. Griffin an email and just let him know that um we ran through the updates, but yes, you guys can move forward. Yeah. Are we good to ask or do you want us to
wait till you >> Oh, no. You can go ahead. Yep, you're all set. I don't I was just checking quickly online. I don't see anyone remotely either. So, >> yeah. Has everybody on the board read and approve and ready to vote on the minutes? >> Yep. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> All right. Can I get a motion to accept the minutes >> from >> Oh, from what are the minute dates? >> It's right on April 9th. >> April 9th. >> April 9th. >> Oh, April 9th. All right. Hold on. Give me one second. >> I move that we uh re review what is it?
Approve, review, and vote on or accept on I vote on the acceptance of the minutes from April 9th. >> And do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Um, and do we have any old or new business to discuss?
>> Um, yeah. So, next Wednesday, I believe the 26th is another training with um Alicia Galen. She's our Northeast Regional Office for Mass D. Um, I'll send out the link and all the information for that. Um, and what time do you know what time it is?
>> Yeah. Um, 6:00 to 7:30. >> I missed the last one, but I'll >> What's the subject for next week's? >> Oh, let me check. >> I can't remember. She did say it at the last one. It is. >> And what's her name? >> Alicia. >> Gallen. >> Gland. G E I L E N. I think. >> Very nice.
>> Paul, have you seen any of these? >> No. What's I'm I'm sorry. I'm not following. Who is Who is this? >> Oh, she's So, the Northeast Regional Office for Mass D. She's our main point of contact. >> Okay. >> So, >> she goes over all the the rules and regulations does very nice job of presenting a whole
>> But is that the same as the I have this wetlands boot camp? >> That's her. That's her. >> Her. So is that that's on the 29th if I got that correct? >> It is the 29th. >> It was the 29th >> is the next one. >> Okay. Sorry, I said the wrong date. >> It's online, right? >> Wednesday night. >> Online, Emily. >> Just sign up online.
>> It's all streamed. >> I don't think you even have to sign up. I think you just go. >> No, you just go. >> Yeah. >> Talking about an additional meeting, Emily. Just so I'm sorry. Another thing we're doing or just this one? >> I'm sorry. >> It's just It's just this meeting or this session on the 29th that you're now talking about, right?
>> Yes. Okay. >> Yep. Yep. Yeah. Sorry, I had said the wrong date initially, but yes. Yeah, 29th. >> Good. >> Um, so yeah, I'll send that information out. It's all through Teams. It's free. It's remote. Um, and she's a a wealth of knowledge. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I love stuff like that.
>> So, Emily, on uh if I could just touch on the Elliot Street thing. >> Yeah. Well, there um given the uh this the site and what's going to go there, I mean won't there be we'll need to apply some formula as to
what they can do within that site, >> you know, in terms of this the disturbance etc. >> That's some more of the information that um that we need to get some clarification on from D. So that was the the reason for the continuation. We're just there's a little more information that we need. >> So you'll will you provide us with that
in the memo? So we can look and uh make sure it's making sense. Yes. Assuming they do go forward with >> Absolutely. I'll give you guys everything. >> They did provide something already. This is that that's going to be updated. >> Yeah. Yeah. So I'll have some more information for you. Um Okay. For the May 14th meeting.
>> Good. I don't know if it's proper to ask a question about this now that we've already voted to continue, >> but I will. Was that, you know, that the water drained out and did it cross the driveway on the surface and then it went to a a catch basin?
>> I'd have to take a look at the um the storm water information >> because when I drove out yesterday, that's as best I could figure because you said the water went down to a catch basin. >> Yeah. Well, I'll take a look at the um the storm water report information again. >> And do they need a storm water permit or
approval? >> They have it. >> They have it. >> They have that already. >> Yeah. Well, this is where they got the permitting, but they never went to Concom, >> right? I think um I think since they're continuing, we should probably cease this conversation. >> Yeah. Yeah, we should n it for now.
Yeah. >> Okay. I mean, that's just confirmed, but I was thinking. >> Thank you. All right. >> Okay. >> All right. Um old new business. Is there anything else we need to discuss? >> Um I have nothing else on my end. We good? >> No.
>> What's the latest with the alternate? Oh, the alternates. Yes, great question, Peter. Um, they both plan on going to the select board meeting on May 7th. As long as that goes well, we'll get them sworn in with um Kathy Ellsworth, the town clerk, and everything goes smoothly, they should be ready to go for
the May 14th meeting. >> Oh, okay. >> And when they come, what do they do? They sit out there, do they sit with us? >> They'll be able to sit up here. Um, it's I am working on that cheat sheet. I remember that was requested from the last time. Um, I'll have that done hopefully early next week for you guys. um they can if they're serving in an alternate role, they can sit up here
with the commission, they can ask questions. Um they can't make any motions and they can't be part of any of the deliberations or anything like that, >> but they can ask questions. >> Paul is going to be absent on the 14th. That means there's a seat open for an ultimate. >> So, will they have restrictions on what
they can vote on? >> Yeah, they won't be able to vote on 86 Elliott because it's already open. There's already it and it opened before they joined, too. Um so they wouldn't they wouldn't be able to vote on that but any new items they would be able to vote on that >> only if they we need to make a quorum
right >> if if we to fill a vacancy like Paul we know won't be here so someone could stand in Paul's spot that evening >> like to have a quorum means you just need three >> so beyond a quorum you mean you could fill the board >> you could still fill the board yeah so that the applicants will have the
opportunity to have a full five member board >> okay yeah I think that's a better way to go at them five people Yeah. >> Yep. But I do have the sheet almost done. I just got to dot the eyes, cross the tees, and get its blessing from my boss. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Sounds good. Um, we get to adjourn. >> Move to adjourn. >> Yeah. Uh, can we get a motion to adjurnn? >> Just did. Okay. Good. Can we have a second? All in favor? I I'm saying it
wrong. Is it adjourn?