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Commission reports easement monitoring results: Madison Way encroachment remediated; Phillips Glen garden removed
Summary
The Manchester Conservation Commission reported remediation of multiple easement issues May 22 and tasked a working committee to develop a rotating monitoring schedule and identify easements for professional monitoring and potential funding requests.
The Manchester Conservation Commission on May 22 provided updates on easement monitoring and directed a small working committee to develop a multi-year monitoring schedule and a plan for professional monitoring where appropriate.
Commissioners Don Waldron and another commissioner visited Madison Way and met the homeowners’ association president to address an encroachment at 82 Madison Way. The HOA removed seating and other manmade items from the easement, installed stone markers for boundary identification and affixed placards to mark the easement line; the boundary was resurveyed by Rich Matz of the Department of Public Works, commission members said.
At Phillips Glen, the commission reported that a vegetable garden planted inside the easement was removed after staff follow-up. Commissioners explained that easement land is intended for natural habitat and that continuous active gardening had attracted animals and prompted homeowners to deploy deterrents that are inappropriate within the conserved area.
Commissioners reviewed documentation including prior commissioner reports, Moosewood Ecological notes and aerial imagery dating to 2014 that helped clarify timelines of past activities. The commission noted that some tree remnants authorized by DES after a storm were acceptable to remain and therefore need not be flagged in future monitoring reports.
Chair assigned a working committee composed of Commissioners Jennifer McLaren and Sue Boucher to: (1) produce a biannual rotation schedule for routine easement monitoring; (2) identify two easements to contract for professional monitoring, provide justification and obtain quotes; and (3) present a proposed funding request to city leadership if professional monitoring costs are required. Staff reported the commission’s account balance at roughly $9,000 and explained that surveying costs — if resurvey is required — are likely to be the largest expense.
The commission said it will revisit compliance during the next monitoring cycle and that the working committee will coordinate with staff on quotes and prioritization. Commissioners also thanked volunteers and staff for documentation and previous monitoring efforts.
