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Salem Country Club wins negative determination for irrigation upgrade; commission requires notice and erosion controls near wetlands
Summary
The Peabody Conservation Commission issued a negative determination for Salem Country Club’s planned irrigation system replacement, with conditions that commission staff be notified before work near wetlands and erosion controls be installed when work is within 20 feet of resource areas; motion passed 6-0.
The Peabody Conservation Commission on May 7 granted a negative determination of applicability for Salem Country Club’s plan to replace its 30-year-old irrigation system, with conditions requiring advance notice and localized erosion controls where trenches approach wetlands.
The commission’s decision matters because the golf course contains multiple wetland areas and intermittent streams; commission members said they were satisfied that most new pipes and heads will be installed in upland buffer areas but wanted coordination and protections where work nears resource areas.
Barry Fogel, attorney for Salem Country Club, and Bill Rocco, course superintendent, described a phased program to trench and replace mainline and lateral piping and to directional-drill under two public road crossings. Fogel said most work “is only gonna be in buffer” areas and that the existing system will be disconnected and left in place where possible to reduce disturbance.
Commissioners asked for technical clarifications: Commissioner Michael Rizzo suggested the city standard for cover beneath road crossings should be checked, and another commissioner recommended verifying separation of electrical and water conduits. Club representatives agreed to coordinate with the Department of Public Services and planning staff and to provide site-specific erosion-control plans before working within 10–20 feet of wetlands.
Commissioner Arthur Athas moved to issue a negative determination with conditions requiring advance notice to conservation staff before work starts in buffer areas and installation of erosion controls where trenches will be within 20 feet of wetlands; Commissioner Bruce Komack seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote, 6–0.
The commission recorded the conditions as: 48 hours’ notice to conservation staff for work near the closest wetland areas, erosion controls placed and inspected where work will occur within 20 feet of resource areas, and coordination with Department of Public Services for directional drilling under Forest Street to ensure cover depth and public-safety standards are met.
