HDC holds 31 Shimo Pond deer-fence application for on-site view after commissioners flag setbacks and ConCom rules

The commission on May 6 held the application for a perimeter deer fence at 31 Shimo Pond Road for a site view and asked the applicant to provide clearer plan markings showing the proposed fence location relative to the public footpath and the recorded property/stake line.

Caitlin Cook, representing the applicant, told the board the proposal included an 8-foot-high cedar gate, 8-foot-high metal mesh in the immediate area to deter deer, and a 10-foot steel cattle grate at the driveway. “We are proposing to move out of the 50 foot buffer and go on the blue highlight on that site plan,” Caitlin said during the hearing. Commissioners and staff flagged that conservation regulations governing buffer setbacks have changed and that the HDC must coordinate with the Conservation Commission (ConCom) and that some proposed fence locations appeared to be inside recent ConCom buffer limits.

Commissioners said the current site plan materials showed two different fence lines — one line marked by stakes in the field and a separate blue highlight drawn on the engineer’s plan — and requested that the applicant reconcile the plans, place visible stakes or colored tape on the proposed fence line, and mark key corners for a joint HDC view. Several commissioners also recommended the applicant consider a typical framed wood gate with wire mesh rather than the multi-material custom cedar gate shown in the packet.

The board voted to hold the item for a view so commissioners can assess visual impacts from the public path and confirm setback locations. The applicant was told to bring clarified drawings and to have field stakes with colored tape at the proposed line prior to the site visit.