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Board approves picket fence in wetland buffer at 19 Alice Drive with ConCom conditions
Summary
The board granted a special exception to allow a 334‑ft picket fence within the critical wetland buffer at 19 Alice Drive for child‑safety reasons, relying on the Conservation Commission’s recommendation (including a 6‑inch elevation gap). Neighbors strongly opposed, citing long‑standing runoff and basement flooding; the board concluded criteria were met and voted 5–0.
Daniel and Kaylee Cirillo requested a special exception from Land Use Code Sec. 190‑115 to install a 334‑ft picket fence within a critical wetland buffer (R9 Zone, Ward 1). The applicants said the fence is primarily for safety — their nearly‑3‑year‑old son is at elopement risk and is drawn to nearby water — and described working with the Conservation Commission, which recommended design adjustments including a raised 6‑inch gap at the base and slight realignment near a tree. The applicants said they used a long‑established fence contractor and consulted wetland scientists who characterized the installation as a de minimis activity.
Multiple abutters testified in opposition, including Judith Destido, Pat Lyons and Frank Distito, who described decades of runoff and recurring basement flooding and warned that any fence could trap debris, creating a dam that would back up water onto neighboring properties. They referenced historical flow paths, culverts and the presence of sanitary sewer infrastructure in back yards. The Cirillos rebutted that the feature is a seasonal drainage swell rather than a perennial stream and noted nearby existing fences farther from the contested location. Conservation Commission input — reviewed by the board — recommended site adjustments and the 6‑inch clearance to allow passage of water and debris. After deliberation, the board found the special‑exception criteria were met, deferred to the Conservation Commission’s technical judgment and approved the fence with the recommended conditions. The chair reminded attendees of the 30‑day appeal window.
