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Commission continues Crowley house and pool amendment after debate over mitigation and herbicide use
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Summary
The commission continued a request to amend an order of conditions for the Crowley property (house relocation, larger footprint, pool and mitigation plantings) to May 13 after debate about mitigation placement near a pool, tree removals and whether invasive removal would involve spraying.
The Falmouth Conservation Commission on April 22 continued a request to amend an existing order of conditions for the Crowley property to May 13 after extended discussion about mitigation placement, invasive species removal methods and the proximity of large shrubs to a proposed pool.
Tom Bunker of BSS Design presented revisions to move the proposed house further landward and to provide 2,606 square feet of mitigation planting at a 2:1 ratio, alongside a proposal to remove several unhealthy oaks and invasive vines. "We have 2,606 square feet of mitigation planting here," Bunker said, describing the location and the plan to shift the dwelling to reduce activity in Zone A.
Maria Hickey of Maria Hickey and Associates, the project landscape consultant, emphasized choosing planting locations to ensure survival. "When I plant and locate trees, I do it so they're going to thrive," she told commissioners, arguing some mitigation trees would fail if sited in deep shade under established canopy. She said much invasive ivy would be removed manually and that herbicide use would be minimized.
Commissioners and staff pressed for an explicit methodology. Jen, a conservation staff member, insisted on a ban on broadcast spraying near the pond and said the record should spell out whether chemicals would be used. "How about we will not spray? You shouldn't be spraying," Jen said. Maria replied she did not anticipate using chemicals and would provide a revised narrative; commissioners asked for explicit methodology language and a pool‑cover note in the plans so a fence would not bisect mitigation.
Members also flagged site tightness: several commissioners asked whether the house could be shifted slightly to create more space around the pool and mitigation. Staff asked Tom Bunker to mark a 14‑inch oak near the proposed garage for removal on the revised plan and requested a rewritten narrative from Maria clarifying removal methods, machine use and whether any herbicide application would occur and, if so, the licensed applicator and concentration.
The commission voted to continue the hearing to May 13 to allow revised plans and a clarified narrative to be submitted.
