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Falmouth conservation panel continues 65 Walker Street proposal after debate over 3-bedroom septic and nitrogen treatment
Summary
The commission continued a hearing on a proposed raise/rebuild at 65 Walker Street to June 24 after engineers said a new nitrogen-reducing septic would cut nitrogen loading by about 52% but staff cautioned the plan was presented late and that local rules bar increased design flow within 100 feet of wetlands.
Bracken Engineering presented plans for a proposed raise or demolition and replacement of the house at 65 Walker Street, including a change from a 2-bedroom to a 3-bedroom system and a new septic designed to reduce nitrogen loading. Zach Basinski, professional engineer with Bracken Engineering, told the commission the redesigned project adds mitigation plantings, reduces some impervious area and includes a “new clean-to-nitrogen reduction septic system” that he said would yield a roughly 52% reduction in nitrogen loading on the property.
The commission’s staff objected to the way a revised plan was shown during the hearing without having been provided to staff and the board for review. A staff member told the commission the board cannot responsibly close a hearing on plans that were not circulated in advance and reiterated that the commission’s wetlands regulations bar an increase in design flow within 100 feet of a wetland.
“These local regulations state that, unfortunately, an increase in design flow just cannot happen within 100 feet of that wetland,” the staff member said, urging that the Board of Health review and any required variances be completed before the matter proceeds.
Basinski said the project team would seek relief from the Board of Health and emphasized the environmental improvement expected from the proposed septic. Commissioners pressed for a verified plan and for the applicant to file with the Board of Health before the next hearing so other reviewing parties and staff can examine the revisions.
Given the outstanding materials and the jurisdictional issue over increased design flow near wetlands, the commission voted to continue the hearing to June 24 to permit staff and other parties to review the revised plans and any Board of Health filings. The motion to continue was made and seconded; the roll-call vote was recorded in the meeting transcript and the motion passed.
Next steps: The applicant was asked to file the revised plan with commission staff and to complete any Board of Health variance process needed before the continued hearing on June 24.
