Commission approves Lot 1 at Markov Drive despite neighbor concerns; one member records opposition

The Westport Conservation Commission approved a Notice of Intent for Lot 1 on Markov (Markcott) Drive on June 23 despite an extended exchange with a neighboring resident who said a stone wall on her property had been removed during development work.

Matt Pike of South Coast Engineering described the project as a new single-family home, garage, driveway, pool and associated grading; he said the closest grading will be about 35.8 feet from the bordering vegetated wetland and the pool about 59.1 feet from the wetland edge. "The lot's currently undeveloped... the closest work to the BBW is grading which is 35.8 feet," Pike said.

Neighbor Sonia Connolly identified herself in the meeting and asked where the pool would sit and raised concerns that workers removed an old stone wall and that sidewalk plans could encroach on her property. Staff and Pike explained the pool will be in the rear yard and said the sidewalk is within the subdivision easement and not on the neighbor's property; staff said boundary and civil disputes belong to the planning board and the private parties. "That wall is well outside the commission's jurisdiction," staff said, and offered to facilitate contact with the contractor and planning staff.

Commission discussion noted that the site has an Order of Resource Area Delineation and that erosion controls and a 35-foot setback for the pool are shown on the plans. The commission moved, seconded and approved the NOI; the clerk recorded one member (Jake) as opposed. Staff will require standard erosion controls and the agreed-upon limits of work before construction begins.

The commission recorded no additional special conditions beyond standard monitoring and required file-number processing.