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Trustee and staff voice concern over proposed reduction in wetland buffer from 50 ft. to 25 ft.
Summary
Wells River Trustee Michael Thomas and other Conservation Commission members raised concerns about proposed legislation reducing wetland buffers to 25 ft.; Zoning Administrator Dennis Marquise said the proposal applies only in specific State areas and called the 50 ft. buffer a major impediment to housing.
Michael Thomas told the Planning Commission that he and some Conservation Commission members are concerned about proposed legislation to reduce wetland buffer requirements from 50 feet to 25 feet in certain areas of the State.
Mr. Thomas said topographical situations can make simple linear measurements unreliable for delineating wetlands; minutes record his concern that the change would affect protections. Zoning Administrator Dennis Marquise responded that the new proposal "is limited to specific areas of the State" and added that the 50 ft. buffer requirement is "one of the biggest impediments to placing housing where it should be." The minutes do not record further technical detail or a policy position adopted by the Planning Commission.
Commissioners did not adopt a formal recommendation on the proposed buffer change at the meeting; the discussion was recorded as a concern raised by trustees and conservation members that may be taken to future deliberations or inter-agency review.
