Kennebunkport Conservation Commission
Minutes from Meeting of June 2, 2003
Present: Jan Collins, Sheila Meek, Dennis Rogers, Linda Wade
Ruth Fiske
Reports of Members:
Ruth Fiske agreed to distribute The Audubon Healthy Lawn brochure to the gardening stores in Kennebunk. She declined the invitation to take minutes for the Commission and said she may be absent from several upcoming meetings due to activities on other boards
Dennis Rogers presented info sheets on computer recycling and pesticides. He agreed to take the minutes at future meetings.
Linda Wade will find out how much money is left in the account and see that more beach fliers are printed.~ Linda volunteered to serve as chair and was elected to do so.~~ Dennis Linda thanked Sheila for her many years of service on the board and the hours of work she has contributed to this Commission.
Jan introduced Gary Lamb who had come to the meeting to discuss problems with the critical edge. Jan summarized the critical edge philosophy.~ Gary asked whether there was a plan to change the C.E. policy, and questioned why it applied to areas such as the Kennebunk River that are already so thickly developed.~ Jan explained that what was there was grandfathered but any changes cold still be detrimental to the water quality, etc.~ There was a discussion of problems with the enforcement of C.E. at Goose Rocks Beach having to do with gardening activities.~ Jan explained that turning an existing lawn into a garden was fine as long as the plants are not invasive, but that creating new areas of cultivation and cutting existing grasses and shrubs was off limits. Gary Lamb brought up Cape Porpoise Harbor as a problematic area
for the C.E. regarding gardens and docks.
Jan emphasized the importance of the critical edge in view of the undisputed fact that the sea level is rising, and that the C.E. is more than a matter of who can plant a peony.~ Jan gave a summary of the revision to the docks and piers policy.~ Native plant recommendations from O’Donals Nursery were shared and discussed.
The Lord application before the ZBA was discussed as it presents a dilemma with solar power vs. trees. Also of interest to the Commission is the site plan for Hughes’ office in the farm and forest zone.
The draft is out for the Comprehensive Plan.~ Two copies are available at the library.
Jan also thanked Sheila at the close of the meeting for her dedicated service.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Wade, Chair and acting Secretary
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