A site walk was held regarding the Minor Open Space Subdivision application of Norma Curti, Jane Pinney, Priscilla Syphers, Gail Mackenzie and Adrienne Rubino Newmarket Tax Map R-5, Lot 78. The application involves the subdivision of a 115-acre lot into two lots, which will enable the conveyance of 115 acres of land to The Nature Conservancy. The existing house and barn would remain on a five (5) acre tract. The land straddles the Newmarket and Durham town line.
The following individuals were present: Vice Chairman Peter Roy, George Willant, Val Shelton, Janice Rosa, Chet Jablonski, Rick McMenimen and Diane Hardy, Town Planner. Owner, Adrienne Rubino was present, as was land surveyor Bill Doucet and Duane Hyde, the project coordinator from the Nature Conservancy.
Also in attendance were Ellen J. Synder of the Conservation Commission and Mr. Julienne Smith, who represents the Planning Board and Town Council of the Town of Durham. The record should reflect that Planning Board members, John Badger and Judith Carr were excused.
The Nature Conservancy is applying for a Special Use Permit under Section 6:00 of the Zoning Ordinance for a residential open space design development. The property will maintain and preserve the rural character of Newmarket by protecting an important and significant parcel of land as open space. A subdivision yield plan indicated that six lots could be developed under conventional zoning.
The existing house and remaining five (5) acre lot will remain as such. It was noted that the property was for sale. There will be conservation restrictions on the 1.6 acre wooded portion of the five-acre tract.
One of The Nature Conservancy’s requirements for the conservation lands is that hunting and public access be allowed. There will be a driveway with access to the conservation land for maintenance (annual mowing of the fields) and monitoring purposes only. There will be no public parking; however the land can be accessed through adjacent conservation parcels, which have parking facilities.
Although, state subdivision approval is not required for the application, the applicant has dug test pits, which indicated fine sandy loam, and course sandy conditions. There were no observed water table to 84 inches and the percolation rates were excellent.
The land will be eventually turned over to the NH Audubon Society, who will be developing a management plan for the property. As part of the plan, The Nature Conservancy will convey a conservation easement to the Town of Newmarket. The Town has received a grant from the NH DES source water protection program towards the easement. It was noted that the property abuts other conservation lands in Durham and Lee and is in close proximity to the former Kwaks property on Wadleigh Falls Road, which has been recently conserved.
The Board traversed the area where the old sand and gravel pit was located. Mr. Hyde indicated that they will be working with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the NH Fish and Game Department, and Natural Resource Conservation Services (NCRS) on a reclamation plan which will stabilize the slopes, that have been stripped of their vegetation. They will utilize best management practices for erosion control with particular attention given to protecting the groundwater. Also, they will design the area so as to create and enhance wildlife habitat for various turtle species that have been found there.
The Board continued its walk to the rear of the property into Durham to Follett’s Brook, which is a spring fed stream originating in the Town of Lee. Follett’s Brook is part of an extensive wetlands system, which was a candidate for the Town’s prime wetlands designation. The Town has investigated the possibility of restoring the sand bed filter, which was located there as an alternative water intake for the Town’s water supply.
