03/18/1993 BOARD OF HEALTH Minutes

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Page 2 - Board of Health Minutes' - 3t18f 93 Mr. McQuaid indicated that this was from DEP 'Wetlands division and not DEP Water Pollution Control . He further stated that in his opinion the key issue is not the four , feet of permeable soil, rather it is' the distance to wet- lands and that it remains to be seen whether even if we grant the variance for the containment wall whether DEP would concur since an addition is being proposed. It has been our experience that Water Pollution Control would not, Mr. Greelish stated: "I personally feel that we do not have any latitude, the soil situation, mounding diffusers. Even under emergency failure, I would be hard pressed to go along with this. I cannot vote for these variances, they are too much in this critical area. Title V is pretty clear about four feet of natural permeable soil. Variances are considered in hardship cases such as emergency failures, however no increase in habitable space is allowed. In the future we may have to consider allowing tight tanks on the islands. Mr. Foley asked: " What alternatives do we have to up- grade the system, . Steve?" Mr. Greelish responded: "If the system is not in fail- ure, we can't even allow you to upgrade it. There no accept- able engineering solution. We will be looking at both is- lands' saturation problem within the next few months and may come to the conclusion that tight tanks will be required in certain cases until the islands are sewered. " Mr. Sullivan stated that the dwelling will remain at three bedrooms. They wish to raise the first floor elevation above the flood zone and add a family room. Discussion followed regarding the "Habitable Room" by- law, the basis for distance to wetlands. Mr. Greelish men- tioned the proposed new Title V regulation which will man- date 5 feet to groundwater and 100 feet to wetlands. Mr. Doherty stated that although he would like to ap- prove the plan, but feels he cannot in this instance due to the nature of the variances required. Mr. Carter asked Mr. Greelish for the specific reasons why he is voting against the plan. Mr. Greelish stated: "The the lot is too marginal; dis- tance to groundwater, the soils, mounding and creating a re- taining wall to prevent break-out at the edge of the proper- ty, sideline variance, marginally outside the State required 50 feet to wetlands, in fact had to nick the corner off the system to get the 50 feet. Your proposing to add to the dwelling. " Mr. McQuaid stated: "The original plans were denied in November 1990 due to the marginality of the lot. "