Friends of Pine Hawk Selectmen Public Hearing Special Use Permit - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Friends of Pine Hawk Selectmen Public Hearing Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review for the Nagog Pond Water Treatment Plant November 1, 2016

FoPH Background • Ad-hoc group of local citizens, library & town officials, and educators • Formed in 2002 after discovery of Pine hawk site in South Acton • Sponsor of over 100 lectures, museum visits, films, fields trips in October • Also sponsor book group and community service events

FoPH Background (cont’d) • See web site in “local history” section of Acton Memorial Library • “To promote understanding of the archaeological and human story behind the great trove of Native American artifacts discovered at the "Pine Hawk" site” • Every October the Friends of Pine Hawk sponsor a Fall Program series of events related to local archaeology and Native American topics

FoPH Major Concern and Interests FoPH Concerns • Incompatibility with sensitive site and MP/ OS&RP (Same concerns also voiced by Acton OSC, LSC, and Historical Commission) FoPH Interests • Archaeology and local Native American presence, and open space connectivity and public access to network of trails linking significant sites and areas

Review of Special Use Permit Criteria (Sec 10.5.3) • Must be consistent with Master Plan (…and OS&RP) • Must be in harmony with purpose and intent of Bylaw • Must not be detrimental or injurious to local neighborhood • Must be appropriate for proposed site • Complies with all applicable Bylaw requirements

Recommendations • Deny the current NPWTP Special Permit for cause (Sec 10.3.5) • Explore alternatives for everyone’s benefit > Eliminate extensive additional fencing which adds no real value and deteriorates the surrounding property > Permanently protect watershed land via WPR or CR easement BUT allow low-impact public access, as part of permitting process

Recommendations (cont’d) • Continue use of a Satellite WTP facility on major state road artery • Creative solutions - Expand or Relocate Satellite Facility • Creative funding to serve all current users impacted

Recommendations (cont’d) • 1994 and 2009 Archaeology Studies • Archaeological Sensitivity Maps (2009) • New potential impacts • Archaeological Study still needed as well as an Archaeological Monitor

Archaeological Sensitivity Map – Pre Contact

Archaeological Sensitivity Map – Post Contact

The Proposed “Security Fence” The Proposed “Security Fence”

Recent Local Native American Presence Nashoba Praying Indian Village -1651(blue) New Town Indian Village -1714 (green)

Conclusions • Original William Wheeler Water System Design is still good • Current NPWTP is snapshot in time, and will expand in future • Once in a lifetime opportunity to make it right • Benefit everyone

Final Words “Do the Right Thing” - Charlotte Sagoff Acton’s Water Resources Protection Advocate