Conservation Commission Minutes - 2025-01-22

Durham Conservation Commission

January 22, 2025; 6:30 – 8:00 pm; Eureka Center

DCC Attendees: Sam Cuccaro, Jess Costa, Roberta Brezinski, Mike Friendly, Jeff Tindall

1. December meeting minutes approved (Jess to send to Kimberly)

2. Jess drafted and sent 2024 DCC activities report to DCC to review (no additions needed, Jess to send to Kimberly)

3. Updates to Runaround Pond fish passage support letter

a. Update to potential run of 35,000 alewives

b. Grammatical updates Mike and Jeff had emailed

c. Jess to make updates and send to Andy Fisk

4. Mike provided update on recent Planning Board BESS/solar contract zoning meetings

a. BESS standards based on Carver, MA example, drafted by Town Planner

b. Planning Board proposing to include BESS and solar siting approval under contract zoning process, could include mitigation specific to project

c. If a proposal comes before the select board it would need to be voted on at Town meeting

d. DCC to provide Planning Board with what size solar projects should be included

e. DCC sees this as anti-solar development, to not be anti-solar should have a larger project size for triggering contract zoning

f. Why are these the only 2 project types to be included under contract zoning?

g. This is not the only option available for mitigation fees; DCC is interested in talking to Town lawyer to discuss options (Jess to ask Town manager about this since the Town has to pay lawyer for any consultations)

h. DCC members to attend February 5th Planning Board meeting and provide a recommended size cut off for solar project contract zoning

i. DCC sees 20 acres as a suitable cut-off triggering contract zoning

ii. Example is the Brunswick naval airbase project (1.5 MW and ~10 acres)

5. DCC will need to watch a Freedom of Information Act video and sign a form

6. Next meeting February 19, 2025

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.

Durham Conservation Commission                January 2025                                    Page 1 of 1