The joint Inland Wetlands Board and Planning and Zoning Commission — kept intact despite calls to form separate boards during charter revision hearings— denied an application for 53 feet of construction to an existing stone wall adjacent to Rainbow Lake on April 8.
Board members cited a disturbance in the upland review area and violation of wetlands regulations, and directed the applicant, Dr. Harry Sewell, to follow recommendations made by the Conservation Commission when repairing and maintaining the wall.
The discussion lasted for more than hour as Dr. Sewell made his case for why the wall — west of an existing dock on his Mountain Road property — was needed the way he had started to build it more than 10 years ago.
He filed the application under the flood-plain management regulations, citing that his wall prevents erosion in the lake.
“We’re not trying to be unreasonable or punitive; we’re trying to resolve the issue,” said chairwoman Rebecca Mucchetti. “We understand the intent and purpose of the wall, but it does violate our guidelines the way it is now.”
The planners and the conservationists settled on a rip-rap option that will be made from the existing concrete cinder blocks on Dr. Sewell’s property.
“That’s the style that the Conservation Commission wants,” said Vice Chairman Patrick Walsh.