The Conservation Commission discussed the proposed installation of a drain through its town-owned parcel at the end of Schooner Ridge during its meeting. The installation will address flooding and drainage issues.
During this discussion, Morin Cameron Group engineer Dan Powers presented plans and spoke on the matter.
“The purpose behind this is by the book and how we typically design a force drain like this to deal with drainage issues,” Powers said about the plan.
The current drainage system was installed 30 years ago, travels over land, and was meant to be temporary.
“If you have a pipe above ground, you run the risk of freezing and other blockages. This is just more of a standard way of going about it,” Powers said.
A motion to approve the installation of a 3-inch force drain across the town-owned parcel was unanimously approved by all attending commission members with the condition that state and local stormwater requirements for erosion control and sediment are incorporated during construction.
Kathi Helmes was the next presenter and had concerns of Castle Rock Park’s safety and accessibility. Looking for guidance, Helmes said she would like to see a continuance of walkway from the paved portion down toward the water at Castle Rock. Currently, she said it is a crumbling, broken surface with rocks and tripping hazards.
Helmes aims to make the existing sidewalk Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant by extending it and using a permeable material. The commission advised Helmes to collaborate with the town’s parks department to determine the best approach. The commission will review the design once there is more detail on the plan.