Prior to the hearing, Andy Roeper, conservation commission chairman, had inspected the site with a state conservationist. Roeper said that the method of improving the drainage seems reasonable, but the plans must also be approved by the state. Board members discussed whether or not the catch basin would be able to contain an oil spill, and Tuomola reminded them the site would be engineered and subject to many inspections. State Rep. Hal Melcher questioned the advisability of dredging and filling in a wetlands area and asked questions about the water table that Tuomola could not answer. According to the ordinance, protecting wetlands from development provides flood protection and prevents unnecessary or excessive service and utility expenses to the town.
Wetlands generally have a high water table, and the soil drains either poorly or very poorly.
ZBA Chairman Neil Faiman expressed concern about possible ground water contamination and reminded the board that if the site is in the aquifer protection district, those requirements would take precedence over a ZBA decision. After investigating maps, the board said that the site is not in the aquifer protection district. Faiman noted that the ordinance requires a 30-day waiting period before the ZBA can make the decision to grant or deny a special exemption, so the hearing was scheduled to continue tonight.