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
• fficials, 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