BRUNSWICK
Brunswick’s town council has approved a shoreline stabilization project along the Bunganuc Landing easement. The project is intended to shore up a collapse of the shoreline at 12 Bunganuc Landing Road.
The town acquired a 10-foot easement along the shoreline in 1983, equaling about 1.8 acres, and therefore is responsible for approving any filling and grading projects at the site. The stabilization will be conducted to protect an existing structure on the property.
Planning board approval and review is still required to carry out the work due to the newly enacted amendments to the town zoning ordinance regulating earth moving activities in the Natural Resource Protection Zone.
The easement, also known as the Kanwit easement, is monitored by the conservation commission. The commission proposed the project on July 13, 2016, and again, with legal opinion regarding construction in the NRPZ on Aug. 10.
Jared Woolston of the planning department said this will be a substantial reconstruction of the entire bluff, comprising of about 400 linear feet and 40 feet tall, involving rip-rap to stabilize the shore.
Councilor John Perreault was reluctant to approve of the project, considering the scale of the stabilization and lack of detail in how the project will be completed.
“I want to see what the planning board says and what they’re going to surface it in before I say I agree to it,” Perreault said.
Town Manager John Eldridge said his understanding is the council’s role in this particular project is only to consider if it is consistent with the terms of the easement. Eldridge said the expertise in dealing with the details lies with the planning board.
Abutting landowner Tilly Laskey expressed concerns regarding the project.
Laskey referred to the area in question as “sensitive,” saying she tries not to even walk on the marsh. Laskey said the idea of the installation of rip-rap and earth moving in the area is “troublesome.”
dmcintire@timesrecord.com
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