Rost unveils plans for ponds on Mudge Pond property


SHARON � The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission heard from Michael Rost on the subject of a new application for his much-discussed property at 172A Mudge Pond Road during the regular monthly meeting Monday, April 9.

Rost’s new application is for construction of a farm pond. Commission secretary Jamie Casey reported that she advised Rost that his application was incomplete.

Rost, whose application for a home, well and septic system was approved last month with a lengthy list of conditions attached, attempted to steer the conversation away from the new application.

After some back and forth with commission members and Chairman Ed Kirby, Rost said he was not entirely sure how many ponds he wished to create for agricultural purposes, but he did mention he planned to cultivate rice, frogs and ducks.

Commissioner Bill Manasse advised Rost to withdraw his new application and to resubmit it when it is complete, but Rost declined, saying he needs to get started with his farming plans.

Although Rost’s questions about his previous application were not on the agenda, Kirby allowed him a little leeway to speak about the remediation plan that is supposed to be submitted to the commission by April 30. The plan is a significant item on the list of conditions allowing Rost to develop the property.

Manasse again offered advice: "Have your attorney request an extension [to file the plan]. Do you need 30 days, 45, 60? You’ve got to tell us."

Rost then began to refer to earlier events in the long-running series of meetings with the commission, prompting a one-word demand from Kirby:

"Listen!"

The discussion ended with Rost handing over a stack of materials to Casey for inclusion with his new application.

Commissioners Jim Gillespie and Becky Thornton recused themselves during the discussion with Rost bcause they are members of groups that have expressed concern about Rost’s plans.

In other business:


• The commission heard from contractor Will Paley and Dr. Michael Kashgarian concerning the building of a driveway off Old Sharon Road #2. The subject of some earlier controversy, Paley and business partner Andrew Savage have been cooperating with the commission and Kashgarian, whose property is next door, to correct an earlier violation.

Casey advised Paley to withdraw his application and resubmit it with engineer’s drawings for an erosion control plan at the site, partly for regulatory reasons.

"That way the clock will start again," she said.

Paley readily agreed, and in the meantime will go ahead with remediation work � as soon as the weather allows.

Kashgarian declared himself satisfied with Paley’s efforts (although his wife demurred).

"We don’t do marital," said Kirby, to general amusement.

• The commission approved the application of William Matsen for a location change of an already-approved driveway, with stipulations.

• The commission issued a reluctant after-the-fact approval to a dam on a pond off Route 7, built by Richard Stone and found to be in violation at the last meeting. Commissioners Gillespie and Mike Dudek visited the site and found the dam to be "perfectly adequate," in Gillespie’s words, although he added there was no way to know if the dam was engineered.

The approval noted both the violation and that the commission would have preferred to see engineer’s drawings for the dam prior to construction.

• The commission also approved an application by Ethan Ram for repairs and septic replacement at 2 Benton Hill Road; and for the town to go ahead with plans for a sidewalk extension on Route 41, across from the shoppng center. The construction will involve some work where Beardsley Pond Brook runs underneath the highway.

 

 

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