Orleans approves Baker Pond treatment, new Cole Place home

Conservation · Meeting of August 4, 2026

Orleans Conservation Commission approves Baker Pond alum treatment and a new Cole Place home, but stalls two Pleasant Bay waterfront projects over setbacks and glass. The board, chaired by Drusilla Henson, voted 7-0 on every formal action. Member Dick Hilmer told applicants for a Keziah's Lane boathouse redesign that "the burden of proof lies entirely on the applicant" after a facade proposal reached roughly 40 percent glass, up from two modest window doors in the original approval; Henson said she "can't approve the amount of glass on this structure." A separate proposal at 75 Viking Road, seeking two variances to rebuild a house near a Pleasant Bay coastal bank, drew a push from Associate Member Dave Lyttle to retreat the structure 12 more feet and eliminate the variance entirely.

Both projects were continued, to August 18 and September 1 respectively. BSC Group's Hannah Raddatz won unanimous approval for an alum treatment targeting 17 percent of Baker Pond to curb phosphorus and algae growth.

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Source: the Conservation meeting of August 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.