Fence and Landscape at Durham Cemetery

As an abutter to the Cottages student housing property, the Town was notified along with others by the Planning Board as soon as this project began the permitting process in 2011. The Trustees of the Trust Funds, who serve as the Cemetery Committee (along with 3 council members), were advised of the design and appeared at a Planning Board meeting to address any issues regarding impact to the cemetery

After several meetings with the developer and landscape designer, it was agreed that the developer would construct, and maintain, an 8-foot solid wood fence running the length of their property on the west side, all along the back of the cemetery on the north side, and for a short distance along Technology Drive (behind the white shed). In addition, the developer would install landscaping consisting of large, mature cedar and arborvitae trees as well as a few sugar maples to provide both a visual and noise shield. Tree selection was made in consultation with Mary Reynolds, the NH State Arborist and Durham resident, and Charles Moreno, a registered forester who has worked with the Trustees at Doe Farm. The owner of the property, including all future owners, is required to maintain the fence and the landscaping in perpetuity, so that the Town is not saddled with any costs.

The site plan for the project calls for buildings to be built quite close to the property line (partially as a result of the Conservation Committee's requirement that the entire project be shifted eastward away from the river). This resulted in the need to cut most of the trees along the fence. Our consulting forester recommended that we also cut (at the developer's expense) a few of the remaining large pines on the Cemetery property, since they would likely not do well in a 'stand-alone' situation, and would pose a risk of blow-over into the Cemetery at some point.

As a result, once the project is completed in the Spring and the fence is installed, the view looking back will indeed be changed. What you will see is the roofs (and perhaps some of the second stories) of the five cottages that are close to the property line, with a large solid fence between the buildings and the road, along with plantings of 5-6 foot cedars and arborvitae on both sides of the fence, and four or five 8-12 foot sugar maples in front of the fence closest to your family plot. These trees will quickly grow and provide additional visual shielding over the next few years. Capstone, who will own and operate the development, has assured us that their on-site management will work closely with us regarding any noise or other issues.

In addition, on the recommendation of our consulting forester, we will be removing some of the older, large pine trees along the back of the cemetery this winter as a precaution against their falling into the cemetery due to their age and condition. This should not impact the view in that direction as there will be no buildings in that area and we will be leaving the healthier trees standing.