Bear Hill GC and Developer Reach Drainage Issue Agreement

The Stoneham, Mass., club reported erosion near the walking bridge of the seventh hole of its golf course since work at the nearby Wincrest site began. Due to drainage problems, a pond in the area has been muddied and silt issues have arisen on the course.

Bear Hill Golf Club in Stoneham, Mass., and New Hampshire-based developer Wincrest have reached a preliminary agreement to remedy erosion and drainage issues on the club’s property, the Stoneham Patch reported.

Bear Hill reported erosion near the walking bridge of the seventh hole of its golf course since work started at the Wincrest site. Due to drainage problems, a pond in the area has been muddied and silt issues have cropped up on the golf course, Patch reported.

Wincrest, a New Hampshire-based developer, received approval from the Stoneham Planning Board to construct a 47-lot subdivision in the spring of 2011. The nearly 20-acre site sits on about 11 acres in Stoneham and nine in Wakefield, Patch reported.

The developer appeared before the Selectmen looking to have them sign off on the project, but the vote was delayed to approve signing any documents until later in the evening once both sides had reached an amicable solution. Bear Hill announced an agreement had been made at 9 p.m., Patch reported.

“Wincrest will make sure there is constant and adequate filtering of the water runoff on the part of Wincrest,” said Frank Scannell, who oversees functions at Bear Hill. “Wincrest is going to hire an engineer to address the silt issue that formed at the pond property at Bear Hill. A sample will be taken at the pond after the construction season to see if the pond should be dredged or if there should be some other remedial step taken.

“We’re going to investigate a filter for the pond at the point where Bear Hill draws in” to Wincrest, added Scannell.

Scannell asked that $150,000 of the $360,000 town’s subdivision bond be held until the end of the project, when there is no silt infiltrating the area. Bear Hill and Wincrest are expected to meet at the site September 14 to work out details of the preliminary draft agreement.

Tags: bear hill golf club drainage erosion frank scannell new Hampshire silt stoneham mass. stoneham planning board wincrest