The Gloucester County Wetlands Board approved three shoreline improvement applications during its Dec. 14 meeting in the colonial courthouse.

Following a public hearing, the board voted 6-1 in support of the application of David Hornsby Bowditch to replace failing bulkhead with a 104-foot timber bulkhead, two 8-foot returns and install riprap outfall for drainage in easement adjacent to property situated along the northeast branch of Sarah Creek on Lot 11 of the Yonder Subdivision. Bronco Bayless cast the only vote against the application.

Linda Walthall, administrative coordinator for Gloucester’s Environmental Programs Department, said the board set, as a condition of approval, that Bowditch provide a mitigation plan depicting compensation for a minimum of 400 square feet of vegetated impact. In addition, she said a surety bond is to be posted through Environmental Programs prior to issuance of wetland permits, with the bond to be returned once the plantings have demonstrated...