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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-12 Conservation Commission MinutesFR ' f. u ti o sJ9 +lNCOR ?0 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes i�ECEIVED i 0INS CLERK 1l ING, MASS. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2014 -03 -12 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Public Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: tj 14 APR 10 A 9: 2 l Time: 7:00 PM Location: Board of Selectmen Room Brian Sullivan,Co- Chairman; William Hecht, Will Finch, Jamie Maughan Members - Not Present: Annika Scanlon, Terre Selle Others Present: Charles Tirone, Administrator Bill Seymour, Gale Associates Sean Boyd, Gale Associates Peter Spanos, Gale Associates Peter Haffan, Austin Prep School James Hickey, Austin Prep School Gordan McIntosh, 14 Plymouth Road Kathy Tierney, 33 Plymouth Road John Tierney, 33 Plymouth Road Cindy Hanson, 17 Plymouth Road Mike Hanson, 17 Plymouth Road Tom Wise, 181 South Street Colin McKinnon, 10 Plymouth Road Chuck Losinger, 17 Gavin Circle George Zambouras, Town Engineer Curt Young, WPI Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kim Saunders Topics of Discussion: Approved March 26, 2014 CALL TO ORDER, OLD /NEW BUSINESS - 7:00 29 Gavin Circle — Mr. Tirone stated he drove by. The site is still the same. Maybe after the rain, we can see the soil. Hopefully there will be action within the next two weeks. The abutter at 17 Gavin Circle spoke to the Commission about her concerns. Mr. Finch let the abutter know he has spoken to the wetland scientist. The scientist is aware of the importance of restoring the area. Mr. Sullivan let the public know that RR &R Club and 360 Lowell Street have been continued to March 26, 2014. There will be a site visit by the Commission before the next meeting. Mr. Maughan requested that ' /z size plans be sent in packets rather than the full set. One copy should be full and kept at the office. Mr. Tirone will follow up with the rest of the Commission to see what they prefer. Mr. Maughan requested the agenda be emailed to the Commission, as it was done in the past. Page 1 1 zc:3 -o9 -c3 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Continued RDA 14 -2, Reading Rifle & Revolver Club, John LoRusso Continued to March 26, 2014 NOI 270 -0620: 364 Lowell Street, Map, 26 Lot, 157, Jamieson Properties, LLC Continued to March 26. 2014 Continued NOI 270 -0612: Salem Street/water main, Map, 28, 29 Lot, 195 &5, Town DPW, Engineering Division Mr. Sullivan reopened the public hearing. Mr. Zambouras stated, as requested he compiled and resubmitted to the Commission. Mr. Hecht asked if the peat being removed can be stored and reused. The Commission discussed what happens with the peat once exposed to air. Mr. Zambouras agreed he would cover and store at the compost site for 6 months for future restorations. It was suggested it could be mixed with the compost if not used within the 6 months. Mr. Zambouras discussed his concerns on #5 and #9 on the Order of Conditions with the Commission. Mr. Zambouras agreed the Commission could have additional time to review the Order of Conditions. The dirt bags size and placement was reviewed. Mr. Young confirmed he will be involved with this project. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to close the Public Hearing. Mr. Maughan seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0. NOI 270 -0623: 101 Willow Street, Map 26 Lot 74, J. Hickey /Austin Prep School Mr. Sullivan opened the Public Hearing. Mr. Seymour, representing the applicant, stated Austin Prep School proposes renovations including a new 8 -lane running track with synthetic turf field inside the track, new grandstands with press box, new concessions /storage building, athletic lighting and improvements to drainage and related site amenities. Work will take place within 100' of a bordering vegetated wetland. He let the Commission know the track is deteriorating and is in non - compliance. The proposed track will be improved to 400 meters. There is a different radius at each end of the field. The project is outside the 100 year flood elevation. The wetland has been flagged previously and believes it is accurate. The flow of the river was discussed. Mr. Maughan questioned where the Certified Vernal Pool is located. Mr. Seymour stated a variance will be needed to allow encroachment to the 25' buffer. The Commission asked if there are alternatives to the shot put area. Mr. Finch questioned why the track will not fit in the baseball field. The applicants stated they did in the beginning process, but was concerned it was considered the riverfront. Mr. Seymour went through why he believes the variance meets the 3 criteria's necessary. Mr. Maughan stated this project would be an opportunity to create an educational opportunity. The lighting was discussed and if there would be a reflective problem. The applicant suggested the Commission look at the North Reading football field lighting. They would like to start construction as soon as possible and have the track ready for the opening of the 2014 school year. Mr. Hecht questioned the pervious pavement at the school. The applicant stated there is ponding. They have pressure washed it and it still has problems. Mr. Zambouras apologized for the misunderstanding of not receiving his memo. He went over his comments that he made regarding the hydraulic report. He let the applicant know the Engineering Department should have been contacted when the test pits were done. A test pit will be needed at the beginning of construction to confirm results. Mr. Tirone agreed and said Conservation needs to be contacted also. The applicant was reminded there is a procedure to close an existing irrigation well. Mr. Zambouras stated he would need an O &M plan and the annual maintenance should be received by Engineering by February 15`h every year. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to continue the Public Hearing to March 26, 2014. Mr. Maughan seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0. OOC 270 -0622: 181 South Street, Map, 3, Lot, 13, Wise The Commission signed the Order of Conditions and the applicant will pick up at the Town Hall. Minor Modification request for the gas main replacement on West Street Mr. Zambouras stated the gas company is asking for a similar request as the MWRA water main work. They will be replacing the gas main. The cast iron pipes will be capped on the ends and left in place. Mr. Finch asked about the sequence of the project. The gas company will be first and the work will probably take 4 months. The Commission talked about the ponding that occurs now and if it will still happen after the construction is done. Mr. Zambouras will look at the detail of Archstone's as- built. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to accept the project discussed as a minor plan change. Mr. Finch seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0. Mr. Zambouras will look into his notes regarding the pervious pavement at Austin Prep. School. He believes, as the Commission stated, the material underneath might be causing the problem of ponding. Page 1 2 2013 -09 -03 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Mr. Tirone will follow up with Austin Prep School regarding the green cards they should have received from them. The Commission discussed if the fee should be waived, as the applicant has requested. Permitting activity charts Mr. Tirone stated the permitting has been slow. There have been big projects that keep the money the same. Mr. Tirone said 1090 -1100 Main Street site has been demolished. No foundations have been taken out. He has been at the site with Hayes Engineering. The demolition contractor has not been on site when he has been there. Mr. Maughan questioned when the Commission will see the final plans. Open Conservation Commission seats discussion The Commission discussed how to advertise the open commission seats. It is thought, the Town runs an ad in the local newspaper for all open Commission /Board seats. MACC annual environmental conference discussion The Commission discussed the lectures /classes they attended at the MACC conference: Meadow Management — should there be instructions on how to mow correctly. Bare Meadow will be looked at in the spring. Wetland Mitigation — talked how hydraulics and elevation is needed for a successful replication. Stormwater— a tenant fit up with sunken islands was discussed. Pervious Pavement — the spills are caught in the pavement, not in the catch basins. The Commission discussed the 303D list; and if Reading is on the list. Zoning by -law public meeting —Wetlands Protection, Aquifer Protection and Flood Plain overlay, discussion This was solved before the meeting. It was suggested that the Commission attend the Zoning by -law meeting when the above is discussed. Minutes for approval — February 26, 2014 Motion made by Mr. Hecht to approve the February 26, 2014 meeting minutes. Mr. Finch seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0. Bills approved - Motion made by Mr. Hecht to approve the $16.51 water and sewer bill. Mr. Maughan seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0. A Scout will be in at the next meeting to discuss his project at Peter Sanborn Place. He is filing a RDA, but would like both fees waived — legal notice and application fee. Motion made by Mr. Maughan to waive the application fee, but suggests that Peter Sanborn Place pays for the legal ad. Mr. Hecht seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0. Mr. Tirone asked if the property around Goddard School is considered river front or a canal. The Commission agreed it is a river front; they will need to file a NOI to do any work. Mr. Tirone passed out a pre - written letter for 2 Audubon from Ms. Gill. She was asking the Commission to sign it. After a discussion, the Commission agreed they could not sign it. Mr. Zambouras let the Commission know he is not accepting the stormwater management for 306 Lowell Street. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to adjourn at 10:20 p.m. Mr. Finch seconded. Vote was 5 -0 -0 Page 1 3 2013 -09 -03