HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-28 Conservation Commission Minutes;. Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 1914 JUN 12 P 4. 52
Conservation Commission
Date: 2014 -05 -28 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Board of Selectmen Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Public Meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Annika Scanlon, Chairman; William Hecht, Terry Selle, Jaime Maughan, Will
Finch and Brian Sullivan
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Charles Tirone, Conservation Administrator
Noah Hennies
Thomas Harrings
Cindy & Mike Hanson
Theresa Breston
Steve Krudop
Gordon McIntosh
Charles Salem
Al Couillard
Anna Nolty
Pat O'Brian
Robert Zeraschi
Joanne Obrien
Colin McKinnon
Barar Afali
Kathy Tierney
Melissa Russell
Gregory Auenia
Jessica Driscoll
Sarah Blumenstock Girrell
Sue Stathoulopoulos
Christine Sullivan
Lee Sullivan
David Jamison
John Afali
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Charles Tirone
Topics of Discussion:
Approved June 11, 2014
CALL TO ORDER, OLD /NEW BUSINESS - 7:45
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RDA 14 -8 Will Finch and Terry Selles recused themselves because they are members of the trails
committee. Noah Hennings will replace the bridge at the cranberry dam trail. The DPW will pick up the old
bridge debris and the trails community will install PAC on the trail up to the bridge.
Motion made to close and approve by James Maughan and seconded Bill Hecht, unanimously.
Tom Gardiner chairman of the trails committee proposes to widen the trail for 120 feet, material will be
wheel barrelled to the site. The trails committee will install enough PAC material to cover the roots and
stabilize the trail.
Approved under existing trail -wide Order of Conditions 270 -0568;
Motion made by James Maughan and seconded Bill Hecht, approved unanimously.
364 Lowell Street Jameson 270 -0602 The Vernal Pool was searched for three times by members of
Conservation Commission and Bill Manuell applicant's consultant, Bill Manuell searched a total of 5 times.
All searchers reported no egg masses no invertebrates the only mosquito larvae and the discovery of a
dead wood frog were reported. Bill Manual stated that this area is not significant or productive vernal pool
habitat. Bill Manual noted a discharge to the property from Lowell Street and visited that area on the site
with Annika Scanlon he also reported a delta of sand that has washed into the wetland from this Lowell
Street discharge point. Waivers needed for this project were recapped by Bill Manual, one the garage and
BMP and the road that extends into the 25 foot and 35 foot area. Alternatives analysis was prepared, the
applicant offers to remove some of the historic fill from the bottle neck in the stream channel and remove
invasive Japanese knotweed, monitor that area for 2 to 3 years for success. Bill Hecht reported that both
his wife and himself heard coursing wood frogs on the site on 2 separate occassions. The Commission
went over the regulations of vernal pool habitat that are protected for a hundred feet in the upland, it was
noted that Leo Kennedy Kenny heard the wood frog recording and said that this is enough to certify this
area as a vernal pool. Will Finch reported wood frogs swimming in the inner ditch. Three areas of
chorusing were noted by the commission around flags 39 & 40. Bill Manual disagreed about the
commission's jurisdiction regarding the Vernal Pool 100 -foot protected habitat and requested a
continuation to bring in the applicant's Council to discuss the town's bylaw and regulations on Vernal Pool
habitat.
Motion made to continue by James Maughan and seconded Bill Hecht, approved unanimously.
Brian Sullivan left the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
303 Salem Street (Cumberland Farms) 270 -0628 The DEP website is down and it was no file number or
comments were available from mass DEP. This project proposes to raze the existing structure, add 9
parking spaces, increase access around the gas station building as per Reading fire department and install
stomwater controls. Flood plain exists on the site but is not impacted by the project, there are no
documented TMDLs or impairments to the watershed a sand filter will be installed and up grading the
existing stormwater control with a new stormceptor. A fence will block of the area closest to the stream to
create a protective habitat with invasive removal and new native plantings new granite curbing installed
along the edge of the parking lot next to the stream. There is no proposed snow storage areas on this site
all snow will trucked off site. The unused areas of this site will be fenced off with a locked access gate. The
Commission reviewed the planting plants and agreed that it works for density and native plantings tree
filters were discussed. Runoff from the dumpster will flow into the sand filter. An abutter asked how high
the fence was going to be and was worried about her privacy the owner of the Goddard School talked
about the dumpster location and asked if it could be moved. The Commission discusses the project.
Motion to approve made by James Maughan and seconded Bill Hecht, approved unanimously.
306 Main Street, NOI 270 -0624 Applicant has withdrawn project to develop bare hazardous waste site into
a pizza shop.
Motion to accept made by ? ?? and seconded ? ? ?, approved unanimously.
92 Sanborn Lane three house subdivision 270 -0605, 270 -0626, 270 -0627 all three orders are opened
simultaneously. Vernal Pool discussion was brought up by an abutter: they wanted to know why they have
to abide by a Vernal Pool decision on their property imposed by this commission when during 92 Sanborn
Lane it was not even discussed. Discussion about Vernal Pool that may exist on 92 Sanborn Lane, the
jurisdictional boundaries, the ORAD and what it covered and 100 habitat protection zone. The Vernal
Pools on the abutter's property was not verified or certified. A 15- minute recess break was taken to find the
ORAD for Sanborn Lane and the file for 19 Zachary Lane. The ORAD was handed out to the Commission
and the resident. Discussion by the Commission about what resource areas were covered by the GRAD.
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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes
Two Commission members wanted to check the property based on the new Vernal Pool claims. A motion
was made to continue but the motion failed 3 -2. The developer of 92 Sanborn Lane agreed to remove the
debris from the side slopes and wetlands during construction and agreed at the meeting to as -built for
foundation submitted to the commission for lots two and three. No healthy trees will be cut in the 25 foot
VNV will be added to the order of conditions.
Motion to close and approve 270 -0627 made by James Maughan and seconded Bill Hecht,
approved unanimously.
Motion to close and approve 270 -0626 made by Bill Hecht and seconded Terry Selle, approved
unanimously.
Motion to close and approve 270 -0625 made by Bill Hecht and seconded Will Finch, approved
unanimously.
The owner and the commission agreed to add 7 trees to lots 1 and 2, and keep the 40'' tree in the road cul
de -sac island.
Minutes for 5/14/14 approved
Motion made by Bill Hecht to accept the minutes as amended. Mr. Se //e seconded unanimously.
Artist site Haynes Engineering has submitted draft plans for driveway located on the abutting property
north and next to Artis assisted Living site at 1102 Main Street. The commission agreed to review the new
driveway on the abutting lot as a plan change to the existing Artist OOC.
29 Gavin Circle The Commission asked that a letter would be sent to the owners of 29 Gavin circle to
request they come to a meeting June 11th and discuss missed milestones of the enforcement order and
next steps needed.
Motion made by Mr. Finch to adjourn at 11:00 p.m. Mr. Selle seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0
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