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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Conservation Commission j �} ? 3 P 12 08
Date: 2014 -10 -22 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; Brian Sullivan, Terry Selle, Alison Stager,
Rebecca Longley, Charles Tirone, Administrator
Members - Not Present:
Jamie Maughan
Others Present:
David Ryan
Jennifer Vieira
Jerry Hegarty
Jason LeBovidge
Jim Lordan
Marianne Sellitto
Nino Sellitto
Tom Hughes, Hughes Environmental Consulting
Michael Bourque
Tom Connery, Reading Open Land Trust
Elizabeth Wallis, Hayes Engineering
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Julia Rodger
Topics of Discussion:
APPROVED NOVEMBER 24, 2014
Ms. Scanlon welcomed new board member Rebecca Longley
Old /New Business
Minor Project: 20 Willow Street
Minor project driveway extension since January 2014. Mary Gatis sought to repair /replace
porch and had to dig 2 new footings because it was more than 50 feet from Bordering
Vegetated Wetland. Approved and issued permit through Building Department.
Minor Modification: 196 Salem Street,
Owner to put pavers in back corner of house, keeping pavers in line with house, wants to modify
from original minor project of 8' wide by 20' long to 16' wide by 20' long, which is still more that
50' away from Bordering Vegetated Wetland.
Certificate of Compliance: 62 Oak Street, Lot 11, Carbone. Mr. Selle and Ms. Longley did
site visit. Notes seemed straightforward according to plan. Notes indicated oil sheen at closest
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wood bridge to house. Board discussed whether there was petroleum or bacteria present.
.Another site visit may be warranted to check again. Ms. Scanlon will do site visit to determine if
it is hazardous waste. This should not hold up completion of work. Motion made by Mr. Selle
to issue Certificate of Compliance. Seconded by Ms. Stager. Vote was 5 -0 -0.
OOC 270 -0568: New Boardwalk in Bare Meadow
Ms. Scanlon opened the public hearing.
Boy Scout, Michael Bourque presented plan for bridge supports in Bare Meadow as part of
Eagle Project. Ms.Scanlon expressed the board's appreciation of scouts help on trail projects.
Michael Bourque presented cost estimate and schematics. Manpower will be provided by scout
groups. Board offered to help with manpower. Fundraising is underway. Ms. Longley visited
Bare Meadow, commented that one tree with many roots may pose problem for posts. Scouts
are also concerned with tree roots. Board discussed positioning of posts and using post spiker,
and other possible modifications. Dates for this project are scheduled for Nov 20th and 21St
Mr. Selle made motion to approve project. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote was 5 -0 -0 to
approve with some comments and feedback.
Mr. Tirone will prepare letter with description of project to be signed by Chair.
NOI 270 -0634: Sturges Park — Pine Ridge Road, Map 4, Lot 88, Town of Reading, Engineering
Dept/DPW:
Hearing continued to next meeting on November 12, 2014. Mr. Tirone got email this afternoon
requesting continuance for this hearing.
RDA 14 -17: 86 Forest Street, Map 39, Lot 6, Lordan, Sage Development
Jim Lordan, owner and builder, gave presentation to raze and remove the existing 1 story
dwelling and all fences, driveways, walkways, patios and walls. Relocate driveway, and all
utilities, loam and seed, all work is within 100 -feet of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland and
Intermittent Stream. The new home will be located entirely outside the Buffer Zone. Old house
was close to street and wetlands and was destroyed by fire last winter. Impervious area will be
reduced from about 2800 sq. ft. to 1200 sq. ft. Grading will be done to keep new driveway to left
side of property as far from wetlands as possible. Grading is to be minor. Propose to bury end
of drainpipe that exists underneath driveway at 100 Forest Street and install catch basin. No
plan to remove.
Ms. Scanlon asked about two trees shown on plan. Owner said trees were dead and needed to
be removed.
Mr. Tirone asked about detail for catch basin /drain. Owner offered to cap pipe if preferable.
Board members and owner discussed ways to handle runoff
Possible Condition required using slow release fertilizer. Ms. Scanlon suggested plantings
within 25ft zone, cover and shrubs, native plantings. After some discussion board was satisfied
with plan.
Public comment from Bob McCloon of 84 Forest Street, the next door neighbor. Asked how
close driveway will be to his driveway. Mr. Lordan estimated 10 feet.
No further comment from public.
Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to issue negative determination for RDA 14 -17 as proposed
with comments. Seconded by Mr. Selle. Vote was 5 -0 -0.
Mr. Tirone asked if board had any conditions to propose or if satisfied with current plan. Board
is okay with current plan and owner's explanations and proposed plantings.
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NOI 270 -0635 :23 Pondview Lane, Map 44, Lot 32, Battaglia
Ms. Scanlon opened the public hearing. Commission will discuss Notice of Intent, filed by Chad
T. and Jennifer M. Battaglia for an addition to a single family home, new walkway, stairs and
replacing the existing patio material with pervious pavers. All work is within 100 feet of a
Bordering Vegetated Wetland. Elizabeth Wallace from Hayes Engineering made presentation
of 2 activities: to add 89' sq. ft. addition and removal and replacement of concrete patio with
porous pavers to extend out to wall. Erosion control in grass lawn, retaining wall to act as
deterrent to sediments.
Ms. Scanlon felt there was discrepancy in 35' vs 50'. Discussion on removal of old patio. Silt
socks for erosion control.
Mr.Tirone wanted to see where construction access is. Ms. Wallace said it will be between
house and siltsock. Bobcat will need to be stored 100 feet away. Staging area is not indicated
but will be added to be shown at end of driveway. Siltsock will be biodegradable with mulch and
compost. Most of patio work to be done by hand. Commission had concern over access on
grass side of property. Ms. Wallace said access will be from driveway side. No further
questions from Board.
Ms. Scanlon asked for Public comment
Tom Connery, Member of Board of Directors of Open Land Trust. Trust was notified because
they own land within a certain radius. Mr. Connery asked about erosion control and different
materials in use and number of erosion controls. Mr. Tirone explained the types of controls and
materials used. Question regarding porous pavers and what makes them porous. Mr. Tirone
and board discussed installation and types of porous pavers.
Motion made by Mr. Sullivan to approved Notice of Intent and issue Order of Conditions.
Seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote was 5 -0 -0.
Mr. Tirone stated owner has not seen Notice of Intent. Ms. Wallace had no objection to
receiving Order of Conditions. Mr. Tirone will modify and sign certificate tonight.
Motion made by Mr. Sullivan to close hearing on 23 Pondview Lane. Seconded by Ms.
Scanlon. Vote was 5 -0 -0
OOC 270 -0568: Under the Town trail work permit, new boardwalk supports, Pinevale, Reading
Trails Committee
Hearing was opened. Trails Committee will be replacing existing boardwalk supports in some
areas. Lifting boardwalks and resetting foundations. Foundations are bad and need replacing.
Trails Committee has enough materials to do project. The southern section is in worst
condition. Highlights on plans show areas that need replacing. Ms. Scanlon would like to walk
this area. Too many questions on plans to approve as is, she would like to see where and how
much work needs to be done. Plan needs more detail. Still time to resubmit plan by next
meeting on the 12th and be sorted out by the 15th when work is scheduled to be done. Mr. Selle
will meet with Chair of Trails to firm up map
Mr. Tirone commented unable to tell location of new boardwalk on existing trail according to this
plan. The 3 steps involved are:
1St option - no notice at all;
2nd option - get notice, but don't treat as NOI, no ad in paper, no notice to abutters;
3rd option - Notice of Intent for new work
Still maintenance is required.
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Ms. Scanlon is willing to approve as spelled out on back of map and if Trails Committee wants
to come back with more detailed plan. Motion made by Mr. Sullivan to approve boardwalk
renovation as shown on map and as described in paragraph on back. Seconded by Ms.
Scanlon. Vote was 5 -0 -0
Mr. Tirone will prepare letter for Chair's signature. Hearing closed
OOC 270 -0633: 118 Willow Street, Map 20, Lot 224, Sellitto
Mr. Tirone said Order of Conditions was approved and written up. Tom Hughes, Hughes
Environmental Consulting, and Mr. Sellitto have returned with question on page 14 A -1, Deed
Restriction of 25' zone kept in natural forested condition at grade bounds. Didn't seem to fit site.
Restriction on Deed seems redundant. Board discussed additional conditions and referred to
changes made on a similar property in the past. Owner suggested striking A -1 and adding to A-
2
Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to approve Order of Conditions as modified to include
sentence from 164 Green Street and description of flush mount bound and a raised stone
bound. Seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Vote was 4 -0 -0. Ms. Longely abstained.
Minutes for Approval: Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to approved minutes of October 8,
2014. Seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Vote was 4-0-0. Ms. Longley abstained.
Administrative Report:
Mr. Tirone discussed bylaw fees. Banks and mortgage companies are requiring more
paperwork to file Certificates of Compliance. Reading's Certificate of Compliance has no fee.
Spoke about instituting fee. Mr. Tirone offered to survey surrounding towns for comparisons.
RDA $75.00, most towns charge $200. Notice of Intent is usually $300.00 to $3000.00.
Between Boxford, Arlington, and Reading, Reading has lowest fees. Mr. Tirone will prepare
excel data for board's review. Board discussed bylaw fees and consulting fees.
Ms. Longley brought up 29 Gavin Circle and wanted to give Board a heads up regarding this
property. Grass looks good and is growing. Owner mentioned they are going to sue the town.
Ms. Longley was questioning if engineering checked town map to determine if there is a certified
vernal pool.
Board is dealing with this violation and is not pleased.
Conservation Elections, Chair, Vice Chair
Ms. Stager asked if they would be having elections tonight since she won't be present at next
meeting. Discussion whether they should wait for all members to be present or have elections
tonight. Should they rotate chairperson every year or longer? Board feels 5 year term is too
long, one year too short. Somewhere between 2 -3 seems satisfactory. Ms. Scanlon proposed
that chair's term be at least 2 years. Board plans to revisit topic of term lengths next June.
After some discussion, Board decided not to have elections at this time and Ms. Scanlon will
continue as chair. This item will be removed from agenda.
Mr. Selle discussed Ipswich Watershed Association building new kiosk with information for
Town Forest. Town Forest Committee will prepare for kiosk. Location discussed for a popular
area, possibly where 2 trails meet. December 5th is approximate date of receipt of kiosk. Also
will be putting rules and regulations in various locations.
Ms. Scanlon followed up on billing of Pearl Street water and sewer storm water fee and has not
heard anything yet. This represents a storm water fee for vacant lot. Bill is $16.00 per quarter
Motion made by Mr. Selle to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote was 5 -0 -0.
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