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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-18 Conservation Commission Minutesv oeke� 0 k Town of Reading Meeting Minutes C �S�9r fNC DPl��P~ Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2015 -11 -18 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Public Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM REC11VE T0WN C;L; R R Er+ INC M.,`�S. JAN ! 3 P 5= 23 : Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Session: General Session Rebecca Longley, Vice Chair; Annika Scanlon; Michael Flynn; Al Coulliard; Chuck Tirone, Administrator Members - Not Present: Brian Sullivan, Jamie Maughan Others Present: J P Lens Chris Bruff Paul MacDonald Don Cloonan John Burns Frank Coleman Peter Shields Sean P Kelly Jesse and Sarah Wilson Tom Skenderian Amy Eladio Guevara Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Julia Rodger Topics of Discussion: APPROVED: December 8, 2015 Mr. Longley called meeting to order at 7:00 pm Continued NOI 270 -0650; 61 Whitehall Lane, Marquardt Ms. Longley re- opened the public hearing. Libby Wallace of Hayes Engineering presented supplemental information on the project including revised operation and maintenance plan. Revised Notice of Intent plan to indicate updated Cultec contractor information. Proposed addition and patio will have Cultec storm water infiltration. Two units will infiltrate storm water from addition. One tree on 35' line to be removed. Board reviewed and discussed operation and maintenance plan. Ms. Scanlon suggested wording "major storm" seems vague and should be revised. Adding wording "Professional or homeowner can check system for clogs" Log sheet to be included in manual Page 1 1 Ms. Scanlon made Motion to close hearing for NOI 270 -0650. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 NOI 270 -0652; 26 Harvard Street, Cloonan Ms. Longley opened the hearing. Donald Cloonan is representing his mother. Project is new 14 x 14 sunroom, deck and new stairs. Mr. Flynn reported on site visit. Plan indicates wetland delineated by Norse Engineering in 2012. No evidence of wetland line at site, A2 to A7 missing lawn is manicured. Norse could take some soil samples to clarify wetland area. Mr. Tirone asked Sullivan Engineering get clarification on delineation. The hearing cannot be closed tonight without clarification. If applicant wants to accept wetland line as it stands, they would have to ask for a variance. The owner would like to apply for variance, if denied he could then have delineation re- checked by Sullivan or Norse Environmental. Ms. Scanlon reviewed requirements of variance process. The Conservation Commission may grant variance from strict compliance of regulations when commission finds that: A. There are no reasonable alternatives to allow project to proceed B. Some Mitigating measures proposed so wetland values are not adversely affected C. Necessary to accommodate overriding community, regional, state or national public interest. In the case of a single family residence this could be mitigation which improves resource quality. The project already meets B and C. To meet A the project would have to be downsized to 9 x 14 sunroom which is unreasonable. The owner is open to any type of mitigation such as shrubs and other vegetation. Board suggested 6 high bush blueberry bushes between Al and A2 and native species along lawn. It was proposed that granite bounds be placed at Al, A3, and sticker on fence at A7. Applicant chose to accept wetland line as it stands. Mr. Flynn made Motion to close hearing and issue Notice of Intent with locations of bounds and mitigation as discussed tonight. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0. RDA 2015 -18; 22 Timberneck Drive, Bruff Chris Bruff, owner, is requesting permission from Board to remove two large white pine trees. The trees lean toward the house and owner is concerned with falling limbs hitting his house. Site visit indicated trees seem top- heavy. Mr. Bruff is agreeable to mitigation. Board is agreeable to removal with 1 for 1 replacement. Mf. Flynn made Motion to close discussion. Mr. Couillard seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Mr. Flynn made Motion to issue Negative Determination as amended with mitigation of one for one replacement from list of acceptable trees /shrubs provided by Mr. Tirone. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 RDA 2015 -19; 7 Harvest Road, Guevara Mr. Guevara, owner, proposes to extend chain link to create bigger play area for his family. Currently fence is 30 feet from house and he would like to extend it 20 more feet out on the Page 1 2 left. New fence will be white vinyl privacy fence and chain link on Walkers Brook side. Fence will be 16 feet away from top of bank. He is not proposing to remove any trees and the yard will be left in its natural state. Conservation Board is in favor of this project. Mr. Paul MacDonald, an abutter at 39 Line Road, expressed that he is opposed to use of white vinyl fence for aesthetic reasons. Mr. Couillard made Motion to close RDA 2015 -19 for 7 Harvest Road. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Mr. Flynn made Motion to issue Negative Determination for RDA 2015 -19 for 7 Harvest Road. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 RDA 2015 -20; 28 Oak, Green Street Holdings, LLC Mr. Tirone got call from an abutting neighbor regarding trees being taken down. Maureen Harold represents owner, who cleared back yard to property line. Owner was informed by Town of intermittent stream in rear of property. Soil samples did not indicate hydrology within 12" of soil. Research found 1949 plan that shows 12' concrete drain at rear of property and a drainage easement. Ms. Harold saw no evidence of a stream at site. Owner hydro seeded and planted 7 junipers, 5 white pines two weeks ago. Mr. Tirone concerned with plants surviving. There is a two year guarantee for replacement of lawn and landscaping that does not survive. He suggested a bond of $1000.00 for any plantings that do not survive the winter. Guarantee can be incorporated into determination that goes the property. Mr. Tirone requested documentation that after one year consultant check plants for survivability. Mr. Flynn made Motion to close RDA 2015 -20 on 28 Oak Street. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 3 -1 -0. Mr. Couillard voted against. He would prefer to have something from Norse to warranty plants. Mr. Couillard made Motion to issue Negative Determination with stipulation that Applicant post $1,000.00 bond to guarantee health and wellbeing of plants for next two years. Bond to be returned after three years. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 ANRAD 270 -651; 149 Van Norden Road, Wilson Mr. Jack Sullivan, Sullivan Engineering Group made presentation for ANRAD to establish Bordering Vegetated Wetland line. Norse Engineering did delineation and Mr. Sullivan did survey. This project will go before Planning Board at a future date. The Board discussed their site visit and agreed the wetland line seemed appropriate. Mr. Sullivan noted flags 5 6 7 will not affect the project. There is a vernal pool adjacent to flag line. Mr. Tirone expressed concern about seasonal high water line of vernal pool. Mr. Sullivan had measured the vernal pool high water line on 4/4/2015 and determined it was within the BVW line. This measurement is good for the next three years. Mr. Sullivan reported he will not be doing any work within 100 feet of the bvw zone and the standing water was at least 20' -25' feet inside of the bvw line at time of survey. If they take worse case scenario the vernal pool line is the bvw line. The drawings show 25' 35' and 100'. Flags to be adjusted are: 5B southwest by 15'; 6B southwest by 15'; and 7B south by 15'. Page 1 3 Mr. Tirone would like to see high water mark of vernal pool marked on drawings. Mr. Tirone would like to go to site to verify seasonal high point, looking at staining, silt sand, topography, just to be more comfortable. It was suggested Mr. Tirone could hang some flags so Mr. Sullivan does not have to come before Board again. Mr. Sullivan's intent for Planning Board is not to do any work within the 100'. Project is an open space concept trying to preserve natural site features which include the buffer to vernal pool and saving all the trees in that area. Mr. Flynn made Motion to close ANRAD on 149 Van Norden Road. Seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Vote 4 -0 -0 Mr. Couillard made Motion to amend to reflect changes in flags 5B 6B, and 7B and move vernal pool up to match Bordering Vegetated Wetland line. Mr. Couillard made Motion to issue ANRAD. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 RDA 2015 -21; 74 Haverhill Street, Lens Mr. Lens would like to take down six trees. Three Oaks are in immediate proximity to the home; one dead Cherry, one dead Birch and one pine. Board would like to see mitigation of one for one replacement. Mr. Couillard made Motion to close discussion. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Ms. Scanlon made Motion to issue Negative Determination including replacement of at least three trees or shrubs of native species from list provided by Mr. Tirone. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Austin Prep replication area discussion Sean Boyd, design engineer, reported work is 98% complete. Performed site walk of wetland replication area with Mr. Tirone. Contractor was instructed to expedite as -built drawings. The result is some area are 2 -3" higher than adjacent of wetland line and 1,000 square feet smaller than Order of Conditions. Austin Prep directed contractor to correct to meet Order of Conditions. Contractor removed top soil, reshaped and lowered wetland by 6 ". Size, shape, and elevation are now in conformance with Order of Conditions. Plants were purchased and installed. There is a warranty on plants; they will be checked after winter. Mr. Tirone suggested stump should be removed; it creates disturbance right along wetland. Elevation is too high and soil around it is too high, acting as barrier. Everything should be at correct elevation throughout. Contractor assured Mr. Tirone he would do whatever Conservation Commission asked to meet Order of Conditions. There was discussion on steepness of slope along entrance and where hedgerow is. This slope has to be monitored for erosion. Usually 3 to 1 incline is not allowed, tight because of cable in back. Using erosion control matting to help stabilize. Plans and this discussion has brought project more in line with what Commission wants. Page 1 4 List of planned improvements: Remove stump when ground is frozen Should be a functioning wetland (wetland line lower than 190) Take shots 30 — 40' in wetland at Al to A4 Match up topography Call professional company such as NE Environmental to evaluate site and make recommendations. If they say its fine, then Mr. Tirone will be okay with their report. Headmaster of Austin Prep reported that he is committed to meeting expectation of Conservation Commission. Until Mr. Tirone went out to site, Austin Prep thought work was done correctly by contractor. Hay bales and silt fence can be and should be taken out. Old /New Business Public Comments on Springvale Road Mr. Peter Shields, 31 Randall Road and Mr. Frank Coleman, 26 Randall Road had questions on easement on north side of Randall Road. They had heard that the new owner of two lots on Springvale Road would like to build home facing Randall on one of the lots and possibly more than one home. Mr. Shields wanted to know if the road can be extended for driveway access. Mr. Tirone contacted Mr. Zambouras and he advised that it can be extended. As much of the land that is not wetland can be developed. This will be on the agenda of a future meeting. OOC NOI 270 -0649; 99 Fairchild Drive, Liu Completed with changes requested by Commission; low bush blueberries, yard waste and branches removed from wetland. Order of Conditions signed by Board. DOA 2015 -17; 56 Cross Street, Armstrong DOA signed by Board RDA Closeout 2014 -17; 86 Forest Street, Lordan Site visit indicated lawn is fairly established. Silt fence and hay bales on one side. Silt sock on other side of driveway. Board signed off on RDA COC 270 -0644; 241 Pearl Street, Baker Certificate of Compliance signed by Commission. It was observed at site walk that wetland markers are held in place with push pin. Minor Project: 14 Intervale Terrace Eighty foot build out for bathroom addition. Commission signed off Discuss adding additional projects to Minor Projects checklist Ms. Scanlon made Motion to discuss this item at the next meeting. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Page 1 5 Administrators Report: Austin Prep Sean wetland restoration and building signoff Completed Emergency Permit None Bills Approved None. Approximately $710.00 MACC. Offset Mr. Tirone's salary by $4,000.00 by paying out of state funds. Conservation budget has $1,500 remaining. Notices of Intent gives Commission a little money to buy plants, pay for bonds, scout projects, Matera Cabin funds. MACC funding source is needed. Minutes for Approval: 10/28/2015 Mr. Couillard made Motion to accept minutes as amended. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Mr. Flynn made Motion to adjourn at 10:33 pm. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Page J 6