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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-09 Conservation Commission MinutesTown of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2016 -03 -09 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Public Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: t Stt,Wl 1111011 TOWNECLERK e :?= ADING, MASS. lUb APR -5 P 4: 021 Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Session: General Session Rebecca Longley, Chair; Annika Scanlon, Vice Chair; Michael Flynn; Jamie Maughan; Al Coulllard; Harry Curtis; Amy Scicchitani; Chuck Tlmne, Administrator Members - Not Present: Others Present Others Present: Gretchen Baker Steven Erikson, NES Ron Baker Adina Weisman Prabha Sankaran Karen McCadden Pat Shields Adam Stuart Vis Sankaran Mary Stuart Peter Shields John Dick, Hancock Assoc Vicki Donovan Chris Cole, Engineering Steve Donovan Kelly Healey Scott Weisel Brian Healey Melodie Fox Desi Hames Pat Lloyd, ROLT Debble Hames Nancy Coleman Sean Ewald Frank Coleman Janice Newcomb Jean Jacobs Jenna Florente, Recreation Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Julia Rodger Topics of Discussion: APPROVED: March 23, 2016 Ms. Longley called meeting to order at 7:00 pm Board welcomed new members Harry Curtis and Amy Scicchitani RDA 2016 -6: 420 West Street, Map 20, Lot 200, Celata Ms. Celata would like to remove and relocate existing driveway to side of house to better use Page 1 1 the space. Applicant is proposing to remove and relocate front walkway which is in poor shape. Also proposing to remove tree at end of walkway. No changes to existing garage. Mr. Flynn gave report on site visit. Observed that walkway is in poor condition. 80' Norway spruce to be removed to make room for new driveway. The work is located in the outer riparian zone (100 to 200 ft zone}; the Aberjona river is located behind the property as it passes under West Street. Proposed driveway would be further from resource area than original driveway and slopes away from resource area. Proposing use of pervious pavers to create new patio in back. Ms. Scanlon is in favor of redesign of driveway and decreased impervious cover. Owner advised they will be regrading and reloaming. Mr. Maughan does not want Board to establish precedent of pavers being accepted as 100% pervious without manufacturer's documentation. Mr. Tirone questioned if Norway spruce will be replaced. Owner would be willing to replace it. Board would like to see 1 for 1 replacement. Mr. Tirone can add tree specs to application. Commission is requesting manufacturer's specs for pavers, replacement tree information including species and location. Ms. Scanlon made Motion for Board to continue hearing at next meeting on March 23, 2016. Mr. Couillard seconded. Vote 6 -0.1 Ms. Scicchitani abstained. NOI 270 -0656: Birch Meadow Park, Map 33, Lot 52, 54, 55, 56, 57 & 58, Town of Reading DPW Ms. Scanlon reopened hearing. Chris Cole, Engineering Dept, gave presentation on revised plan for Birch Meadow light pole installation. Per Commission's request, Engineering has incorporated new conduit plan to various buildings, altered buffer zone delineation around Castine Field area, added notations stating that casings must be utilized during foundation installation on poles 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 16. Also added notation concrete washout shall occur outside 100 ft buffer zone, altered location of conduit line at outfield fence and resource area, added location of temporary concrete jersey barriers. Also requesting variance to permit work to occur within 35 it no disturb zone. 20 —22 light poles are proposed, will only put up what they have funding for. Mr. Tirane advised lights will only come on only when fields are rented. Mr. Feudo, Recreation Dept., will be in charge of turn on /off. New light system design will be similar to new high tech lighting at tennis courts, shielded lights with minimal light reflecting into neighborhood. Mr. Maughan asked if Mr. Cole is aware of mitigation within the watershed proposed by Mr. Zambouras. Mr. Maughan requested mitigation to remove stand of phragmities at bank of Arberjona River, near Imagination Station, approx. 15 ft in length. Mr. Tirone requested shopping carriage in river betaken out (not mitigation). Another mitigation would be to stop mowing another 20 or so feet away from cattails at Castine Field. Ms. Scanlon had question on dewatering during installation. Mr. Cole explained no dewatering is expected during conduit installation. When pole foundations are installed, any water will be removed by frac tank. Any installations within buffer zone will have steel casing. Pape 12 Board discussed light design, direction of light and its effect on habitat, acceptable fixtures, light pollution, and LEED standards. Board requested spec information from vendor. Mr. Cole explained horizontal lighting chart. He indicated it depends on design and placement to make sure there is even lighting on fields. Mr. Maughan suggested after first set of lights are put in, the Board should ask Recreation and Engineering to monitor to see the effectiveness, accuracy, and that lights are working correctly before completing other installations. Mr. Curtis suggested getting rid of culvert, put in stream with bridges as mitigation. Mr. Maughan stated master plan for Birch Meadow tried to develop plan for daylighting stream. Did not come up with a scenario that worked. Wanted mitigation on northwest side of Birch Meadow Drive for habitat improvement. Another suggested mitigation would be constructed wetland. Mr. Tirone restated information requested: LEED certification Define Mitigation, one or all three, added wetland, removal of phragmite on Birch Meadow driveway, create stream with bridges Mr. Coulllard continued hearing until next meeting on March 23, 2016. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 6.0.1. Ms. Scicchitani abstained. RDA 2016 -5: 1 General Way, Map 54, Lot 1, Jamie Shaw, Danis Mr. Dick, Hancock Associates made presentation. Distributed revised plan showing changes to plan incorporating deferred maintenance. 10 or so years ago there was an Order of Conditions for activity, construction of detention basin designed and installed to incorporate dike. Now trying to help his client maintains structure, stabilize bank, prevent growth of poplars, and remove poplars from back of dike. Would like to keep drainage features well maintained. Currently heavy loads of water are being discharged are scouring sides. Abutters near property line are mowing part of Danis property. That area needs to be restored to native vegetation. Proposing to plant wildflower meadow mix and annual rye to stabilize quickly, in one growing season perennial wildflower will grow. Plan is to cut back every year by mowing in November or early March. Area 2 - Poplars to be cut where they destabilize bank and replace with something that can be managed such as dense sub shrub layer. Area 3 — Similar to Area 2 Ms. Scanlon expressed concern regarding the area within bank and other areas subject to protection being altered. Under the Conservation regulations destroying vegetation is alteration. She stated she would have to vote for positive determination for RDA. She also stated the Owner has not been following maintenance protocol outlined in previous Certificate of Compliance. Area 4- Proposing to clean bay and detention basin (lined), liner covered with rip rap Area 5 — Cut phragmite down, then cut once or twice a year to maintain Pape 1 3 Mr. Flynn reported on site visit observations. Silt fence at outlet was never removed, silted in, filled up until it broke. Board would like channel to operate as originally designed. Mr. Dick said Hancock will repair the outlet. Mr. Maughan restated Danis proposal as: Area 1— mostly (2/3) outside buffer zone - removing vegetation Area 4 - cleaning and reconstructing original detention basin to original design Area 5 - restoring created wetland by removing phragmites Areas 1, 4, 5 would qualify for RDA. Areas 2 and 3 require Notice of Intent for removal of vegetation. Ms. Longley is unclear what Danis proposes to do at outlet. Concerned and would like to see an engineering plan and design. Mr. Maughan recalled in 2007 detention basin put in - no woody vegetation on north or south bank. Commission noticed area was not being cleaned and asked for cleaning but Commission did not follow up on those requests. Jodie Haywood, Danis, asked for consideration from Commission to see if they can reach agreement on conditions to move forward. She stated owner cares about property and wants to make things right. Mr. Tirone stated Notice of Intent needed for monitoring Areas 1, 4, and 5. Notice of Intent would require mitigation, operation and maintenance plan, more information on cutting and planting plan, currently missing detail, very general conceptual plan missing detail, no control. Mr. Tirone feels an enforcement order takes an owner to care that they are under enforcement. Order of Conditions needs be written in a way it can be enforced and that goals set will be met. RDA will not show seriousness of maintenance. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to issue positive determination. Mr. Couillard seconded. Vote 5 -1- 1. Mr. Maughan objected. Ms. Scicchitani abstained. Danis will have to file Notice of Intent Continued ANRDA 270 -0653: 25 Springvale Road & Randall Road, Map 10, Lot 294 and 296; Map 15, Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Hall Mr. Erickson, Norse Environmental Services gave presentation. He is in disagreement with Mr. Prokop's third party analysis. Obvious area with skunk cabbage that could be called a wetland if we go strictly with vegetative analysis. He commented that there are inconsistencies in Conservation Commission's Regulations and interpretation of Town's General bylaw. Mr. Erickson read various sections of the Wetland Regulations. Regulations of wetland areas should have consistent definition of wetland. Mr. Erikson gave statistics on various wetland plants. Should be looking at soils, topography, and vegetation to determine wetland, notjust vegetation. Mr. Prokop calls area in question a wetland in his analysis. Mr. Erikson described what makes soil testing a more accurate scientific test for wetlands. Mr. Maughan stated reasons we have wetland protection act and bylaws is because wetlands Page 1 4 serve 3 functions: retention of flood waters, create wildlife habitat, vegetation adds to water quality enhancement, Soils have marginal influence on three functions. Vegetation contribute to all these functions. Mr. Erickson disagrees. He feels soils are just as significant as vegetation in determining wetlands. Mr. Tirone explained Mr. Prokop's report of March 7, 2016. He called area a jurisdictional wetland under Reading regulations. Parties had discussion on D series wetland, looked at regulations to see if it qualifies. Two wetland scientists wanted to do soil test then vegetation report. 462 ft hydric soils wetland, which is not big enough to be jurisdictional. Additional piece qualifies under Reading regulations, 182 ft just using vegetation. Combining both areas (644) makes it jurisdictional. All parties agree with placement of wetland flags but are not in agreement with Towns regulations. Board is in agreement that area is jurisdictional wetland under town's bylaw. Mc Tirone suggested Board should vote that sole reliance on vegetation yields accurate delineation of wetland. Public Comments Melodie Fox -35 Randall Road: stated focus has been on lots 5, 6, 7, no comments thus far on lots 8 and 9. Between parcel 8 and 9 new line closer to 23 Springvale lots of skunk cabbage popping up, seems very wet. She feels area should be looked at again in the spring. Ms. Fox used pointer to indicate on drawings where additional large skunk cabbage is growing. She was advised by Board that Mr. Prokop looked at all lots, and concurred with Norse Environmental on lines. There were extensive hydric borings taken and results did not meet criteria of Town's wetland bylaw. Karen McCadden —64 Glenmere Circle: Asked if soil in large ditch was disturbed. Mr. Erikson reported presence of subsoil indicates soil was not disturbed. Features of hydric soil will not go away. If fill was placed over wetland soil at time of original construction of Randall Road, is that soil sitting on top and does it interfere with soil tests Frank Coleman — Randall Road: Reported that developer dumped debris when this neighborhood was originally constructed. If it were cleaned out properly, chances are it could be one large wetland. Mr. Erikson stated he did not see evidence of filled wetland. Mr. Flynn made Motion to approve wetland delineation as shown on map dated March 4, 2016. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote 5 -1 -1. Mr. Couillard opposed. Ms. Scicchitani abstained. Grove Street Mr. Tirone reported Board will have to re -think policy on asking property owners to install granite or concrete bounds. Page 1 5 DOC 270 -0657: 73 Fairchild Drive, Map 45, Lot 19 Jacobs Mr. Couillard made Motion to accept Order of Conditions on 73 Fairchild Drive as amended. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 6 -0 -1. Ms. Scicchitani abstained. 17 Springvale Road, prior RDA Owner contacted Mr. Tirone; when owner staked out addition, there was storm, some large branches from 30" pine tree fell. Tree has split trunk, owner worried about it falling. Distance between tree and proposed addition is 40 ft. Distance of tree to closest flag is 56', outside buffer. Owner is asking for tree to be removed before construction starts and will plant a new tree anywhere on property that Commission suggests. Owner will provide an as built. Board is in agreement to remove tree. Board agrees as built not required. CDC 270 -0640: 30 Whittier Road, Map 33, Lot 148, Johnson Ms. Longley reported on site visit. Site has been mostly cleaned up. Owner has met obligation. Mr. Couillard made Motion to approve Certificate of Compliance for 30 Whittier Road. Mr. Flynn seconded. Vote 6 -0 -1. Ms. Scicchitani abstained. CDC 270 -0625: Mariano Drive, 92 Sanborn Lane, Lot 3, Albert Couillard CDC 270 -0626: Mariano Drive, 92 Sanborn Lane, Lot 2, Albert Couillard CDC 270 -0627: Mariano Drive, 92 Sanborn Lane, Roadway, Albert Couillard Continued until next meeting Update from tree polity working group Ms. Couillard and Ms. Scanlon will be meeting again soon to work on creating policy. Possible unauthorized activity within protected wetland resource No reports received by Conservation office between 1 -7 -16 and 3 -3 -16. Administrator Report: MACC Conference Mr. Flynn, Mr. Curtis, and Ms. Scanlon updated the Commission regarding their attendance at the MACC conference and the classes attended Emergency Permit None Bills Approved None Minutes for Approval 1 -13 -2016 and 2 -24 -2016 Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve minutes from 1/13/2016. Mr. Maughan seconded. Vote 5 -0 -2. Ms. Scicchitani and Mr. Curtis abstained. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve minutes from 2/248016 as amended. Mr. Maughan seconded. Vote 5 -0-2. Ms. Scicchitani and Ms. Scanlon abstained. Mr. Lynch made Motion to adjourn at 10:10 pm Mr. Maughan seconded. Vote 7 -0 -0. Page 1 6