HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-28 Conservation Commission Minutes OFR
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
an Nov -a PM P 17
Conservation Commission
Date: 2017-06-28 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: Public Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Rebecca Longley, Chair Annika Scanlon Vice Chair, Al Couillard,; Michael
Flynn; David Pinette; Chuck krone, Conservation Administrator
Members- Not Present:
Harry Curtis, Bob Hayes
Others Present:
Marlene Wolfe
Matt Brown
Joe Jammallo
Donna Smith
Rosemary Dennehy
Bill Hanson
Paul Cheney
Christine Cheney
John Tilton
Jackie Welch
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Chuck Tirone
Topics of Discussion:
Ms. Longley called meeting to order at 7:00 pm
NOI 270-0681, 14 Strawberry Hill Lane,Moynihan
Mr Sullivan prepared a plan showing the new tree locations, it was agreed that the proposed tree
replacement was sufficient to make up the 2,700 s.f. clear cut during the house construction.
Motion to close by Mr. Flynn and seconded by Mr.Pinette Vote 5-0-0
NOI 270-Parcel 0 Haverhill Street,Gillis
Jim Carbone presented the project described the project, a single family dwelling with a one car
garage, driveway and Patio area. The lot will take up most of the buffer zone outside of the 25 ft
area. The applicant proposes to capture roof runoff in rain barrels and direct the water on the
driveway into a crushed stone ditch. 25 trees will be cut down and replaced with unnamed trees
along Haverhill Street.The owner will provide the Commission the names of the trees when he
has made a decision. 12 High Bush blueberries will be planted in the buffer zone behind the
house,the applicant intends to meet the one-to-one replacement policy. Mr. Courbron asked the
Commission to ignore the wetland finger to the south of the proposed house because it was so
small it did not contribute any value to the large wetland it was hydraulically and physically
connected to and allow the development to proceed as if the wetland finger did not exist in its
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current location.Mr Courbron went on to explain if the Commission did not agree with his
assertion and decided to leave the jurisdictional wetland finger in place and could not find the
will to abandon their environmental oath,to not tum a blind eye to this wet area covered in
obligate wetland plants,this would not only be a bummer but would dramatically decrease the
amount of buildable area his client could use to build his house in the buffer zone.The applicant
also asks the small wetland forger be considered insignificant.
Mitigation will consist of no structures within the 25 foot min barrels, drip trenches, remove the
yard waste and all the invasive on the lot.
The commission rejected the assertion the wetland finger was insignificant. Ms. Scanlon asked
the applicant to reduce the size of the house to meet the 35-foot setback. The owner intends to
build the house slab on grade. It was suggested that the owner be responsible for keeping the
drainage ditch and the Culvert clean. The commission ask the applicant to go back and work on
his plans,submit a variance request for the work inside the 35 foot buffer and continued the
meeting of 12th of July
Motion to close by Mr. Flynn and seconded by Ms.Scanlon Vote 5-0-0
NOI 270-88 Glenmere Circle,Xu
The proposed project is to add and addition to a small house. On the Commission's site walk the
wetland line was moved in some cases up to 27 ft upslope from where the original flags were
placed. Even with these changes the house and the proposed addition was still outside the 50
Foot buffer zone. No trees will be removed as part of this project and the applicant intends to
infiltrate all roof runoff from the new addition.
Motion to close by Ms. Scanlon and seconded by Mr. Flynn Vote 5-0-0
NOI 270-0685 Tennessee Gas Pipe Line
The line once underground is now above the stream and visible sitting just above streambed. The
pipe needs to be covered for its protection.A concrete architectural mat will be used and a rock
surcharge area downstream of the mat. The project will alter the stream and bank 35 feet in each
direction,but the project is designed to not lose stream bed.The mats will be embedded in the
stream sank and in the stream bed.A variance request must be submitted for the work in the
stream and on the bank, for tree removal and to reduce the fees. The pipe became exposed as a
function of scouring since the 1950s. The pipe will be covered, 10 inches head will cause an
impoundment upstream but the banks are likely to hold that water. The work is proposed at low
flow conditions in July or August. Mr.Tirone asked that a low-flow channel be incorporated into
the matting system to help keep a passage open in the stream at all times.The project will take
approximately two weeks and a total of 92 square feet of bank will be disturbed.The drainage
area is less than a half-mile but the stream is perennial according to the USGs survey.The
Commission agreed to reduce the fees to a total of$10,000.
Motion to adjust the fees by Mr.Flynn and seconded by Ms. Scanlon Vote 5-0-0
The commission asked the applicant to prepare an alternative analysis be prepared and
restoration be proposed also cross-section of the work be presented to the commission at the next
meeting
Motion to close by Ms. Scanlon and seconded by Mr. Flynn Vote 5-0-0
NOI 270-0637,87 Sunnyside Avenue,O'Sullivan
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The Mr. Tirone conducted a second site visit and witnessed that all Commission requests were
complied with and recommended issuance of the Certificate of Compliance
Motion to close by Mr. Flynn and seconded by Mr.Couillard Vote 5-0-0
The boardwalk in the Town Forest at Alligator Alley the work will be in August or September of
this year the Commission agreed that it fits within the existing town wide Trail General permit
Motion to approve by Mr.Flynn and seconded by Mr.Pinette Vote 5-0-0
CDC 270-0663: 310 South Street,Lot 4 Map 144,Doughty
310 South Street was issued a certificate of compliance
Motion to approve by Mr.Flynn and seconded by Mr.Pinette Vote 5-0-0
Discussion about Ards Senior Living was led by Mr. Pinette detailing was needed to issue
certificate of compliance.
A discussion about friends and family day was conducted by Ms. Scanlon
The discussion about the mitigation area at Austin prep was conducted by Ms. Longley
Mr Tuone discussed an oil spill at 313 Harvest Road.The LSP has contacted the office and will
submit a request for determination of applicability(RDA)to the Commission for the work on the
site
Motion to adjourn by Mr.Flynn and seconded by Mr. Pinette Vote 5-0-0
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