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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-10 Conservation Commission Minutes REC TOWNECLERI READING, MA. Reading Conservation Commission Meeting P019 MAR —8 PM 1: 29 Selectmen's Room, 7:00 pm Wednesday,June 10,2015 Members Present: Annika Scanlon, Chair; Brian Sullivan,Vice Chair; Rebecca Longley,Jamie Maughan, Charles Tirone, Administrator Others Present: Tom Walsh Michele Occhiuti Lauren Wickwire, Hancock Associates Richard Coray Mary White, MWRA Ben Coray John Dick, Hancock Associates Jim Sal Rob Ahern Tony D'Arezzo Scott Berger Jody Heyward Karen Carr Kevin Dye Debbie Reed Gina Snyder Cori Barrett, MORA Amanda Neville, Coneco Jerry Sheehan, MWRA Steve Duffy Hillary King, FST Mary Duffy Nick Bouthilette, FST Patrick Barrett, MWRA Brian Tam Respectfully submitted by Julia Rodger Ms.Scanlon called meeting to order at 7:03 pm Continued NOI 270-0641: 306 Main Street, Map 11, Lot 226, Simpson Hearing continued until next meeting on June 24, 2015 Old/New Business 7 Indiana Road Ms. Longley and Mr. Maughan performed site visit. The work has been completed. A short fence has been installled and the area looks much better. Mr. Maughan made motion to issue Certificate of Compliance. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0 RDA 2015-07 - 16 Joseph Road Mr.Tirone prepared RDA for Board's signatures Minor Plan Change to Town wide Storm Water Permit Mr. Zambouras requested amended Order of Conditions. Mr.Tirone made amendment so that the words "work within resource area" are removed from permit. Ms.Scanlon made motion to approve minor plan change. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0. Continued NOI 270-0643: 0 Main Street, Map 51, Lot 95,Ahern Ms.Scanlon opened the hearing. Jack Sullivan,Sullivan Engineering Group is design engineer for Mr. Aherni�:. Site walked completed along with Conservation Commission members and wetland lines were revised. Took comments from public and commission and is now presenting modified plan. House has been made smaller, moved garage to left side for more direct access from curb cut. House is now 28' closer to street to save as many trees as possible. Substantial improvement has been made to house design in order to limit the amount of grading. Thirty trees are now being saved. Proposed 4' retaining walls have been scaled back. There is small retaining wall at back of property. Per direction of Commission Mr. Sullivan located trees 6" or greater. Twenty-one trees will be removed. Proposing to plant arborvitae and red maples along property line. There will be two dry wells,one in front one in rear for storm water. Karen Carr, 1257 Main Street, and neighbor to the proposed project, had some questions and comments regarding calculation of fill,grading and elevations. Mr. Sullivan went over the elevations and fill locations. No grading changes are being made to back yard,just loam and seeding. She would like to see orange construction fencing down the property line to keep construction activity away from her property. Fencing would not have to go all the way back so wildlife could still pass through. Tom Walsh, 532 Pearl Street, had questions on how revised wetland boundary was determined. Ms. Scanlon explained there was a site visit with wetlands specialist, wetland technician, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Longley, Ms.Scanlon,and Mr.Tirone. They checked soils below and above line, it was agreed that flags 6A and 7A were too far into wetlands.They did a deliberate analysis and review and were in agreement. They did not hang new flags but knew were the line was going. Scott Berger, 1301 Main Street, neighbor at Main and Nelson, had questions regarding potential subdivision of the property by this owner or any future owners. The approval of this project is just for the plan being presented tonight. There is very little upland land that could be further developed. It would be problematic to build on the remaining area. Location of home limits any future building. A future subdivision plan would have to go before CPDC. Sewer connection has changed to grinder pump up to manhole outside of 100' buffer. Needs to be approved by Mass DOT and DPW. Kevin Dwyer, 524 Pearl Street wanted to know if grinder pump was completely sealed. Mr. Sullivan said it is. Brian Tam,550 Pearl wanted to know if there was water flow study. Mr. Sullivan explained it is not required for single family homes. Mr.Thone had questions on driveway and why no infiltration of water coming down driveway instead of to street. Mr. Sullivan wanted positive drainage away from house. Trench drain can be added at driveway and/or crushed stone filter strip at retaining wall. Mr. Maughan made motion to issue Order of Conditions based on plans revised 6/1/2015 with changes to driveway drainage plan. Ms.Longley seconded. Vote 4-0.0. Mr. Maughan made motion to continue hearing to June 24,2015. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0 RDA 2015-09 One General Way John Hick, Hancock Engineering is making presentation on behalf of Danis Property. This is an ecological restoration project. DEP has issued new regulations to manage and protect wetlands. The problem is the local bylaw fee,which was designed so that changes would not be made. According to bylaw,the cost would be$453,640.00 plus filing fee of$1,000,for Notice of Intent which they have to do for this restoration. Their budget is approx$40,000.00. Plan is to restore flood plain on one side and remove invasive species from other side. They filed the RDA strictly to talk about filing fee. Two areas of project, reconstruction of detention basin which is small and overgrown with poplars. If left as is there may be damage to integrity of the dike. The other side used to be flood plain,flow has to be maintained. Brook debris is dredged material,irregular berm is 2-4 it high, and flood plain has become choked out. They propose to clear out understory to allow water to flow in and out and make it functional as flood plain. Approximately 60%of invasive species would be removed; site visit could be conducted to determine what is to be removed. Some species of shrub layer would be yanked out;some would need spot herbicide application. Concerns of Board and Mr.Tirone were discussed such as changes to wildlife habitat, ground disturbances, monitoring and maintenance reports for created wetlands and wetland replication area, and long term management plan as part of Notice of Intent. Discussed signs and lighting and how it affects the neighboring residents. Danis wants this project to make their property more visible. It is hard to see stores from the street. Ms.Scanlon reported that the Board does not have enough information to establish a fee tonight.She would like to have justification for fee. Needs reasonable purpose for dollar value and solid backup for fee. If Hancock prepares calculation of fees they are willing to pay and list of those they want waived and reasons why. Notice of Intent should be submitted together with fee. Mr. Sullivan is in favor of a substantial reduction in fees. Ms. Snyder, Walkable Reading, met with Jodie Heyward, and is in favor of the improvement project and is willing to go before Trails Committee and Walkable Reading for their assistance. Mr. Maughan made motion to issue positive determination requiring a Notice of Intent. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0. RDA 2015-08 Forest Street& Forest Glen Road, Roadway right of way, MWRA Amanda Neville made presentation for Boston Gas. Proposing to abandon in place old steel pipe and install new plastic pipe next to it. Old pipe will be cut and capped. They will be crossing an existing culvert. Special precautions will be made for the vernal pool. They can put up erosion controls, silt socks with curb inlet protection. Workers can average 60 feet per day. Work is to be performed sometime this summer. Ms. Scanlon made motion to issue Negative Determination. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0- 0. NOI 270-0647: Oak Street, near Oak Ridge Road, Roadway right-of-way, MWRA Ms. Scanlon opened the hearing. Patrick Barrett, MWRA, made presentation. MWRA is putting in loop system connecting neighboring towns. 8600' will connect area in Oak Ridge which is in buffer zone. 36" water line and replacement of sewer and drain line. There will be dewatering and they expect design to be similar to West Street design. The problems MWRA had previously were operational and not properly monitored. The design was not the problem. Drain line had a lot of sediment. They kept modifying system in order to capture sediment. Lessons learned on West Street will be implemented on Oak Street. MWRA will continue to be involved daily. The details for check dams and frack tanks are included in the contract. Plan to start this work in September. Mr. Maughan made motion to close hearing. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0 Mr. Maughan made motion to issue Order of Conditions based on plans as submitted. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0 RDA 2015-30: 132 Grove Street, Map 32, Lot 54 Duffy The Duffy's recently bought home. The site is overgrown and they want to clean up dead trees, brush, and remove five or six 6" diameter trees. They will keep natural leave covering at lower area and want to hydro seed upper level. There will be no additional planting at this time. Mr. Maughan suggested flagging out trees for removal and have Mr. Tirone check before they are cut down. Mr. Tirone advised owner to modify plan and present to Conservation Commission. Mr. Maughan made motion to issue Negative Determination contingent upon submission of plan as described and accepted by Administrator. Ms.Scanlon seconded. Vote 4-0-0 Old New Business Cont'd Caliaco West Street Enforcement Order Corrie Barrett, MWRA;Jerry Sheehan, MWRA; Mary White MWRA; worked with Mr.Tirane and are back tonight for close out order. Mr. Tirone recently made a site visit. Everything was taken seriously. Mr. Maughan made motion to issue Close Out Order. Ms. Langley seconded. Vote 4-0-0. Minor Project 26 Summer Avenue Mr. Tirone suggested Board go on site visit at 28 Summer Ave. Contractor obtained electrical permit for minor project. Owner has put in a 25' x 25' area of patio pavers and a hot tub. No permit is required for the paver patio. Hot tub requires electrical permit. The work is inside his fenced area, some shallow excavation with compacted sand. The project is basically finished. The Board may have to go back to original filing for this property for wetland. Mr. Tirane will send plan to Commission members. Work may be inside of 35' area. Won't know for sure until view plans and have site visit. 258 Lowell Street Mr. Tirane drove by this address and noticed section of gate removed. Backhoe being used to dig hole to install 25' x 25' sport court. In 2014 this resident wanted to install basketball hoop. Mr. Tirane explained regulations then and that filing of permit was required. Their contractor incorrectly advised that if pervious material was used no permit is required. Mr Tirane told them 3 times previously that a permit was required. Work has been stopped and resident is trying to make voluntary compliance. Sturges Park Board reviewed and revised then signed Order of Conditions for Sturges Park. Ms. Scanlon made motion to issue Order of Conditions for Sturges Park as amended tonight. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0 70 Lawrence Road Board reviewed and revised then signed Order of Conditions for 70 Lawrence Rd. Ms.Scanlon made motion to issue Order of Conditions for 70 Lawrence Road as amended tonight. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0-0 306 Main Street Mr. Tirone has a point of clarification. Mr. Simpson of Pizza World requested waiver of fees for new permit because he paid for previous permit which was withdrawn. Requested that $1,142.50 town bylaw fees get waived, $537.50 state wetland fees cannot get waived. Board agrees to refund Mr. Simpson his second payment. Emergency Permits None at this time Bills None at this time Friends and Family Day June 13th from 10 to 3. Conservation handouts will be available. Board discussed setup and times they will cover the booth. Minutes Mr. Maughan made motion to approve minutes from May 27, 2015 meeting as amended. Ms.Scanlon seconded. Vote 4-0-0 Elections Ms. Scanlon reported committee/commission bylaws to be finalized by end of July. Board will discuss at next meeting. Ms.Scanlon made motion to adjourn meeting at 10:40 pm. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4-0- 0