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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-28 Conservation Commission Minutes r444� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: [`GtJ h5� Lb `' Conservation Commission ° F;i 3: 50 Date: 2019-08-28 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: Chair Rebecca Longley, Vice Chair Michael Flynn, David Pinette, Robert Hayes, Carl Saccone, Annika Scanlon; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: Others Present: John Godwin, Chris Latham, Tyler Ferrick, Chris Huntress, Steve Eriksen, Jay Shatto, Jonathan Pollard, Jim Hickey, John Weber, Bill Scott Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Chuck Tirone Topics of Discussion: Ms. Longley called the meeting to order at 7:05pm. Eagle Scout Project, Boardwalk Project, John Godwin Eagle Scout, John Godwin, was present to propose replacement of a section of boardwalk in the Town Forest. The 30-foot section he plans to replace and improve is along the Cranberry Dam Trail. DPW will help dispose of the old material that is removed. The plan is to use trex material for the walking surface and pressure treated wood for the support structure. Because trex is not wood, cutting and screwing will take place offsite to minimize the impact on the environment. Work will take place in the fall after the growing season. Mr. Godwin is replacing this section because the wood is rotting and the boardwalk is sitting on cinderblocks which have shifted. The plan has been approved by the Town Forest Committee and Mr. Godwin will attend a Trails Committee meeting in September to get their approval. Some other sections of the boardwalk have already been replaced, and other scouts plan to replace other sections for their projects. Motion to approve the Boardwalk Project by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 6-0-0. NOI 270-0714, 135, 139 & 149R Howard Street, Map 10 Lots 75, 76 & 77, Infrastructure Holdings LLC. Update. Mr. Tirone stated that he received an email from the applicant earlier in the day requesting a continuance and noting that they would have a new design very soon. The NOI will be back on the agenda for the September 11, 2019 meeting. Page 1 1 Old/New Business: ORAD 270-0721, 18 Small Lane, Map 40 & 41, Lot 153, 155 & 29, KC] Del Ray Mr. Tirone stated that Maureen from Norse Environmental provided a memo that outlined the changes requested by the Commission. Motion to issue ORAD 270-0721 by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Vote 6-0- 0. ORAD 270-0722, 259 & 267 Main Street, Map 12, Lot 39 & 40, Finngan Realty LLC Mr. Tirone noted that the applicant updated the plan and this ORAD reflects the changes the Commission made onsite. One flag was moved and flags 100-117 mark the bank along Cross Street. Motion to sign ORAD 270-0722 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Mr. Flynn. Vote 6-0-0. Motion to issue ORAD 270-0722 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Vote 6- 0-0. RDA 2019-11, 220 Charles Street, Map 34 Lot 181, ]armusik Mr. Tirane stated that the only condition added to the RDA was the removal of two deposits of yard waste. Motion to sign RDA 2019-11 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Vote 6-0-0. Motion to close RDA 2019-11 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 6-0-0. Minutes: Ms. Longley requested that"it was discussed that the planting should take place no later than 12 months from the issuance of the order of conditions" be added to the NOI 270- 0717, 107 Main Street, Map 8 Lots 1, Palmer section of the minutes from August 14, 2019. Motion to approve minutes from August 14, 2019 as amended by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Vote 6-0-0. NOI 270-0723, 101 Willow Street Map 26, 25 Lot 75 45, 43, Austin Preparatory School Chris Huntress presented changes to the plan. A split rail fence with a wire back was added along the 25-foot buffer. A series of plants were added to the planting plan to enhance the wetland replication. The plan was updated to correctly identify the 25-foot, 35 foot, and 100-foot buffer zones. Tyler Ferrick reviewed the replication area and tree inventory and noted that there are three trees in the proposed replication area which will need to be removed, which will be replaced with three red maple trees. The replication area will be excavated one foot below the existing wetland elevation, then filled with wetland soil mix. The finished elevation will match the adjacent wetland onsite. Mr. Tirone asked if any obstacles, such as a tree root or tree that fell but continued to grow, would be removed if encountered. Mr. Ferrick stated that if there are any roots, they would be flush cut so they could re-sprout. Mr. Huntress stated that if any obstacles are discovered, they will contact Mr. Tirone. Page 1 2 Mr. Tirone asked about protection for Causeway Road and the 15-inch pipe. Mr. Huntress stated that they plan to use heavy duty construction matting which is thick enough to put over wet areas and drive machines across it. Mr. Tirone noted that the School will have to maintain vacuuming up the crumb rubber from the artificial turf. He asked why the path around the field is not pervious. Mr. Huntress stated that AAB and ADA no longer allows for soft surfaces such as wood chips, to be used, and pavers were cost prohibitive. Chris Latham presented a memorandum of understanding signed by the Select Board and Austin Prep, which agrees to provide $75,000 in value, materials, and potential labor casts relative to the replacement of the culvert on Causeway Road. Benefits of fixing the culvert include improved Flaw of the Aberjona River, better water quality through recharge and infiltration, and greater Flood control. Mr. Tirone reviewed changes to the Order of Conditions. Austin Prep was hoping that a bond would not be required. But the Commission considered issues with a previous project at Austin Prep, and agreed that a bond would provide good protection for the Town. Concrete bounds will be 4-inches by 4-inches and posted on a 3-foot granite or concrete post behind the split rail fence. A condition relative to the tennis courts was removed. Ms. Longley asked that the planting specifications include sensitive fern in the seed mix and mention the planting of the three red maples, arrowwood and silky dogwood trees. She asked why the applicant estimated a six-month construction period. Mr. Huntress stated that construction will start in September and is expected to last three or four months. Six months is specified just in case the construction goes into winter. Motion to close NOI 270-0723 by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Vote 6-0-0. Motion to issue Order of Conditions for NOI 270-0723 by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 6-0-0. 128 Fairchild Drive, Dopler Ms. Longley reviewed the site visit she took with Mr. Tirone and noted a lot of disturbance beyond the erosion control into the wetland. The plan the Commission approved was to Flatten out part of the backyard in order to install a patio, expand the existing deck, and construct retaining walls. Nineteen trees were to be removed and replaced with eight trees and 26 shrubs. Due to the condition of the site and damage that had been caused, the Commission and the Building Department stopped the job. Sand had been piled up and was spilling over the straw wattle and into the wetland. There was a tree leaning with bark that had been damaged up high. The tree removers were supposed to use a crane, but it was evident that they had not done so. Mr. Tirone noted that a number of trees appeared to be crushed because something fell on them; branches were broken; gravel, sand and topsoil had been dumped and was cascading over the retaining wall and straw wattle; shrubs on the other side of the straw wattle had been removed. The Commission discussed whether the homeowner or contractor should be held accountable for the situation. Ultimately, they decided that the homeowner should contact a qualified professional knowledgeable in wetland science and assess and make recommendations on how to correct the issue, and provide the report to the Commission. An orange fence should be installed to mark the limit of work, and the staging area should be off the driveway in the front. Violation, Tree Removal 82 Fairchild Drive, Williams Mr. Tirane had previously visited the property with Bob Moses, tree expert, and let the homeowner know that a permit would be needed to remove some trees. However, the homeowner did not pull the necessary permits prior to completing the work. Page 1 3 Mr. Tirone reviewed the site visit he took with Ms. Longley. Five large oak trees, six medium pine trees, and a row of arbor vitae had been removed from the property. However, only the five oak trees at the end of the driveway were within the Commission's jurisdictional area. To replace the trees that were removed from the buffer zone, the Commission discussed whether to issue an enforcement order or have the homeowner submit an RDA or an NOI. The RDA and NOI would be to notify abutters, and where the neighbors have not complained, the Commission decided to allow the replacement to be done under an enforcement order. Mr. Scott plans to replace the existing picket fence that is falling down, with a six-foot vinyl fence, and plant 10 shrubs in front of it according to the tree policy. He will also need to remove yard waste from the wetland behind the shed. He will provide a site plan with planting plan at the next meeting on September 11, 2019. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 6-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:12pm. Page 1 4