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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-11 Conservation Commission Minutes 4 rt'TA4 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes 1. h � } �^� ✓ - ' Board - Committee - commission - Council: - � 1•-(>#h' Conservation Commission Clf rho - P" 3: 45 Date: 2019-09-11 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, Annika Scanlon; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: Carl Saccone, Bob Hayes Others Present: Brad Latham, Lorraine Horn, Eric Burkhart, Bill Manuel, Lori, Steve Erickson, Bill Scott Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Chuck Tirone Topics of Discussion: Ms. Longley called the meeting to order at 7:00pm Camp Rice Moody, Conservation Restriction update, Latham Brad Latham was present with representatives from the Girl Scouts. He reviewed the objective of the Conservation Restriction to divide Camp Rice Moody into two areas: one for wetland preservation, and the other for recreation; and to ensure the land is never built upon for development. The Girl Scouts will maintain some level of Flexibility to update and modify the recreation area for their operations. Lorraine Horn of 99 Beaver Road asked when and why the land might be turned over to the Town. Mr. Latham explained that if the land was no longer used by the Girl Scouts for two years or more, then the Town would assume ownership, but the land would still be subject to the restriction. Because the Conservation Restriction has already been reviewed by the state, the Commission discussed their approval, but asked Mr. Tirone to review and give his approval as well. Mr. Tirone promised to review by next week as requested by Mr. Latham. Motion to accept the Conservation Restriction pending Mr. Tirone's review by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 4-0-0. RDA 2019-12, 161 Belmont Street, Map 28 Lot 89, Burkhart Eric Burkhart presented his proposal to tear down the existing deck in his backyard and replace it with a larger deck and a paved patio area with a firepit. Ms. Longley reviewed the site visit she took with Mr. Tirone and noted that the wetland Flags delineated by Bill Manuel cage I 1 seemed accurate. However, she was having difficulty following the plan that shows the proposed work. The backyard is very level and all work will take place in an existing maintained lawn area. There will be minimum removal of topsoil to prep the patio pavers. The Commission requested an improved plan that clarifies the wetland line, the 25-foot buffer, the 35-foot buffer, and the limit of the proposed work. Motion for negative determination by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Flynn with the conditions that the applicant provide a better sketch or site plan, the side of the deck is no closer than 46 feet to the wetland, and the top part of the patio is no closer than 28.5 feet to the wetland. Vote 4-0-0. NOI 270-0724, 59 Forest Street, Map 39 Lot 75 117, Gissetto Ms. Longley opened the Public Hearing. Bill Manuel reviewed the site plan and noted that a variance will be requested for a portion of the proposed driveway. The applicant would like to demolish a portion of the existing garage to expand and build living space above it. New footings will need to be excavated for frost walls. The garage will be outside the 35-foot no structure zone. However, a portion of the driveway will be expanded 11 feet into the no structure zone, totaling 56 square feet, and will need a variance. A total of 585 square feet of impervious area will be added by expanding the garage and driveway. Two cultec chambers will collect the roof runoff. As mitigation for encroaching into the 35-foot buffer zone, a 205 square foot area of Japanese knotweed will be excavated and back filled with clean loom to match the surrounding grade. Six 3-4 foot tall sweet pepper bushes will be planted in the area and natural vegetation should fill in around it. Lori, the homeowner will continue to dig up and spot treat the knotweed and within 2-3 years, it should be eradicated from the area. A mulch sock along the driveway will be added for erosion control during construction. Mr. Tirone requested that an orange construction fence be added behind the mulch sock for better visibility. Mr. Flynn asked if the utility easement and groundwater in the area will force the work out of that area. Mr. Manuel stated that work can easily be shifted away from there if the terms of the easement prohibit infiltration in the area. Motion to approve the variance request by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 4-0-0. Motion to close NOI 270-0724 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 4-0- 0. Motion to issue Order of Conditions with the condition of adding a construction fence by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 4-0-0. NOI 270-0714, 135, 139 & 149R Howard Street, Map 10 Lots 75, 76 & 77, Infrastructure Holdings LLC. Update. Ms. Longley stated that the hearing would be continued to the next meeting. The Commission received a letter from the applicant and Norse Environmental arguing that the Horsley Witten report was not definitive with regards to the intermittent channel. Steve Erickson of Norse Environmental felt that the wetland delineation is wrong. The Commission will meet with Horsley Witten and Norse Environmental at the site to review all the indicators together before the next meeting. Motion to continue NOI 270-0714 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Flynn. Vote 4- 0-0. Limits of Resource Area, Final Determination, 3 Zachary Lane, Map 51 Lot 114, Newman The property owner would like to remove some trees, but was told he was near a wetland area. Bill Manuel stated that he examined the property and did not agree that it is a Page 1 2 wetland. The vegetated area consists of upland plants, and borings did not find any hydric soils. The Commission had met with Mr. Manuel at the site the day before. There is a depression in the property that has been there for a long time and granite bounds marking the wetland. The homeowner will need to submit a plan, file an RDA, and use Mr. Manuel's study as evidence, in order for the Commission to determine if it is no longer a wetland area. Old/New Business: Violation, Tree Removal, 82 Fairchild Drive, Williams Mr. Scott presented his plan to plant five trees and ten bushes. The plan also addressed the yard waste to be removed and fence to be added. Ms. Scanlon asked when the planting would be done. Mr. Scott stated that his landscaper said it would be done in the next four weeks. The Commission agreed with the plan and advised Mr. Scott not to plant any later than October 15th, or after the first frost. Motion to accept the planting plan as sufficient to address the enforcement order by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Flynn. Vote 4-0-0. COC 270-0601, 115 Howard Street, Map 10 Lot 168, McLaughlin Mr. Tirone reviewed the site visit and noted that the applicant submitted an as-built plan and request letter. He recommended approval of the Certificate of Compliance. Motion to approve COC 270-0601 by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 4-0- 0. Motion to issue COC 270-0601 by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Vote 4-0-0. COC 270-0707, 366 Charles Street, Map 41 Lot 31, CIM Builders Inc. Mr. Tirone noted that all of the trees that the Commission asked to stay are still in place, the lawn is established, and there is no erosion from the downspouts. Ms. Scanlon asked if the erosion control had been taken up because the Town Engineer's memo from August 19th noted that it was still in place. Mr. Tirone stated that he would inform the developer to remove it. Motion to approve COC 270-0707 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Flynn. Vote 4- 0-0. Motion to issue COC 270-0707 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Flynn. Vote 4-0-0. 128 Fairchild, Dopler The applicant hired Greg Hochmuth of Williams Sparages to assess the damage from the trees that were dropped into the wetland. He recommended removing twin oaks and planting two red maples, and three cranberry bushes. The depressions in the wetland can be raked out with a steel rake by an expert. The area should not be affected by more sunlight due to branches that were removed from other trees. The seed bank is intact. 55 Walkers Brook Drive Mr. Tirone notified the Commission that two beaver dams have been located behind 55 Walkers Brook Drive. They are posing a public safety issue by causing excessive Flooding of local businesses. An emergency trapping license had been issued and the trapper will try to Page 1 3 breach the dam. If he is unable to breach the dam, he will trap the beaver. The only special condition is that he must notify the Conservation office when he starts the work on September 13th and when he completes the work by October 12th. Motion to issue emergency certification by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote 4-0-0. AU1111 Mr. Tirone stated that he received a bill for $19.71 from the Town of Reading Water & Sewer department for the parking access area at Bare Meadow Conservation Area. Motion to approve payment in the amount of $19.71 to Town of Reading by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Vote 4-0-0. Last Minute Reminders: Home Depot will be paving their parking lot beginning Sunday, September 15th. Conditions include: covering the storm drains, erosion control if it rains, keeping the area in front of Walkers Brook Drive clear, and responsibility for notifying the Conservation office when work begins and ends. Mr. Tirone stated that the appeal of the Commission's decision for 107 Main Street was submitted to the DEP. The abutter maintains that there was a violation of a previous decision that the Commission should have done something about. However, there was never an enforcement order. One tree and five arbor vitae were taken out by snow plows over time. Mr. Palmer of 107 Main Street is planning to remove four more trees with his parking project and provide full mitigation for the total of 11 trees that were removed. Ms. Scanlon noted that she would like to attend the MACC conference on October 19th. She will also be unavailable to attend the next Commission meeting on September 25th. Ms. Scanlon asked if there was an update on Mallet Conservation Area. Mr. Tirone stated that there is no update on Maillet. However, the Trails Committee is looking for volunteers on Saturday, September 21st, as that will be the day they actually span the Abedona River with the new bog bridge. Mr. Tirone announced that the Town is conducting a survey asking business owners what they think about the downtown area. He encouraged the Commission members to check out the survey. The Commission opted to review the minutes of August 28, 2019 at the next meeting. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Mr. Flynn. Meeting adjourned 9:35pm. Page 14