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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-23 Conservation Commission Minutes Town of Reading F, CC E IV ED x Meeting Minutes TCWN CLERK I, A. utox Board - Committee - Commission - Council: N21 NuY 12 AM 11: 15 Conservation Commission Date: 2020-09-23 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Public Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Michael Flynn, Vice Chair Annika scanlon, Martha Moore, David Pinette, Carl Saccone, John Sullivan, Associate Member Nichola Meserve; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: Scott Keefe, Associate Member Tay Evans Others Present: John Barrows, Brendon Boyson, Steve Erickson, Adam Sperling, Brad Latham, Brian Devirgeillo, Alan Rosh, Manny Singh, Michael Puglia Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Chuck Tirone Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Chair Michael Flynn called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm. 36 Whittier Road. Mao 22 Lots 150, DEP File No. 270-0736 Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing. John Barrows was present with homeowner Brandon Boyson to present the proposal to add an 18ft x 21ft addition and a loft x 16ft open wood deck to the rear of the existing home. The closest point of the addition to the wetland is 43.6 feet, and the closest point of the deck to the wetland is 35.6 feet. The proposal includes a subsurface stormwater recharge system for roof runoff from the addition into an HDPE arch chamber system with crushed stone. Straw wattles will provide erosion control around the perimeter of the work area. The deck will be at the same level as the first story, high enough to be able to walk under it, with crushed stone underneath. The fence needs to be replaced, and the Commission advised the applicant that he could replace the fence as part of this permit. Stairs will lead down from the deck toward the front of the house, though they were not depicted in the plans. While the applicant does not plan to have stairs from the deck toward the backyard at this time, if he wants to add them, he will have to come back before the Commission. An existing patio area consisting of concrete blocks will be removed. For a dump truck to access the backyard to remove excavated earth, a fence and two shrubs will need to be removed. The Commission requested that conditions be added including: not compacting the soil in the drainage area, replanting two shrubs anywhere within the 100 foot buffer zone, seeding the earth in the area from where the patio is removed, and steps from the deck need to be off the front and not the back of the deck. Motion to close the Public Hearing NOI 270-0736 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Page 1 1 Motion to issue Order of Conditions for NOI 270-0736 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. 118 Belmont Street. Mao 28 Lots 12, DEP File No. 270-0737 Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing. Steven Erickson of Norse Environmental was present with homeowner Adam Sperling to review his proposal to install an inground pool in his backyard. The location of the pool is as far away from the wetland area, while still being in the backyard, and outside the 35-foot buffer zone. The existing patio will be replaced by the pool and a patio surrounding the pool. Two evergreen trees will need to be removed from the left side of the house for construction access, and will be replaced. A fence coming from the side of the house with two arbor vitae next to it will be removed and replaced along with replacement plants. The Commission requested that gravel be added to the end of the patio to help with filtration, to which the applicant agreed. Motion to close the Public Hearing for NOI 270-0737 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Motion to issue Order of Conditions for NOI 270-0737 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. 14 Strawberry Hill Lane. Mao 7 Lots 193, RDA 2020-10 Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing. Homeowner Brian DeVirgeillo presented his request to remove 5 ailanthus trees within the 100 foot buffer zone in his backyard. There is a potential vernal pool in the area, which was a certified vernal pool at one time, later decertified, but could potentially return. The Commission agreed that the ailanthus trees are in poor condition and can be taken down, and most agreed that additional plantings would be needed to replenish the habitat. But more Commissioners will need to visit the site to see what plants are there and where additional trees or shrubs could be planted after the ailanthus trees are removed. Motion to continue RDA 2020-30 by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Old/New Business: Sign Conservation Restriction for Camp Rice Moody Attorney Brad Latham reviewed the site which is currently owned by a non-profit and has existed as a Girl Scout camp since 1910. The non-profit would like to turn it over to the Girl Scouts, but want a Conservation Restriction in place to ensure that it does not get developed into houses in the future. Two acres are for conservation preservation and six acres are for recreation preservation. The owner wants to protect the wetland and preserve the different features of the different areas. Once the Commission signs the Conservation Restriction, the Select Board will need to sign it, then it will be sent to the state. Members of the Commission will sign it, pass it along, then return it to Attorney Latham's Office. Motion to approve the Camp Rice Moody Conservation Restriction as written by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 6-0-0. COC 270-0654, 20 Dean Road, Map 46 Lot 133, Rosh Mr. Pinette reviewed his visit to the site and noted that it looked good, though there was a small amount of yard waste, blocks, bricks, and wood at the end of the driveway towards the wetland. The Commission asked the homeowner to clean up the debris, to which the homeowner agreed. Motion to issue COC 270-0654 by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. COC 270-0725, 10 Gregory Lane, Map 50 lot 4, Singh Page 1 2 The Commission discussed some of the granite bounds that appeared to be somewhat offset. They agreed that one boundary marker should be moved closer to the shed, and the boundary marker in the middle could be removed. Motion to issue COC 270-0725 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. COC 270-0691, 56 Grey Coach Road, Map 46 Lot 50, Gifford COC 270-0692, 3 Carriage Lane, Map 46 lot 51, Thomson COC 270-0693, 62 Grey Coach Road, Map 47 Lot 30, Triglione A number of trees were taken down behind the three properties a few years ago that allowed buckthorn to grow invasively. The orders of conditions required replanting, addition of wetland boundary markers, and invasive species removal and monitoring. For three years, invasive buckthorn has been pulled and treated, but continues to come back. The Commission agreed that it was unfortunate and short of removing the organic layer and replacing with clean fill, there is no sure way to eradicate the buckthorn. The replacement plantings have survived, and the boundary markers are in place. Two of the properties are no longer owned by the applicants, but the current homeowners are aware of the situation. Motion to Issue COC 270-0692 3 Carriage Lane by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Motion to issue COC 270-0691 56 Grey Coach Road by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Motion to issue COC 270-0693 62 Grey Coach Road by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. DOC 270-0735, 0 South Street, Map ROW Lot ROW, Reading Engineering Division The Commission approved the pump station project at a previous meeting and needed to issue the Order of Conditions. Motion to issue DOC 270-0735 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. DOC 270-0734, 23 Temple Road, Map 16 Lot 340, Grappi The Commission approved the project to add a second story to the existing house at a previous meeting and needed to issue the Order of Conditions. Motion to issue DOC 270-0734 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. DOA 2020-8, 43 Woodland Street, Map 26 Lot 110, Puglia Mr. Tirone stated that with the meeting of September g'h being cancelled, he allowed the applicant to proceed with his project to replace his existing deck with an expanded, screened-in porch. The Commission needed to issue the RDA. Motion to issue negative determination for 43 Woodland Street by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Administrator's Report: Birch Meadow Master Plan Update Ms. Moore provided a report on modifications to the Birch Meadow Plan. The original plan had a small baseball field in the corner of Castine Field, but the new plan leaves Castine Field the way it is. A proposed parking lot on John carver Road was removed. But there are two small parking lots still proposed on the outside of the curve. The Birch Meadow Master Plan Team seems to be listening to the concerns of the Conservation Commission and not affecting the wetland. Drainage Ditch Cleanout at the I-93 Ramp Page 1 3 Mr. Tirone reviewed Mass Highway's plan to clean out a ditch along Border Road by the I-93 off-ramp. They will remove fallen trees and other debris from the ditch and will access the ditch from the highway side. No soil will be removed, only obstructions. An excavator will reach the debris without having to work in the ditch. Xavier Conservation Area/ Jonathan and Xavier Perrino Mr. Tirone stated that Xavier is Jonathan's son who noticed that the Xavier Conservation Area sign is in disrepair and contacted him to ask permission to fix it. The Commission asked for a before and after picture of the work and thanked the Perrino family for taking on the work. Enforcement Order: 14 Dean Road Steve Erickson was present with the homeowner to review the plan of work under the enforcement order issued by the Commission. The plan calls for loaming, seeding, installing a fence, and building a retaining wall. The landscaper installed a stone retaining wall along the side of the property, but because it was over four feet high, it needed approval from the building department and structural engineer review. The structural engineer said that the wall would not hold, and Mr. Erickson is proposing to build a 2-3 foot stone wall a few feet in front of it to help stabilize the wall. The Commission objected because that would mean encroaching more into the 35 foot zone, removing trees and other vegetation, bringing in additional fill and creating an additional disturbance. They request that the wall be removed, the area regraded and a smaller wall installed. Two trees have already been removed and will need to be replaced in accordance with the tree policy. Mr. Tirone asked Mr. Erickson to send him an updated plan and bring a printed copy with him to the pre-activity meeting. Motion to amend Enforcement Order for 14 Dean Road with conditions as discussed by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Last Minute Reminders: Mr. Flynn stated that the Commission will discuss getting an environmental monitor for 259 &267 Main Street at the next meeting. The applicant has been asked for qualifications for their proposed monitor, but the Commission has asked them to reach out to Ann Martin, as she is familiar with the project. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 11:10 pm. Page 1 4