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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-26 Conservation Commission Minutes Town of Reading REG E N ED 3 r Meeting Minutes TOWN cl-ERK �a 4 ❑ c,"•.C I . LAA „ oa Board - Committee - Commission - Council: I'(1 li 'Y 121 AM H: 15 Conservation Commission Date: 2020-08-26 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, Carl Saccone, John Sullivan, Martha Moore, Scott Keefe, Associate Member Nichola Meserve; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: David Pinette, Associate Member Tay Evans Others Present: Karen Herrick, Ryan Percival, Maggie Lofstedt, Jack Sullivan, Mike Puglia, Ann Martin, Joe Peznola Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Chuck Twone Topics of Discussion: The meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Mr. Flynn called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 0 South Street DEP File No. 270-0735 Town Engineer Ryan Percival and Maggie Lofstedt of CDM Smith presented updates to the plan and answers to questions raised by the Commission at the previous meeting. The project seeks to replace the pump station at Sturges Park with submersible pumps within the Conservation Commission's jurisdiction. The backup generator will be gas-powered. It will be located on the left side of the pump station with a gas line connecting off of South Street. The generator will be tested only once a week to maintain its functionality. The Commission also had concerns regarding the tie-in into the existing force main near the bank of the brook, the depth of the main, and about compost logs. The force main is intended to make the connection adjacent to the pump site. The anticipated depth is 6-7 feet. The proposed compost logs were changed to a silt fence with chain link fence. Dewatering detail was added to the plan, but because the consultant cannot dictate the means and methods, a condition will be included in the DOC requiring the contractor to submit their dewatering plan to the Commission for review and approval. Three pine trees will be removed, and the replacement trees will be 21h-inch caliper American Linden trees, instead of the 2-inch caliper originally indicated in the plan. Motion to close the public hearing for NOI 270-0735 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Page 1 1 23 Temple Road DEP File No. 270-0734 Mr. Flynn reopened the Public Hearing. Jack Sullivan of Sullivan Engineering reviewed changes to the plan as requested by the Commission at the previous meeting. A 2-foot by 2-foot crushed stone drip trench along the drip line of the front and rear sides of the addition replaced the drywell on the original plan due to a high water table on the site. A foundation drain will discharge to a buried pit of crushed stone surrounded by filter fabric. Motion to close the Public Hearing for NOI 270-0734 by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. 43 Woodland Street RBG File No. RDA 2020-8 Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing. Mike Puglia, the homeowner, is proposing to construct a screen porch, replacing the existing deck within the 100-foot bvw buffer zone. No trees will be removed. The current deck is 10-feet by 16-feet and will be replaced with an expanded 20-foot by 16-foot screen porch. There will be no additional foundation, but sonotubes will be used to support the new structure. A bobcat will be used to excavate for the footings. Bales of hay are proposed to prevent runoff. The Commission asked for the soil stockpile location to be added to the plans, the erosion control to be moved closer to the work area, and for more detail on the footings. Motion to continue RDA 2020-8 by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Old/New Business: 270-0727. 259 & 267 Main Street. Mao 12 Lots 39 & 40, lav Finnegan. Stoneciate Construction Coro. Ann Martin and Joe Peznola were present to review the Order of Conditions for the project. The hearing was closed a few meetings ago with the understanding that the OOC would not be issued until the project had been approved by CPDC and the Zoning Board. Mr. Peznola expressed concern with the 5-year invasive species monitoring condition, as he was concerned that it may have an impact on closings for the units in the building. Ms. Martin assured him that it would not be linked to the closings for units and recommended that the condition remain at 5 years. Ms. Martin and the Commission discussed some minor revisions to the OOC including: looking at the stormtech chamber after one-inch of sediment, make clear in the operations and maintenance plan that the condo association will be responsible for maintaining the boardwalk and the path leading to it, and any backfill material will be free of contaminants. Motion to issue Order of Conditions for NOI 270-0727 by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Request the Select Board approve Warrant article transferring the Maillet Morgan Somas Land to the Conservation Commission Mr. Tirone explained that portions of the Maillet Conservation Land, which consists of four parcels, were not owned by the Commission as a result of transfers not being processed correctly. The Morgan lot was deeded to the Town in 1886 by Elizabeth Morgan. In 1994 the Somes lot was deeded to the Town for conservation purposes. In 1999 it was discovered that the land was never transferred to the Conservation Commission. The land remained in the control of the Conservation Commission, but under the ownership of the Select Board. The Commission is seeking sponsorship from the Select Board of a warrant article for Spring Town Meeting to transfer ownership of the parcels to the Conservation Commission for open space management authority. Public comment will be sought so that everyone can be heard. The Commission will host the Trails Committee at a meeting in an effort to engage the community. Ms. Moore stated that she is a Town Meeting member and feels the article should pass if it is made clear that there is no money involved in the transfer and there will not be any change of use for the land. Page 1 2 Motion by Mr. Saccone to support the proposed warrant article, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Bond Reauest 17 Lenetta Lane NOI 270-0700 Mr. Tirone stated that Bill Lumbard requested the release of a portion of the bond held on lot 3 of the Lenetta Lane project. The total bond was for $5,000 and covered both lots 3 and 4. Lot 3 received its Certificate of Compliance on August 19, 2020. Mr. Tirone reviewed the property and noted that the plantings and trees are all in good shape and recommended that the Commission release half of the bond in the amount of $2,500 made out to S&L Homes 10 Middlesex Avenue, Wilmington. Motion to release half of the bond by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 6-0-0. COC Reauest 270-0559 53 Arcadia Avenue Mao 19 Lot 6 Haastrom DOA 53 Arcadia Ave RDA 2020-4. Haastrom Mr. Tirone noted that the applicant is still waiting for the DOA which the Commission voted for a negative determination at the last meeting. Motion to Issue DOA for RDA 2020-4 by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 6-0-0. COC Reauest 270-0532 RGB 2008-14, 18 Small Lane Mao 166 Lot 5 Hughes COC Reauest 270-0532 RGB 2008-15 22 small Lane Mao 166 Lot 14 Dymen Mr. Tirone reviewed the visit he and Ms. Moore took to the site where they spoke with the homeowner and advised him what invasive plants needed to be removed. When the homeowner is done with the work, he will contact the Commission to go back for a review. DOA 11 Plymouth Road RDA 2020-7. Dement The Commission issued a negative determination at the last meeting. Motion to issue RDA 2020-7 by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Mr. Keefe. Roll call vote 6-0-0. DOA 105 Lilah Lane RDA 2020-5 Burke The Commission issued a negative determination at the last meeting. Motion to issue RDA 2020-5 by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 6-0-0. COC 754 Pearl Street Mao 38 Lot 225 Dolan (Discussion) Mr. Tirone stated that he had been contacted by Karen Dolan of 754 Pearl Street who found an open Order of Conditions dating back to 1978 while conducting a title exam. Mr. Tirone was unable to find a COC in the Town's electronic files, but Ms. Dolan found an old copy. He explained two options to the Commission: the first option would be to wait for Mr. Tirone to review the paper archive files to see if there is a copy of the COC. If so, he can get a copy certificate notarized. The second option would be to ask Ms. Dolan to submit a new request Form 8A and the work would have to be verified by a professional engineer indicating that the work was done according to the OCC. The Commission agreed to have Mr. Tirone check the archives, then move forward with a new COC if the original cannot be found. Tree Policy Discussion The Commission reviewed the draft of the Tree Policy that was prepared by Mr. Tirone, Community Development Director Julie Mercier, and the DPW. The document was created following the clearing of trees along bvw at Charles Lawn cemetery which was done without notifying or receiving approval from the Conservation Commission. The Commission reviewed and made minor edits to the document including: clarifying that the policy covers conservation land, establishing notification requirements for emergency and non-emergency situations, and clarifying who is responsible for the primary decision to remove a tree. Motion to approve the Tree Policy as amended by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Page 1 3 Administrator's Report 14 Dean Street A neighbor anonymously reported that work was being done at 14 Dean Street. Mr. Flynn and Mr. Tirone visited the site and found and excavator doing work close to a stream area. The boss of the construction company explained that the project entailed some grading in the backyard, putting in drainage in the driveway, and putting in patio pavers near an existing pool within 100 feet of bvw. They were told to stop work. There was about two feet of fill used to grade the back yard and spread up to the edge of the bvw. Two trees and a fence had been removed. A driveway drain was created and discharged through a pipe at the headwall of the brook. Mr. Flynn encouraged members to visit the site and see what was done. The Commission discussed whether to ask for an RDA, or issue an enforcement order. After reviewing similar recent projects, the current condition of the site, that work was done without notification or approval, the Commission agreed to issue an enforcement order. Motion to issue Enforcement Order for 14 Dean Street by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Minutes: Ms. Moore made a correction to the July 22, 2020 minutes for 105 Lilah Lane. The minutes indicated that the propane path would be gravel, but the plan shows pavers. Motion to approve the meeting minutes from July 8, 2020 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Motion to approve the meeting minutes of July 22, 2020 as amended by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Last-Minute Reminders: Mr. Saccone had picked up the"No Dumping" signs and delivered them to DPW. DPW then installed them along the frequent dumping area along Longfellow Road. Mr. Throne noted that additional "No biking" signs were also put up at Bare Meadow, but two more were needed and ordered. The Commission will review where biking is allowed at a future meeting. Mr. Flynn noted that Mr. Tirone is involved with the Open Space and Recreation Plan and encouraged other members to get involved. Mr. Tirone reminded the Commission of the upcoming site visit scheduled for 56 Grey Coach Lane. There was a past violation where the land was clear cut in the back and the homeowner wants to close it out. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Saccone, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 pm. Page 1 4