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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-12 Conservation Commission Minutes Town of Reading RE,- E I V ELI z Meeting Minutes 'OWN CLERK. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2321 Wi 12 AM 11: 15 Conservation Commission Date: 2020-08-12 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, David Pinette, Carl Saccone, John Sullivan, Martha Moore, Scott Keefe; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: Associate Members: Nichola Meserve, Tay Evans Others Present: Lori Burke, Greg Hochmuth, Alex Rozycki, ]ane Kinsella, Magdalena Lofstedt, Nick Safina, Jack Sullivan, Michael Seekamp Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Chuck Tirone Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Mr. Flynn called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm. 105 Lilah Lane RGB File No. RDA 2020-5 Mr. Flynn reopened the Public Hearing. Lori Burke presented changes to her plan as requested by the Commission at the last meeting. The current deck is 16 feet by 18 feet and will have a roof added and will be screened in. A new 14-foot by 20-foot deck will be added with an open trellis. Stairs that were originally going down from the trellis deck will now go out from the existing rock wall, curve toward the house, and will be 15 feet away from the 35-foot no structure zone. The rain management system will be a gutter system on the left side of the roof. The walkway from the driveway to the door under the house deck will be 3 feet wide and constructed of pervious pavers with sand beneath. Under the deck will be a cement slab. A total of 30 native shrubs will be added around existing trees. A 3-foot border will be added around the existing pool deck and will either be limestone pavers or natural stone. The Commission agreed that all of their concerns were addressed in the new plan but requested additional information and clarifications provided at this meeting be added to the plan. Motion to close the Public Hearing by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Carl Saccone. Roll call vote 7-0-0. Motion for negative determination with conditions by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 7-0-0. 53 Arcadia Avenue RGB File No. RDA 2020-4 Mr. Flynn reopened the Public Hearing. Greg Hochmuth of Williams and Sparages was present representing Erik Hagstrom, the homeowner. Mr. Hochmuth reviewed what was Page I 1 done to address the Commission's concerns from the previous meeting. There are two outstanding Certificate of Compliance requests that cannot be completed because they have expired. Those out standing items are being addressed in this RDA so that the applicant can then come back for the COC requests. One of the prior orders asked for a Swale to be created to divert water away from a neighboring yard. A Swale was added to the right side of the house which should sheet flow into the swale and back into the river. Three 3-inch caliper sugar maples will be planted per the prior order. With the new RDA, the homeowner would like to remove five unhealthy spruce trees, one dead ash tree and one dead pine, and a 14-inch pine and a 14-inch hemlock which are not dead. Two 2-inch red maples are proposed to be planted next to the dead ash and dead pine. The homeowner is willing to donate to the Tree Fund. For the current application, the homeowner would like to expand the driveway, and even out the grading in the back yard. The Commission discussed the tree removal and mitigation. Removal of the two dead trees does not require replacements. Removal of the live pine and hemlock will be replaced by two red maples. The three sugar maples do not count toward the mitigation, as they are part of a prior order. For mitigation of removing the five spruce trees, the planting plan includes a river birch and a dogwood. The Commission requested another tree, possibly red maple, be planted along the 35-foot line, in addition to some shrubs along the wooded area. Motion for negative determination with conditions and incorporate new work description with sugar and red maple trees by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 7-0-0. 0 South Street DEP File No. 270-0735 Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing for the NOI fled by the Engineering Department. Engineer Alex Rozycki was present with DPW Director, ]ane Kinsella, and Magdalena Lofstedt of CMD Smith to review the plan to replace the existing wastewater pump station and install a backup generator at Sturges Park. The current system is 65 years old and handles flow from 530 properties. The work will be done within the 200-foot and 100-foot zones. The pump station is currently in the parking lot of Sturges Park, but part of the pavement will be removed as part of the project. Most work will be contained in the parking lot. For erosion control, there will be staked compost logs at the limit of work and around soil stockpiles. The contractor will be required to submit dewatering plans prior to construction. There will be crushed stone around the emergency generator which will be enclosed by a 7-foot fence. The area which was formerly pavement will be replaced with reinforced turf, reducing the impervious area by 415 feet. Three white pine trees will be removed and are proposed to be replaced by three 2.5-inch caliper dogwood trees. The Commission noted that the tree polity asks for 5-inch caliper trees when replacing and asked that the plan be amended. Nick Safina of 221 South Street asked why not ask for larger replacement trees, as the existing ones provide a lot of shade for the playground. Mr. Flynn explained the Commission's replacement policy. Mr. Safina then asked how often the backup generator would be tested. Mr. Rozycki explained they need to be tested to be maintained, but would only turn on during a large power failure. But they can work out a time for the maintenance. The Commission asked for the confirmation on the generator, revision to tree caliper, marking the stockpiling area and depth of the forced main on the plan. Ms. Lofstedt confirmed that the backup generator is gas-powered and stated that they will provide a written response and updated plans before the next meeting. Motion to continue NOI 270-0735 by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 7-0-0. 23 Temple Road DEP File No. 270-0734 Page 1 2 Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing. lack Sullivan of Sullivan Engineering Group was present on behalf of the applicants, Daniel and Michelle Grappi. The applicants received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals on August 5th for a special permit for the proposed addition. All work falls within the 100-foot buffer zone. The proposed two-story addition is 75-feet from the wetland and the limit of work is 58-feet from the wetland line. A 26-inch hardwood tree is to be removed to the rear of the addition and three arbor vitae will be planted along the fence as mitigation with the possibility of some additional plantings in the back yard. For roof runoff, a 2-foot by 2-foot crushed stone drip trench will be added along the addition, as a drywell may not be appropriate given the high water table on the site. There will be a perimeter drain in the new basement which will discharge into a crushed stone area. The Commission requested a revised plan that identifies where the drip trench is and where the foundation pump will drain. Motion to continue by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 7-0-0. 11 Plymouth Road RGB File No. RDA 2020-7 Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing. Michael Seekamp of Seekamp Environmental Consulting reviewed the RDA on behalf of the applicant, Lindsey Dyment. The homeowner is seeking to add a second level to the existing single-family home, which is within 25 feet of a wetland. The only outside work will be a rock wall toward Plymouth Road. All materials and a dumpster will be staged in front of the house. The project proposes to raise the front wall by three feet and re-shape the roofline. The overhang will be the same as it is now. There will be no increase of impervious surface. Erosion control will be established, though it will act more as a limit of work, as there is no work being done in the rear of the house. The Commission requested an infiltration trench be added and a condition that any flyaway debris will be collected and disposed in the dumpster. Motion to issue negative determination with conditions by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 7-0-0. Old/New Business: COC Reauest 270-0532 RGB 2008-14, 18 Small Lane. Mao 166. Lot 5. Huahes COC Reauest 270-0532 RGB 2008-15, 22 Small Lane, Mao 166. Lot 14, Dvmen Mr. Tirone and Ms. Moore reviewed their visit to the site. At 22 Small Lane, also referred to as Lot A, there was a lot of overgrowth on the north side of the property. Beyond the overgrowth was a typical forest area. Between the side and back, there was a lot of buckthorn and other invasive plant species. They found a red maple and white pine, but were unable to determine whether they were plantings from the previous restoration plan. Multiflora rose was thick in some areas. After speaking with the homeowner, they suggested breaking up the work into two sections: remove the invasive species in Lot A, then have the Commission review to make further planting suggestions, or see if native growth will move in. For Lot B (18 Small Lane), there are only two or three areas that needed to be addressed. The homeowner agreed with the suggestions to remove the invasive species and the brush pile beyond the gate. DOC 106 Colonial Drive. Mao 40. Lot 146. DEP File No. 270-0733 Mr. Tirone stated that he just needed permission to send the order. Motion to issue Order of Conditions for 106 Colonial Drive by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 7-0-0. DOA 88 Timberneck Drive. Mao 145. Lot 19, RGB File No. RDA 2020-6 Mr. Tirone noted that this matter was all set and had a negative determination at the last meeting. 270-0728 0 Haverhill Street. Mao 29. Lots 94 & 95. Hall, MG Hall Contracting Mr. Tirone reviewed the correspondence he had with the applicant's attorney, Bill Crowley, and the changes made to the draft order of conditions. Mr. Crowley requested that the Conservation Restriction be removed due to timing issues. The Commission agreed that they wanted to keep the option open, but would rather see the land gifted to the Town. The Page 13 Commission also discussed the need for a bond and agreed to set the bond amount at $5,000. Should occupancy be ready prior to landscaping, Mr. Tirone noted that he would sign-off on the occupancy for the building, but not the COC for the project. Motion to issue order of conditions as amended by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 7-0-0. 270-0727 259 & 267 Main Street, Mao 12. Lots 39 & 40. Jay Finnegan. Stoneaate Mr. Tirane stated that he just received the updated DOC today, which is not enough time for the Commission to review. He will send the document to the Commission tomorrow or Friday to give members enough time to review it before the next meeting. The applicant has closed with CPDC with the only question being who is responsible for the maintenance of the Boardwalk and walking path. Mr. Tirone will follow up with the Trails Committee to find out if there has been a standard for maintenance on these in the past. Minutes: Motion to approve the meeting minutes of June 24, 2020 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 7-0-0. Motion to approve the meeting minutes of July 8, 2020 by Mr. Pinette, seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Roll call vote 7-0-0. Last Minute Reminders: "No Dumping" Sions Ms. Moore asked for an update on the "No Dumping" signs for Longfellow Road. Mr. Tirone stated that he has not yet picked them up and asked the members if any of them would be available to pick them up at the vendor in Woburn and drop them at the DPW garage. Mr. Saccone volunteered. The "No Biking" signs will go to Will Finch to be posted at the kiosks at Bare Meadow. Tree Policy The Commission reviewed the proposed tree polity which was drafted with Planning and the DPW to try and develop a procedure with how to deal with trees. The issue was raised after a number of trees were removed near wetlands at the Charles Lawn Cemetery without notifying the Commission. The goal of the policy is to clearly identify who can authorize the removal of trees in Conservation's jurisdictional area and when. Mr. Tirone will use the Commission's feedback and continue working on the policy with Planning and DPW. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll call vote 7-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:58 pm. Page 14