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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-10 Conservation Commission Minutes Town of Reading rx t G c IV ED Meeting Minutes TO`OiN CLERK 0 qy- Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2$21 NG w' 12 AM 11: 14 Conservation Commission Date: 2020-06-10 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Public Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Michael Flynn, Martha Moore, Carl Saccone, John Sullivan, David Pinette; Associate Members: Scott Keefe, Nichola Meserve; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: Vice Chair Annika Scanlon, Robert Hayes Others Present: Joseph Ciccarello, Jack Sullivan, Chris Cole, Jane Kinsella, Marilyn Reid, Peter Ogren, Ryan Percival, Ralph Poirier Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Chuck Tirone Topics of Discussion: Mr. Flynn called the meeting to order at 7:24pm. DEP File No. 270-0728 — 0 Haverhill Street Continued to lune 24, 2020. DEP File No. 270-0732 — 48 Pasture Road Mr. Flynn opened the Public Hearing. Joseph Ciccarello presented the plan with Jack Sullivan of Sullivan Engineering Group. The proposal includes the demolition of an existing deck in the rear of the house so an addition can be built in the same area. A new deck would be added with steps down to a paver area. The closest point of the addition to the wetland is 50 feet. The patio and deck are 46 feet away. No trees are proposed to be cut. A 12-inch diameter mulch sock will provide erosion control. Roof runoff will be captured in a 2-foot by 2-foot stone drip trench along the roofline. Motion to continue NOI 270-0732 by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 4-0-0. RGB File No. RDA 2020-3 — O Charles Street (Charles Lawn Cemetery) DPW Director, Jane Kinsella, and Assistant DPW Director, Chris Cole, reviewed the plan to remove trees in Charles Lawn Cemetery. The Town Tree Warden, Mike Hannaford, determined trees and limbs around the perimeter of the cemetery that posed safety risks to DPW employees as well as the general public. Additional trees abutting a stone retaining wall are also proposed to be removed to prevent the demise of the retaining wall. All trims and removals are within the 100-foot buffer zone. There are 5 areas to be addressed, and a lot of tree removal work has already been completed in area 1 along the left side of the cemetery. Mr. Cole noted that anything removed was only invasive species, vines, or dead Page 1 1 trees that were creating a safety issue for people in the cemetery and creating an issue for mowing. The Commission discussed the number of trees to be removed and number of trees to have leaders or other hazardous portions trimmed, and replacement of trees. The Commission will visit the site with Ms. Kinsella, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Hannaford to determine which trees will be removed, which trees will be trimmed, and discuss a suitable replacement plan. Motion to continue by Mr. Saccone. seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Roll call vote 4-0-0. DEP File No. 270-0733 — 106 Colonial Drive Mr. Tirone opened the Public Hearing. Homeowner Marilyn Reid was present with Peter Ogren of Hayes Engineering. Ms. Reid would like to replace an existing retaining wall in the backyard because it is failing. It will be replaced with an engineered wall in front of it. The new wall will not need concrete, as a small bed of gravel will support it. The wall and all work will be outside of the 35-foot no structure zone. Ms. Reid is also proposing to regrade a small portion of the backyard to gain easier mower access to the lower portion of the yard, install paver blocks in the patio area, and add a 12- foot by 32-foot lap pool with bluestone patio surrounding it. There are some trees of concern including two within the 35-foot zone, and two within the 25-foot zone that are very high, reaching toward the house, and need to be trimmed back every couple of years. Mr. Ogren will consult with a botanist to find out what trees will be less bushy to plant as replacements. Mr. Tirone also asked for monuments marking the 25-foot zone to be installed in conjunction with the replanting. Joann Senders of 98 Colonial Drive asked how the new retaining wall would tie into her existing retaining wall. Mr. Ogren stated that the old wall will stay where it is and the new wall will be buttressed up against it. Motion to continue by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 4-0-1, with Mr. Pinette abstaining because he arrived late. DEP File No. 270-0727 — 259 $ 267 Main Street Continued until June 24, 2020 at the applicant's request. Motion to continue by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Pinette. Roll Call vote 5-0-0. DEP File No. 270-0729 — Track Road (near 74 Track Road) Mr. Flynn reopened the Public Hearing and reviewed the project summary. Issues brought up by the Commission were resolved at the last meeting and no further public comment was received. Mr. Tirone noted that the order consisted of mostly"boiler plate" conditions, including notifying the Commission when milestones are met. A condition that the project be done in low-Flow conditions and done after three or four days of dry conditions, and for the contractor to monitor the weather forecast was also added. Mr. Tirone will invite the Commission to the pre-activity meeting. Motion to close NOI 270-0729 by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 5-0-0. Motion to issue Order of Conditions for 270-0729 by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 5-0-0. Reauest to remove 11 trees in Bare Meadow (south of the viewing platform). Poirier Mr. Tirone reviewed a complaint from a neighbor of Bare Meadow. Last September, Mr. Tirone and Mr. Hannaford visited the site because the homeowner, Ralph Poirier, called about a tree that had recently fallen in the Bare Meadow conservation land. Mr. Poirier would like 11 trees removed. Mr. Flynn reviewed his recent visit to the site and noted two or three trees that were pretty close and leaning toward the abutting home. The area is Page 1 2 rocky with ledge, which can mean shallow roots for the tall pines. Ms. Moore noted that she had no issue with removing the 11 trees, but suggested that some of them just be cut shorter to remain as habitat or woodpecker trees. The Commission discussed the condition of each of the trees in question. Mr. Poirier explained how three huge trees had previously fallen onto his property. But he is still extremely concerned about other trees that could still come down and possibly damage his house, or hurt his family. He had an arborist from Mayer Tree assess the trees, who recommended they be removed. The Commission agreed to visit the site with Mike Hannaford following the site visit to Charles Lawn Cemetery next Tuesday. Mr. Poirier will contact Mayer Tree and ask for one of their arborists to attend as well. Motion to authorize Mr. Throne, Mr. Flynn, and Mr. Hannaford to decide on which trees to remove by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 5-0-0. Old/New Business: 15 B Street Violation WPA Fillina Wetland Area Mr. Tirone explained to the Commission that Mike Hannaford was conducting a site visit for a property on B Street when he saw a neighbor filling in a wetland area. The homeowner indicated that he was putting a few inches of fill in the area because people were dumping in the wetlands and it was getting in his yard. Part of the work was being performed at 0 Haverhill Street that reaches across the wetland area and comes out on Libbey Street. The filling has created an issue with the closing of the proposed 0 Haverhill Street project. The attorney for the owner and contractor are trying to subdivide the land into three sections: Mark Hall will get the buildable lot, the Town will get the Conservation Restriction, and cutoff the third section that was filled and violated and give it to the homeowner. They want the Town to go after the homeowner that now owns the land. The Commission agreed that they do not want to accept this or get lawyers involved. Mr. Throne noted that with 0 Haverhill Street on the agenda for the next meeting, this may likely be resolved before then. Mattera Property Tree Evaluation and Parkins Area/Lobs Pond Parkhna Area The tree evaluation was discussed with Mr. Poirier earlier in the meeting. At the last meeting, Ms. Moore volunteered to draft a letter to the Commission's Select Board Liaison to request repairs to the parking area at Lobs Pond. Mr. Tirone noted that the parking areas at both Mattera Cabin and Lobs Pond are in bad shape, and explained that he would like to make one more attempt to work with Jane Kinsella and Ryan Percival of the DPW before involving the Select Board. He would like to see the parking areas at Mattera Cabin and Lobs Pond included on the maintenance schedule to be graded out each spring. Hydrant Install. Too Sohl. Ruts and Dewaterina on Mill Street Mr. Tirone provided a brief update indicating that he notified the DPW that the Commission did not like the way the area around the hydrant was filled with clay, causing discharge to run into the wetland. DPW fixed the problem earlier this week. OOC 270-0599 Request to Return the $2.500 Bond for Lot 3. 18 Lenetta lane The Commission usually waits a year before returning bonds. The project at 18 Lenetta Lane was completed about a year ago. The homeowner is currently building a swing area in the backyard, for which he got a minor project permit when he realized he needed one. Mr. Tirone noted that it is not a reason to hold up the bond. The Commission received a gift of land that connects to Bare Meadow. There was one tree removed, and one tree planted. The grass has grown in and the trees are doing well. Mr. Tirone gave the homeowner permission to remove a couple of dead trees that were still standing. Page 1 3 Motion to return the ;2,500 bond by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 5-0-0. DOA 2020-1 Enaineerina Division Maintenance and Road Reoair The DOA will be issued to DPW next week. Mr. Tirone typically drives with members of the Engineering Department to survey where erosion control needs to be installed. Last Minute Reminders: Mr. Flynn and Mr. Tirone asked Mr. Keefe if he would be appointed as a full member for a new term, as Mr. Hayes is not seeking reappointment. Mr. Keefe indicated that though he is still learning the regulations, he would agree to fill the seat rather than leave it vacant. Mr. Tirone reminded the Commission that they have another meeting in June and will vote to reorganize and vote on a Chair and Vice Chair at that meeting. He advocated for a very active Chair and Vice Chair. Mr. Tirone provided an update on "No Dumping" signs. He completed the final touches on the signs today and will order the signs tomorrow. Three signs will be placed at the entrances for Bare Meadow, two for Longfellow Road, and a few extra. Mr. Saccone noted that he observed someone dumping on Longfellow Road and that"word on the street" is that it is a place to dump. Motion to Adjourn by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Saccone. Roll call vote 5-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:27pm. Page 14