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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-09 Conservation Commission MinutesO� F /' Town of Reading 0�: Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2022-03-09 Building: Address: Purpose: Zoom Virtual Meeting - Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM Location: RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MA. p � 2022 JUN —7 PM 3: 25 d' Session: Open Session Version: Final Chair Annika Scanlon, Vice Chair Martha Moore, Member Andrew Dribin, Member Brian Bowe; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: Carl Saccone Others Present: David Kelly,Kwong & Kapeng Me, Lucas Perkins, Christopher Colantoni, Patrick Silva, Eileen Uterio, Joe DlGiovanni, Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Chuck Tirone Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Chair Annika Scanlon called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. The Chair called a roll call on who was in attendance. Mr. Tirone went through the Zoom meeting protocols. Public Hearings Scheduled: 1310 Main Street, Mag 41 Lot 75 & 84 Deo File No. 270-0746 The hearing was continued to April 13, 2022 at the applicant's request, No discussion Move to approve by Mr. Carnahan, Second by Mr. Bowe 6-0-0 0 Small Lane, Mag 40 & 41 Lot 153. 155 & 29 Deo File No. 270-0748 The hearing was continued to April 13, 2022 at the applicant's request, No discussion Move to approve by Mr. Carnahan, Second by Mr. Bowe 6-0-0 16 Varney Circle. Mao 29 Lot 109 Dep File No. 270-0764 Continue the Public Hearing for a Notice of Intent, filed by Theodore Carmone, Under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, M.G.L. Chapter 131, § 40 and/or the Reading Wetland protection By-law, Section 7.1, for constructing two additions onto an existing single-family house within Buffer Zones to a Border Vegetated Wetland. (Assessor's Map 29 Lot 109 DEP File No. 270-0754) Page I 1 The revised plan was provided by Jack Sullivan on March 6: Wetland flags have been moved up gradient as per the Commission's past feedback. All of the structure of the proposed addition apart from the drip trench is now outside the 35 -foot zone. The existing shed within 25 -foot Zone of Natural Vegetation is to be removed. Comments from the Commission: Mr. Carnahan is pleased to see the shed removed from the 25 -foot buffer zone. Ms. Moore and Ms. Scanlon thanked Mr. Carmone for considering donating land to the Commission that would have connected two existing conservation areas and encouraged him to consider the possibility again in the future. Both agreed that a donation of land or another concession would not be needed for the Conservation Commission to be able to approve this project. Mr. Dribin confirmed that no trees were being removed as part of this project. No comments from the public Motion to close the hearing by Mr. Carnahan, seconded by Ms. Moore, vote 6-0-0 Mr. Tirone will prepare an Order of Conditions for the Commission to review and vote on at the next Conservation Commission meeting on March 23. Lot A Main Street, next to 1261 Main Street. Mao 51 Lot 95. Next to 1261 Main Street DEP File No. 270-0749 Continue the Public Hearing on a Notice of Intent, filed by LLC, Frank Lanzillo, Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, Section 40, the Wetlands Protection Act. The applicant proposes the construction of a new single-family dwelling on a vacant lot. New improvements also include a driveway and utilities. All work is within 100 feet of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland. (Assessor's Map 51 Lot 95, Next to 1261 Main Street DEP File No. 270-0749) The Commission received updated plans for the proposed house on March 2. The new plans showed the house and driveway more than 100 -feet outside of the potential vernal pool habitat area and 35 -feet from the bordering vegetated wetland. The vegetation plan shows 28 trees are to be removed, with 46 shrubs and 5 trees to be planted as part of the landscape. Comments from the Commission: Mr. Carnahan asked about the rip -rap outfall and drain underneath the driveway, which used to drain from the rain garden that existed in earlier drafts of these plans. He and Ms. Scanlon asked for more information about how water goes into that drain and for details about the outfall area. Ms. Moore noted an extra tree on the plan that is not counted among the five to be planted and that is currently depicted in the driveway. That can probably be removed from the plan. Ms. Moore asked about the width of the driveway, which starts at 16' at Main Street, narrows slightly in the middle, and expands to 22' at the garage entrance. Ms. Moore asked where snow would be stored given the driveway's move to the left, and she suggested limitations in the order Page 1 2 of conditions to require snow storage near the turnaround at Main Street and/or to request it to be removed. Mr. Tirone noted that snow can be stored within the 35' buffer zone around a BVW on lawn or on a crushed -stone pad, but the order of conditions would need to specify the maintenance of the pad. He also noted that the Commission could add a condition prohibiting the use of Sodium Chloride on the driveway and noted that plowing snow into the 35' zone could be acceptable if it does not threaten the driveway drain or vegetation. Mr. Dribin observed that it would be easier to approve this project if we could get the vernal pool to be certified, given that the current vernal pool location is approximate and yet it is currently dictating the location of the structure very precisely. He repeated the observation from a previous meeting that this time of year would be the ideal time to certify the pool's existence and location. Mr. Dribin asked for more diversity of plants in the planting plan, and he expressed openness to the idea of granting a variance for the driveway in order to restore the rain garden and/or provide additional spacing from the property line. Ms. Moore asked if two of the existing trees near the northeast corner of the house labeled '728" and T24" that are slated to be removed could be saved for visual shading, habitat and so that there would not be so many arborvitaes instead more trees. Mr. Bowe asked for more information about the signage. The applicant said that they were open to whatever the Commission wanted, including concrete boundary markers. Mr. Tirone explained that the Commission does have small tin signs that could be installed on top of such boundary markers. However, those signs do not include much information by themselves. Ms. Moore pointed out that the current plan calls for straw wattle for erosion control, but we usually ask for mulch sock. Mr. Tirone said we can make decisions in the field based on the size of the project, but we would likely ask for a silt fence and 12 -inch mulch sock for this project. Comments from Mr. Tirone: Instead of having a drain and a rip -rap outfall, there could probably be a basin on the wetland side of the driveway with appropriate vegetation to help clean the water. Mr. Carnahan asked if this meant grading the driveway away from the abutters' property, but Mr. Tirone said that water would still enter through a culvert that opens on the north (abutters') side of the driveway. Comments from the public: Mr. Scott Berger is the abutter at 1310 Main Street. He repeated the concerns about making sure that water from the north of the driveway makes it out of his yard, and he also asked about the impact of removing the large existing trees on the absorption of water in that area. Mr. Tirone said that a pipe would be placed at the low point of the driveway to receive water from the abutters' property that crosses into this property. Mr. Berger asked about how these conditions (signage, snow removal, culvert maintenance, etc.) would be enforced. Ms. Scanlon explained how such conditions would be verified before a certificate of compliance could be issued, and she also noted that neighbors and Commission members may notice and reportany issues to Mr. Tirone. Mr. Bowe suggested that the best solution is for neighbors to talk to each other, as neighbors often notice problems before the homeowners would. Ms. Scanlon also noted that permanent conditions are recorded against the deed of the property and that ignorance of conditions is not an excuse for not complying with them. Page 1 3 Mr. Berger asked K the town had yet verified the count of trees being removed. Ms. Scanlon said that we do have a plan of the existing trees, and she noted that we do not track trees smaller than a certain girth. Concluding comments: Ms. Scanlon and Mr. Tirone reviewed the Commission's comments and observed that all of them could be satisfied in the order of conditions without requiring another meeting. Mr. Tirone noted that the potential vernal pool being an actual vernal pool doesn't change the protection it receives under the reading regulations. Mr. Dribin reiterated the importance of having a planting plan, given the magnitude of the changes to the landscape that are being proposed. Ms. Scanlon agreed and noted that the amount of fill is also an important concern on which we could use more information. She asked if all of the grading around the house is absolutely necessary. The applicant said that they had previously been advised to favor gradual slopes over retaining walls. Ms. Scanlon asked if any of the area proposed to be regraded could be left untouched instead, and the applicant said there could be. Mr. Carnahan moved to close the hearing, seconded by Mr. Bowe, vote 5-1-0, with Mr. Dribin dissenting. 572 Summer Ave.. Map 8 Lot 137 Deo File No. 270-0757 Continued to May 11 at our previous meeting. Mr. Tirone reported that the applicant has filed a minor project permit for the shed that had previously been included in the Notice of Intent. Old/New Business: David Fazio of 118 Lilah Lane, requests information from the Commission regarding a proposed move of a fence on their previously -approved project from around the proposed pool to the back edge of the yard, directly on the edge of the wetland Question from the resident: Can this be submitted as a minor plan change? Ms. Scanlon asked about the utility easement marked on the plan and whether or not the Engineering Department needs to be consulted. Mr. Tirone noted that the drainage easement shown on the plan is larger than what is in place after the subdivision was constructed. Mr. Tirone talked to the Town Engineer Ryan Percival about the easement and agreed the real drainage easement is at the top of the bank of the drainage swale not as shown on the plan. He said that Mr. Percival had already seen this plan and would likely approve the section of the new fence that crosses into the utility easement. Ms. Scanlon asked about the fence. Mr. Fazio explained that it was composed of vertical aluminum rails with 3.5" between rails and some clearance above the ground. The objective is to let smaller animals pass while deterring coyotes. Mr. Tirone presented a picture of the proposed fence type. Mr. Sullivan asked if the fence on the side of the property next to the pool would be a new fence, and Mr. Fazio explained that it would be. Mr. Dribin suggested that a larger buffer should be planted in front of the proposed fence, perhaps 10' out from the fence, ideally 25'. Ms. Moore expressed concern about the safety impact of no longer having a fence between the pool and the yard. She also pointed out that a larger buffer of plantings at the back of the property would be nice to have. Both Ms. Moore and Mr. Carnahan pointed out that the Page 14 Commission previously approved the plan with the existing lawn. Ms. Scanlon suggested putting the fence on the yard side of the plantings at the back of the yard, rather than directly on the wetland line. That would avoid the direct disturbance of the fence installation to the wetland itself. Mr. Tirone noted that the Commission's past policy has been to permit fences at the edge of lawn at wetland lines if the lawn already exists. He also noted that this is a request for information and that the Commission cannot approve any changes here, just provide Mr. Fazio with feedback. Mr. Carnahan suggested that Mr. Dribin look at the oldest aerial photos to see the history of how this wetland came to be when the neighborhood was constructed, as that might make the wetland delineation and lawn boundary easier to understand. Ms. Moore suggested that this could be a minor plan change, as it is just a fence. Mr. Bowe moved that we accept this as a minor plan change, seconded by Ms. Moore, vote 6-0- 0. DOA 56 Grey Coach Road Assessor's Map 12 Lot 11, RCC File No. 2021-13 Update from Donald Genzler: Plan is to cut back the corner of the deck so that no variance would be required. With that information, the negative determination of applicability can be issued by Mr. Tirone. Vote to approve Chuck Tirone or the Conservation Administrator as the signer of the Gardeners agreement documents for the Matters Community Garden. This would let Mr. Tirone sign individual gardeners' agreements instead of requiring the Town Manager or the Conservation Commission to do so. Motion by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. Carnahan, voted 6-0-0. Town Forest work update and discussion Mr. Bowe reported that the Town Forest Committee is planning an event on April 30. Planning nature walks, invasive species removal, mural painting on the pumping station at the end of the causeway, fixing kiosks, and repairing an existing bridge on the Pine Ridge trail. Mr. Tirone discussed the DPW's plan to add gravel on the Cranberry Dam where there already has been gravel on the trail. Mr. Bowe volunteered to be the Commission member who will attend the Town Forest Zoom meeting on Tuesday, March 15, and to reiterate the need to remove fallen branches from the potential vernal pool alongside the Pine Ridge trail. Mr. Tirone asked which Commission members would be able to attend the Town Forest Day on April 30: Mr. Bowe, Ms. Moore, Mr. Carnahan, and Ms. Scanlon all said they would be there. Mr. Bowe asked if we wanted to have a Conservation Commission table or sign at the Wood End field, and Mr. Carnahan observed that Climate Advisory Committee and other environmentally -interested committees had tables at the Town Forest celebration last year. Discussed the DOAs and OOCs that are being written and open COC requests, but no input was needed from the Commission. Ms. Scanlon suggested having a meeting to discuss how the Commission operates, outside of our usual hearings on specific sites. Page 1 5 Ms. Moore discussed the MACC's annual conference and pointed out that Commissioners can attend educational sessions there and be reimbursed by the town. Mr. Tirone reported that the facilities department takes care of the maintenance of the cabin and has a line item in their budget DPW for the water/sewer bill and agreed to pay the Bare Meadow Pearl Street water and sewer out of this budget. Approved February 23 minutes Motion by Ms. Moore to approve, second by Mr. Bowe, vote 6-0-0 Motion to adjourn by Ms. Moore, second by Mr. Carnahan, vote 6-0-0 Page 1 6