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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-08 Conservation Commission Minutesrq , Town of Reading RECEIVED �5 Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK FEADING; MA. 6�PIN[OP Fy'-- Board - Committee - commission - Council: 2422 JUN -9 Pm 135 Conservation Commission Date: 2021-09-08 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Zoom Virtual Meeting - Version: Final Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Annika Scanlon, Vice Chair Martha Moore, Brian Bowe, Joe Carnahan, Carl Saccone, John Sullivan; Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Members - Not Present: Others Present: Giovanni Fodera, Joe Peznola, Josh Latham. Thor Akerley, Jack Rivers, John Barrows, Dave Fazio Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Chuck Tirone Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Chair Annika Scanlon called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Public Hearings Scheduled: 1310 Main Street Mao 41 Lot 75 & 84 Deo File No. 270-0746 Mr. Tirone stated that he contacted three firms: Ecotech, BSC, and LEC Environmental. Each one will provide a quote to review the wetland line and comment, conduct a site visit, attend a Commission meeting, and prepare documents to support their findings. Those quotes should be received in time for the next meeting on September 22nd. Motion to suspend 1310 Main Street to the September 22, 2021 meeting by Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Ms. Moore. Roll call vote 6-0-0. 0 Small Lane Mao 40 & 41 Lot 153 155 & 29 Deo File No 270-0748 Mr. Tirone reviewed the Commission's acceptance of the LEC proposal at the last meeting, but needed to receive a check from the applicant. He has contacted the applicant, and they understand that the consultant cannot proceed until the money has been received. Mr. Tirone also noted a discrepancy in how the Notice of Intent was prepared. Some categories were overlooked and understated. The filing fee may need to be reviewed. Mr. Tirone sent a summary of his findings to the consultant, Norse Environmental, and consulted DEP, who unofficially said that those fees were appropriate. The Commission will need to discuss when the applicant is present. Motion to continue 0 Small Lane to the September 22, 2021 meeting by Mr. Carnahan, seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Page 1 1 Lot A Main Street next to 1261 Main Street, Mao 51 Lot 95. Next to 1261 Main Street DEP File No. 270-0749 Mr. Tirone reviewed that at the last meeting, the Commission accepted the LEC bid to review the wetland line and ten Flags. LEC has not yet finished the process and the hearing will need to be continued to the next meeting. Giovanni Fodera, the project's engineer, was present and stated that he has been communicating with the representative conducting the third party review. He offered to share the updated CAD and noted that with the revised wetland Flags, it looks like either a wetland replication or a variance will be needed. He asked which the Commission would advise he pursue. Ms. Scanlon noted that the Commission would be able to advise better once everyone has had a chance to review the final submittal. If applying for a variance, an alternatives analysis would also have to be provided, which would include an analysis of a wetland replication. Mr. Tirone advised that when the LEC report is received, he will share it with the applicant, who can discuss how to proceed with his wetland scientist. Motion to continue Lot A Main Street to the September 22n4 meeting by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Bowe. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Amend the Order of Condition 270-0727, 259-267 Main Street Joe Peznola presented the changes to the plan as requested at the last meeting. The full stormwater management report was submitted. The plan was updated with the Commission's suggestions from the last meeting, including: a 4 -foot chain link fence added to the guardrail to keep trash from getting into the wetlands, a combination gravel and sod strip was added to the rain garden to provide some pretreatment, wetland seed mix was added to the plantings for the rain garden, a New England seed mix will be used on the balance of the area where the gravel is being eliminated, and snow storage signs were revised to read "No Snow Storage" instead of "No Snow Storage Beyond Guardrail". The condo association will be responsible for adhering to the snow removal conditions set by the Commission. Ms. Scanlon asked several questions to ensure that the rain garden will work as intended and asked if the Operations and Maintenance plan could include something that mentions an equal number of plants and herbaceous layer be maintained, and preserves the Intended plantings in the intended planting areas. Mr. Peznola stated that could easily be added to the O&M plan if the Commission requests it in their Order of Conditions. Mr. Tirone asked that the spring cleanup of gravel pushed into the rain garden be the responsibility of the condo association, and requested that an acknowledgement be added to the Order of Conditions, so if the property comes under new ownership, the new owners will sign an acknowledgment that they received a copy of the Order of Conditions and provide contact information. He also requested that it be made clear that snow will need to be back -bladed from the gravel parking area with a note included on the plan, and include in the O&M plan that the area beyond the stone weir is left unmowed. Motion to close the Public Hearing for DEP File No. 270-0727 by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Bowe. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Per the Commission's requests, the following conditions will be added to the amended Order of Conditions: add an acknowledgement for new property owners that they will receive a copy of the Order of Conditions and provide contact Information; add "no -mow" areas to the plan; any loss of plants will be replaced in kind with vegetation as per plan replacing quantity and cover; applicant will provide a revised Operations and Maintenance plan; and spring cleanup instructions will be included In the Operations and Maintenance plan. Motion to issue amended Order of Conditions for DEP File No. 270-0727 by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Roll call vote 6-0-0. 445 Pearl Street Enforcement Order, Mao 46 Lot 14 Ms. Scanlon opened the Public Hearing for the enforcement order at 445 Pearl Street. The homeowner, Mike Rivers, had done some work to manage the stream Flow. Fill was added to the southern portion of the stream which diverted Flow towards the northern portion of the stream bank with some erosion happening. The restoration plan and narrative to re - Page 1 2 stabilize the original stream bank has been presented to the Commission for review. All work is within 100 feet of an intermittent stream, land under water, and bank. Thor Akerley, Wetland Scientist with Williams and Sparages, the engineering firm contracted by Mr. Rivers, presented the restoration plan. The property contains an existing single family home, with two sheds in the rear, a swimming pool, a stockade fence, chain link fence in the rear, and vegetated buffer beyond the chain link fence. There is presently not a lot of wetland vegetation, though there is enough to Indicate that there is bordered vegetated wetland there, but it has been degraded. The northern face of the bank had eroded significantly, in large part due to rocks and some filling being placed below an existing mulch sock. As water flows down the stream, it is being pushed by additional fill against the northern bank. The goal is to restore the stream to what it was prior to the disturbance and give it a chance to revegetate naturally. According to historic aerial photos, the stream used to flow straight, but the addition of material diverted the flow more to the north. The first priority is to remove the fill material, gravel, cobbles, and rocks within the filled area and to reestablish the stream bed. The plan is to install coconut coir logs at the end of the new stream channel to limit any erosion during construction. Material would be excavated out, and line the new stream bed with 2 -inch or 4 -inch rounded river rocks to act as a healthy stream bed. The contractor would then install coconut coir logs along the northern and southern perimeter of the new stream channel and stake them on either side. Following that, new clean material will be brought in and sloped down to the mid -top point of the coir logs. There will be a 2:1 slope on the southern side, and 1.5:1 slope on the northern side of the bank. The banks would then be planted with various species of willows to help stabilize the bank. Commission members agreed that the coir logs and proposed willow plantings were good, with perhaps a few more native species to promote biodiversity and resiliency, and asked questions about the potential for future erosion along the northern bank, and the construction schedule. Mr. Akerley clarified that construction on the stream bed would happen in the dry season of July or August, and the best time to plant the willows would be in late winter or early spring. He also noted that with the coir logs staked in, perhaps with some additional rocks placed to armor the bank, along with the plantings once they establish their roots, should be adequate to stabilize the bank. Ms. Scanlon requested that the limit of erosion control be shown on the plan, and an alternative mixture of just river rock for the stream bed. She also requested the plan for storms during the work, and regular monitoring updates be added to the Order of Conditions. The Commission agreed to conduct a site visit on Monday, September 13th at 9:00 am with Mr. Akerley. Motion to continue the hearing on the 44S Pearl Street enforcement order by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Roll call vote 6-0-0. 118Lilah Lane Ms. Scanlon opened the Public Hearing pertaining to 118 Lilah Lane pursuant to M.G.L. 131 Section 40 Wetland Protection Act and Reading General Bylaw section 7.1 Wetland Protections. The Notice of Intent was filed by David and Lauren Fazio to construct an inground pool, an approximately 1600 square foot paver patio, and associated appurtenances at an existing single family property. All work is within 100 feet of bordered vegetated wetland. John Barrows, the project engineer, and David Fazio, the homeowner, presented the application to construct a pool in the backyard. In addition to the pool, spa and paver decking, there will be storage for pool equipment and a propane tank to heat the pool. The pool and landscaping are outside of the 35 -foot buffer zone. The property Is in the aquafer Page 1 3 protection district. A small ground water drainage system is proposed, which will capture a portion of the pool decking. There will be a trench grate in the back area of the pool decking. An existing small catch basin which drains to a drainage swale in the rear will be connected to the groundwater recharge system. A portion of the roof runoff will also be tied into the drainage system to compensate for the added impervious area of the project. The drainage system will be a typical Cultec chamber systemsizedfor a 10 -year event. Mr. Tirone noted that the proposed patio area is enormous and asked if it could be brought back a little bit. There is also permanent alteration inside the 35 -foot buffer zone and he asked if that was factored into the filing fee. Mr. Barrows explained that the alteration is slight grading to make the patio level with the pool, and the homeowner is proposing pervious pavers to make it a porous surface. Mr. Tirone and Mr. Barrows agreed to take a second look at the fees. Mr. Fazio explained that Mr. Tirone came out to help identify the wetland line. Mr. Tirone was unaware that would be the delineation and suggested the Commission conduct a site visit to review the wetland line. Ms. Scanlon noted that if there is work inside the setbacks, the applicant will also need to apply for a variance. With a variance application, an alternatives analysis will also need to be provided, which can explain alternatives considered and why the design looks the way it does, and whether further mitigation for the additional pervious area can be provided by setting up additional plantings in the 25-35 foot zone. A planting plan will also need to be provided. The Commission discussed additional details of the plan including: Its location within the aquafer protection district and zoning requirements, the design of the patio, and current and potential landscaping. The Commission agreed to conduct a site visit on Thursday, September 16th at 8:30 am. Motion to continue the Public Hearing on 118 Lilah Lane to September 22aa by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Bowe. Roll call vote 6-0-0. Ms. Scanlon left at 9:36 pm and asked Ms. Moore to conduct the rest of the meeting Mr. Tirone explained that the Order of Conditions was part of a bigger build out for the whole development. Mr. Bowe and Mr. Carnahan recapped their visits to the site, but were unsure what they were looking for. Mr. Tirone explained that in the past, homeowners were unaware that there were outstanding orders of conditions on their homes, but now, whenever there are home sales, these are uncovered. This OOC was left unfinished more likely from an administrative stand point. Motion to Issue Certificate of Compliance for 4A Carnation Circle by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. Carnahan. Roll call vote 5-0-0. Mr. Tirone stated that planting has happened and the Commission needs to conduct a site visit to review what is there. The Commission will visit on Monday, September 20th at 9:00 am, and Mr. Carnahan will visit independently on the afternoon of September 21s. The discussion will be continued to the next meeting. Town Counsel made a draft of the proposal. The Commission reviewed and provided comments to Town Counsel, and is now waiting for Town Counsel's review to come back. The Commission is still waiting for updated plans from the applicant. Page 14 Conservation/ DPW Monthly Meeting. Auaust 3rd Mr. Tirone reviewed the last meeting with the DPW he attended with Ms. Moore. The Reading Open Land Trust asked that the turnaround at Fairbanks Marsh just beyond the Matera Cabin be reseeded, as the work being done on Route 28 was tearing up the turnaround. There have been complaints about motor bikes in Town Forest. DPW Director, Jane Kinsella, will work with the Town's media person and put out a notice about the rules and regulations stating that motor bikes are not allowed in these areas. A kiosk was added to the entrance of the Maillet site along Lowell Street across from Intervale Terrace. A picnic table will be installed in Bare Meadow. There was some tree cutting at 38 Warren Ave, and DPW crews noticed some yard waste being dumped there. Mr. Tirone stated that he does not believe that a "No Dumping" sign needs to be put there and that the DPW can clean up the yard waste. Enforcement 30 Cheouessett Road 14 Dean Road Mr. Tirone stated that he contacted the owners of both properties, and neither was ready for a walk-through by the Commission to see if their enforcement orders could be lifted. 111 Lilah Lane Mr. Tirone and Ms. Moore reviewed the homeowner's request to remove four trees that he is concerned may fall, as they are leaning toward his house at 111 Lilah Lane. One of the trees had a fair amount of dead wood, and one living branch. Mr. Tirone spoke with a representative from the tree company, who agreed that the trees do not need to be taken down. The homeowner is proposing plantings, or paying into the Shade Tree Fund. There is concern over removing them, as there is an open area behind the trees that is a potential vernal pool which could be harmed by the loss of canopy and shading if these trees are removed. Ms. Moore also noted that the open area is nicely covered with ferns, but there is some Invasive buckthorn right at the edge of the wooded area where the trees are proposed to be removed. The Commission discussed options including: trimming the limbs, replanting 1:1 in accordance with the Tree Policy, and request more plantings. Following discussion, the Commission suggested that if the trees are removed, then they should be replaced with three maple trees and either an oak or a white pine. Mr. Tirone stated that he will submit the suggestions to the homeowner, and if he does not agree, he can submit an application. Last Minutes Reminders: Select Board Chair Karen Herrick asked the Commission whether it has any jurisdiction over some land for which the Town has first right of refusal on Grove Street. The Commission reviewed the GIS map of the area and noted that there are some wetlands nearby, the land is in the aquafer protection district and part of Natural Heritage, The Commission discussed other features of the site, and the potential for wet areas on the land. They also discussed issues with parking and potential compost areas down Strout Avenue. The next meeting with the DPW is October 5th at 1:00 pm. Mr. Saccone and Mr. Bowe volunteered to attend. Motion to adjourn by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Roll call vote 5-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:31 pm. Page 15