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Home My WebLink About2023-08-23 Conservation Commission Minutes�N Orq Town of Reading I'* Meeting Minutes a'IMOPp��e Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2023-08-23 Building: Address: Purpose: Zoom Virtual Meeting - Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 07:00 PM Location: Session: Open Session Version: Final Martha Moore- Chair, Brian Bowe- Vice Chair, Andrew Dribin- Member, Bill McCants- Member, Walter Talbot- Member, Tony Rodolakis- Memeber Members - Not Present: Carl Saccone- Member Others Present: Chuck Tirone- Conservation Administrator, Ryan and Andrea Parsons, Jen Relstab, Amy Ball, Jeff, John Sidiropoulos- 2 Maple Street, Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jennifer Velazquez Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Chair Martha Moore called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. Hearinas Scheduled: 1.0 Small Lane- Assessor's Map 40 & 41 Lot 153, 155 & 29 Dep File No. 270-0746 Motion to approve continuance to next meeting on September 13, 2023- Motioned by Bill McCants, Seconded by Brian Bowe, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. 2. 26 Harvard Street -Assessor's Map: 27 Lot: 232 File No. 2023-17 Homeowner Andrea Parson gave a brief description of the deck that she would like to add to her home. There is a portion of the proposed deck that will extend into the 35 -foot buffer zone. Mrs. Parson would also like to add plants to help with mitigation. The Conservation Commission did a site visit of the property. There were a few observations brought up about yard waste beyond the fence and the activity of the sump pump in the yard. There are orange markings in the ground showing where the footings of the deck will be placed. The Commission is also concerned with the current turf grass within the wetland lines. The last delineation was completed in 2012 and currently there are only 2 of the 3 indicators to be a wetland as mentioned by Andrew Dribin. Motion to close the hearing of 26 Harvard Street- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. The order of conditions for this determination are as follows- Present a planting plan with specific location and placement of layered ground covering and shrubs species, staging of work must be away from the wetland out onto the driveway, yard waste and soil blocks in the back of Page 1 1 the property should be removed and homeowners will schedule a pre -activity meeting with Chuck Tirone- Conservation Administrator. Motion to approve a negative determination at 26 Harvard Street with the conditions as discussed Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. 3. Meadow Brook Easement The minor update on this project is that the attorneys are working on wrapping up the project and updating the language on a couple of questions. They would like to have final approval on signage, as well as the Town to provide insurance and ability to question the easement if by some chance their driving range could be affected. 4. Old/New Business a. Discuss Minor Plan Change for Maillet Sommes and Morgan Wetland Crossing - Ms. Relstab presented her plan to the Commission for a request for a plan change to a project that was permitted back in 2021. Ms. Relstab is requesting a temporary wetland crossing be added to the site for the contractors. The crossing would be a 16 x 109 timber matting and will have extra silt sock protection at the end of the mats. Once the work is complete they would clean the area up and prep it to be replanted. A planting plant and species list was also in the presentation. There will be no grubbing or cleanup in the area and the existing crossing will be stabilized for the winter. Mr. Bowe was concerned about contractor vehicles driving along the work area in the wetland and tree roots being shaved down on a healthy red maple tree. Mr. Bowe stated the Commission will be keeping a close eye on this project to make sure the wetlands are being protected for the Town. Ms. Relstab informed the Commission she is in contact with the contractor and is enforcing extra tree protection within the work area. The red maple will try to be saved and if it cannot be saved is already included in the replanting plan. The Commission would also like the contractor to leave as much ground cover, branches and other woody debris to help the weight distribution and keep the soils from being compacted. Motion to approve the minor plan change as presented by Horsley Witten Group- Motioned by Tony Rodolakis, Seconded by Brian Bowe, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. b. 123 Lilah Lane Certificate of Compliance request 270-0196 & 270-0171, Backus Trust c. 10 Plymouth Drive Certificate of Compliance request, waiting for more information d. Violation Notices, yard waste and encroachment on Conservation Land, Follow-ups 30 Henzie, 34 Henzie, 126 Hansoom Ave, 30 Chequessett, 22, 8, 14, Oakridge Street, 38, 34 Bond, 60 Terrace Park Dog fence, the homeowner did not remove the pea stone and invisible fence flags e. 2 Maple Street- Mr. Sidiropoulos is requesting a minor plan change in his recently approved deck proposal. The deck itself will remain the same size but the stair risers need to be slightly extended due to building code. Motion to approve a minor plan change- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. f. 51 Azalea- Mr. Bowe completed a site visit to 51 Azalea and observed some work had been done on the property. The slope to the left of the property has been stabilized, matting and grass had been put in, bushes have been planted however they are not natives that had been planted. Some of the new shrubs observed looked like they have been eaten and are not in good shape. In the back left of the property, there is still a mound of dirt sitting behind the silt fence. Two pieces of equipment from the last contractor still remains on the lot. The Commission has been generous with extensions and time to get the project completed but the work is not being done in a timely manner and would like to see enforcement to the owner. Motion to issue and enforcement order to 51 Azalea Circle- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Andrew Dribin, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. 5. Discussion Items Page 1 2 6. Regulation review & discussion Wetland Regulation revision discussion, McCants Mr. McCants gave a presentation with a discussion in the proposed amendments to the Wetland Regulations. Mr. McCants also looked into the "peer communities" that Reading has. The Commission received a copy of the proposed version and had 4 weeks to look over them and to make a list of comments, questions or concerns. Section 3D 2, Mr. Tirone would like to see an adjustment to the top of page 3 reading, 'conditions, such as grades, soil permeability or other impact potential, including but not limited to potential vernal pools'. Mr. McCants has also added the phrase 'within the ZNV, as determined by the Commission' in the RWPR Section 3D2. A recommendation to the RWPR Section 301, Zone of Natural Vegetation to read in line 1, 'the Commission shall require'. Mr. Tirone would like to see more definitive examples included in the No Build Structure, including but limited to definition. A new recommendation for'Burden of Proof, Section 2F1, and Section 801, by adding the following- "preponderance of the credible evidence". Clarification proposed in Standard Replacement Tree and Shrub policy Reading Wetland Protection Bylaw Section, Section 7.1, items 14 would be unchanged and a proposed draft new item 5 would be added to read "The Commission will apply this policy consistent with...". Also added from the Commission is a better definition or understanding of a'potential vernal pool'. There are resources that Mr. McCants is willing took at and help decided the correct verbiage for this regulation. 7. Conservation/DPW Monthly Meeting September 5 Brian Bowe will be available to attend the meeting on September 5, 2023. Mr. Bowe would like to discuss the erosion issue across the street from 550 West Street. Mr. Tirone suggested bringing up the work that is being done at 22 Harvard Street that Conservation was not aware Of. 8. Administrators Report: 1295 Main Street- Homeowners have gone against the order of conditions and have cut down vegetation as directed by their landscaper. Mr. Tirone has suggested a site visit with redirections to the homeowners as to what is needed to be done. 9. Town Forest Day September 23 10. Fall Street Fair September 10, 12:OOp- 5:OOp 11. In-person Conservation meetings starting in September 13 12. Bills approved, None 13. Minutes for approval: 819123 ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 1030:pm by Brian Bowe, seconded by Tony Rodolakis, all in favor Page 13