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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-26 Conservation Commission MinutesN rR O Town of Reading 0�.y Meeting Minutes Fa �� 60j'w,onvpe Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission IrF.Siaf'I�Y#IIrYbI7 Building: Address: Purpose: Zoom Virtual Meeting - Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: 1 1trII764KQrl]ul ^K 2024 i I c fdl ��I 6 Location: Session: Open Session Version: Final Martha Moore- Chair, Brian Bowe- Vice Chair, Tony Rodolakis- Member, Bill McCants- Member, Walter Talbot- Member, Andrew Dribin- Member Members - Not Present: Jeb Pittsinger, Jessica Boudreau, Scott Kerns Others Present: 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. Hearings Scheduled: 1. 0 Small Lane Assessor's Map 40 & 41 Lot 153, 155& 29 Dep File No. 270-0748 Motion to approve continuance to next meeting on August 9, 2023- Motioned by Bill McCants, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 5-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. 2.16 Beverly Road Assessor's Map 31 Lot 36 Dep File No. 270-0772 Mr. Pittsinger spoke about the revised variance that he had submitted to the Commission. Changes on the request were highlighted in red and sent to all Members of the Commission. Motion to close the hearing of 16 Beverly Road- Motioned by Bill McCants, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 5-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. The Commission had agreed on five orders of conditions for this proposed project as follows, soil and material stock pile as close to the road as possible, yard waste removal, 80% survival of shrubs and herbaceous plantings and 100% for trees over a two-year watch, and invasive removal over three years, also a lip at the end of the driveway to divert runoff. Motion to approve the Notice of Intent with Orders of Condition- Motioned by Bill McCants, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 5-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. Page 1 1 3. 31 Wilson Street Assessor's Map 22 Lot 159 Dep File No. 270-0773 Ms. Boudreau presented her updated proposed plans with more detailed information. The patio now has specific dimensions as stated in her letter sent to the Commission. Also, noted was where exactly the permeable pavers will be used along with the grid style pavers that will be installed. Ms. Boudreau had a specific list of native plantings she intends to use in the backyard. Motion to close the hearing of 31 VVI/son Street- Motioned by Brain Bowe, Seconded by Bill McCants, 5-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. The Commission agreed to some orders of conditions as follows, 80% survival of shrubs and herbaceous plantings and 100% for trees over a two-year watch, make sure the street is swept and cleaned up on days there is work being done, add an orange construction fence if there will be machinery used, material stock pile must be in the driveway or beside the pine tree out and away from the 35 -foot buffer zone, continue cleaning up backyard yard waste, progress on the soil berm and move the firewood rack to the proposed location on the plans. Motion to approve the Notice of Intent with Orders of Condition- Motioned by Bill McCants, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, Sustained by Andrew Dribin, 5-0-1, The votes were made by roll call vote. 4. 7 Heritage Drive Assessor's Map 29 Lot 57 RCC File No. 2023-15 Mr. Kerns presented his updated plan to the Commission. Mr. Kerns has started to remove the yard waste and garlic mustard from the side of the property area. The bitter sweet has been removed from the maple tree. A plan is put in place for a dumpster, material stock pile as well as the parking for the owners. An erosion control barrier will also be added when the work starts. Mr. Bowe recommended some seed be added to where the yard waste was removed to prevent invasive from coming up over time. Mr. Tirone suggested to use straw waddle for the erosion control. Motion to close Request for Determination- Motioned by Tony Rodolakis, Seconded by Andrew Ddbin, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call vote. The Commission has agreed to the following Orders of Conditions, erosion control to be decided where it goes with a pre -activity meeting, street swept every night work is being completed, permit for dumpster if it will not be able to stay within the driveway, invasive control for the period of three years and no more yard waste to be dumped behind the fence of the backyard. Motion to approve a negative determination of applicability with conditions- Motioned by Bill McCants, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 6-0-0, The votes were made by roll call votes. 5. Meadow Brook Access Easement Mr. Tirone stated there was a meeting recently but no further update as of late. An advertisement has gone into the paper for companies to make bid on the proposed project. 6. Old/New Business 123 Lilah Lane Certificate of Compliance request 270-0196 & 270-0171, Backus Trust Mr. McCants was concerned about the older version of the order of conditions for this project. Mr. McCants would like to request and "as built" plan to include the retention pond and a statement to clarify how close the build was to the original plans. Mr. Bowe stated that during his site visit he did not see anything to be concerned about. 10 Plymouth Drive Certificate of Compliance request - Continuance to next meeting. Violation Notices, yard waste and encroachment on Conservation Land- New 26 Henzie, 30Henzie, 34 Henzie, 126 Hanscom Ave, Follow-ups 30 Chequessett, 25 Baker, 22, 8, 14, Oakridge Street, 38, 34 Bond Mr. Bowe had done a site visit to 25 Baker Road and the owner has adhered to the requests and would like to close the violation notice and complaint. Page 1 2 7. Discussion Items a. Correspondence -Annette Lane Mr. Tirone received correspondence and an article from 1990 from Kendra Cooper, the author, about how water flows through the project and comes down and affects certain houses as it goes through the project and also mention how the direct abutters are concerned about flooding. b. Regulation review & discussion Wetland Regulation revision discussion Mr. McCants shared his thoughts and concerns with the Wetlands regulations, particularly Section 1. The Commission was sent a detailed and highlighted letter with all the proposed changes and/ or updates. It was stated that there should be some clarification to the verbiage and the consistency within the regulations and to what the Commission has been practicing. Mr. McCants also proposed addition language added. The research of somewhat 40 surrounding municipalities and the model MACC was heavily involved in drafting this information as well as the state regulations. The Commission was asked to review the proposed updates in the regulations and make a list of questions. The discussion will be added to a future agenda, perhaps August 23, 2023, to address any and all concerns and further discussion. Mr. Bowe mentioned that 'the more restrictive a Commission gets, the less likely it is that people go to the Commission if it becomes such a burden and hurdle we will see even more without permits, so it's up to the Commission to have that balance'. The regulations recommended for amendment are as follows. -Internal misnaming of the RWPR- These apparently alternative names for the RWPR are nowhere in the RWPR identified as such, proposal to change for clarity. -RWPR Section 3D & 2, Zone of Natural Vegetation, draft additional language to say "shall" instead of "may" for clarity. Also, proposed additional language stating, 'A previously developed of disturbed ZNV shall be restored to a naturally vegetated state to the maximum extent feasible, including but not limited to requiring that a buffer strip be created where none currently exists.' -RWPR Section 3134 amend to clarify the language a but further to read as, No- Disturb Zone, The ZNV as otherwise defined in this Section 3D, plus this "ten feet" or "greater distance", may be referred to as "No- Disturb Zone". Also adding the phrase "including but not limited to, foundations" following'no new structures' and also adding in 'fixtures'. Recommended in the section would be to request "Burden of Proof' and add a definition what this means as this is already in use in Section 2F1 and 8131. Adding to that, 'by a preponderance of the credible evidence'. -New proposed policy regulation in the Standard replacement tree and shrub policy RWP Bylaw Section 7.1 by adding or combining. -Section 2,11, clarification with defining the term 'structures'. -Section 2C1, The need for clarification in the RWPR regarding vernal pools. Option to follow the State regulations except where the Reading regulations are more stringent. In Section 3J1 the amendment would be to add (except as provided in Sections 2C and 4G7d of these Reading local regulations). This is to recognize that vernal pools are a resource area with a buffer zine the same way a pond would be. c. 60 Terrace Park Dog fence, d. Conservation/DPW Monthly Meeting August 1 8. Administrators Report: Mr. Tirone presented a DPW project that will include a water drinking fountain for dogs. The DPW is in question to what type of permit they should apply for. The Commission concluded that an RDA is needed for this municipal project to be completed. The owners of 167 Pleasant Street are requesting to remove any trees and woody vegetation within 3 feet of their foundation on the lot. The insurance company of requiring them to make these changes to keep the insurance policy complaint with the owners. There is 1 large willow tree, which is dead and had a limb fall off and damaged the roof, and numerous smaller trees. Also noted was a large patch of poison ivy. The Commission has agreed to let Mr. Tirone go ahead with this as a minor project. Page 1 3 9. Bills approved, None 10. Minutes for approval: 711212023 Postpone approve to next meeting ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 10:16pm by Tony Rodolakis, seconded by Brian Bowe. Page 1 4