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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-14 Conservation Commission MinutesTown of Reading 0 i Meeting Minutes SJ9'INCOPPPP Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2024-02-14 Building: Time: 07:00 PM Location: "l4N CLERK '1 ADING. MA. w4 MAY -2 AA 35 Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: In Person and Zoom Virtual Version: Final Meeting - Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Martha Moore- Chair, Brian Bowe- Vice Chair, Andrew Dribin- Member, Bill McCants- Member, Tony Rodolakis- Member, Walter Talbot- Member Members - Not Present: Carl Saccone- Member, Others Present: Chuck Tirone- Conservation Administrator, Jack Nelson, Andrew Pandolph, Peter Siebold, Carlton Quinn, Joe Orzel, Bob Judge, Kendra Cooper, Eileen Litterio, Joe McDonagh, Jeffery Brem, Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jennifer Velazquez Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held In Person at Town Hall and remotely via Zoom. Chair- Martha Moore called the meeting to order at 7:06pm. Hearinas Scheduled: 1. Eagle Scout Project- Bare Meadow Boardwalk, Jack Nelson - Mr. Nelson gave a quick breakdown of the projected plans to replace the South bridge at Bare Meadow Creek. Mr. Bowe would like to know how long this build out will take. Mr. Nelson stated the plan is to build the bridge is sections at an off-site location and then assemble the pieces in one day. All materials will be removed once project is completed in that one installation day. Mr. Talbot recommended the end ramp pieces be cut into a trapezoid instead of a triangle. Mr. Rodolakis questioned how many people it will take on installation day. Mr. Nelson is calculating about 10- 12 troop members. Mr. Dribin recommended that the slope perhaps be extended further and reduce the slope to about 10%. Also, that the old bridge be used as part of the staging so that there is less foot traffic damage done to the bog. Motion to approve the Eagle Scout Project- Motioned by Andrew Dribin, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 60-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 2.0 Small Lane- Assessor's Map 40 & 41 Lot 153, 155 & 29 Dep File No. 270-0748 At the applicant's request this hearing will be continued until May 22, 2024 3. 0 Annette Lane- Assessor's Map 38 Lot 139 Dep File No. 270-0780 Mr. Pandolph had presented the proposed project with the requested changes from the Commission during the last meeting. The 30 -foot roadway extension has been eliminated and Page 1 1 the driveway has been reconfigured. The proposed retaining wall was moved out of the 35 -foot no structure setback as much as possible. A 42 -inch -high post and rail fence will be added towards the end of the drive to prevent snow from being pushed into the Wetland areas when the drive is being plowed and the boardwalk has been extended. And updated and proposed planting plan was submitted. Mr. Orzel briefly spoke about the performance standards. A variance request was submitted for approval of the 50 -feet of retaining wall into the 35 -foot no build zone. Mr. Talbot suggested that the boardwalk be snaked around the trees instead of them being cut down. Mr. Tirone suggested Mr. Pandolph to propose a detail on the construction entrance depth as well as daily street sweeping. Mr. Tirone wanted to know the width of the boardwalk, to which it will be 4 -feet wide. Mr. Tirone also requested the planting plan and vegetation be monitored for 3 years and Mr. Pandolph agreed and accepted. Ms. Cooper, neighbor, is concerned about flooding downstream towards Covey Hill, the boardwalk being built and the absorption from the new trees because so many other trees are being cut down. Ms. Litterio is also concerned about the removal of 26 trees and the absorption and how that will affect the water and flooding downstream. Mr. McDonagh, neighbor, is also concerned about the water and flooding downstream, however he is supporting the boardwalk being built for public access. The Commission had discussed the following conditions with the approval of this project. Finalize placement of boardwalk to be determined in the field with the possibility the walk will stop at the 25 -foot line and be finished with gravel up to the sidewalk. No use of pesticides on the property without further approval from the Conservation Commission. Walkthrough to finalize plantings will be done with Chuck Tirone and Andrew Dribin. Motion to close the hearing of 0 Annette Lane- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, Andrew Dribin not in favor, 5-1-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. Motion to accept the variance as proposed, Motioned by Bill McCants, Seconded by Brian Bowe, Andrew Ddbin not in favor, 5-1-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. Motion to accept the donation to the Conservation Fund for tree purposes to cover the gap between the trees being taken down and the trees that cannot be replaced- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, Andrew Dribin not in favor, 5.1-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. Motion to issue approval for 0 Annette Lane- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, Andrew Dribin not in favor, 5-1-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 4. 252- 262 Main Street & 10 Pinevale Avenue- Assessor's Map 11 Lot 192, 194, 196 Dep File No. 270-0779 Motion to continue heating to February 28, 2024- Motioned by Tony Rodolakis, Seconded by Andrew Dribin, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 5. 246 - 248 Walnut St. Assessor's Map 3 Lot 19 Dep File No. 270-0781 Mr. Brem started with an update on the proposed plans from the recommendations from the Commission during the previous hearing. Mr. Bram went into further detail about the required mitigation plan that is needed for this project. The Japanese knotweed will be removed by hand and herbicide applied to each plant. The invasive species will be monitored for the next five years. The planting plan shows a removal of 20 trees with an addition of 8little leaf lindens, 8 red maples and 12 high blueberry bushes. Mr. Dribin requested a colorized planting plan. Parcel Z of the plan will be donated to the Town of Reading Conservation Commission and a parcel Z access easement will be included. As part of the mitigation the applicant proposed to build a bridge with railings at Sturges Park to cross the brook. Mr. Bowe would like an explanation of the previously developed area for the new plans is 2,600 at less than what is on the original plans. Mr. Bram is certain that the original numbers calculated were incorrect and that the current calculations on the latest plans are certain. An abutter was wondering if there was a provision made to prevent the cul-de-sac water from going directly down the driveway to lot 2. Mr. Bram stated that it is not needed with this specific design but is willing to look into adding a hump at the end of the driveway to the plans. Stock pile will be placed in the cul-de-sac area and a 50 -foot stone construction entrance will be added to the plans. Street sweeping will be done daily during construction. Mr. Tirone would like to mark the easement area with granite bound which Mr. Brem has agreed to add. Page 1 2 Motion to continue hearing to February 28, 2024- Motioned by Tony Rodolakis, Seconded by Brian Bowe, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 6.Old/Now Business Violation Notices, yard waste and encroachment on Conservation Land- Follow-ups 30 Henzie, shed, 126 Hanscom Ave, 30 Chequessett, 22, 8, 14, Oakridge Road, 38, 34 Bond 7. Discussion Items 8. 51 Cross Violation Mr. Tirone was contacted by DEP with information that the owner was filling a pond in their backyard. Members of the Commission did a site walk of the property and saw the frozen pond. The owner Richard Eagleston said it was an irrigate pond for the Christmas tree farm that was established in the backyard, but no longer around. There was some debris and a small pile of asphalt in the water at the edge of the pond and a second pile beside the pond. Next to the pond was a 3 -foot high pile of old cement blocks asphalt and red brick. Mr. Tirone asked the owner to remove the all of the debris at the pond edge and next to the pond and do a general cleanup everywhere on the property. Mr. Bowe requested that yard waste stop being dumped in the back of the property or anywhere within the conservation commission's hundred foot jurisdiction. Mr. Bowe that the homeowner no compost areas can be established outside of the 100 -foot buffer zone. Mr. Tirone will send a plan with the hundred -foot jurisdictional area marked off to help the owner. The owner will have until June 2024 to comply with the commission's request. The Mr. Tirone will send the homeowner a violation notice that establishes June 20 as the date the work must be completed and a follow-up site inspection at that time to check for compliance a second site inspection in August is also a condition of the violation notice to check the pond in a low groundwater condition. Motion to approve Chuck Tirone to send a notice of violation- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Wafter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 9. Conservation/ DPW Monthly meeting February 6-, 2024 10. Bills approved- None. 11. Administrators Report: Bare Meadow and Conservation land use policy, Meadow Brook Easement Martha Moore & Brian Bowe are working on updating the conservation rule to include a dog policy for the Bare Meadow. Meadow Brook Easement is finally completed and approved. 12. Minutes for approval: 1/10/2024, 1/24/2024 Motion to approve minutes as amended for 1/10/2024 and 1/24/2024- Motioned by Tony Rodolakis, Seconded by Brian Bowe, 5-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. Bill McCants signed off at 9:45 and did not vote. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 9:53pm by Brian Bowe, all in favor. P,, ;3