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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-10 Conservation Commission Minutesrq Town of Reading = Meeting Minutes 6JYpCOPPPP Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2024-01-10 Building: Time: 07:00 PM Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: In Person and Zoom Virtual Version: Final Meeting - Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Iv; MA. fiit411Ai -2 AM 7:35 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, Dan Allen, Jim Bernardino, Jack Sullivan, Joe Orzel, Andrew Pandal, Carlton Quinn, Peter Seibold, Bob Judge, Kendra Cooper, Gary Chopourian, Lisa Litterio, Donald Silva, Amanda Haley, Jeffery- Stella Construction, John Morella- neighbor, Paul Fraser, 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 7:07pm. Hearinas Scheduled: 1. 0 Small Lane- Assessor's Map 40 & 41 Lot 153, 155 & 29 Dep File No. 270-0748 Continued until January 24, 2024 at the applicants request. Motion to continue hearing to next meeting on January 24, 2024- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 60-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 2.413 Main Street- Assessor's Map 17 Lot 64, 85 File No. 270-0774 Mr. Allen stated that since the last meeting they have updated the snow removal language into the Operation and Maintenance Plan, the snow be removed offsite if it reaches capacity. The lighting plan was also updated to provide Amber lighting which is warmer and eco -friendlier. Rear parking lots lights have been lowered from 21 -feet to 12 -feet. The CPDC has recently approved the project. Mr. Tirone suggested to Mr. Allen to pass along to the McDonald's team to recommend them to use Contrapest instead of a rodenticide at the bait boxes surrounding the exterior of the building. McDonald's had reasons for not wanting to use that particular product but did state they would talk with pest control about an alternative for rodenticide. Conditions for the Notice of Intent- any plantings within the buffer zone that die off within the first 3 years need to be replaced and every spring for 3 years, each year they will need to update the survivability report for a certificate of compliance to be issued. Page I 1 Motion to close hearing of 413 Main Street- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. Motion to approve a Notice of Intent with conditions- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 3. 87 Walkers Brook Drive- Assessor's Map 13 Lot 3 Dep File No. 270-0777 Mr. Bernadino gave a brief update on the past DOT work done at the gas station in 2007 that did approve work to be done on the drain ditch right outside of the gas station property. Mr. Tirone does not feel that the drain right now is adequate for the amount of illicit discharge and needs to be replaced/ updated. Mr. Tirone reached out to three companies for quotes on a third - party review. Mr. Bernandino does not believe that the stonnwater coming off of the property is illicit discharge. Motion to close hearing of 87 Walkers Brooke Drive- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 4. 41 Winter Street- Assessor's Map 29 Lot 3 Dep File No. 270-0778 Mr. Sullivan gave the Commission an update on the proposed project. A site visit was conducted and during that site visit a flag 13B was added to the map and the buffer zones were also updated based on that new Flag location. The planting plan had been updated to fulfill the previous recommendations from the Commission. The plans have also been updated show the improvement note on how the work should be done. Draining is being added to the project in the form of 2 dry wells, one in the front yard and one in the rear yard. The Commission had an open discussion about the need to restore or mitigate the back lawn. There were some concerns with removing 6 -inches of ground to replace with fresh top soil. It was decided that no soil be removed and just loam added with the plantings. Conditions for the Notice of Intent- 3 -year survivability report on the new plantings with 85% survivability after three years, three years of invasive plant monitoring and simple treating, all trash and debris removed from site Motion to close hearing of 41 Winter Street- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. Motion to approve a Notice of Intent with conditions- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 5.0 Annette Lane- Assessor's Map 38 Lot 139 Dep File No. 270-0780 The Commission had done a thorough site walk of the location with multiple people and departments involved in this project. Ms. Moore asked what water the catch basin at the end of the driveway was getting and Mr. Quinn stated that was draining the water from the driveway. The house water is collecting in roof drains and being discharged to the smaller infiltration center to the Teff of the house and also connects to the stone trench that is highlighted on the plans. This current proposed plan is being reviewed by CPDC and the Engineering team. Mr. Judge at 10 Annette Lane is concerned with standing water in an area if they have to take down two of the large white pine trees. Ms. Cooper at 20 Covey Hill Road is concerned that the mechanisms proposed for this plan to help water infiltration will not be enough given the number of trees that are being removed. Mr. Chopourin at 30 Apple Gate had concerns about potential standing water, large hole in an oak tree on the property, and if there will be blasting or how they plan leveling the hill. Lisa Litterio, 22 Deborah Drive, is concerned about the proposed boardwalk when there is already a cut through 4 or 5 houses down. Mr. Rodolakis questioned if this project meets the standards of the Wetlands protection act or if the no build alternative would be better proposal. Mr. Orzel answered that the project does meet those performance standards within the bylaw. The Commission requested a memo giving the reason this project meets the performance standards required. Ms. Moore asked for discussion on moving the retaining wall closer to the 35 -foot line. Mr. Quinn says the retaining wall can be moved between 3-4 feet closer the 25 -foot buffer zone. There was discussion on extending the road. Mr. Tirone asked if they could get 2 -feet of separation between seasonal high ground water and what design storm was used for the calculations. The test showed that 93.9 was the estimated seasonal high and the bottom of the infiltration system is 95.3 and the calculations were based off of the NOAA extreme precipitation and the 100 -year storm at 8.92 inches. Mr. Tirone also Page 1 2 wanted to know about snow removal and perhaps adding a guard rail at the end of the road to prevent the pushing of the snow into the Wetland. Mr. Tirone suggests that when the new plan is designed with all the adjustments that the plan should include a visual of the final tree count of all trees that need to come down. Ms. Moore suggests that some shrubs and vegetation be added to the planting plan and within the buffer zones. Mr. Tirone had questions about the boardwalk, is it needed, who will maintain it? Motion to continue to January 24, 2024- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Tony Rodolakis, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 6. 252- 262 Main Street 810 Pinevale Avenue- Assessor's Map 11 Lot 192, 194, 196 Dep File No. 270-0779 Ms. Moore started the hearing by stating that the Commission has requested a third -party review for a habitat wildlife evaluation and to review the wetland line. Mr. Tirone received a quote from LEC for $2,300, which has been sent to the applicant. Mr. Tirone has recommended the board discuss the need for a wildlife habitat review. Mr. Tirone received pictures from residents that show various wildlife from salamanders, owls, foxes and other unprotected species. The Commission has discussed moving forward with a wetland line evaluation and hold off, for now, the wildlife habitat evaluation as this project in only 1,700 square feet into the Conservation area. The applicant has agreed to the wetland line evaluation done by third -party reviewer. Motion to authorize Chuck Tirane to accept the estimate from LEC for a wetland line evaluation - Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. Motion to continue to January 24, 2024- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 7. 71 Tennyson Road- Assessor's Map: 11 Lot: 156 File No. 2023-21 The Commission held a site visit at this location to review the proposed plans. The applicant has agreed to make some changes in the plans. A new plan with plantings will be sent to the Commission. The plan is to bring the discharge from the roof and bring it as close to the wetlands that the Commission would allow. Also discussed was removing the shrubs at the back of the property line and putting in new native vegetation as well as removing all debris and yard waste in the wetland area up to the zipline. Mrs. Haley is going to obtain written permission from the neighbors to clean up what is outside of her property. Mr. Tirone wanted to confirm that the pavers will be a 12 -inch sub base and nothing less. Mr. Tirone is requesting an operation and maintenance plan for the pavers. Ms. Moore has requested that only true natives be planted. The current plan shows cultivar plants and they should be switched out to true natives. Applicant is requesting a variance for an extension of 5 -feet of the pavers in a small portion of the plans bringing the termination of project scope to within 30 -feet of the wetlands. Motion to continue to January 24, 2024- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 6-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 8. 246 - 248 Walnut St. Assessor's Map 3 Lot 19 Dep File No. 270-0781 Jeffery from Stella Construction gave a brief overview of the proposed plans for building up this lot. There were alternative plans for this site with different number of units for proposal. After consideration, Stella Construction is proposing to do a two -lot site. The Commission had done a site visit of this proposed location. Mr. Bowe asked for a correction on the regulations stated. It should be coded as a redevelopment plan. The performance standards do not match up to the regulations for this project. Mr. Bowe recommends those regulations get another check to make sure they matchup with the proposal. Ms. Moore asked if the cultec chamber was managing the storm water from the road itself. It is there to manage the road itself and the front of lot one that drains forward. The back of lot one drains backwards as well as the back of lot two drains backwards. No building is proposed within the 35 -foot buffer zone area. Mr. Bowe would like to see an indication of where the stock pile will be and what plans will be in place for sedimentation control. Jeffery has agreed to add that information to plans and get back to the Commission with the answers. Mr. Rodolakis would like to know what is happening in the 10 -feet zone of natural Page 1 3 vegetation between the house and the 35 -foot line. Jeffery stated after construction it would be turned into lawn area. Mr. Dribin was curious if there was a planting plan for the 20 trees that would be removed for this project. Jeffery said they will be replanted 1-1 and will get a planting plan put together. Mr. Morella, a close by neighbor, wanted to better understand what the slope in the yard will look like once project is completed. Jeffery commented that the slope will from a 3-1 to a 2-1 slope from the property line down to the foundation on the side and to the rear and go about another 15 -feet down to the foundation. The slope will stop before you get to the deck. Mr. Fraser wanted to know of the project would come onto his line of property. Motion to continue to February 14, 2024- Motioned by Tony Rodolakis, Seconded by Brian Bowe, 5-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 9. Meadow Brook Access Easement Vote Motion to accept a public trail easement from the Meadow Brook Golf Club Corporation of Reading, Massachusetts over a portion of land approximately 3,482 square feet and shown on a plan of land entitled "easement plan of land" Weston and Sampson, 0 Grove Street- Lot #24, map 44, Town of Reading, Middlesex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts dated January 5, 2024 and as provided by the easement document presented to the Conservation Commission today subject to the Town's receipt of an executed public trail easement from Meadow Brook in the form of the easement document presented today- Motioned by Brian Bowe, Seconded by Walter Talbot, 5-0-0. The votes were made by roll call vote. 10. Old/New Business Violation Notices- yard waste and encroachment on Conservation Land, 26 Willow Street Follow-ups 30 Henzie, shed, 126 Hanscom Ave, 30 Chequessett, 22, 8, 14, Oakridge Street, 38, 34 Bond, 11. Discussion Items 12. Conservation/DPW Monthly Meeting January 2 discussion 13. Bills approved, 14. Administrators Report: Land Use Summit with Trails Committee, Town Forest, and Conservation Commission, Saturday January 13th from 1-3 PM. 15. Minutes for approval: 11/1312023, 12/13/2023 ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 11:31pm by Brian Bowe, all in favor. Pa9e 1 4