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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-11 Conservation Commission Minutes� OFa Town of Reading r; �a Meeting Minutes xcoxv a� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2024-09-11 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Hybrid Meeting - Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: RECEIVED R TOW DING, MA. 2025 MAR 20 PM 4 20 Time: 07:00 PM Location: Select Board Meeting Room Session: Open Session Version: Final Brian Bowe, chair, Martha Moore, vice chair, Tony Rodalakis, Walter Talbot (remote), Chirog Stalekar Members - Not Present: none Others Present: Chuck Tirane, Conservation Administrator, Slone Patisteas (BSC), Michael Rivers Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Chuck Tirane Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held in person and remotely via Zoom. Chair Brian Bowe called the meeting to order at 7:08 pm. Hearinos Scheduled: 0 Cedar Swamp (North Cedar Swamp) Continue the Public Hearing on a Notice of Intent, fled by Andrew Cole, New England power Group Company (NEP), Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, Section 40-the Wetlands Protection Act and/or the Reading Wetland protection By-law, Section 7.1, The applicant is proposing general maintenance activity and improvements along the 3391349 transmission line. The activity will include the replacement and relocation of one of the caisson -supported structures, and tree removal within the BVW. All of the work is within the Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland and Welland Resource Area. The application and plans can be viewed during regular business hours at the Town Hall Conservation Office, 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867, and on the Conservation Division page under the project by year, Assessor's Map 54 Lot 1 Dep File No. 270-0785 Ms. Patisteas gave an overview of the project and then gave responses to points mised in M r. Tirana's letter. Mr. Rodolakis asked if there would be any topsoil or clean fill used. No. Any soil removed would be taken to an upland areas somewhere. Ms. Patisteas stated that the only trees that would be removed are ones that would be in conflict with the transmission lines in the future. There was a long conversation about the handling of invasives. The issues are that the area is a corridor making it easy invasives to enter, there are lots of them there already and it's not feasible to eradicate what is there. Only new species would be addressed. If that approach isn't working, there would be a seeding at the beginning of the next growing season. In response to a question from Mr. Rodolakis about any changes in hydrology, Ms. Patisteas stated that this small an area couldn't really be measured for that but that there would be a significant change in shading. Page 1 1 Mr. Bowe read a statement acknowledging that this is a limited project and that the trees would be cut. The remaining point of disagreement is the lack of mitigation for the impact on the acre of wetland that would be altered. Ms. Patisteas agreed that there absolutely would be an alteration happening. The issue is not fully meeting the 10.53(3) regulations. There was a discussion of the fees. Mr. Tirone pointed out that we wanted this to be a herbicide free zone. He also requested that the monitoring report come to the Commission. Ms. Patisleas pointed out that the report was for all the cemmunifies involved not just Reading. Also we agreed that a monthly report was satisfactory. Fertilization will not be used. Motion to continue to September 25th made by Mr. Rodolakis; seconded by Ms. Moore Vote: Mr. Talbot (remote) In favor, Mr. Chirog in favor, Mr. Roolakis in favor, Ms. Moore in favor, Mr. Bowe in favor. 5-0 in favor. 555 West Street Continue the Public Hearing on a Notice of Intent, filed by Kaushal Patel, Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, Section 40-the Wetlands Protection Act and/or the Reading Wetland protection By-law, Section 7.1, The applicant is proposing to raze a portion of the single- family dwelling, deck, patio, stairs, walkway, retaining wall, remove shed and gravel play area, to construct an addition, deck, stairs, fanners porch, patio, pervious walkway, repave driveway, rooftop infiltration, driveway infiltration, cut tree, trim trees, plantings, associated grading, and utilities within the Rivertront and the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Weiland. All of the work is within the Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland. The application and plans can be viewed during regular business hours at the Town Hall Conservation Office, 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867, and on the Conservation Division page under the project by year, Assessors Map 25 Lot 14, Dep File No. 270-0787 Continued until September 25 at the applicant's request. Motion to continue to September 25th made by Mr. Rodolakis; seconded by Ms. Moore Vote: Mr. Talbot (remote) In favor, Mr. Chirog in favor, Mr. Roolakis in favor, Ms. Moore in favor, Mr. Bowe in favor. 5-0 in favor. Old/New Business Violations - 445 Pearl St. Mr. Rivers gave an update. Ms. Moore and Mr. Bowe talked about their site visit. There has been more undercutting of the north bank since the Commission's last visit. Mr. Rivers has purchased muych of the material needed for the project. Agreed on timeframe for completion of work and on the next status appearance for Mr. Rivers. Agreed to Oct. 2310. Discussion Items Certificate of Compliance for 52 Louanis - Ms. Moore and Mr. Bowe gave report on site visit during which they laid out new disposition of the tree plantings beyond the fence. Marked the location for each tree and received agreement from the homeowner. Final recommendation was to move 5 trees and leave 11 in place. The thought he could get his people to do the move in the next few weeks. There was no survivability condition in the OOC. Motion to Issue a Certificate made by Ms. Moore; seconded by Mr. Stalekar. Vote: Mr. Talbot (remote) In favor, Mr. Chirog in favor, Mr. Roolakis in favor, Ms. Moore in favor, Mr. Bowe in favor. 5-0 in favor. As part of the discussion it was noted that we should add standard language to any DOC for a survivability requirement. Certificate of Compliance for 18 Whittier - Discussion of actions by the contractor. All in good order. Motion to Issue a Certificate made by Ms. Moore; seconded by Mr. Stalekar. Vote: Mr. Talbot (remote) In favor, Mr. Chirog in favor, Mr. Roolakis in favor, Ms. Moore in favor, Mr. Bowe in favor. 5-0 in favor. DPW/Commission Monthly Meeting - Discussion of work at Pollinator Garden at Castine Field. Discovery of rocky terrain and request to provide some loam or top soil to allow planting. Was agreed to with DPW although no laboer avable for spreading the soil. Mt. Tirone will get some volunteers. Some further discussion about mowing the area. When the DPW mowed more frequently, the area was drier and could Page 1 2 use larger equipment for the cut. Now that it is mowed once a year, it is wetter which can be an issue to mowing. Agreed to mow in September when they deemed it dry enough. Admin Report— None Minutes Approval - June 26a' — not yet July 1O' — Motion to approve by Mr. Rodolakis, seconded by Mr. Stalekar Vote: Mr. Talbot (remote) In favor, Mr. Chirog in favor, Mr. Roolakis in favor, Ms. Moore in favor, Mr. Bowe in favor. 5-0 in favor. - July 24a' — Motion to approve by Mr. Rodolakis, seconded by Mr. Stalekar Vote: Mr. Talbot (remote) In favor, Mr. Chirog in favor, Mr. Roolakis in favor, Ms. Moore in favor, Mr. Bowe in favor. 5-0 in favor. August 10 — Mr. Talbot offerd some changes. Motion to accept as amended by Ms. Moore; seconded by Mr. Stalekar Vote: Mr. Talbot (remote) In favor, Mr. Chirog in favor, Mr. Roolakis in favor, Ms. Moore in favor, Mr. Bowe in favor. 5-0 in favor. Decided to reverse the approval of August 10. All in favor. August 28t' — not yet ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 8:06 pm by Ms. Moore; seconded by Mr. Stelekar, seconded by Commissioner Bowe, All in favor. Page 1 3