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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-15 Conservation Commission Minutesv Conservation Commission Meeting, July 15, 2009 MINUTES Reading Conservation Commission Meeting Selectmen's Meeting Room, 7:00 PM Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Present: Mark Wetzel, Chairman; Tina Ohlson; Doug Greene; Annika Scanlon; Brian Tucker; Fran Fink, Conservation Administrator; Brian Sullivan, Associate Member; Maureen Knight, Recording Secretary. Absent: Bill Hecht, Barbara Stewart Old/New Business 10 Torre Street, DEP 270-538, RGB 2008-35- Off-site mitigation plan Celeste Manley of 12 Track Road attended the meeting. She had been asked by the Town Manager to remove her personal belongings from the abutting Town parcel so mitigation and restoration could be done. Ms. Manley was told to remove her propane tank, a fence, and to stop parking on this lot. Ms. Fink showed Ms. Manley the plan of proposed work. Ms. Manley will contact the gas company and the fire department regarding the removal of the propane tank. Curt Young presented their proposed mitigation work for the Track Road site. The sooner the propane tank could be removed the better so they can use the loam they have available. The Commission wanted to know the specifics of what and where the plantings will be done. Ms. Fink requested that they also remove the gravel and restore the Town land across the street. Mr. Young said they could, but the car must first be removed that is there. They will provide a planting plan and a schedule to the Commission. Ms. Fink reported on pre-construction documents and site visit at 10 Torre Street. There will be a meeting with the builders tomorrow and Town staff that will be involved in the project. Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, Christopher Kerr, 26 Ridge Road, RGB 2009-22, addition to house Present: John Moretti, contractor; and Lesley Kerr Mr. Moretti presented the proposal for the addition to the Commission. They will not be storing excess fill but will remove it from the property. There will not be any construction equipment off the pavement during construction. There will be an excavator driven to the area of the new foundation. The concrete can be chuted in or wheel-barrowed. The Commission reviewed and amended the draft Conditions. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to issue a negative Determination of Applicability with the Conditions as amended this evening. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote was 5-0-0. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Darren Abreu, 2 C Street, DEP 270-558, RGB 2009-20, grading and landscaping Present: Darren Abreu; Frederick Geisel, landscape architect. 1 Conservation Commission Meeting, July 15, 2009 Mr. Geisel said all the streets in this area end up in the wetlands. He did a site visit with Ms. Fink and dug a test pit. They found 6" of fill on top of peat, with flowing sand under the peat. He described their proposal to maintain the integrity of the slope. Mr. Geisel said this would restore the area to what it was previously. They will also increase the vegetation in the area to promote stability. The Commission wants to know what is in the "state" seed mix they propose to use. Mr. Geisel will provide this information. Ms. Fink distributed a draft Order of Conditions to the Commission, reviewed it with them, and some modifications were made. She said Mr. Abreu should discussions the maintenance of C Street with the DPW. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to close the public hearing. Mr. Tucker seconded. Vote was 5-0-0. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to issue the Order of Conditions as amended this evening. Ms. Scanlon seconded. The vote was 5-0-0. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Erik Hagstrom, 53 Arcadia Avenue, RGB 2009-22, grading, landscaping, and fence The applicant did not attend the hearing. The Commission reviewed the draft Order of Conditions.. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to remove the requirement for a bond in the Order of Conditions. Mr. Wetzel seconded. Vote was 1-4-0. Motion made Mr. Tucker to reduce the bond to $5,000. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote was 4-1-0. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to issue the Order of Conditions as amended this evening. Mr. Greene seconded. Vote was 4-0-0. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to close the public hearing. Mr. Ohlson seconded. Vote was 5-0-0. Public Hearing, Request to Amend Order of Conditions, DEP 270-546, RGB 2008-45, Public Works Department, Memorial Park recreation, parking, and drainage improvements Present: George Zambouris, Town Engineer; Curt Young, wetland consultant Mr. Zarnbouras provided two revised site plan sheets to the Commission. He said they are proposing minor "revisions in the design for the skating pond areas. He noted that they have now been indentified as Bordering Vegetated Wetlands. He described the revised plan for controlling the water level of the ponds. He said the existing wetlands have minimal interaction with the ground water in the area, but also said that the groundwater is at the surface during the wet season. He said this limits the opportunity for infiltration. Mr. Zarnbouras said that, even though they are disrupting the area, they are making improvements to the flood control facilities. They can maintain the rate of run-off from the site. He reviewed the proposal and explained all the improvements and benefits to the Commission. The biggest change is that currently the existing skating areas were a natural earth area versus the fact they will now be lined at the bottom with plastic materials. The liner will block groundwater recharge during the dry season. The plan will alter more than 5000 s.f. of wetland. Conservation Commission Meeting, July 15, 2009 Mr. Young said he had flagged the Wetlands boundaries and examined the soils and plants present. He noted that they are connect to, 6r "border on", the stream by the existing pipes. The stream was historically an open channel, and there had been grading changes in the past. He observed tadpoles in one deep ponded area in the northern pond, and the water table has been high this spring and summer. He thought that the wetlands were low in quality because of the past filling and burying the stream channel. He said that the proposed work would alter more BVW than the 5000 s.f limit m 310 CMR 10.55. He said the Commission could issue a Notice of Nonsignificance, but that DEP would be likely to question such a decision. He also said that the Commission might permit the work under 310 CMR 10.53(4) if the work would improve the functions and values of the wetlands. Mr. Wetzel asked whether Mr. Young had examined the low wet areas just west of the ponds. Mr. Young had not looked at this area. Mr. Zambouris said the skating areas would continue to function as a grassed area. He explained the piping system and how it would be operated. He described the layers of stone and sand to be placed under and over the plastic liner. The 4" pipe below the liner is to bring water in when the areas are flooded for skating. The 3" pipe above the line is to drain the surface and soils above the liner at the end of the skating season to prevent mosquito breeding. Mr. Wetzel asked how the drainage would affect the tadpole habitat. Mr. Greene said the wetlands contain Carex lenticularis, a threatened species in Massachusetts that provides food for wildlife. The proposed work would permanently alter the population. Mr. Young did not think they were significant. Ms. Fink said that the characterization of the skating areas as Bordering Vegetated Wetlands was a significant change, and that the proposed work would permanently alter close to an acre of BVW. The plastic liner would block the natural fluctuations in groundwater elevation and cut off the comiections between groundwater and surface water. She asked for written descriptions of the proposed operations of the flow control devices. If the project is to be considered under 10.53(4), then the applicant should provide descriptions of existing wetlands functions and species, and a proposed plan that clearly shows how they will be restored and improved. Mr. Wetzel said they should consider what the value is versus the use of this area, including groundwater regimes. Mr. Tucker asked whether the liner might make flooding worse. Florence Campbell, 55 Salem Street, said she had lived by the park since 1947 and the stream culvert goes through her yard. They used to skate in the open stream corridor from Charles street to Salem Street, and catch tadpoles in the wetlands. Ken Harkens, 42 Charles Street, voiced his approval of the project. He thought it. would help his basement. He operates a sump pump and has had to pump from November through June. Elaine Stone, 65 Harrison' Street, said there are frogs and toads in the ponds every spring. Sha has also seen fox, turkey, geese, hawks, and songbirds in the area. Conservation Commission Meeting, July 15, 2009 Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to continue the hearing to August 12, 2009. Ms. Stewart seconded. Vote was 5-0-0. 34 Pondview Lane, DEP 270-535, RGB 2008-29 - Request for occupancy The Commission did a site visit and the site is not ready for occupancy yet. The gutters, porches, stairs, retaining walls, grading, and planting are not complete. There is some construction debris in the yard. Ms. Fink said that the driveway appears to be larger than what was shown on the plan and may exceed the impervious cover limit. The Commission will send a letter to the owner with a list of work needed before occupancy. 10 Pasture Road, DEP 27-476, RGB 2006-14 - Request for Certificate of Compliance The Commission did a site visit and Mr. Wetzel thought it looked good. There were a few sparse areas but overall it was stable. The owners will present a planting plan to the Commission for some additional planting they would like to do. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to issue a Certificate of Compliance. Mr. Tucker seconded. The vote was 5-0-0. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to release the bond. Ms. Scanlon seconded. The vote was 5-0-0. Strout Avenue Ms. Fink did a site visit and listed her observations of the area. The contractors do not want people walking inside the fenced area until the seeding has rooted and construction equipment has been removed. The Commission is concerned about the unstable shoulders along Strout Avenue and Grove Street near the wetlands. Another site visit will be done in August. 456 Grove Street, DEP 270-60 and Minor Project Permit, 2003 - Request for Certificate of Compliance The Commission did a site visit and there was some brush near the wetland edge. Otherwise, it looked stable. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon to issue a Certificate of Compliance and to close the Minor Project Pen-nit. Ms. Ohlson seconded. The vote was 5-0-0. 454 Grove Street Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to close the Minor Project Permit. Mr. Greene seconded. The vote was 5-0-0. 188 and 194 Van Norden Road, DEP 270-541, RGB 2008-33 - As-built plans The Commission has not received any as-built plans from Mr. Couillard. 105 Lilah Lane, DEP 270-514, RGB 2007-26 - Proposed planting plan The Commission has not heard from the owners yet. 19 Nelson Avenue, DEP 270-506, RGB 2007-17 Request for Certificate of Compliance Ms. Fink said the zone of natural vegetation bounds are in place. 4 Conservation Commission Meeting, July 15, 2009 Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to issue a Certificate of Compliance and release the bond. Mr. Greene seconded. The vote was 5-0-0. 134 Fairchild Drive - Draft Conservation Restriction Ms. Fink said she is still waiting for comments from DCS. 178 Haverhill Street, DEP 270-486, RGB 2006-26 - Request for Certificate of Compliance Ms. Fink said all was done except there is more fresh compost back in the wetlands. The Commission will send a letter ordering removal before the Certificate is issued. Reading Memorial High School, DEP 270-416, RGB 2003-51- Riverfront Area restoration plan for approval Ms. Fink made two site visits this week because the contractor was cleaning catch basins. She saw a trailer and truck parked behind the bleachers. They belong to the NORESCO, the energy upgrade company contracted by the Town. These will be on site until 2011, when the project ends. They are contracted to repair the area when they leave. Ms. Fink asked if they could put some of their vehicles and dumpsters on the parking lot instead of the grass. They gave Ms. Fink a plan showing their arrangement, and Joe Huggins will try to help also. Erosion barriers will be set at the nearby area drains and catch basins. Maplewood Condominium, Salem Street - Proposed trail easement Mr. Wetzel did not have his comments with him. Ms. Fink has not had any feedback from the developers yet about the draft document. Route I-93 Paving Project Mass Highway will hold a pre-construction conference on July 22, 2009, in Arlington at 10:00 AM. Ms. Fink will be out of town. Mr. Wetzel will try to attend. The Commission is concerned about recent stockpiling of asphalt and other debris in the Route 129 intersection near wetlands. Austin Preparatory School Project Ms. Fink gave a site visit report. A water main has been found in the detention basin area and they propose to relocate the pipe. The slope on the back will need a retaining wall. The first course of stone was installed in several of the porous pavement areas. One area was level but the second seems to slope uphill. There was no filter fabric, the stone being used was dusty, and the pavement was dusty. The contractor has been asked to address these concerns. The Commission authorized Ms. Fink to approve the water main plan revision that she expects to be submitted tomorrow. Lot 7, Kylie Drive The contractor has requested occupancy. Ms. Fink said it all looks good. They have added a fence and inside the fence is a frame with playground equipment. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to authorize the Administrator to sign off on the request for a Certificate of Occupancy. Mr. Scanlon seconded. The vote was 5-0-0. Conservation Commission Meeting, July 15, 2009 40 Sunset Rock Road There were some problems on the site with erosion and sedimentation. The Commission will send the owner a letter. 110 Grove Street Ms. Fink gave a site visit report. The erosion barrier had failed in several places and sediments had washed towards the wetlands below the work area. The retaining wall needs to be built to stabilize the steep slopes permanently. The owner will be contacted. 107 Main Street Plans have been submitted to CPDC for site plan review and a Notice of Intent is expected soon. Comments will be sent to.CPDC for their hearing. Adjournment Motion made by Ms. Ohlson to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Scanlon seconded. Vote was 5-0-0. 6