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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-07 Conservation Commission MinutesConservation Commission Meeting, January 7, 2009 MINUTES Reading Conservation Commission Meeting Selectmen's Meeting Room, 7:00 PM Wednesday, January 7, 2009 RECEIVED TOWN CLERK rR r DINIG, MASS. 20S Frp 4I P 4- 3b Present: Chairman Mark Wetzel, Vice Chairman Bill Hecht, Barbara Stewart, Tina Ohlson, Doug Greene, Brian Tucker and Fran Fink, Conservation Administrator, Maureen Knight, Recording Secretary. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Old/New Business 30 New Crossing Road, RGB 2006-34 - As-built plans, request for Certificate of Compliance Present: Frank DiPietro, engineer, Brad Latham, attorney Site inspection report was made. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to issue a Certificate of Compliance. Ms. Stewart seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to release the bond. Ms. Stewart seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. 39 Walkers Brook Drive, DEP 270-494, RGB 2006-37 - As-built plans, request for Partial Certificate of Compliance Present: Frank DiPietro, engineer, Brad Latham, attorney Mr. Latham requested a Partial Certificate of Compliance and Mr. DiPietro described work that remained to be done. Mr. Hecht gave a site visit report. The Commission reviewed a letter dated 12/30/08 by Ms. Fink concerning the incomplete status of work. Ms. Fink would like to make a spring site visit to make sure all is as required. The property has been sold to a new owner. Ms. Fink would rather wait until this site visit instead of issuing a partial Certificate of Compliance at this time. There was no list of items that could be certified at this time. There is some landscaping that needs to be taken care of in the spring. The infiltration system is clean but the last maintenance was not done properly. The new owners are aware of all that needs to be done. The Commission asked Ms. Fink to work with Mr. DiPietro on further as-built information needed, and declined a partial Certificate of Compliance this evening. Reading Memorial High School, DEP 270-416, RGB 2003-51- Status of work Mr. Hecht said there was a lot of snow-cover during the recent site visit so things were not visible. He will call the Chairman of the School Committee to ask for a response to the letter sent 12/19/08. 9 Gregory Lane, DEP 270-236, RGB 1991-10 - Grant of Conservation Restriction, Request for Certificate of Compliance Ms. Fink explained the past history of the property for the new members. The draft Restriction was sent to DCS in June, and Ms. Fink has yet to hear back from them. The owners have suggested some revisions to the draft. These will be forwarded to DCS for review. Conservation Commission Meeting, January 7, 2009 Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, Robert Burrows, 273 Haverhill Street, RGB 2008-47, addition to house Present: Mr. Burrows and contractor, Mark Pelland Mr. Hecht said there is an existing barn that is going to be removed due to a car hitting it. 25' behind the barn the land drops off steeply and at the base of the slope is where the conservation land begins, so there is no setback problem. Edward Perry of 267 Haverhill Street said he was there when the accident occurred. The Commission reviewed draft Conditions. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to issue a negative Determination of Applicability with the Conditions as drafted. Ms.Ohlson seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Bill Johnson, F.A.Y Homes, LLC, West Street between #508 and #522, RGB 2008-46, house, driveway, site work Present: Bill Johnson, Andy Pojasek and Ethan Davis, engineers, and Tim Morris, owner Andy Pojasek gave the history of this project to date and what the applicant proposes to do on the site. The soils-testing has been done, there will be an underground infiltration system for a 10 year storm, and a planting plan has been submitted. Ms. Fink gave her assessment of the project but she thought overall the plans were good. Mr. Hecht did a site visit and asked what the plans were for the three-trunk oak on the property line and Mr. Pojasek said it was to be removed. Mr. Hecht asked if additional trees could be planted to compensate for the removal of the oak. Mr. Wetzel also had some concern for the drainage causing erosion of the retaining wall. He said the deck is in the do not disturb zone and will cause creation of a new walkway around the deck. Mr. Greene asked for ZNV bounds. Gerard Sevigny, abutter, is worried about the drainage going down the back and he thinks the wetlands will flood from the ongoing rain. Mr. Wetzel explained that the roof runoff would go into the ground. Marlene Wolfe of 522 West Street asked how the land was going to be built up from the street because she thought the runoff would go into her land. Mr. Pojasek explained to Ms. Wolfe using the plans. Mr. Wetzel asked for revised grading to keep runoff on site. Chad Smith of 517 West Street was also concerned about the drainage as it is not adequate at this time and he has major problems with his retaining wall now. The Town Engineer said the roof runoff was designed properly, but there could be more side grading. Bill Johnson asked if the deck could be built without stairs coming off the back to ensure no foot traffic in the back. Mr. Wetzel said it would still be too close to wetlands and would require a variance. Mr. Greene thought the garage could be built on the other side of the house. Mr. Johnson agreed to consider plan revisions. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to continue the hearing to January 21, 2009. Ms. Ohlson seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Reading Public Works Department, Memorial Park, Charles Street and Harrison Street, RGB 2008-45, drainage, parking, sidewalks, recreational facilities, fences Present: George Zambouras, Town Engineer, Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager, Steve Goldy, Selectman 2 Conservation Commission Meeting, January 7, 2009 George Zambouras gave the history of the park to date and explained how they use a control devise to block stream flow and flood the skating areas for the wintertime. This raises water levels north of Charles Street, and some residents have raised concerns. Some work is proposed in the buffer zone. They will replace the tennis courts and the basketball court. They will install a horseshoe pit, a bocce court and a volleyball court. They will improve and increase the walking trails and replace the stairs by Charles Street. The bandstand will also be replaced. Harrison Avenue will be widened with parallel parking and an improved drainage system. They will completely redesign the skating area with improved shapes and drainage control system. The parking area off Salem Street will be improved. There will be new lighting in the skating and walkway areas. The lights will be the same as the new ones being installed in the downtown area. Floodlights may be installed at the skating area. They are still gathering information about the purpose of the manholes west of the skating area. The lawn surface has settled and the area stays wet in the spring, making mowing difficult. They are proposing a new underdrain system in this area, and also drainage systems for the proposed bocce and volleyball courts. They are also proposing to repair the existing mortared stone walls that form both stream banks, and to remove about a foot of sediments from the stream bed, possibly continuing downstream to Osborne Avenue. Mr. Hecht gave a site visit report. Conditions were snow-covered, but the area around the manholes west of the skating area had water/ice on the surface. Mr. Zambouras said the water levels in the skating area might influence this area. Mr. Greene wanted to be assured that there would be park benches for those who want to sit and relax and he was concerned about the access road being too close to the stream. Mr. Zambouras said there are and will be benches, and the road is existing. He is not proposing changes in the road, which impounds water in the skating areas and has several drain pipes running through it. Mr. Wetzel asked how the skating areas function in summer. Mr. Zambouras said the water is drained out and the vegetation is mowed when the areas are dry enough. They propose to add a plastic liner with gravel on top, and then loam and seed. The liner would help hold water during skating season. Collector pipes in the gravel layer would drain the ponds into the stream. Ms. Fink gave out a memo and reviewed her concerns. The skating areas and the wet area to the west should be examined closely to determine whether they are wetlands, preferably in the spring when plants are visible and groundwater is at peak. The Commission needs more information about the existing drainage systems and proposed changes to evaluate the proposal. Both winter and summer conditions should be considered. The basketball and volleyball court do not meet the 35' setback from the stream and could be moved. The concrete stream banks could be restored as vegetated banks. Soils test information is needed. Bill Walker of 67 Salem Street had questions about the parking along Harrison Street and was assured the trees would not be removed. Ken Harkens of 42 Charles Street said the drainage has gotten worse over the years, including behind his house and in the wet area west of the skating areas. John Fay of 767 Main Street said there is a lot more water in his grass areas over the past year. Because he is uphill from the park, Mr. Zambouras advised him to check the condition of his septic system. Ena Farrell of 1 Charles Street wanted to know the proposed timeframe for the project. The Town ~"fl Manager, Peter Hechenbleikner, gave the proposed timeframe involved. George Farrell of 1 Charles Street voiced his concerns about surface water in the area west of the skating ponds and noted that 3 Conservation Commission Meeting, January 7, 2009 snow melts in this area before any other part of the park. He asked what causes this. He also was concerned about the location of the horseshoe pit, which might be noisy. Mr. Wetzel advised that he talk to Recreation and Selectmen about noise. Mr. Hechenbleikner said hearings had already been held but they could look into other locations. John Cortez of 57 Harrison Street was concerned about maintaining a walking route between the two skating areas. Mr. Zambouras will consider this. Steve Goldy from the Board of Selectmen thanked the Commission for their work on this project and said that the Selectmen support the proposed design improvements. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to continue the hearing to January 21, 2009. Ms. Stewart seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. Public Hearing, Request to Amend Order of Conditions, Reading DPW, Strout Avenue, DEP 270-524, RGB 2008-2, grading, fencing, landscaping for recreational park Present: George Zambouras, Town Engineer, Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager, and Peter Tassi, Water Supervisor Mr. Zambouras described the proposed park design and said the DEP water supply division was aware that this land was to be used as a recreational area. Mr. Tassi said the Water Division controls the use of the land and the Town has to maintain the wells for emergency use. Mr. Hechenbleikner said the Northern Area Greenway Report would guide uses of the area. Ms. Fink reviewed the history of the project. The Commission reviewed draft Findings and Conditions and made minor changes. Motion made by Mr. Hecht moved to close the hearing. Ms. Ohlson seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to issue the Amended Order of Conditions with the Findings and Conditions as amended this evening. Ms. Stewart seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Robert Zeraschi,10 Torre Street, DEP 270-538, RGB 2008- 35, day care center, parking lot, drainage, and grading This case was postponed until January 21, 2009, at the request of the applicant. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Massachusetts Highway Department, Causeway Road Depot, DEP 270-545, landfill capping, drainage, grading Present: Ken Leach and Andrea Norton, MHD, Bill Beyer and Steve Chapman, engineers Mr. Beyer presented revised site plans, drainage calculations, detail specifications, and maintenance plans to address the concerns raised by the Commission at the last meeting. The same contractor will do the storm water treatment. Ms. Fink thinks all the detail provided is answering a lot of the questions raised at the past meetings. The Town Engineer will need to review the revised plans and Ms. Fink thinks they should continue the hearing to give him the opportunity. If time allows, a draft Order of Conditions may be ready by the next meeting. Mass Highway said they would meet with the Town Engineer and Ms. Fink to expedite the process. Motion made by Mr. Hecht to continue the hearing to January 21, 2009. Ms. Ohlson seconded. Vote was 6-0-0. 4 Conservation Commission Meeting, January 7, 2009 40 Sunset Rock Lane Soils tests have been performed and a Notice of Intent will be filed soon. 285 Main Street This case will be appearing before the ZBA on January 15 to keep the existing foundation. MACC Annual Meeting Several Commissioners turned in registration forms.