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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-30 Conservation Commission Minutes~r ACS READING CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Wednesday, December 30, 1998 Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room PRESENT: Chair Nancy Eaton, Members Stephen Chapman, Harold "Lucky" Hulse, John Casciano, Will Finch, Mark Gillis, Consultant Leo Kenney, and Recording Secretary Kathy Morgan 7:02 PM The meeting was called to order. 7:05 Public Hearing - 170//184 Pleasant St. Housing Authority DEP## 270-310, RGB# 1998-29 Don Allen and Peg Planski from the Reading Housing Authority, Ernie Goba, the architect, and Chris Emilius, from GEOD Consulting were present for the applicant. Some changes made from the last filing are that they have increased the land subject to flooding to be able to have more storage capacity, a vegetative barrier, additional natural vegetation, and a fence going south to north and west to east, loam and seeding to be done in the land subject to flooding with a hydrologic connection between the land subject to flooding and the adjacent stream as a precautionary measure. They are asking for a waiver from the 25' set back for plantings and a waiver for the driveway which goes 2' into the 25' buffer. The driveways will be made of porous pavers. The report from J. Delaney, Town Engineer dated 12/30/98 was summarized, and he stated in the letter that the pre- developed L.S.F. figures would be .25 sq. ft. and post-developed figures would be, 17 sq. ft. a change of -.08 sq. ft. W. Finch asked if any additional pits had been done. Chris Emilius said that no further tests had been done. W. Finch also asked what would be under the main floor. Mr. Emilius stated there would be a gravel base. Chair clarified her previous comments regarding clean up of vegetation. She stated she would want to see a temporary waiver granted for clean up of the invasive plants and some natural plantings. Mr. Kramer, 184 Pleasant St., restated that he believes the applicant wants to cut more than nine trees. He also reemphasized that the real water level is still unknown. Phil LeBlanc, 14 Gardner Rd. supplied members with additional ground water level data. The data showed how the water levels in April compared to October in surrounding towns as measured by the USGS ground records. Mr. LeBlanc felt that the drywells proposed will not hold ground water from a medium storm. Frank Gentile, 36 Wilson St., stated that he felt the project should go back to the Board of Selectmen. He felt that because all the Commission members hadn't been to see the site that it would be an unfair vote. He stated that there was 6" of water in his property on the last major flood storm. Chair asked Mr. Emilius if the measurements taken in October were of standing water or soil. He stated standing water. Mr. Emilius stated that the measurements were taken with a ruler by a DEP certified soil evaluator. He stated they didn't need to go into the holes to measure. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 12/30/98 Page 2 Mrs. Kramer, 184 Pleasant St., stated how much water she has observed and how much she has seen at the project site. She felt the area has a bad water problem. Mr. Gentile asked how deep the applicant plans to go with the foundation. Mr. Goba said 4' below grade. Mrs. Meuse, 32 Wilson St., asked about the porch that exits on the house. Mr. Goba said that the original porch will be taken off and a platform put on to get from one level to the other. Phil LeBlanc asked if the Conservation Commission allows discharge pipes into the stream? Chris Emilius stated the pipe could come out. Mr. LeBlanc stated he would like the pipe to stay in the plans. Chair stated that the pipe is not a direct discharge but would go through a swale. Mr. Justras, 5 Osbourn Ave, stated that the water from the nearby overflowing river is in his yard and is 10' away from his house and if the discharge from this new house is going to go into the river that would affect his house. Mr. LeBlanc mentioned the photos previously submitted showing standing water at the Krupa's house at 15'. He also mentioned Mr. Delaney's letter of 11/18/98 refusing to have the roof drain basins go into the town system. Chair read paragraph 4 of Mr. Delaney's letter which mentions that the pipes are undersized in that area of town. S. Chapman tried to explain that engineers have calculated the figures and they have shown that this project would not increase the problem in that location. The FEMA study showed the 100 yr. storm event at 85' water level and the bottom of the pit is at 85' and the applicant would be providing an additional foot. He felt the project would not make the area worse. Mr. Kramer mentioned that there is also a discharge from the skating rink. Mr. Gentile stated that the concrete walls will divert the water and that the water will not go under the building because there is water already there. S.Chapman stated that the contractors will be digging out peat and putting in gravel which is more porous than peat. S. Chapman questioned the applicant's plans showing a 4' frost wall and plans for a basement. The applicant explained that there will only be a crawl space. S. Chapman suggested weep holes which would eliminate any backup. The applicant was agreeable to that. A motion was made and seconded to close the Public Hearing. Voted: 6-0-0. S. Chapman asked that 1) applicant submit a revised recorded plan with revision to the fence line to follow along the 25' wetland offset, 2) make the swale with vegetation not gravel, 3) on the plans the applicant make a note about the foundation weep holes - size and spacing, 4) notation of basement taken off the plans, 5) state what they propose for plantings, 6) the overflow pipe from the rear drywell to the stormwater storage area should be considered in the conditions, 7) deed restrictions for stormwater storage area and 25' ZNV, 8) driveway change on plans from gravel to pavers. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 12/30/98 Page 3 A motion was made and seconded that the Commission approve with the conditions discussed along with the standard conditions as applicable under both the state and local by-laws. Voted: 5-1-0, W. Finch against. 8:43 PM Continued Public Meeting - 1090 - 1100 Main St., RGB# 1998-28 Applicant not present. Chair tried to get in touch with Atty. Favaloro. Atty. Posner, attorney for an abutter, questioned the applicability of agricultural use. Chair stated that Town Counsel has advised that the greenhouses didn't fall under agricultural use and would require an NOI. A motion was made and seconded to close the Public Meeting. Voted: 6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded that the Commission issue a positive determination with the understanding that the wetland line has not been established. Voted: 5-0-1, M. Gillis abstained. 9:00 PM Continued Public Meeting - " 11 Norman Rd." RGB# 1998-26 Applicant has requested an extension to 2/24/99 at 7:30 PM. A motion was made and seconded to continue the continued Public Meeting to the time and date requested. Voted: 6-0-0. 9:03 PM Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy -45 Dunbar Rd DEP# 270-300, RGB# 1998-10 The Commission will sign off on occupancy permit but owner will need to supply a survivability report when the certificate of compliance is asked for. Applicant asked about removing bamboo. Members felt it could be removed. 9:10 PM Certificate of Compliance - 51 Sanborn Ln DEP# 270-281, RGB# 1995-35 Owner has already planted plantings but because of the time of year he hasn't loamed the lawn. S. Chapman mentioned that the Commission should have a topographic plan. Members felt that with a $1000 bond they could sign off on the occupancy permit. 9:15 PM Public Meeting - 379 Haverhill St RGB# 199-30 Greg Moore from LEC Environmental was present with the owner Jack Rivers and Mr. Zanni. Mr. Moore advised that Flag WF8 has been moved 13' to the southwest and 2 P to the west. The plan they have submitted doesn't reflect that new change. The vernal pools were marked off on the plan but the vernal pool on the adjacent property is not shown. Chair reviewed the notes of the site visit on 12/26/98. Mr. Jack Rivers, Haverhill St. Realty Trust, explained that there are 8.2 acres. Lot one will consist of 20,000 sq. ft. at the Proctor House, another lot covering the garage area, and then another lot to be determined. The project will have a 200' linear road, 210' to the cul-de-sac. Mr. Rivers states that there will be no invasion of the wetlands but that one house may be within the buffer zone. Mike Gosselin, 385 Haverhill St., asked where the road was going. Mr. Rivers explained on the south side or right side of Lot B. A motion was made and seconded that the Conservation Commission issue a positive determination with the wetland line being determined only for WF 1 - WF 15B, with Flag 8 being relocated, and to be sited on new plans. Voted: _ 6-0-0. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 12/30/98 Page 4 9:40 PM Volunteer Vacancies - Ad Hoc Water Supply Advisory Committee A motion was made and seconded that the Conservation Commission recommend W. Finch and N. Eaton to the Commission. Voted: 6-0-0. 10:00 PM Bland on "Duck Road" DEP# 270-250, RGB# 1992-20 A motion was made and seconded that the Conservation Commission issue a letter to the applicant stating that both $500 bonds would be moved to have an article at the next town meeting if the applicant does not wish to replant. 10:17 PM Minutes A motion was made and seconded that the minutes of 12/2/98 be accepted as amended. Voted: 6-0-0. 10:20 PM A motion was made and seconded to appoint the Chair as the official liaison for the employment committee for a new administrator. Voted: 5-0-0. The meeting of 1/27/99 has been canceled and rescheduled for 1/28/99. A joint meeting with the CPDC with regard to Reading Business Park will be scheduled. Members thanked S. Chapman for his help on the Commission for the last five years. He will be missed. 10:30 PM A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Voted: 6-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Mora , Recording Secretary