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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-01 Conservation Commission MinutesREADING COHSE V A TTIaN 533~~. ISSION vv.c..a.i..i..ai.~N.svi Mianutes of Wednesday. April 1, 1998 Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Roo PRESENT: Chair Nancy Eaton, Members. Stephen Chapman, Harold "Lucky" Hulse, D. Danis, John Kilborn (8:40 PM)~ , Mark Gillis t8:27 PKI, Consultant Leo Kenney, Conservation Administrator Donald Nadeau, and Recording Secretary Kathy Morgan 7:07 PM The meeting was called to order. 7:10 PM Plan Change - #mslsunnooms, U nning Elan Farm DEFY 270 RGR# 1916-lea Tom Devaney submitted revised drainage calculations. The calculations reflect the change of the proposed deck areas to enclosed sunnrooms. He is requesting a plan change. A motion was made and seconded that the Commission accept the 11x7 plan attached to the Hayes letter of 3/17/98 as an insignificant plan change, as it deals with patios and sunnrooms at the rear of units 3-9. 7:16 PM Sian DCS AMndig B feria - Old Mill VIII n PRD Conservation Restriction Ms, DePietro and owners of Old Mill Village were present. Dicieco Landscape & Irrigation while warping for Christine DePietro, 23 Sanborn Lane, drove a rubber tired tractor through the posted conservation restriction area at Old Mill Village. DiCicco had asked Sandra Busook, 5 Mill St., if they could pass through the property. She advised him to talk to Jim Jolly because she was unsure where the conservation. restriction started. DiCicco also spoke with the Administrator who advised him that he could use a wheelbarrow with the permission of the landowners for restoration work. Chair advised leis. DePietro and the owners of Old Mill Village of the history of the pro*t, that it is a rare species area and that the owners are responsible for abiding to the conservation restriction. She advised them to contact the Administrator if they have any questions and copies of the conservation restriction are available to them. DiCicco has submitted a plan for restoration and advises that as soon as they are, approved to do so they will restore the land. L. Kenney feels that gravel needs to be scraped and a new top soil and leaf litter applied. The Administrator suggested that soil cores be done to match the soil, new ground cover and new plantings installed. A motion was made and seconded that the Conmussion direct the contractor to act in accordance -.pith the Administrator's notes for restoration of the disturbed area at 28 Sanborn Lane and Old Mill Village. Voted: 4-0-0- 7:53 PM Continued Public Henning - I&ngwoed Road sewer DEP# 270-2,99 RGB#1998-(t Public announcement read and attendees sworn in. I Delaney, Town Engineer, has submitted additional drainage calculations and plans for a pipe at the existing roadway. He plans to put riprap on both the inlet and outlet sides. Because of the Commission's concerns for moving the turnaround away from the vegetations he felt the cost of the project would increase and has decided to eliminate it for now. Reading Consemation Commission Minutes of 411198 Page _2 S. Chapman questioned if the K pipe would be too small for the water 11ax and suggested that the pipe be set more into the road. A motion was made and seconded to close the Public Hearing. Voted: 4-0-0. 8: ? ? PM Continued Pulilie Meeting - 20111273 Salem Street S.Chapman. advised that he is professionally engaged with another employee of Beals and Thomas, Inc,, but he doesn't feel it is a conflict of interest. Jeff Bridge of Beals and Thomas, Inc. displayed a revised plan and explained that they have, by hand, started some clean up in the area. A motion was made and seconded. to. close the Public Meeting. Voted:. 4-0-0- A motion was made and seconded that the. Commission issue a positive determination with resource areas as depicted onthe.revised plan as of 3119199. Voted: 4-Q-Q. 8:30- PM Status Pasture Road Mr. Larkin, the owner, was present. L. Denney was concerned with haybales and woodchips being harriers. for critters to get through along the driveway. Mr. Larkin told of the runoff of the vernal pool dawn the driveway, and he felt one pipe will not be sufficient. He has spoke to the Administrator who advised that he put one in now and see haw it does. The Administrator advised that there is a trough with a grate over it currently and that the haybales on the property are deteriorating. He suggested to let them be until the end of the project and see what their condition is then. He has also advised the owner to reestablish gaps in the haybales. L. Denney felt the haybales should come down as soon as the road is established. A motion was. made to direct the applicant to remove the woodchips and restore area to its. original condition. The owner spoke up and stated that he felt the woodchips create. a boundary for the traffic going in and out. The motion was reconsidered. Commission asked him to leave the woodchips for now and remove them when the roadway is complete. The owner heard the Commission's concerns and no motion was considered. 8:45 PM Continued Pnhlk HearingCross t Mr. & Mrs. Pacilla were present along with Atty. Latham, and Greg Moore from. LEC. Mr. Moore tested additional holes and submitted further data. The Administrator made an oral report of his inspection. He stated that the surface layer, below the leaf litter, had components that signify wetlands, there was 'A' soil beneath that which he called hystic epipedon. Mr. Latham submitted further written testimony from Mr. Pacillo of dry periods in that area. Mr. Latham also. stated facts that support that the area is not a wetland 1 ~ prior site condition is not what it is now because the town had altered it because the town had altered during sewer construction. 2~ wetland regulations state under the definition for bordering wetlands that the land must be bordering and if not, the land does not qualify as a bordering wetland. Mr. Moore referred to section 10-.55 (2){c)(1) of the regulations, He stated that the third test pit was. -,Adthm the proposed house area and. the soil. was. hydric soil but he. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 411/99 Page 3 wouldn't agree to hystie epipedon, He stated that test pit 1(A } ,xhich is. wither the right of way contains fill and doesn't contain hydric indicators. Mr. Moore agreed with. Mr. Kenney that off the site there is a vegetative connection. The Administrator read his site observations. Atty. Latham submitted a signed testimony from. Mr. Pacillo stating that there are periods of dryness, Atty. Latham referred toherderng ,~,;etl and regulations and stated that it meant soils touching each other. Ne stated that they have gene hack 30 years and asked the. Comrmission how far back do you go with historical conditions. Mr. Moore said there was no evidence of hydrology. He also stated that the stream has been moved and the vegetative change shows a hydrologic change: Chair reviewed indicators of hydrology, the first characteristic being hydric soils. L Kenney stated that the area of disturbance is between the red maples and the stream, The -vegetation does connect and that is the wetland. The Administrator admitted that the area is bec-arnmg marginally vegetational and if allowed to gra"V, it would torn back. He stag hydrology, vegetative connection and the water table level are all. indicators of a wetland. Mr. Pacillo received a copy of the Commission's site visit report dated 3129198. A motion wag made and seconded to close the Public Meeting. Voted: 4-11-01_ Chair stated she would not feel comfortable allowing construction under an RDA in a resource area,. Chair read the river definition under the regulations. L. Denney stated that a drought period has been going on, and he has seen rivers over the past year dry. A motion was made and seconded for a positive applicability that evidence submitted to. the Commission shows that the stream indicated on the property is a river. Voted: 3'1-0. I Kilbom against. Motion failed. A motion was shade and seconded for a positive determination. of applicability with regard to 38-56 Cross- St. and that the bordering vegetative wetland line be found consistent with the Administrator's site inspection report of 3118198 and from the Administrator's Flag 47 to applicant'.sFlag 92, 1, 8, 7 & 6 in that order. Mated: 4-d-4, A motioxt was made that the Conservation. Commission snake a determination of applicability under the local bylaws- and approve a wetland line consistent with the Administtrator's notes of 311.8198 and including the applicant's wetland line beginning at Flag #2, continuing to 1, 8, 7, & 6. 10:1.5 PM Sunset Rte. Chair reviewed certain milestones and procedures. of the Order of Conditions. and stated that certain work is being done out. of order. Atty. Latham, speaking for the applicant advised that the warning is noted. The draft enforcement order is in error in referring to the 25 yr, storm.. The applicant concurred. 10:35 PM I Kilborn left the sheeting. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 411/9: Page 4 10:35 PM Members, reviewed the Warrant for 149 Annual Town Meeting. A motion was made and seconded that the Conservation Commission approve Article 11 at Town Meeting. Voted: 5-0-0- A motion was made and seconded that the Conservation Car issi recommend approval of Article 13. Vote€ : 3~2-0; D, Danis and H. else against. Motion failed. A motion was made and seconded that it be known at Town Meeting that the area referred to in Article. 15 has had wetland resources observed in the area but a request or approval has not yet been made. Voted: 5 Q: O. A motion was made and seconded that the Conservation Commission recommend approval of Article 19 to Town Meeting. doted: 5-0-0.. 10:40 PM Steve Biller Final Eagle Scout project - conservation web- site. Steve. presented the web site via a projection screen. S. Chapman asked if information about joining the Conservation Commission could be added under the Conservation Commission section. Steve indicated it could be done along with other minor changes. Members were impressed with the project and thanked him for his hard work. 11:00 PM Steve Carpenter draft final report Scout Praect Sledge Woods. Steve explained that additional signs have been posted and the project has finished up. The Commission thanked him for his work in the conservation area. Chair mentioned MACC training programs, schedule circulated. 11:15 Appraave RGR Sagas-off A motion was made and seconded to approve RGB sign- oft of sail probes, MRD Causeway Rd. Voted: 441-1, S. Chapman abstaining. 11:17 Purl A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Voted: 5-OA Respectfully submitted, Kathy Morgan, Recording Secretary