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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-21 Conservation Commission MinutesREADING CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Wednesday, January Zl, 1998 Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room PRESENT: Chair Nancy Eaton, Members: David Danis, Clifton Proctor, Harold "Lucky" Hulse, John Kilborn, -lark Gillis, Consultant Leo Kenney, Conservation Administrator Donald Nadeau, and Recording Secretary Kathy Morgan. ABSENT: Stephen Chapman (prior notice given) 7:17 PM Meeting was called to order. Chair read the definitions of a swamp and a wetlands from the wetland regulations. Procedures for public hearings and meetings was discussed. 7:35 PM Continued Public Meeting - 24/30 Baystate Rd RGB# 1997-32 Members selected three applicants for an outside consultant and the three were referred to Atty. Latham. Town Counsel advises that the Commission must accept the low bid. Both the Administrator and Ms. Wallace felt that soil work could still be done. A motion was made and seconded to accept the low bid of ENSR and as an alternate, Sparrow in the case of non-performance. Voted: 6-0-0. A motion was made for reconsideration. Voted: 0-0-6. A motion was made and seconded that the Commission accept the low bid and enter into a contract with ENSR and as an alternate Sparrow and to delegate the Conservation Administrator to execute the contract with either of the two companies. Voted: 6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded to continue the Public Meeting to 2/4/98, at 8:30 PM with the oral accent from counsel of the applicant to the Administrator. 7:55 PM Continued Public Meeting - between 38 & 56 Cross St., RGB# 1997-34 Mr. Pacillo and his wife were present for the meeting. Mr. Pacillo asked to make a correction to the 12/17/97 minutes regarding the Chair mentioning the adjacent stream and the 200' Rivers Protection Act. He also stated that the site notes stated that he did all the surveying. He did a portion of the surveying, stating his prior experience, and that a registered land surveyor did the plot plan. Ms. Castanino, 56 Cross St., submitted photos of the area received on 1/9/98. The Administrator stated that the westside of the stream looked disturbed. L. Kenney questioned the report by LEC, no wetland west of the stream or no BVW, and he stands with the line the Commission gave before. The Administrator feels that the area was a drained swamp and vegetation has been growing in. J. Kilborn stated that there are no vegetation plots to distinguish the wetland status. Mr. Pacillo read from the LEC report which the botanist wrote, "the inspection of soils indicative of conditions in the area adjacent to the banks of Walker Brook upland (non- hydric Chair stated that the botanist didn't give information of where he took his samples. Ms. Castanino stated that she observed the applicant putting up orange markers himself. She is concerned with water damage from the slope from his property to hers and she believes the property is wetlands. Mr. Pacillo says that witness stakes don`t -require -a - registered surveyor. Carol Mahn, 2 Cutter St., Wakefield, submitted some Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 1/21/98 Page 3 Balkissoon would like the Commission to use the largest buffer and feels the applicant should provide sewage. She feels we shouldn't trade habitat for sewage. Kim Honetschlager expressed her frustration with the continued meetings. She asked, will the project get started, destroying trees and habitat and then sit and wait for the sewage. She stated that there are still questions unanswered - where is the 200' line and are they grandfathered? H. Hulse advised attendees that if the Order of Conditions is granted and the permits are not obtained and the Order expires, they would have to start all over from scratch. The Administrator advised that the Order of Conditions could be written so that no building could commence until the sewage is obtained. Will Finch asked, "how long is the Order of Conditions for and can it be renewed?" Chair advised that the state regulations are for 3 years and the local regulations are for 1 year and both renew at 1 year periods. Mr. Parsons advised that there are no restrictive permits for the project but there are restrictive conditions to apply for the NOI. Chair asked if the applicant has applied for a water quality certification; Mr. Parsons intends to. Gina Snyder, 11 Jaden Terrace, asked the Commission to consider the maximum protection both because of habitat and because the project is in close proximity to the town forest. A motion was made and seconded to continue the Public Hearing to 2/4/98, at 9:30 PM, without any further notice. Voted: 5-0-0 (J. Kilborn not present for the vote) 10:00 PM Recess taken. 10:15 PM Public Hearing - 80 New Crossing Road DEN 270-xxx, RGB# 1998-01 The notification to abutters was not done. Applicant had submitted certified mail envelopes and Conservation personnel asked if he would like to submit first class envelopes, which were not received back at the Town Hall. Chair asked if the applicant would like to have an informal meeting. John Cissel felt that he would like to get discussions going. H. Hulse mentioned that members could respond individually and not as a Commission. Chair asked if the applicant would like to continue the meeting and nothing would be decided until the next meeting. It was decided that notice requirements were met and at 10:32 PM the meeting was opened, the public hearing announcement read, and attendees sworn in. Present for the project were Fran Fruhbeis, John Cissel, Peter Ogren, Hayes Engineering, Peter Fuller, Tim O'Brien, and Russell Fitzpatrick. Mr. Ogren made a presentation showing plans for a proposed addition to their current building. There is a river abutting the project and the applicant wants to build an addition of approx. 1250' in the ZNV within the 25' zone. They plan to remove species into a replication area on site. Mr. Ogren explained that the building that now exists is right near the river and the area that they plan to build on they believe was previously used. He explained that the roof runoff would go along the building discharging down the corner into infiltration units which would meet the 2 yr. storm requirements. He stated that roof runoff would not matter for a 10 yr. storm because the area would already be flooded. He mentioned that the roof would _possibly be _a_membrane roof. _Chair asked how equipment would get in. Mr. Fruhbeis stated from the inside and work out. Chair asked if the Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 1/21/98 Page 4 roofline would match the other addition. Chair asked where the required 13,000 sq. ft. area of compensation for the previous addition was going to be accounted for. Mr. Ogren stated he would give additional tables showing how compensation will be taken into account. He plans to submit waivers for the 25 buffer. Mr. Hulse mentioned that he prefers bridging to crossing. Mr. Ogren said that bridging would not help vegetation in this case. Chair questioned maintaining the drains and whether the Town Engineer has reviewed the system. Mr. Ogren stated that this area would not require public maintenance. The Administrator mentioned that Mr. Delaney, Town Engineer, received a copy of the NOI on 1/13/98, and the applicant has submitted information to him through the CPDC process. Mr. Ogren doesn't feel that this project is a redevelopment project under the storm water management because it is a previously developed area. L. Kenney stated that the area that was once developed was revegetated prior to the previous addition's construction. Chair asked what river front improvements they are planning. L. Kenney suggested that the applicant put a conservation restriction on the land he owns on the easterly side of the river. John Cissell stated he would, be willing to do that and remove the buildings and the pavement that now exist. L. Kenney stated he would like to keep the 25' buffer but feels the additional land would be beneficial. Chair questioned if the replication area proposed was in conformance. J. Kilborn left the meeting at 10:55. A motion was made and seconded to continue the Public Hearing to 2/18/98, at 7:30 PM, in this room. Voted: 5-0-0. D. Danis left the meeting at 11:30 PM 11:40 PM Meeting Schedule A motion was made and seconded to accept the annual meeting schedule. Voted: 4-0-0. 11:41 PM Certificate of Compliance - 30 Lafayette Road, DEN 270-292, RGB# 1997-03 The Administrator advised that two markers have been installed. A motion was made and seconded to approve and issue a Certificate of Compliance and hold the bond. Voted: 4-0-0. 11:45 PM A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Morgan, Recording Secretary