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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-07 Conservation Commission MinutesREADING- CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Wednesdays January 7, 1998 Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room PRESENT: Chair Nancy Eaton, Members: Vice Chair Stephen Chapman, Clifton Proctor, Harold "Lucky" Hulse, John Kilborn, Mark Gillis, Consultant Leo Denney, Conservation Administrator Donald Nadeau, and Recording Secretary Kathy Morgan. ABSENT: David Danis (prior notice given) 7:15 PM Meeting was called to order. 7:16 PM Continued Public Meeting - Route 129/1-93 Interchange (RGB# 1997-33~ S. Chapman abstained from this project. Bernie Raftery, Environmental Scientist at Rizzo Assoc., submitted new plans. A motion was made to close the meeting. Voted: 5-0-1, S. Chapman abstaining. A motion was made to accept as outlined in wetland delineation submitted by applicant a determination of applicability. Voted: 5-0-1, S. Chapman abstaining. 7:30 PM Continued Public Hearing - "Marion Road" by 51 Mill St. DEP# 270-2793 RGB# 1995-29 The open hearing announcement was read and attendees sworn in. Mr. DiRaffael pointed out the 100' buffer zone from BVW and a line 200' from the river bank. He stated that he is trying to get Lots 4 & 5 and all activity out of the 200' line. He states that now all of the 7 houses are out of the 200' line. He said he is trying to incorporate as much of the Rivers Protection Act as possible. The swale on Lot 7 has been eliminated. He explained the drainage system and the retention/detention basin. All 7 houses will have roof runoff into drywells, recharging back into the ground. The driveways will flow into the road. Now only a portion of the backyard of Lot 5 is within the 200' line. The stonewall, which is 250' in length, marks the limit of work line and goes from Lot 4 through Lots 5 & 6. The conservation restriction will begin at the line behind Lots 6 & 7 and continue along behind the stone wall; he hasn't determined how far back yet. Chair questioned if any quality water testing has been done; he stated he hasn't. S. Chapman stated that he doesn't feel baseline measures are appropriate for this project but applicant could test drainage waters to make sure the water is clean. S. Chapman outlined for the applicant some items he has questions about: 1) Lot 1 buffer zone line; 2) Lot 5 grading, he's not sure the flow would be into the cul-de-sac; 3) the drywell structure on Lot 4, are the soils suitable for the flow and measures for care and maintenance of the structure; 4) Lots 4 & 5, Swale and flow calculations. Chair questioned what trees would be cut for the wall and what equipment would be used. Mr. DiRaffael said they could work around any trees that should be saved and they would only use equipment big enough to bring in the stones. Chair asked Mr. DiRaffael to show the 200' line on future plans. S. Chapman asked the applicant what he plans for sewage. Mr. DiRaffael stated that right now he isn't sure, but the Town Manager has indicated that town sewage may be going in soon in that area. Chair asked for comments and questions from the attendees. Will Finch, 51 Mill SL, is concerned with critters using the vernal pool if the stone wall is " erected. He also feels the 100' buffer is a reasonable thing to request for this project. The Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 1/7/98 Page 2 applicant asked the Commission if they would be voting on the Rivers Protection Act. Members felt they wanted to wait for additional information. A motion was made and seconded to continue the Public Hearing to 1/21/98, at 8:00 PM, here in this room, with no further notice. Voted: 6-0-0. Danielle Lantagne from the Ipswich Rivers Assoc. advised members that she has spoken with a representative from DEP who stated that if it's ruled that the applicants line is correct, the Rivers Protection Act will not apply. If the town's line is correct, the Rivers Protection Act would apply. 8:20 PM Partial Certificate of Compliance - 142 Sanborn Village Phase IV (37 Thomas Dr.) DEP# 270-171, RGB# 1987-12 A motion was made and seconded to issue a Partial Certificate. Voted: 5-0-1, H. Hulse abstaining. 8:21 PM (tent.) Certificate of Compliance -Lafayette Rd and #22 DEP# 270-292, RGB# 1997-03 Dave Johnson, the applicant, was present and received a copy of the site notes. Applicant stated he would be willing to put an additional marker towards the Schmitt property. S. Chapman suggested a line of shrubs instead of a stone marker. The Administrator is concerned that the soil berm won't last. L. Kenney suggested both markers and shrubs. A motion was made and seconded to issue a Partial Certificate of Compliance with outstanding work of cement marker at limit of activity line on the 30' mark along with a row of shrubs at the same location and a bond of $750.00 for survivability of hydroseeding and earth bermed area to the left of the driveway. Voted: 6-0-0. 8:40 PM Partial Certificate of ompliance Lots 1, 5 detention basin "Old Mill Village" by 48 Mill St DEP# 270-283 RGB# 1995-31 Applicant was present for the meeting and received a copy of the site notes. Atty. Brad Latham submitted an interim private conservation restriction approved by Town Counsel to be substituted by a state form when received. Applicant still needs additional markers at the far edge of the property. The applicant advises that he will plant juniper to delineate the restriction on the turnaround at Lot 5. A motion was made and seconded to approve a conservation restriction on Old Mill Village as proposed by the applicant to be a two party document and to be subsequently replaced by the state document. Voted: 6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded to issue a Partial Certificate of Compliance on Lots 1, 5, and the detention basin with bonding on survivability of all vegetation and permanent stabilization. Voted: 6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded that the Commission find an insignificant plan change for Lot 2 for the proposed deck construction. Voted: 6-0-0. S. Chapman felt the deck proposed is above the approved activity area, and he was not concerned with the concrete foundations. Chair is concerned with encroachment and advised the applicant to make the owner aware of the limit of activity fine. 9:05 PM Public Hearing - between 228 & 252 Main St., DEP# 270-xxx, RGB# 1997- 35 The public hearing announcement was read and attendees sworn in. Michael O'Neill r Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 1/7/98 Page 3 described plans for the proposed 2 story building with parking in the rear. The property is a little over 2 acres with bordering wetlands. A delineation was established in 1994, and the Conservation Commission approved the site plan in 1995. One of the detention basins is within the ZNV. Infiltration systems will handle roof runoff. Mary Rimmer described the proposed post planting on the bordering ZNV area. She stated she would be looking to replant native plants, good stabilizers - trees, shrubs. She would overseed the area to provide immediate cover until other plantings take hold. Although the nearby pool has not been listed as a vernal pool, they are assuming it is and the plantings will help with erosion controls. She gave reasons why the pool may not be a vernal pool such as the pool having an outlet and that ponding is shallow. 50% of this project is within the ZNV. Received from the applicant were a document from Rimmer Environmental Consulting dated 1/5/98, the proposed planting plan, a 3 page soil observation, a 2 page memo, and 1 page memo from the Town Engineer. The Administrator mentioned that a great blue heron visits the vernal pool, that there is another drainage inlet on Lot 23, and that the wetland drains in both directions. L. Kenney suggested that the pool could be designated a vernal pool and believes that the vernal pool is greater than indicated on the plan. He also feels that the new plantings in the 25' ZNV may be beneficial but questions how far back the plantings should go. S. Chapman questioned the infiltration system and asked if the applicant will be planting within the detention basin. He was also concerned with the flow of the discharge of the detention basin into the wetlands. He also felt that the area was more open than it depicts on the plan. L. Kenney suggested that any trees being removed be listed on the plan. Ed Leman, 12 Knollwood Rd., remarked on the habitat living in the area such as the ducks and a turtle that visits the pond. Robert Conant, 50 Pinevale Ave., is concerned with fill on the property now. Emilio Falca, 46 Pinevale Ave., asked what the standards are for runoff water from the parking lot. Steve Neal, 16 Pinevale Ave., questioned the grading slopes from the proposed structure to Pinevale where the detention basin is proposed. Michelle Kranzer, 19 Knollwood Rd., explained how water accumulates now and is concerned with water problems. Bill McKenzie, 7 Pinevale Ave., concerned with runoff and water problems. S. Chapman asked the applicant to submit tail water to make sure the calculations are correct. Steve Cook, 19 Knollwood Rd., is concerned with water problems, Debbie Ribeiro, 15 Pinevale Ave., is concerned with water problems. Joan Guidi, 54 Pinevale Ave., is concerned with water problems and is against the project. Jean Fitilah, 46 Pinevale Ave., is concerned with wetland species, skunk cabbage, encroaching on her property with the increased water. Sheila Phelan, 34 Pinevale Ave., asked to see plans, asked about the roof of the building, the sewage, and inquired about their plans for the buffer area. George Farrell, 2 Pinevale Ave., thinks the project will enhance the area. Robert Conant mentioned that this area is the only open area left on Main St. and feels the building will be a detriment to Main St. Paul Pirrello Carpento, 262 Main St., feels the building will enhance the area. S. Chapman would like to see the elevation of inverts. A - - motion was made and seconded tocontinue the Public Hearing to 2/4/98, at 7:30 PM, without any further notice, here in this room. Voted: 6-0-0. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 1/7/98 Page 4 10:40 PM Continued Public Meeting - 24/30 Baystate Rd., RGB# 1997-32 Elizabeth Wallis, Environmental Scientist at Hayes Engineering presented the proposed project and explained how she had delineated the line by soils and vegetation. BLSF is at elevation 191.9 which Hayes believes is conservative. A site visit was conducted 12/14/97. J. Kilborn asked Ms. Wallis which regulations show that soils are a good indicator of a wetland delineation. Those specific regulations could not be obtained at the. meeting. Members at their site visit felt the line should be moved up gradient based on vegetation. Atty. Latham suggested a continuance to reflect more on the line. Members mentioned establishing a wetland vegetation line along with a soils line. The applicant is willing to hire an outside consultant and the Administrator will refer the consultants that the Commission selects from the submitted applicants. A motion was made and seconded to continue the Public Meeting to 1/21/98, at 7:15, in this room. Voted: 6-0-0. On Monday, January 12, 1998, at 6:00 PM members will meet to discuss applicants for the outside consultant position. 11:40 PM S. Chapman left the meeting. 11:45 PM Order of Conditions - "Sunset Rock" by 341 Franklin St DEP# 270-295, RGB# 1997-26 Members discussed whether they should allow the house on Lot 8 and the majority felt that mitigative measures have been taken to allow the house. Members then went over the Order of Conditions paragraph by paragraph. A motion was made that the Order of Conditions be approved as amended and issued, seconded. Voted: 4-0- 1, H. Hulse abstaining. 1:00 PM A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Voted: 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Moran,' Recording Secretary